Aerospace Engineering Sciences - Bachelor of Science (BSAE)

The undergraduate curriculum in aerospace engineering sciences is designed to prepare students to advance to a distinguished professional career in the aerospace industry or for graduate school, consistent with our stated program educational objectives. In particular, this involves providing students with an interdisciplinary systems perspective of aerospace engineering. The curriculum accomplishes these goals by: 

• providing a strong basis in mathematics, science and engineering fundamentals; 
• extending these fundamentals to advanced topics in aerospace engineering; 
• complementing the engineering education with sufficient exposure to the humanities and social sciences; and 
• beginning and ending in major design experiences that stress an interdisciplinary systems perspective. 

AES students are also encouraged to consider a technical minor or double major in electrical engineering, computer science, applied math, engineering physics, astrophysical and planetary sciences, or atmospheric and oceanic sciences. In most cases, the junior- and senior-level courses required for the above-mentioned minors can be applied to the technical elective requirements. 

For students having sufficient ability and interest, planning for graduate study should begin by the start of the junior year. Such a plan should consider the foreign language requirements of appropriate graduate schools and an advanced mathematics program. Students who wish to combine the business and aerospace engineering sciences curricula are advised to consider obtaining the BS degree in aerospace and a master’s degree in business rather than a combined BS degree. 

For more information, visit the department's Prospective Students webpage.

Requirements

The Bachelor of Science curriculum in Aerospace Engineering Sciences is revised annually to keep up with  advances in technology, to make use of new educational methodologies and to satisfy current program accreditation criteria. A minimum of 128 credit hours is required. For up-to-date program requirements, visit the Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering Sciences web page.

Note: This major cannot be combined with a BS in Integrated Design Engineering with an aerospace engineering emphasis.

In addition, students must meet the general undergraduate degree requirements of the College of Engineering and Applied Science.

Required Courses and Credits

Prerequisites and Passing Grades

The minimum passing grade for a course that is a prerequisite for another required course is C-. If a grade of D+ or lower is earned in a course which is a prerequisite to another, the student may not register for the subsequent course until the first grade has been raised to a C- or higher.

The minimum passing grade for a course that is not specifically a prerequisite for another required course is D-.

The Ann and HJ Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences (AES) reserves the right to drop students enrolled in ASEN courses who have not met the minimum prerequisite grade requirements. It is the student's responsibility to communicate with the department if summer coursework and/or transfer credit will be used to meet the prerequisite requirement.

Recommended Four-Year Plan of Study

Learning Outcomes

Upon completing the program, students are expected to be able to:

• Establish themselves in professional careers or receive a graduate degree.
• Demonstrate ethical leadership, project management and/or innovation.
• Play significant roles in the research and development of engineering systems and products.
• Identify, formulate and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science and mathematics.
• Apply engineering design principles to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental and economic factors.
• Communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
• Recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental and societal contexts.
• Function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks and meet objectives.
• Develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.
• Acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.
• Knowledgeable in the professional context of the practice of aerospace engineering and the expectations of new graduates in aerospace engineering organizations, including an awareness of ethics issues, economics and the business environment.
• Knowledgeable in the history of aerospace engineering, providing a perspective on current events.
• Knowledgeable in aerospace engineering as a highly multidisciplinary endeavor, requiring a systems perspective to integrate technologies and manage complexity.
• Knowledgeable in major principles and scientific methods underlying the technologies comprising aerospace vehicles and systems.

Bachelor's–Accelerated Master's Degree Program(s)

The bachelor's–accelerated master's (BAM) degree program options offer currently enrolled CU Boulder undergraduate students the opportunity to receive a bachelor's and master's degree in a shorter period of time. Students receive the bachelor's degree first but begin taking graduate coursework as undergraduates (typically in their senior year).

Because some courses are allowed to double count for both the bachelor's and the master's degrees, students receive a master's degree in less time and at a lower cost than if they were to enroll in a stand-alone master's degree program after completion of their baccalaureate degree. In addition, staying at CU Boulder to pursue a bachelor's–accelerated master's program enables students to continue working with their established faculty mentors.