The University of Texas at Austin
College of Engineering

Undergraduate Areas of Study and Research

The Department of Aerospace Engineering & Engineering Mechanics offers two technical areas of study. Typically, an undergraduate student will choose an area of focus at the end of their third year. Although students are allowed to take the coursework for both technical areas, they are encouraged to use their technical electives to further explore their main area of interest. The two technical areas include:

Atmospheric Flight: This area, also called Aeronautics, provides the student with a well-rounded program of study emphasizing the major disciplines of aerodynamics, propulsion, structures, design, performance, and control of aircraft. These subjects are treated at a fundamental level that lays a foundation for work in a broad variety of specialties in the aircraft industry. This option is intended primarily for the undergraduate student whose primary interest is aircraft.

Space Flight: This area, also called Astronautics, provides the student with a well-rounded program of study which provides a background in the traditional areas of fluid mechanics, materials, structures, propulsion, controls, and flight mechanics, while also offering the student a chance to learn about the space environment, attitude determination/control, orbital mechanics, mission design, and spacecraft systems/design. These subjects are treated at a fundamental level that lays a foundation for work in a broad variety of specialties in space-related industries. This option is intended primarily for the undergraduate student whose primary interest is space and spacecraft.

Undergraduate students are also encouraged to be involved in the research field of their interest during their time on campus. Involvement will be for personal advancement, for academic credit, or sometimes there are paid positions within the department! All of our faculty members fall under specific areas of research which include:

  • Dynamic Systems Theory
  • Optimal Control Theory and Applications
  • Orbital Mechanics
  • Guidance, Navigation, and Control

For more information on the research areas, centers, and laboratories, please visit the Research page at: http://www.ae.utexas.edu/researchAreas/index.html