M.S. in Aerospace Engineering - The University of Alabama - Overview
The Department of Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics at the University of Alabama
In 1837, the University of Alabama (UA) became the first university in the state and one of the first 5 in the nation to offer engineering classes. The university's College of Engineering also offered the first nationally accredited engineering program, and today remains a nationally recognized leader in high-quality education, innovative research, and service experiences.
The Department of Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics (AEM), housed within the College of Engineering, was developed in the 1930s. During World War II, thousands of pilots and ground crew were trained through the department's flight instruction program. The AEM department continues to be an important site for engineer training and education. Their programs train a range of engineering students in the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in today's engineering environment. The department's innovative and exciting research opportunities also work to improve the state's economic growth.
Access to a Multitude of Research Laboratories, Centers, and Institutions
AEM students have a multitude of opportunities for hands-on research experience that address the department's 3 main research areas: solid mechanics and structures, fluid mechanics, and dynamics and controls. Research related to solid mechanics and structures covers such areas as machine design, elasticity and plasticity, and stress analysis. Areas related to fluid mechanics include aerospace propulsion, transport phenomena, and transition and turbulence modeling. Students also choose to focus on dynamics and controls, which cover such areas as aeroacoustics, structural dynamics, and multidisciplinary modeling.
Students have access to 7 well-equipped UA research centers and institutions through the College of Engineering, and an additional 18 institutional and research laboratories through the AEM department itself. The Aerospace Structures Laboratory is equipped with a machine shop, composite materials laboratory, and servohydraulic testing machine. The High-Speed Fluid Mechanics Laboratory and Supersonic Tunnel houses a large supersonic wind tunnel used in studies related to flow control, high-speed boundary layers, missile aerodynamics, and reaction control.
Distance MS Degree in Aerospace Engineering
The University of Alabama offers a Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering (MSAE) through the College of Engineering and their distance-learning program. The distance degree offers students the knowledge, skills, and expertise necessary to succeed in the aerospace engineering field, and compete in the global job market, while giving them access to the expertise of UA faculty and the ability to interact with their peers.
MSAE students choose from a wide selection of courses offered within the program's 3 core areas of emphasis: flight dynamics, simulation, and controls; flight vehicle structures and materials; and aerodynamics and propulsion. Courses for the 30-hour program are delivered in several formats, including mailed DVDs, via the internet, and video-streaming seminars. Most distance students choose to earn their degrees by coursework only, but there is also the option to complete coursework with approved theses.
Graduates of the MSAE distance program include an executive VP at Lockheed Martin, a space shuttle pilot, and a NASA astronaut. Students interested in pursuing their degrees past the master's level have the option of enrolling in UA's doctoral program in aerospace engineering and mechanics.
Supported by Faculty Members with Extensive Research and Industry Experience
The AEM department has 17 faculty and staff members to instruct student work, including the College of Engineering Dean and the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs. Faculty members within the department have a wide range of professional and research experience. For instance, Dr. Stanley E. Jones is a university research professor and the AEM Department Head. He has authored more than 100 articles and 1 book related to his research in stress distributions, friction, and nonlinear materials. Dr. Amy Lang recently received a National Science Foundation (NSF) Small Grant and a provisional patent for her research related to boundary layer flow over biomimetic roughness geometry. Dr. Mark Barkley has a variety of consulting experiences to his credit, including co-authoring technical manuals for LMS Durability Technologies and TecMath North America.
Financial Aid Opportunities at the University of Alabama
The University of Alabama offers a multitude of resources, services, and information regarding straightforward and personalized financial aid opportunities. The Graduate School offers a selection of fellowships, departmental assistantships, and specific information about financial aid for women, minorities, and international students.Within the College of Engineering itself, students may be eligible for the Texaco Fellowship for chemical engineering students, or the Mercedes-Benz Graduate Fellowship Program, which gives recipients experience in leadership and management principles at the Mercedes-Benz plant at nearby Vance, Alabama.
University of Alabama -- Expanding in Size and Quality
The University of Alabama has been located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, since it was founded in 1831. UA is the state's first public college and continues to be Alabama's flagship university. Today, the university offers graduate degrees in more than 120 marketable fields of study.
The "US News and World Report" has repeatedly named UA among the top 50 public universities in the nation. "Kiplinger" regularly lists the university among the top 100 public universities that combine "great academics and affordable tuition." UA is also one of the top 5 public flagship universities for African-American student enrollment.