AEM Master's and Ph.D.Degree Requirements
Degrees Offered by Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics:
The Department of Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics (AEM) offers graduate programs leading to the following degrees:
- Aerosopace Engineering and Mechanics
- Aerosopace Engineering
Details of each of these programs is described in below.
There are three research areas within AEM to focus your studies on:
Within these areas individual faculty members have several research projects spanning numerous subjects.
Master's Degree Programs
Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics
Plan A Credit Requirements
- 30 credits of course work
- 14 or more in the major field
- 6 or more outside the Department
- 10 credits of thesis research
Plan B Credit Requirements
- 30 credits of course work
- 14 or more in the major field
- 6 or more outside the Department
- 3 credit project as part of degree
Other M.S. Requirements:
- NO MORE than 8 credits at the 4xxx level.
- At least one of the basic two course sequences in fluids, solids or dynamics.
- Mechanics majors should include graduate level course work in at least two subfields of mechanics.
- Aerospace majors must include course work in aerodynamics and airplane or space craft dynamics if this material was not covered in their undergraduate programs.
- A GPA of >2.8 for graduation
- Two semesters of colloquium attendance
- MUST pass a final oral exam. The exam consists of a presentation of the thesis or plan B project, and questioning based on courses listed in master's program.
It is expected that a student should complete the M.S. degree in 2 years, and in no more than 3 years.
Master of Aerospace Engineering
- The program must include a total of 14 credits, with 12 at the 5xxx or 8xxx level.
- The student must demonstrate understanding of the rudiments of aerodynamics and aircraft or spacecraft mechanics, either from previous study or from additional coursework in the graduate program.
Basic Sequences
- AEM 8201, 8202: Fluid Mechanics I, II
- AEM 5401, 8411: Dynamics
- AEM 5501, 5503: Solid Mechanics
Other sequences
- AEM 8401, 8421: Controls
- AEM 5251, 8252: Computational Fluid Mechanics
Other Information:
This program provides an additional year of professional education beyond the bachelor's degree. There are two plans: one requires a project and is similar to plan A for the Master of Science requirement; the other is coursework-only, similar to plan B, but without the project.
It is expected that a student should complete the M.A.E degree in 2 years, and in no more than 3 years.
Graduate School Masters Information and Requirements
Students are responsible for following both the AEM Program and the Graduate School requirements for degree completion. See also Graduate School Master's Degree Requirements at: http://www.catalogs.umn.edu/grad/gen/masters.html.See Degree Program Forms and Exams Section of this Handbook for Information on the necessary forms and steps to follow for the degree completion process.
More information on the Masters's Degree can be found online at: http://www.grad.umn.edu/current_students or by contacting the Graduate School by e-mail at: gsmast@umn.edu.
Doctorate of Philosophy
Program Requirements
42 credits of approved coursework
- At least 12 credits in a supporting program, which is composed of a coherent pattern of courses, possibly embracing several disciplines.
- Coursework that was used to fulfill the requirements for the master's degree also counted for the Ph.D.
- The program must include at least four courses in AEM at the 8xxx level, and no more than two courses at the 4xxx level.
- At least 24 thesis credits (AEM 8888) taken while writing thesis, and one additional course in a "breadth" area.
- 36 credits must be in approved coursework not including seminar credits. If seminar credits are used to meet the 42 minimum credit requirement, they must be in one-credit modules.
- A total of four semesters of colloquium attendance (can include semesters used to fulfill M.S. requirement).
- Five semesters of residency.
- For a minor, at least 12 credits in that field are required.
- Successful completion of three exams listed below.
It is expected that a student should complete the PhD degree in 4-5 years, and in no more than 6 years.
Written Preliminary Exam (WPE):
The WPE will be offered once each year during the week following Spring Semester break (early April).
One question is offered in each of the three focus areas of the department: fluid mechanics, continuum mechanics, and dynamics. Separate questions on computational mechanics and controls are also offered. In exceptional cases, a question from another area (e.g. mathematics) may be included if there are students with a coursework focus on that subject.
Students are required to answer two questions, including at least one from fluid mechanics, continuum mechanics, or dynamics. In the evaluation of a student’s performance on the exam, the faculty considers the answers to the exam questions as well as other information, such as performance in courses or in research.
Students usually take the exam during their first year of study in the AEM program. If a student does not pass the exam, one more attempt is allowed the following year. A student who does not take the exam during the first year of graduate study is allowed only one try during the second year.
Upon passing the exam and filing the attendant form with the Graduate School (see "Forms That Must Be Filed" ), the student becomes a Ph.D. candidate at the same time he/she continues study to complete the Masters degree.
Preliminary Oral Exam (POE):
A committee of at least four faculty members administers this oral exam. Three members should be from the AEM department, and one member should be from outside the department. The student, in consultation with his/her adviser, is responsible for forming the committee.
The exam usually includes a presentation of research plans and preliminary results. Students are then questioned about the research and material from graduate courses they have taken.
Students should take this exam as soon as most of their coursework is completed; that is, near the end of the second year or the beginning of the third year.
Final Oral Exam (Defense):
This exam consists of the student’s presentation and defense of his or her research.
A subcommittee of readers must approve the thesis before the exam is scheduled and, at the end of the exam, the full committee must accept the thesis.
The committee must contain at least four members, including three from the AEM department and one from outside the Department.
Graduate School Ph.D. Information and Requirements
Students are responsible for following both the AEM Program and the Graduate School requirements for degree completion. See Graduate School Ph.D. Degree Requirements at: http://www.catalogs.umn.edu/grad/gen/phd.html.See Degree Program Forms and Exams Section of this Handbook for Information on the necessary forms and steps to follow for the degree completion process.
More information on the Ph.D. Degree can be found online at: http://www.grad.umn.edu/current_students or by contacting the Graduate School by e-mail at: gsdoc@umn.edu
Last Modified:Friday, 31-Aug-2007 10:25:00 CDT
Last Modified: 2007-08-31 at 10:25:00 -- this is in International Standard Date and Time Notation
