The Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering can be earned in one of three major areas: aerodynamics and fluid dynamics, aerospace structures, and combustion and propulsion. Because the purpose of each program is to prepare the student for either a challenging professional career in industry or for further graduate study, the programs do not permit narrow specialization. Emphasis is on required course work in several disciplines in which an advanced-degree engineer in a typical industrial position is expected to have knowledge and problem-solving expertise beyond that normally obtained during an undergraduate engineering education.

1. AEROSPACE GRADUATE PROGRAM OVERVIEW
ENGINEERING
MASTER OF SCIENCE MASTER OF SCIENCE DEGREE PROGRAM M.S. CURRICULUM
The program of study leading to the master’s
The master of science degree can be earned in one of three major areas: aerodynamics
Areas of Specialization: degree in aerospace engineering is offered in
and fluid dynamics, aerospace structures and materials, and combustion and propulsion. the three listed areas of specialization. The
Aerodynamics and Fluid Because the purpose of each program is to prepare the student for either a challeng- minimum program requirements consist of nine
Dynamics ing professional career in industry or for further graduate study, the programs do not credit hours of core courses, six credit hours of
mathematics and 15 credit hours (which may
Aerospace Structures permit narrow specialization. Emphasis is on required course work in several disciplines
include six credit hours of thesis) of electives.
and Materials in which an advanced-degree engineer in a typical industrial position is expected to have Within the 15 credit hours of electives, six credit
knowledge and problem-solving expertise beyond that normally obtained during an hours of course work are restricted electives.
Combustion and The department maintains a list of restricted
undergraduate engineering education.
Propulsion electives for each specialization.
The master of science degree can be earned on either a full-time or a part-time basis.
The nine credit hours of core courses must be
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Full-time students can complete the program in a minimum of three semesters (four in chosen in consultation with the student’s adviser
the case of graduate student assistants). Students beginning their course work during from one of the lists below.
the spring semester will be able to register for full course loads, although the commence-
ACTING HEAD Aerodynamics and Fluid Dynamics
ment of thesis work will normally be delayed. MAE 5110 Continuum Mechanics
Paavo Sepri, Ph.D., Head MAE 5120 Aerodynamics of Wings
Graduate student assistants are required to take the one-week teaching seminar offered
PROFESSOR and Bodies
in mid-August each year. MAE 5130 Viscous Flows
T. Dwayne McCay, Ph.D.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS MAE 5140 Experimental Fluid Dynamics
ASSOCIATE PROFESSORS MAE 5150 Computational Fluid Dynamics
An applicant should have an undergraduate major in a field related to aerospace MAE 5180 Turbulent Flows
David C. Fleming, Ph.D. engineering. Applicants whose bachelor’s degrees are in other fields are normally
Chelakara S. Subramanian, Ph.D. Aerospace Structures and Materials
required to take some undergraduate course work in addition to the program described
MAE 5050 Finite Element Fundamentals
below, as determined by the department head. Applications are also invited from gradu- MAE 5410 Elasticity
ates with undergraduate majors in the physical sciences or mathematics. In these cases, MAE 5430 Design of Aerospace Structures
at least one year of undergraduate course work in aerospace engineering is normally MAE 5460 Fracture Mechanics and
required before starting the master of science program. In evaluating an international Fatigue of Materials
MAE 5470 Principles of Composite Materials
application, due consideration is given to academic standards in the country where the MAE 5480 Structural Dynamics
undergraduate studies have been performed.
Combustion and Propulsion
Master’s applicants should take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test. MAE 5130 Viscous Flows
Applicants from foreign countries must meet the same requirements as applicants from MAE 5150 Computational Fluid Dynamics
the United States. MAE 5310 Combustion Fundamentals
MAE 5320 Internal Combustion Engines
General admission requirements and the process for applying are presented in the MAE 5350 Gas Turbines
Graduate Information and Regulations section of the University Catalog. MAE 5360 Hypersonic Air-breathing Engines
Electives are selected from these course
DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
offerings and appropriate courses in
The Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering is offered with both thesis and nonthesis mathematics, in consultation with the student’s
options. Each option requires a minimum of 30 credit hours of course work. Prior to the adviser and committee. The topics of emphasis
completion of nine credit hours, the student must submit for approval a master’s degree for aerospace engineering in the three areas
of specialization include aerodynamics,
program plan to indicate the path chosen and the specific courses to be taken. For the
computational fluid dynamics, experimental fluid
thesis option, up to six credit hours of thesis work may be included in the 30 credit dynamics, flow instability theory, combustion,
hours’ requirement. The thesis can be primarily analytical, computational or experimen- aerospace propulsion and power, aerospace
tal; or it can be some combination of these. In each case, students must demonstrate structures, composite materials, fracture
mechanics and fatigue of materials.
the ability to read the appropriate engineering literature, to learn independently and to
express themselves well technically, both orally and in writing. For the nonthesis option, a PH.D. CURRICULUM
student may replace the thesis with additional elective courses and a final comprehensive The doctoral program of study must be
approved by the student’s advisory committee
examination, following approval of a written petition submitted to the department head.
and the department head. Considerable latitude
Generally, students wishing to pursue an academic career are encouraged to choose the is allowable in course selection, although
thesis option. appropriate advanced courses are expected
to form a part of the student’s program. A
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY DEGREE PROGRAM representative distribution of these courses
taken beyond the bachelor’s degree should
The doctor of philosophy degree program is offered for students who wish to carry out
include, as a minimum, five courses in the
advanced research in any of the three areas of specialization listed under the master of major area and four, three and three courses
science program. Other research areas within the field of aerospace engineering, which (in any combination) in the two related areas
may be very actively pursued elsewhere, may not correlate well with current faculty inter- and mathematics. These choices provide for the
selection of three additional courses as electives.
ests and facility capabilities at Florida Tech and, therefore, may not be viable fields for
The following illustrates a representative
doctoral study at this university. doctoral program of study beyond the bachelor’s
degree.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Major Area (Specialization) ..........................15
A candidate for the doctoral program in aerospace engineering will normally have com- Two Related Areas (Specializations)
pleted a master’s degree in aerospace or mechanical engineering and have adequate and Mathematics......................................30
preparation in areas of fundamental science and mathematics. Alternatively, a student Electives .........................................................9
College of Engineering Dissertation (includes 6 credit hours
Department of Mechanical enrolled in the master’s program may apply to work directly toward the doctoral degree
thesis, if completed) ................................36
and Aerospace Engineering after completing at least 18 credit hours of graduate course work at Florida Tech with a TOTAL CREDITS REQUIRED 90
150 West University Boulevard cumulative grade point average of at least 3.5. Selected course offerings from other engineering
and science programs can be taken to fulfill
Melbourne, Florida 32901-6975 Doctoral applicants should have superior academic records, provide letters of recom- the elective requirements. Each student takes
(321) 674-8092 mendation and take the Graduate Record Examination General Test. electives from the course listings and from
www.fit.edu General admission requirements and the process for applying are presented in the Gradu- mathematics based on his or her areas of
interest and in consultation with his or her
ate Information and Regulations section of the University Catalog. committee.
GA-187-405I Degrees continued on reverse

2. Degrees continued from front
RESEARCH ACTIVITIES
AND FACILITIES DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
The research facilities of the aero-
The degree of doctor of philosophy is conferred primarily in recognition of creative
space engineering program include
accomplishment and the ability to investigate scientific or engineering problems inde-
laboratories in energy research,
pendently, rather than for completion of a definite curriculum. The program consists of
fluid mechanics and aerodynamics,
advanced studies and research leading to a significant contribution to the knowledge
combustion and propulsion, metal-
lurgy and solid mechanics, system of a particular problem. A student’s research may have analytical, computational or
dynamics and control, instrumen- experimental components, or some combination of these. Each student is expected to
tation and applied laser research, complete an approved program of study beyond that required for a master’s degree, pass
computer-aided design and computa- the comprehensive examination (both written and oral parts), present a dissertation pro-
tional research. Other laboratories posal acceptable to the student’s committee, complete a program of significant original
around the campus can also be used research, and prepare and defend a dissertation detailing the research work.
by aerospace engineering gradu- The program consists of 90 credit hours of study beyond the bachelor’s degree or 60
ate students performing advanced credit hours beyond the master’s degree. Candidates from both the thesis and nonthesis
research. master’s programs may be admitted into the doctoral program. However, students from
Funded research activities of the the second category must have demonstrated exceptional potential for advanced study
aerospace and mechanical engineer- to be admitted. Of the 90 credit hours, 36 shall be for dissertation registration, although
ing faculty have included studies of six credit hours of successfully completed master’s thesis registration will normally be
efficient heat transfer and insulation accepted into this category.
mechanisms in building environ-
The purpose of the comprehensive examination is to cover the student’s major field of
ments; combustion in porous media;
study and related fields important to the major field. The examination is given when, in
advanced heating, ventilation and
the judgment of the student’s advisory committee, the student has had sufficient prepa-
air-conditioning; fuel systems;
computations of radiative trans- ration in his/her field of study by completing significant course work in at least three
port; computational mechanics with areas of specialization, as well as in mathematics, and by initiating doctoral research.
emphasis on damage mechanisms The examination must normally be taken before the end of the student’s fourth academic
in laminated composite structures; semester after admission into the doctoral program. The written portion of the examina-
crashworthiness of aircraft struc- tion consists of individual parts given by each member of the advisory committee. These
tures; computation of flows in tur- written examinations are intended to cover each of the student’s areas of specializa-
bine blade environments; turbulent tion and applied mathematics. The written portion of the comprehensive examination is
boundary-layer structure with flexible followed by an oral component that provides the advisory committee an opportunity to
roughness; experimental studies of complete the examinations in each of the student’s areas of study. Subsequent to com-
pressure and/or temperature-sensi- pletion of both written and oral components of the comprehensive examination, a dis-
tive paints; material characterization sertation proposal must be submitted to the student’s advisory committee for evaluation.
using CW and short-pulse lasers; Upon determining that the proposed research is of doctoral quality and that completion is
analysis and computation of natural feasible, the student is advanced to candidacy for the doctoral degree.
convection; study of leaks in cryo-
General degree requirements are presented in the Graduate Information and Regulations
genic seals; and turbulent transport
section of the University Catalog.
of moisture contained in air streams.
Other studies have involved convec-
tion and diffusion of radon gas in
porous media, smart composite
structures with embedded sensors
and optimization of composites.
Laboratories include the Fluid
Dynamics Laboratory and the Aero-
space Structures Laboratory. The
Fluid Dynamics Laboratory features
a low-speed, low-turbulence wind
tunnel of open-return type, with a
square test section 0.535 m on a
side and 1.6 m long. The speed FINANCIAL AID Florida Tech is the only comprehensive, FOR MORE INFORMATION
range is from zero to 42 m/s. The Graduate student assistantships for independent scientific and technological To obtain more detailed information
mean turbulence level is a few hun- instruction and research are available university in the southeast. Supported by about this Graduate Program or to
dredths of 1 percent at the lowest to well-qualified master’s and doctoral both industry and the community, Florida obtain application materials, visit
tunnel speeds. The Aerospace Struc- degree students. Assistantships carry Tech is the recipient of many research our home page at www.fit.edu/grad
tures Laboratory features a drop- stipends plus a tuition waiver. In some or the University Catalog at
grants and contracts, a number of which
tower for impact testing of structures
cases, a tuition waiver alone may be provide financial support for graduate www.fit.edu/catalog, or contact:
and materials. This laboratory also
awarded for a limited amount of service. students. Florida Institute of Technology
has a shaker table for the vibration
Assistantships for master’s degree Office of Graduate Admissions
testing of structures. There are also LOCATION
students are normally for an academic 150 W. University Blvd.
ovens, vacuum pumps and other Melbourne is located on the central east
paraphernalia needed for the custom year; assistantships for doctoral stu- Melbourne, FL 32901-6975
coast of Florida. The area offers a delight-
preparation of material specimens dents are renewable on a yearly basis. (321) 674-8027
ful year-round subtropical climate and is
from advanced composite materials. (321) 723-9468/Fax
THE UNIVERSITY 10 minutes from the ocean and beaches.
(800) 944-4348
Aerospace engineering students also Florida Institute of Technology is a Kennedy Space Center and the massive
have access to other laboratories distinctive, independent university, NASA complex are just 45 minutes north
in the College of Engineering. Of founded in 1958 by a group of scien- of Melbourne. The city of Orlando, Walt
special interest in this context are the tists and engineers to fulfill the need Disney World, EPCOT and many other
laboratories listed in the mechanical for specialized, advanced educational attractions are one hour west of Florida
engineering portion of this catalog, opportunities of Florida’s Space Coast. Tech’s main campus.
because the aerospace engineering
program has many laboratory
courses in common with the Florida Institute of Technology is an independent university located in Melbourne, Florida. Florida Tech is accredited by
mechanical engineering program. the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Florida Tech admits students of any race, color, national or ethnic
origin, and does not discriminate on the basis of disability in admission or access to its programs.