Here's some general information about Aerospace Engineering subject areas and careers. Cal Poly offers concentration courses in both Aeronautics and Astronautics:

Aeronautics focuses on systems that operate in the Earth's atmosphere and Astronautics on those operating in space. Within each division, your choice of a career path can take you on a journey through widely varying disciplines as you advance through the ranks of an organization.

Aerodynamics - The study of fluid motion around a body moving through the atmosphere at speeds that range from subsonic to hypersonic. Theoretical and experimental methods are developed to determine forces, moments, and heat transfer that can be applied to the design of aircraft, missiles, and space vehicles. The basic theory and techniques also find application in other areas such as high-speed ground transportation, hydrofoils, mechanics of blood flow, and noise generation.

Dynamics & Control - The study of techniques for aerospace vehicle guidance and the analysis of flight vehicle trajectories, orbits, and dynamic motion. This area deals more with the vehicle as a whole and how the subsystems and related technologies are integrated into the optimal design of a vehicle so that the mission requirements are met.

Propulsion - The study of basic principles of propulsion and the application of gas dynamics to internal flows. The Propulsion option involves the study of propulsion and propulsion devices. It is a study of basic principles of propulsion and the application of gas dynamics to internal flow and the analysis of the components of the various types of propulsion systems - diffuser, compressor, combustor, turbine, nozzle, feed systems, etc. Various propulsion systems are analyzed including: turbojet, fanjet, ramjet, scramjet, chemical rockets, electric rockets, and combinations.

Structures - The study of the principles of mechanics and analysis techniques necessary to ensure structural integrity of a vehicle, primarily an aircraft or spacecraft. The Structures option primarily involves courses in structural analysis, structural design, and solid mechanics that deal with the principles of mechanics and analysis techniques necessary to ensure structural integrity of a vehicle, primarily an aircraft or spacecraft. Response to, and failure of, both materials and structures under static and dynamic loads; stationary or transient thermal environments; radiation; and environmental corrosion are investigated theoretically and observed experimentally using photoelasticity, short-duration laser photography, and laser holographic interferometry. The techniques developed in these courses are by no means limited to aerospace applications even though the emphasis is in that area.

Design - As you begin to master the above specialties you will also learn how to integrate them in the development of viable aerospace systems.

So you want to be an Aerospace Engineer? Well, first off, lets get an idea of what you need to do to prepare for a program of study in Aerospace Engineering:

High School Students:

You should start focusing on your college education now! It's not too early. You will need to take as many math and English classes that are available to you at your high school. Most high schools offer Advanced Placement math and English courses and completing those courses would be best. You should take math through the highest level of calculus that is available to you. The Aerospace Engineering major requires a significant amount of math and physics background in order to understand the Aero specific courses. All Aero courses are based very much on math and physics so you must be prepared to focus your time and energy in those areas.

It is helpful, though not required, to take some sort of drafting course that includes an introduction to visualization, sketching, and drafting. A basic knowledge of hand tools shop practices, and shop safety would also be beneficial.

Think you got what it takes to be a successful aerospace engineering major?
Find out here.

 

Job Descriptions

Wondering what you'll be doing with all this knowledge?
Find out what some of our Cal Poly Aero graduates are doing on the job by clicking here.

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©2001, Aerospace Engineering, a department of the College of Engineering
Cal Poly State University, San Luis Obispo, Ca.
last modified on: 12/5/01