Bachelors of Science in Aerospace Engineering

The Aerospace Engineering program at UCI delivers an educational program of study that prepares its graduates to become intellectual leaders in industry, government, and academia. Graduates of our programs are grounded in scientific, mathematical, and technical knowledge through coursework that keeps pace with current relevant technologies; they have developed the ability to analyze, synthesize, and design engineering systems through their immersion in the problem-based activities of this research university; and, by means of general education courses, they have enhanced their ability to communicate and have acquired an understanding and appreciation for other areas of human intellectual achievement.
 

Program Educational Objectives

Graduates of the program will have the professional and scientific education that allows them to be successful as career engineers and in the most demanding graduate programs. Specifically, they will be able to:

1. function in professional environments in industry, government, and academia applying and building upon engineering science knowledge, problem-solving skills, and communication skills;
2. function as members of teams and in leadership roles applying ethical standards including the AIAA code of ethics within and beyond traditional Aerospace Engineering disciplines; and
3. remain current with technology and contemporary scientific and societal issues, and consequently improve skills and knowledge through a lifelong process of learning.

Program educational objectives are those aspects of engineering that help shape the curriculum; achievement of these objectives is a shared responsibility between the student and UCI.

The undergraduate Aerospace Engineering curriculum includes a core of mathematics, physics, and chemistry. Engineering courses in fundamental areas constitute much of the remaining curriculum. A few technical electives allow the undergraduate student to specialize somewhat or to pursue broader understanding. A senior capstone design experience culminates the curriculum.
 

Student Outcomes:

• An ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering
• An ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data
• An ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs within realistic constraints such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety, manufacturability, and sustainability
• An ability to function on multidisciplinary teams
• An ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems
• An understanding of professional and ethical responsibility
• An ability to communicate effectively
• The broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global, economic, environmental, and societal context
• A recognition of the need for, and an ability to engage in life-long learning
• A knowledge of contemporary issues
• An ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice.

Rules for Selecting Technical Elective Courses:

1. Students must select a minimum of 8 units of technical electives, incorporating at least 1 unit of design.  
2. Any upper-division course in the MAE department that is not a core AE course can be used as a technical elective.
3. With approval of the Undergraduate Advisor, AE students may choose technical elective units from other departments' upper-division courses that have primarily technical content. The following courses are preapproved, and can be taken without requesting the approval of the AE Undergraduate Advisor:
   • ENGR 7A & 7B*
   • CEE125
   • CEE160
   • ENGR165
   • EECS152A
   • EECS152B
   • BME111
   • BME120
   • BME121
   • Stats67
   • CompSci 131
   • Math 112A, 112B, 112C, 114A
   • Physics 111A, 111B, 112A, 112B.

* ENGR 7A-7B can be counted as 4 units of technical electives.  ENGR 7A-7B is available only to first year students in Fall and Winter quarters.    Both ENGR 7A-7B must be taken to be counted as a technical elective.