CU Boulder's Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences (AES) is internationally recognized for its research and education leadership in aerospace engineering, Earth and space sciences. Its world-renowned engineers and scientists tackle challenges in aerospace technology and science, focusing on Astrodynamics and Satellite Navigation Systems (ASN); Autonomous Systems (AUT); Bioastronautics (BIO), Fluids, Structures and Materials (FSM); and Remote Sensing, Earth and Space Science (RSESS).
With more than 50 faculty members and over 550 MS and PhD students, our graduate programs prepare aerospace engineering students to meet the needs of our 21st-century society through the understanding, conception, design and application of aerial and spacecraft systems.
In the MS program we focus on hands-on, experiential learning, technical and organizational expertise, and end-to-end mission and systems perspectives via course-based degree options.
Research opportunities for MS students are very limited and are not funded. Students interested in completing an MS thesis are encouraged to take a few of our courses before deciding to pursue that route.
For more information, visit the department's Prospective Graduate Students webpage and our Graduate Student Handbook.
Requirements
Program Requirements
Students must complete a total of 30 credit hours, equivalent to 10 classes, with a grade of B- or better and a cumulative GPA of at least 3.00. Of these 30 credits, at least 24 credit hours must be completed at the 5000 level or above, and at least 18 of those credits must be in Aerospace Engineering (ASEN) courses, and one approved math course. (Note: EMEN 5405 Fundamentals of Systems Engineering counts as an ASEN class. Seminar credits, even those earned in other disciplines, do not count toward the MS degree.)
Up to 6 credits can be taken at the 4000 level in approved engineering, math and science departments (ECEN, CVEN, MCEN, CHEN, CSCI, ATOC, ASTR, PHYS, MCDB, BCHM, MSEN, BMEN, APPM, MATH, STAT, CHEM, IPHY, GEOL, ENVD). ASEN courses level 4000 or below do not count towards AES graduate degrees.
Focus Area-Defined Courses
Some focus areas offer the option to take additional courses to satisfy the non-thesis option. This will represent at least an additional six credit hours with respect to the minimum requirement to obtain a MS with that focus area.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Approved Math Courses: | ||
| Choose one: | 3 | |
| Statistical Estimation for Dynamical Systems 1 | ||
| Experimental Design and Statistical Methods | ||
| Engineering Data Analysis Methods | ||
ASEN 5417 | ||
| Special Topics (Multi-Object Filtering Theory) | ||
| Uncertainty Quantification | ||
| Numerical Solution of Partial Differential Equations | ||
| Random Processes for Engineers | ||
| Theory and Application of Digital Filtering | ||
| Detection and Extraction of Signals from Noise | ||
| Introduction to Applied Statistical Methods | ||
4000, 5000, 6000, or 7000 level APPM course | ||
4000, 5000, 6000, or 7000 level MATH course | ||
4000, 5000, 6000, or 7000 level STAT course | ||
| Choose one of the following: | ||
| Thesis Option | ||
The MS thesis must consist of original and independent research conducted by the graduate student under the supervision of the faculty advisor. The thesis topic must be related to the major field. | ||
| Master's Thesis | ||
| Non-Thesis Option (Select One) | ||
| Graduate Projects I and Graduate Projects II (6 credits) | ||
Required courses leading to an approved certificate (or completion of the dual ASEN/EMP degree) | ||
Course-only option (FSM and AUT) | ||
| 1 | Can be used to meet only one ASEN curriculum-specific requirement, i.e. math or ASN core. This restriction does not apply to certificate requirements. |
Please visit our Graduate Student Handbook for focus area requirements and coursework offerings.
Time Limit
All degree requirements must be completed within four years of the date of commencing coursework. Most students complete the degree in approximately two years.
Astrodynamics and Satellite Navigation Systems (ASN)
Requirements of the MS degree in the Astrodynamics and Satellite Navigation Systems focus area are:
- Three ASN Core Classes
- One ASEN MS Course or Required course from an outside (non-ASN) AES focus area. The outside course is any course not listed under the ASN curriculum.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | 9 | |
| Choose three: | ||
| Spacecraft Attitude Dynamics and Control | ||
| Statistical Estimation for Dynamical Systems | ||
| Space Flight Dynamics | ||
or ASEN 5052 | Analytical Astrodynamics | |
| Introduction to Global Navigation Satellite Systems | ||
| Additional Course | ||
| Choose one ASEN MS Course from an outside (non-ASN) AES focus area | 3 | |
| Elective Courses Offered by ASN Focus Area | ||
| Interplanetary Mission Design | ||
| Advanced Spacecraft Dynamics and Control | ||
| Spacecraft Formation Flying | ||
| Space Vehicle Guidance and Control | ||
| Optimal Trajectories | ||
| Advanced Astrodynamics | ||
| Satellite Geodesy | ||
| Statistical Orbit Determination | ||
| Optical Multi-Target Tracking | ||
| Advanced Global Navigation Satellite Systems: Software and Applications | ||
| Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Receiver Architecture | ||
| GNSS for Remote Sensing of the Atmosphere, Ionosphere, and Earth Surface | ||
| Special Topics (Celestial Mechanics & Advanced Astrodynamics) | ||
Autonomous Systems (AUT)
Students are required to take one course from three of the following topic areas:
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Autonomous Decision-Making | ||
| Algorithmic Motion Planning | ||
| Decision Making under Uncertainty | ||
| Control Theory | ||
| Linear Control Systems | ||
| Nonlinear Control Systems | ||
| Dynamics and Modelling of Vehicles | ||
| Small Uncrewed Aircraft System Guidance, Navigation, and Control | ||
| System Identification for Control | ||
| Estimation and Sensor Fusion | ||
| Statistical Estimation for Dynamical Systems | ||
| Programming for Embedded Systems | ||
| Microavionics: Introduction to PIC Microcontrollers for Aerospace Systems | ||
| Advanced Robotics | ||
| Embedded System Design | ||
| Principles of Embedded Software | ||
| Mechatronics and Robotics I | ||
| Elective Courses Offered by AUT Focus Area | ||
| Automatic Control Systems | ||
| Advanced State Estimation | ||
| Special Topics (Advanced Survey of Sequential Decision Making) | ||
| Special Topics (Cooperative Control) | ||
| Special Topics (Hybrid Control Systems) | ||
| Special Topics (Verification & Synthesis of Stochastic Systems) | ||
For the AUT Course-only MS Requirements, students need to satisfy the AUT-specific MS requirements, plus two additional courses, each from a different topic area. Topic areas used to satisfy the AUT-specific MS requirements can be repeated, with no more than two courses from a single topic area.
Bioastronautics (BIO)
Students are required to take two courses and one course from each of the following areas:
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | 6 | |
| Space Life Sciences | ||
| Space Habitat Design | ||
| Choose one (BIO elective): | 3 | |
| Experimental Design and Statistical Methods | ||
| Medicine in Space and Surface Environments | ||
| Spacecraft Life Support Systems | ||
| Human Operation of Aerospace Vehicles | ||
| Extravehicular Activity | ||
| Choose one (non-BIO course): | 3 | |
| Spacecraft Attitude Dynamics and Control | ||
| Mechanics of Aerospace Structures | ||
| Linear Control Systems | ||
| Statistical Estimation for Dynamical Systems | ||
| Space Flight Dynamics | ||
or ASEN 5052 | Analytical Astrodynamics | |
| Introduction to Global Navigation Satellite Systems | ||
| Aerospace Environment | ||
| Elective Courses Offered by BIO Focus Area | ||
| Experimental Design and Statistical Methods | ||
| Medicine in Space and Surface Environments | ||
| Independent Study (for MS students) | ||
| Spacecraft Life Support Systems | ||
| Human Operation of Aerospace Vehicles | ||
| Extravehicular Activity | ||
| Independent Study (for PhD 'pre/non-thesis' topic) | ||
Fluids, Structures and Materials (FSM)
Requirements of the MS degree in the Fluids, Structures and Materials (FSM) focus area are:
- Two Core Classes in your chosen track, and one Core course in the other FSM track.
- Two electives from the FSM focus area, with at least one in your chosen track. (See Graduate Handbook for detailed listing.)
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| Fluids Sub-Track | ||
| Fundamentals of Fluid Dynamics | ||
| Fundamentals of Gas Dynamics | ||
| Molecular Thermodynamics and Kinetics | ||
| Structures and Materials Sub-Track | ||
| Introduction to Finite Elements | ||
| Mechanics of Aerospace Structures | ||
| Dynamics of Aerospace Structures | ||
| Elective Courses Approved by FSM Focus Area | ||
| Fluids | ||
| Space Propulsion | ||
| Boundary Layers and Convection | ||
| Introduction to Hypersonics | ||
| Experimental Fluid Mechanics | ||
| Turbulent Flows | ||
or MCEN 7221 | Turbulence | |
| Molecular Gas Dynamics and DSMC | ||
| Computational Fluid Dynamics | ||
| Special Topics (Advanced Turbulence Simulation) | ||
| Classical Thermodynamics | ||
| Heat Transfer | ||
| Flow Visualization | ||
| Introduction to Combustion | ||
| Reacting Flows | ||
| Structures and Materials | ||
| Introduction to Aeroelasticity | ||
| Spacecraft Design | ||
| Composite Structures and Materials | ||
| Large Space Structures Design | ||
| Special Topics (Design Optimization in Aerospace Systems) | ||
| Special Topics (Introduction to Phononics) | ||
| Special Topics (Nonlinear Mechanical Vibration) | ||
| Uncertainty Quantification | ||
| Special Topics (Molecular Dynamics) | ||
| Advanced Mechanics of Materials I | ||
| Advanced Mechanics of Materials 2 | ||
| Plates and Shells | ||
| Computational Finite Inelasticity and Multiphase Mechanics | ||
| Fundamentals of Systems Engineering | ||
| Mechanical Behavior of Materials | ||
| Special Topics in Mechanical Engineering (Mechanics of Composite Materials) | ||
| Special Topics in Mechanical Engineering (Mechanics of Soft Materials) | ||
Remote Sensing, Earth and Space Science (RSESS)
Note that MS students using the Remote Sensing Certificate for their degree requirements in lieu of an MS thesis or two semester graduate projects may count a maximum of 2 of the 4 required RSESS focus area courses toward the certificate requirement.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Data or Numerical Analysis Methods Primary Courses | ||
| Choose one: | 3 | |
| Engineering Data Analysis Methods | ||
| Data Assimilation & Inverse Methods for Earth & Geospace Observations | ||
| Remote Sensing Data Analysis | ||
| Methods in Applied Mathematics: Fourier Series and Boundary Value Problems | ||
| Random Processes for Engineers | ||
| Theory and Application of Digital Filtering | ||
| Detection and Extraction of Signals from Noise | ||
| Statistical Methods and Application I | ||
| Statistical Methods and Applications II | ||
| Introduction to Mathematical Statistics | ||
| Introduction to Time Series | ||
| Instrumentation Fundamentals Primary Courses | ||
| Choose one: | 3 | |
| Microavionics: Introduction to PIC Microcontrollers for Aerospace Systems | ||
| Introduction to Global Navigation Satellite Systems | ||
ASEN 5168 | ||
| Radar and Remote Sensing | ||
| Mission Design and Development for Space Sciences | ||
| Space Instrumentation | ||
| Fundamentals of Spectroscopy for Optical Remote Sensing | ||
| Lidar Remote Sensing | ||
| Physical Sciences of Earth and Space Primary Courses | ||
| Choose one: | 3 | |
| Aerospace Environment | ||
| Special Topics (Aerospace Environment: Upper Atmospheres ) | ||
| Introduction to Magnetospheres | ||
| Atmospheric Thermodynamics and Dynamics | ||
| Introduction to Physical Oceanography | ||
| Dynamics of the Atmosphere and Oceans | ||
| Introduction to Atmospheric Radiative Transfer and Remote Sensing | ||
| Astrophysical and Space Plasmas | ||
| Introductory Plasma Physics | ||
| Astrodynamics and Satellite Navigation Systems | ||
| Choose one: | 3 | |
| Linear Control Systems | ||
| Statistical Estimation for Dynamical Systems | ||
| Space Flight Dynamics | ||
or ASEN 5052 | Analytical Astrodynamics | |
| Fundamentals of Fluid Dynamics | ||
| Spacecraft Design | ||
| Satellite Geodesy | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 12 | |
Dual Degree Program
MS in Aerospace Engineering Sciences and ME in Engineering Management
Students may complement their aerospace engineering master’s degree with a Master of Engineering (ME) in Engineering Management. To complete the Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Management dual degree program, students must be admitted to Aerospace Engineering first, and apply to Engineering Management afterwards.
Requirements
The dual degree consists of 45 credits: 24 credits based on Aerospace Engineering requirements and 21 based on Engineering Management requirements, as detailed below.
For more information, visit the Engineering Management Program's MS Aerospace Engineering Sciences & ME Engineering Management webpage.
Aerospace Engineering
At least 24 credits at the 5000 level or above:
- At least 18 credits in Aerospace Engineering (ASEN) courses. (Note: EMEN 5405 Fundamentals of Systems Engineering counts as an ASEN class).
- One approved math course (3 credits)
- Professional MS students do not follow focus area-specific requirements and do not require the completion of a certificate, graduate projects or MS thesis
- Traditional MS students:
- Completion of an approved certificate, graduate projects (6 credits) or MS thesis (6 MS thesis credits)
- Fulfill focus area-specific requirements
Review our Graduate Student Handbook for details on focus area requirements, GPA and grade minimums, and other information.
Engineering Management
Students must complete at least 21 credits. Visit the Engineering Management website for details.