Curriculum
The aerospace engineering curriculum provides a strong fundamental background in engineering, mathematics, and science, along with the ability to apply this fundamental knowledge to the analysis and design of future aircraft and spacecraft. It also prepares students for lifelong learning and the attainment of their career goals in the field of aerospace engineering and in a wide range of other areas.
The concepts of system design are introduced early in the curriculum and culminate in the yearlong senior capstone design experience (AE 442, AE 443), in which students work in teams to respond to a design challenge from industry, government, or a professional engineering society.
A total of 12 hours of technical electives allows the student to pursue technical areas of personal interest.
The prerequisites for each course are in parentheses in the table below.
| First Semester | Hours |
|---|---|
| AE 100 – Intro Aerospace Engineering | 2 |
| AE 140 – Computer Aided Design | 2 |
| CHEM 102/103 – General Chemistry | 4 |
| ENG 100 – Engineering Lecture | 1 |
| MATH 221 - Calculus I | 4 |
| Social Sciences/Humanities or1 RHET 105 – Principles of Composition | 3-4 |
| Total | 16-17 |
| Second Semester | Hours |
|
CS 101 – Intro Computing: Engineering and Science |
3 |
|
SOCIAL SCIENCE/HUMANITIES ELECTIVE |
3 |
|
MATH 231 – Calculus II (MATH 221) |
3 |
|
PHYS 211 – Univ Physics, Mechanics (concurrent MATH 231) |
4 |
| RHET 105 – Principles of Composition or Social Sciences/Humanities1 | 4-3 |
| Total | 16-17 |
| First Semester | Hours |
|
MATH 241 – Calculus III (MATH 231) |
4 |
|
MSE 280 - Engineering Materials (CHEM 102/103, PHYS 211) |
3 |
|
PHYS 212 – Univ Physics, Elec & Mag (PHYS 211, concurrent MATH 241) |
4 |
|
TAM 210 – Statics (PHYS 211, concurrent MATH 241) |
2 |
| MATH - 257 - Linear Algebra with Computational Applications |
3 |
| Total | 16 |
| Second Semester | Hours |
|
AE 202 – Aerospace Flight Mechanics3 (concurrent TAM 212) |
3 |
|
MATH 285 – Intro to Differential Equations (MATH 241) |
3 |
|
ME 200 – Thermodynamics (MATH 241) |
3 |
|
TAM 212 - Introductory Dynamics (TAM 210) |
3 |
| Social Science /Humanities Elective1 |
3 |
| Social Science /Humanities Elective1 |
3 |
| Total | 17 |
| First Semester | Hours |
|
AE 311 – Incompressible Flow4 (Concurrent AE 202 and MATH 241) |
3 |
|
AE 321 – Mechs of Aerospace Structures4 (MATH 285, TAM 210) |
3 |
|
AE 352 – Aerospace Dynamical Systems4 (MATH 225, MATH 285, TAM 212) |
3 |
|
ECE 205 – Electric & Electronic Circuits5 (PHYS 212) |
3 |
| Social Science /Humanities Elective1 |
3 |
| Total | 15 |
| Second Semester | Hours |
|
AE 312 – Compressible Flow4 (AE 202, MATH 285, concurrent ME 300) |
3 |
|
AE 323 – Applied Aerospace Structures4 (MATH 241, MATH 285, TAM 210) |
3 |
|
AE 353 – Aerospace Control Systems4 (TAM 212, MATH 225, MATH 285) |
3 |
|
AE 370 – Aerospace Numerical Methods (Concurrent in AE 311 or AE 312, Concurrent in AE 321 or AE 323) |
3 |
| Free Elective |
4 |
| Total | 16 |
| First Semester | Hours |
|
AE 433 – Aerospace Propulsion (AE 312, PHYS 212) |
3 |
|
AE 442 – Aerospace Systems Design I6 (Concurrent AE 311, 323, 352) |
3 |
|
AE 460 - Aerodynamics & Propulsion Lab (AE 311, concurrent AE 433) |
2 |
|
AE 483 - Aerospace Decision Algorithms (AE 202, 352, 353, 370, IE 300) |
2 |
| Free Elective1 | 3 |
| Technical Elective/AE Elective1 |
3 |
| Total | 16 |
| Second Semester | Hours |
|
AE 443 – Aerospace Systems Design II6 (AE 442) |
3 |
|
AE 461 - Structures & Control Lab7 (AE 321, 352, concurrent in AE 323, AE 353) |
2 |
| Technical Elective/AE Elective1 | 9 |
| Free Elective1 |
3 |
| Total | 17 |
128 hours are required for graduation
- Elective credits totaling 36 hours are required. These include 12 hours of social science and humanities (including the campus General Education requirements), 6 hours of approved AE technical electives courses, 6 hours of approved AE or non-AE technical electives (up to 3 hours of technical electives may be from AE 497), and 10 hours of free electives.
Answers to some frequently asked scheduling questions:
- MATH 415 can be taken to replace MATH 257.
- AE 202 will be taught both semesters
- Junior-level courses 311/312 and 352/353 can be taken in any order. AE 321/323 need to be taken sequentially.
- ECE 205 can be taken any semester after PHYS 212.
- AE 443 sequence satisfies the General Education Advanced Composition requirement.
Undergraduate Contacts
Timothy Bretl
Undergraduate Programs
(217) 244-3126
tbretl@illinois.edu
Laura Ann Gerhold
Academic Advisor & Coordinator of Undergraduate Program
(217) 244-8671
gerhold@illinois.edu
Audrey Cochran
Academic Advisor
217-333-4629
hasken2@illinois.edu
All Grainger Engineering students work with a department academic adviser to develop a personalized curriculum plan to achieve their educational goals, specific to their needs and preparation.
However, a suggested sequence is available.