Aerospace Engineering Major

• What is Aerospace Engineering?
• What Kinds of Students Major in Aerospace Engineering?
• What Courses Do Aerospace Engineering Majors Take?
• List of Aerospace Engineering Jobs
• What is the Median Salary Range for Aerospace Engineering Careers?
• College and University Departments to Consider

What is Aerospace Engineering?

Aerospace engineers study the creation of aircraft and spacecraft that operate above the earth's surface. The discipline of aerospace engineering applies the latest technologies to improve above ground transportation. Aerospace technology involves students in the problems of design, construction, and operation of aircraft and spacecraft. The operation and design of such vehicles is a challenge because they operate in hostile environments and because they must maintain light weight, high efficiency and excellent reliability. These requirements are also true for all manner of vehicles including ground transportation vehicles, high-speed trains, over-water transportation, and automated motor vehicles.

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What Kinds of Students Major in Aerospace Engineering?

Students majoring in Aerospace Engineering are those with a strong aptitude toward math. Aerospace Engineering involves many core engineering courses along with math and science. Students who like science and mathematics may enjoy the field. Aerospace engineering students will usually have a strong inclination toward working with space travel, airplanes and other vehicles.

Is Aerospace Engineering the right major for you?
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What Courses Do Aerospace Engineering Majors Take?

The required and elective courses you would take for Aerospace Engineering majors vary considerably among institutions. Courses are listed here that are illustrative of the breadth of topics you are likely to experience were you to major in this field.

Aerodynamics	Advanced Physics
Aerospace Engineering	Aircraft and Spacecraft Propulsion
Atmospheric Sciences	Materials Sciences
Performance Of Aircraft and Spacecraft	Propulsion Systems
Structural Dynamics

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List of Potential Jobs in Aerospace Engineering

These professions and professional organizations illustrate the types of positions you might qualify for if you complete this major. Some majors are more directly related to employment than others, however. You should consider the likelihood of employment after graduation carefully, if you do not plan to go on for graduate work in a field. Even with the completion of graduate work in some fields, however, employment is difficult, so you should determine what the prospects are for this or any major. Employment possibilities are often enhanced by the selecting employment-related courses and by the enrollment in second major or in a minor.

Aircraft Design and Testing	Aircraft Maintenance
Astronauts	Automotive Design
Avionics	Missile Design and Testing
NASA Engineers	Pilot
Spacecraft Design and Testing

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What is the Median Salary Range for Aerospace Engineering Careers?

U.S. Median Salary(starting):$59,600

U.S. Median Salary(mid-career):$109,000

Note: These numbers are national averages so you could make more or less than these amounts. Actual expected salaries will vary depending on your chosen career path, experience, and even your geographic location. Are you interested in detailed information about the forecasted demand for a particular profession? Are you interested in the estimated salaries such positions are likely to pay? This government Web site allows you to search on a particular job, whether listed here or not, to give you this information.

Bureau of Labor Statistics

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Colleges and Universities offering majors in Aerospace Engineering

MyMajors complete list has 135 schools in the USA with a major in Aerospace Engineering.
-View the national listing!

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