Department of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Nuclear Engineering
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Department of Mechanical, Aerospace, & Nuclear Engineering

Undergraduate > Aeronautical Program

Quick Facts: Emphasis | Careers | Curriculum | Special Features | Sample Electives | Size
  • Can we colonize Mars?
  • Can we develop airplanes that will never crash?
  • Can we send miniaturized satellites to space by laser propulsion?
  • Can we create helicopters for long-distance travel?

Today's aeronautical engineers not only develop airplanes and rockets, they design high-speed trains and submarines, hydrofoils and wind turbines. Rensselaer graduates have helped to develop the engines that propel jumbo jets, the lunar lander for the Apollo spacecraft and the Rover for the Mars Exploration Mission.

At Rensselaer, you'll begin with core engineering, basic science, computing, and the fundamentals of flight. These will prepare you for further studies of fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft, heat transfer, lightweight structures, and propulsion. 

Our programs place emphasis on research, design, development, and operation of flight vehicles for aeronautical and space applications. Undergraduates focus on fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft design as well as spacecraft design, experimental fluid dynamics, boundary layers and heat transfer, lightweight structures, and propulsion.

Graduates choose careers in industry or government laboratories, doing research in anything from high-speed aerodynamics or high-temperature strength of jet engine blades to the sale of aircraft and aircraft components.

Quick facts about Aeronautical Engineering

:: Emphasis

Research, design, development, and operation of flight vehicles for aeronautical and space applications.

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:: Career Options

Aeronautical industry, aerospace industry, space exploration, and national laboratories.   Employers range from large prestigious corporations and government agencies to small vigorous start-up companies.  Nearly all our graduates receive job offers or are admitted to graduate school before they graduate. In 2006, the average annual salary for all Aeronautical Engineers is $85,450.1

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:: Curriculum

Instruction focuses on fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft design as well as spacecraft design, experimental fluid dynamics, boundary layers and heat transfer, lightweight structures, and propulsion. Three elective courses provide opportunities to gain further knowledge in the six areas of concentration offered by the department: aeronautics, applied mechanics and mechanics of materials, design, manufacturing, energy systems, and space technology.

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:: Special Features

Research participation with individual faculty.  Students gain hands-on aeronautical endeavors via:

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:: Sample electives

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:: Size of Program

For the academic year 2006-2007, MANE consists of:

  • 580 Mechanical Engineering Students,
  • 281 Aeronautical Engineering students and
  • 128 Nuclear Engineering and Engineering Physics students.  

There are 40 faculty including members of the National Academy Engineering (engineering’s highest honor) and eleven National Science Foundation or Office of Naval Research Early Career Development award winners.

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updated November, 2006