Aerospace Systems Engineering

Fundamentals

Note: This major is available only to domestic students.

The University of Akron’s Aerospace Systems Engineering Program teaches students how to design and build vehicles that fly, like rockets, satellites, and planes. Students learn engineering fundamentals, such as heat transfer, fluid mechanics, and thermodynamics, along with aerospace specific courses including avionics, aerospace propulsion, and fundamentals of flight.  

Students benefit from the program's strong emphasis on hands-on learning, practical experience, undergraduate research that is supported by faculty members with extensive backgrounds in both industry and research. This blend of theoretical knowledge and real-world application ensures that graduates are well-prepared for the dynamic field of aerospace engineering. 

More Information

Our faculty

  • are innovative and interactive
  • incorporate real engineering design challenges into courses
  • conduct research year-round in state-of-the-art facilities

Akron Advantage

Hands-on research

Experience mechanical engineering firsthand by working alongside faculty at one of our research facilities, including:

  • NSF I/UCRC Center for Tire Research (CenTiRe)
  • 3D Printing of Smart Structures Lab
  • Conquer Chiari Research Center
  • Acoustic/Elastic Composite Metamaterials Lab
  • Computational Aerodynamics Lab
  • Electrospun Polymer Adhesives Lab
  • Micro/Nano Engineering Lab
  • Microelectromechanical Systems Lab
  • Multi-scale Modeling of Damage and Failure of Materials Lab
  • High-Temperature Lab
  • Surface Engineering and Advanced Manufacturing Lab
  • Nonlinear Dynamics and Structural Mechanics Lab
  • Autonomous Systems Lab
  • Advanced Energy & Sensor Lab
  • Solid Mechanics Lab
  • Human Factors Engineering Lab

Real-world experience

Gain important practical professional experience through the optional cooperative education program in the engineering field of your choice. Through co-op, you’ll alternate semesters of work and school following your sophomore year. As an added benefit, you’ll earn a competitive salary.

Join one of the award-winning UA design competition teams popular with aerospace engineering students, like Aero Design or Akronauts Rocket Team .

Student organizations

Interact with other engineering students and professionals in the field through organizations and groups including:

  • American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
  • National Society of Black Engineers
  • Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers
  • Tau Beta Pi (engineering honors society)
  • Women in Engineering

Sample Curriculum


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Career Opportunities

The aerospace systems engineering degree provides students with a rigorous engineering background, and training in cost accounting, leadership and functioning in teams. The material presented gives students a breadth of knowledge that will serve them well in engineering or management positions.

Career outlook

Aerospace systems engineers design and build aircraft, missiles, systems for national defense, or spacecraft. Aerospace engineers are employed primarily in manufacturing, analysis and design, R&D, and the federal government.

Career Services

Career Services helps students and alumni explore and reach career goals. They connect students to employers for internships, jobs, and careers.