The Aerospace Engineering PhD program offers students the opportunity, through both coursework and research, to meet the highest standards of academic achievement in the core areas: Aerodynamics. Aerospace Systems Design. Astrodynamics and Space Applications, Dynamics and Control. Propulsion. Structures and Materials.
The Doctor of Philosophy degree in Aerospace Engineering is intended for students who have earned an MS or BS degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or a closely related field of Engineering.
The Aerospace Engineering PhD program requires a minimum of 72 credit hours beyond a bachelor's degree. This program requires 39 formal course credit hours minimum, 15 Dissertation (EAS 7980) credit hours minimum, and may include up to a total of 18 credit hours combined Directed Research (EAS 6918), Thesis (EAS 6971), or Doctoral Research (EAS 7919) and/or Independent Study (EAS 6908) with an approved Program of Study. At least 39 hours of the Program of Study must consist of formal coursework exclusive of Directed Research (EAS 6918), Thesis (EAS 6971), Doctoral Research (EAS 7919) and Independent Study (EAS 6908).
Students entering the program with a master's degree are required to complete 42 credit hours minimum, of which 15 credit hours minimum must be formal coursework. The remaining hours include 15 Dissertation (EAS 7980) credit hours minimum and up to a total of 12 credit hours combined Directed Research (EAS 6918), or Doctoral Research (EAS 7919) and/or Independent Study (EAS 6908) with an approved Program of Study.
Total Credit Hours Required: 72 Credit hours minimum beyond the bachelor's degree and 42 Credit hours minimum beyond the master's degree.
Program Prerequisites
Bachelor's or Master's degree in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering or closely related discipline.
Degree Requirements
Required Courses
6 Total Credits
- Complete 1 of the following
- Complete at least 2 of the following:
- EML5060 - Mathematical Methods in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (3)
- EML5237 - Intermediate Mechanics of Materials (3)
- EML5271 - Intermediate Dynamics (3)
- EAS5315 - Rocket Propulsion (3)
- Complete at least 2 of the following:
- EML5060 - Mathematical Methods in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (3)
- EAS5123 - Intermediate Aerodynamics (3)
- EAS5315 - Rocket Propulsion (3)
- EAS6138 - Advanced Gas Dynamics (3)
- Complete at least 2 of the following:
- EML5060 - Mathematical Methods in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (3)
- EML5271 - Intermediate Dynamics (3)
- EML5311 - System Control (3)
- EAS6415 - Guidance, Navigation and Control (3)
Elective Courses
51 Total Credits
- Complete all of the following
- Earn at least 51 credits from the following:
- EML5066 - Computational Methods in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (3)
- EML5105 - Gas Kinetics and Statistical Thermodynamics (3)
- EML5228C - Modal Analysis (3)
- EML5291 - MEMS Materials (3)
- EML5402 - Turbomachinery (3)
- EML5403 - Science and Technology of Fuel Cells (3)
- EML5456 - Turbines for Sustainable Power (3)
- EML5546 - Engineering Design with Composite Materials (3)
- EML5937 - Special Topics: Advanced Manufacturing (3)
- EML6067 - Finite Elements in Mechanical, Materials, and Aerospace Engineering I (3)
- EML6068 - Finite Elements in Mechanical, Materials, and Aerospace Engineering II (3)
- EML6085 - Research Methods in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (3 - 99)
- EML6131 - Combustion Phenomena (3)
- EML6154 - Conduction Heat Transfer (3)
- EML6155 - Convection Heat Transfer (3)
- EML6157 - Radiation Heat Transfer (3)
- EML6223 - Advanced Vibrational Systems (3)
- EML6226 - Analytical Dynamics (3)
- EML6227 - Nonlinear Vibration (3)
- EML6233 - Fundamentals of Fatigue Analysis (3)
- EML6238 - Plates and Shells (3)
- EML6295 - Sensors and Actuators for Micro Mechanical Systems (3)
- EML6296 - MEMS Mechanism and Design (3)
- EML6297 - MEMS Characterization (3)
- EML6299 - Advanced Topics on Miniaturization (3)
- EML6305C - Experimental Mechanics (3)
- EML6547 - Engineering Fracture Mechanics in Design (3)
- EML6572 - Probabilistic Methods in Mechanical Design (3)
- EML6712 - Mechanics of Viscous Flow (3)
- EML6725 - Computational Fluid Dynamics and Heat Transfer I (3)
- EML6726 - Computational Fluid Dynamics and Heat Transfer II (3)
- EML6808 - Analysis and Control of Robot Manipulators (3)
- EGM6653 - Theory of Elasticity and Plasticity (3)
- EAS5123 - Intermediate Aerodynamics (3)
- EAS5157 - V/Stol Aerodynamics and Performance (3)
- EAS5211 - Aeroelasticity (3)
- EAS5302 - Direct Energy Conversion (3)
- EAS5315 - Rocket Propulsion (3)
- EAS5407C - Mechatronic Systems (3)
- EAS5535 - Engineering Design for Aerospace Vehicles (3)
- EAS6138 - Advanced Gas Dynamics (3)
- EAS6222 - Non-Destructive Evaluation of Aero-Structures (3)
- EAS6250 - Structural and Dynamic Stability (3)
- EAS6405 - Advanced Flight Dynamics (3)
- EAS6414 - Estimation of Dynamical Systems in Aerospace Engineering (3)
- EAS6415 - Guidance, Navigation and Control (3)
- EAS6507 - Topics of Astrodynamics (3)
- EAS6722 - Multidisciplinary Optimization Under Uncertainty (3)
- EAS6808 - Space Environment and Payload Instrumentation (3)
- EAS6918 - Directed Research (1 - 99)
- EAS6908 - Directed Independent Studies (1 - 99)
- Elective courses beyond those listed in the graduate catalog, and others outside the department and/or program, are permitted at the discretion of the student’s advisor and/or graduate program director in the form of a signed and approved Program of Study.
- Up to 18 credit hours combined of directed research (XXX 6918) or thesis (xxx 6971) or doctoral research (XXX 7919) and/or independent study (XXX 6908) may be taken toward fulfilling the degree program of study elective course requirements.
Seminar
0 Total Credits
- Earn at least 0 credits from the following types of courses: EML 5090 - Mechanical and Aerospace Seminar The MAE Graduate Seminar is a zero credit hour (S/U) course that is offered each fall and spring academic semesters. Prior to graduation, all MAE graduate students who are pursuing PhD dissertation required to register, participate, and receive a satisfactory (S) for four semesters of MAE Graduate seminar, with at least two of these taken prior to candidacy.
Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering
0 Total Credits
- Graduate students enrolled in the Aerospace Engineering PhD Program earn a Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering in route to their doctorate unless they are admitted with an acceptable Master's degree. This is a non-terminal Master's degree available only to students in the Aerospace Engineering PhD program.
Dissertation
15 Total Credits
- Earn at least 15 credits from the following types of courses: EAS/EML 7980 Doctoral Dissertation
Examinations
0 Total Credits
- Complete all of the following
- Students admitted to the Ph.D. program in aerospace engineering are required to pass the Qualifying Examination to remain in the program and proceed to the next step which is the candidacy examination. The MAE Graduate Committee oversees the administration and coordination of the Qualifying Examination. Students will select three subjects in which they are to be examined based on their specific area. Each subject exam will be prepared by a committee of three examiners, one of whom is designated as chair. The subject committee will prepare, grade, and determine the pass/fail status for that exam subject. The exam performance will be scored on a consistent scale of 0-100 by each of the examiners, and the scores as well as the pass/fail recommendation for each subject will be submitted to the MAE Graduate Committee to make the final decision.
- In addition to the Qualifying Examination discussed above, the student must pass a Candidacy Examination and a Dissertation Defense Examination. The Candidacy Examination is taken near the end of the course work and consists of a written and oral presentation of a research proposal. The MAE department requires that a doctoral student submits his/her candidacy exam the academic semester immediately following his/her successfully passing the Qualifying Examination.
- The Dissertation Defense Examination is an oral examination taken in defense of the written dissertation. The College of Engineering and Computer Science requires that all dissertation defense announcements are approved by the student's advisor and posted on the college's website and on the Events Calendar of the College of Graduate Studies website at least two weeks before the defense date. More information on these examinations and other requirements of the PhD program are contained in the Mechanical Engineering PhD Handbook.
Dissertation Committee
0 Total Credits
- The Doctoral Advisory Committee must consist of a minim of four members: two must be graduate faculty members from the MAE Department and one must be at large from outside the MAE Department and will serve as the external committee member. The committee Chair must be a member of the graduate faculty approved to direct dissertation. Join faculty members may serve as members from within the MAE Department as well as committee Charis. Adjunct faculty and off-campus experts, if approved graduate faculty scholars, may serve as the external person in the committee. The UCF College of Graduate Studies reserves the right to review appointments to advisory committees, place a representative on any advisory committee or appoint a co-adviser. All committee members vote on acceptance or rejection of the dissertation proposal and the final dissertation. The dissertation proposal and final dissertation must be approved by a majority of the Doctoral Advisory Committee.
Admission to Candidacy
0 Total Credits
- The following are required to be admitted to candidacy and enroll in dissertation hours (enrollment in dissertation hours begins the semester following the completion of these requirements). Evidence of meeting these requirements must be received by the College of Graduate Studies by the day before the first day of classes for the semester in which a student wishes to enroll in dissertation hours. Completion of all coursework, except for dissertation hours. Successful completion of the Candidacy Examination. Successful defense of the written dissertation proposal. Formation of the Doctoral Advisory Committee, consisting of approved Graduate Faculty and Graduate Faculty Scholars. Submission of an approved Program of Study.
Grand Total Credits: 72
Application Requirements
Financial Information
Graduate students may receive financial assistance through fellowships, assistantships, tuition support, or loans. For more information, see the College of Graduate Studies Funding website, which describes the types of financial assistance available at UCF and provides general guidance in planning your graduate finances. The Financial Information section of the Graduate Catalog is another key resource.
Fellowship Information
Fellowships are awarded based on academic merit to highly qualified students. They are paid to students through the Office of Student Financial Assistance, based on instructions provided by the College of Graduate Studies. Fellowships are given to support a student's graduate study and do not have a work obligation. For more information, see UCF Graduate Fellowships, which includes descriptions of university fellowships and what you should do to be considered for a fellowship.
