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A field that’s out of this world

As an aerospace engineer, you’ll dive into the thrills of space travel and exploration, whether it's with rockets, cutting edge drones or unmanned vehicles. Plus, you'll venture into the world of futuristic ground vehicles like hovercrafts, hydrofoil ships and lightning fast trains. Get ready to rocket into an exhilarating future with an aerospace engineering degree.

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Bachelor of Science Aerospace Engineering

Study the basic principles of aerodynamics, solid mechanics and structures, stability and control, thermal sciences and propulsion. The curriculum consists of a combination of fundamentals, including mathematics and sciences, and practical laboratory experience which provides you access to modern engineering tools. Aeronautical engineering subjects are to be the focus of the discipline along with significant exposure to space-related topics.

Experiential Learning

Members of DBF with a drone

Design, Build, Fly (DBF)

Bringing WVU students from all majors together to design, fabricate, and fly unmanned, electric-powered, radio-controlled aircraft (UAVs) which can best meet the specified mission profile set forth by The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) DBF Committee. You will learn skills to accomplish various tasks that allow us to travel to and compete in the annual AIAA DBF Competition held in the Spring.

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Students building a project

WVU MICROGRAVITY

Join the efforts of clubs like Microgravity, where you will conduct research and work collaboratively to develop a setting where functional 3D printing can co-exist in a reduced gravity environment.

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Robotics Club VEX competition

Robotics Club

This student-run organization is dedicated to bring you into a diverse thinking group of students from all majors and develop skills to help each other grow in knowledge and community centered around robotics.

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Student working on 3d printer

Materials Advantage & Materials Research Society (MA/MRS)

The WVU chapters of Material Advantage and Materials Research Society work together to build awareness and interest in materials science. Throughout the year, you will participate in various outreach programs and travel to materials related events and venues. Come to our next meeting to learn more about us and our activities.

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Students working in aerospace engineering lab

American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)

AIAA is open to all students interested in aerospace engineering. You will attend guest seminars on aerospace engineering topics as well as field trips to an aerospace industry locations. AIAA meets monthly to discuss aerospace topics, fundraising ideas, and community service. We also organize at least one trip per school year to places like museums, air shows, or camping.

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Students working on vehicle

Formula SAE

West Virginia University Mountaineer Racing give you the opportunity to design and build highly competitive Formula SAE® race cars while preparing you to be the next generation of transformative engineers and business leaders for the automotive industry and related fields.

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Designing rockets that reach for the stars

During in the 2022 Spaceport America Cup, West Virginia University’s Experimental Rocketry team was highly successful, earning 1st place in the 30,000 foot Student Researched and Designed Solid Fueled category and 2nd in the SDL Payload competition. This achievement marked the team's first successful 30,000 foot competition flight, as well as its first fully functional scientific payload deployment.

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Focus Areas

AERODYNAMICS

Predict and analyze the forces and resulting motion generated by the flow of air, water and other fluids around solid objects to aid in the creation of automobiles and weapon systems.

GUIDANCE AND CONTROL

Create software for flight control, including navigation and closed-loop feedback systems that allow users to maintain aerodynamic stability while guiding and maneuvering aircraft through a broad range of flight conditions.

SPACE FLIGHT SYSTEMS

Design various spacecrafts based on mission profiles from lift-off to re-entry, taking various mission objectives, communication protocols and management issues into consideration.

PROPULSION

Be immersed in a variety of systems used to generate thrust for different types of airborne, waterborne and space vehicles, like air-breathing jet engines, gas thrusters and engines for launch vehicles and weapons systems.

STRUCTURES AND MATERIALS

Rely on numerical and structural analysis software, characterization facilities and their knowledge of material science to minimize the structural weight of aircraft, watercraft and space vehicles without degrading their strength and durability.

Undergraduate Research

Undergraduate research is a great way for you to gain experiential learning to stand out from the crowd in the workforce or build a portfolio for graduate studies. Aerospace engineering students have many areas to explore.

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Nature of Program

Aerospace travel, space exploration, and flight of manned or unmanned vehicles continue to gain significance. In aerospace engineering, you'll get involved with the science and technology of advanced vehicles, including aircraft, rockets, missiles, and spacecraft. Although a specialized branch of engineering, it is also diverse. Aerospace technology has expanded to include design and development of earthbound vehicles such as ground-effect machines, hydrofoil ships, and high-speed rail-type systems. Combining the fundamentals — mathematics, sciences, and practical laboratory experience — you will have access to state-of-the-art labs and modern engineering tools to focus on aeronautical engineering subjects with significant exposure to space-related topics. 

COURSEWORK

In aerospace engineering students focus on the disciplines encountered in the design of aerospace vehicles, missiles, rockets, and spacecraft.  Study the basic principles of aerodynamics, solid mechanics and structures, stability and control, thermal sciences, and propulsion and participate in senior capstones in flight vehicle design course providing an experiential learning opportunity.

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Real research for real problems

Amina wanted to conduct real research in cutting-edge labs — and she’s doing that and more at WVU. She’s a mechanical and aerospace engineering student working alongside award-winning faculty mentors and leading her peers in student government.

Get Hired

Individuals with aerospace engineering degrees have a global net to cast when looking for employment in their field. These are just some of the companies and government agencies that have recently hired our graduates:

Northrup Grumman, American Airlines, Boeing, Aurora, Eaton, U.S. Navy, First Energy, Fiat, Kraft, Toyota, NASA, Ford and NAVSEA

Hired

Meet one of our students who has gained experience in the workforce.

Paislee Adlington

Paislee Adlington

Paislee Adlington, a dual mechanical and aerospace engineering student, created a path of success through her involvement in student organizations — Society of Women Engineers, WVU experimental rocketry club and amateur radio club — that lead her to create new passions and pursue new areas in engineering. Her drive and focus landed her an internship with Aurora Flight Sciences.

The Future Will Be Built By Those Who Are Willing To Go After It.

Let's Go!

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Questions?

For more information about the aerospace engineering program,
contact Jason Gross by email jason.gross@mail.wvu.edu or by phone 304-293-3111.