Aerospace Engineering for a Changing World

This course introduces the fundamentals of aerospace engineering while exploring how it can be harnessed to solve challenges like global transportation and climate monitoring to satellite communications and space exploration. Students will engage in hands-on design challenges, team-based problem solving, and real-world case studies as they learn the principles of aerodynamics, propulsion, orbital mechanics, and materials science. Through the lens of sustainability, global equity, and technological advancement, they'll consider how aerospace engineering can support environmental monitoring, disaster relief, and future colonization of space.

*Additional $195 supplemental course fee per student for lab materials

With a mix of classroom exploration, interactive labs, and engineering simulations, students will gain insight into what it takes to launch, fly, and innovate — all while thinking critically about how aerospace technology can shape a better future.

Example Activities & Projects:

• Glider Design Lab: Build and test model gliders to explore principles of lift, drag, and thrust.
• Mars Habitat Design Sprint: Develop a concept for a sustainable living environment on another planet, considering gravity, materials, and energy systems.
• Aerospace for Good Case Study: Analyze real-world aerospace applications in disaster response, climate science, or low-orbit internet access.

Course Outcomes:

By the end of the program, students will be able to:

1. Understand key concepts in aerospace engineering, including aerodynamics, propulsion, and orbital mechanics.
2. Apply the engineering design process to real-world challenges in aerospace and space systems.
3. Conduct hands-on experiments and simulations to test hypotheses and refine designs.
4. Explore the role of aerospace technologies in addressing global challenges like climate change, disaster relief, and sustainable infrastructure.
5. Collaborate effectively in engineering teams and present solutions with clarity and confidence.

Prerequisites:

• To be successful in this course, students should have completed Advanced Algebra, Geometry, and Pre-Calculus courses.
• Prior coursework in physics strongly recommended.