MSAA Course Selection, Registration, and Degree Requirements

MSAA Degree Requirements

The MSAA degree requirements are distributed across the following categories. A list of recommended courses for each area of concentration is provided below. Descriptions for all courses can be found in the course catalog. In order for a course to count toward your degree, it must be passed with a grade of 2.7 or higher.

1.  Analytical: An approved sequence consisting of three graduate-level analytical/math courses. (~15 credits)

2.  Core Coursework: Five graduate-level aerospace courses appropriate to your area of concentration. (~15 credits)

3.  Breadth Electives: Two courses outside your area of concentration. These courses must be from two different areas. For example, a student focusing in fluids could take a controls and structures breadth elective, but not two controls breadth electives.

4.  Master's Thesis or Additional Coursework (Students admitted for Autumn 2020 or later must complete a thesis)

   1. Master's Thesis: While completing your thesis work, enroll in AA 700. (9 credits minimum) OR

   2. Additional Coursework: Complete an additional three courses in your area of concentration. (9 credits)

Time-to-Degree: Assuming continuous enrollment (autumn, winter, spring) and satisfactory academic performance, students can finish in two years/six academic quarters.

Recommended Coursework and Sample Plans

(Required for students admitted for Autumn 2020 or later. Official degree requirements for students admitted prior to Autumn 2020 are outlined in your degree audit.)

Recommended coursework and accompanying sample plans are available for each area of concentration. These plans are meant to provide a starting point for you to plan your academic coursework. It is important to note that the sample plans do not include the "Additional Coursework" requirements. Please consult with your faculty adviser and Paul about how to fit the sample plan to your interests.

• Controls

• Fluids

• Integrated Flight Sciences & Control

• Plasmas

• Structures

Recommended Breadth Electives

Controls Courses
AA 447-Controls in Aerospace Systems
AA 516-Stability and Control of Flight Vehicles
AA 528-Spacecraft Dynamics and Control

Fluids Courses
AA 504-Compressible Fluid Mechanics
AA 507-Incompressible Fluid Mechanics
AA 543- Computational Fluid Dynamics of Compressible Flows

Plasma Courses
AA 405-Intro to Aerospace Plasmas
AA 529-Space Propulsion

Structures Courses
AA 530-Mechanics of Solids
AA 532-Mechanics of Composite Materials
AA 540-Finite Element Analysis I

Interdisciplinary Course
AA 527-Space Power Systems

Registration Information

Here are the instructions on how to register: Registration Resources - Office of the University Registrar.