Degree Offered
- Associate of Science
Nature of the Program
Aerospace travel, space exploration, and flight of manned or unmanned vehicles continue to gain significance. Aerospace engineering is 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 the design and development of new earthbound vehicles such as ground effect machines, hydrofoil ships, and high-speed rail-type systems. Aerospace engineers are mainly involved in designing missiles, satellites, aircraft, and spacecraft; and they also test prototypes to ensure that they function properly.
The associate degree program provides the foundation courses required to complete a bachelor program in aerospace engineering at West Virginia University. Students planning to enter a bachelor program at another institution should determine the transfer equivalencies for the courses offered at Potomac State College of WVU and the institution they plan to attend following completion of the associate degree program.
Career Opportunities
A bachelor degree in aerospace engineering prepares students for a career in aerospace industries and in government research and development centers and laboratories, as well as in military mission-oriented agencies.
Faculty
Chair
- Erin Cunningham - M.S. Biology
Year @ PSC 2007
Professors
- Mohammad Saifi - M.S. Electrical Engineering
Year @ PSC 1983 - Joan Vogtman - M.S. Applied Physics
Year @ PSC 2008
General Education Foundations
Please use this link to view a list of courses that meet each GEF requirement.
NOTE: Some major requirements will fulfill specific GEF requirements. Please see the curriculum requirements listed below for details on which GEFs you will need to select.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Foundations | ||
| F1 - Composition & Rhetoric | 3-6 | |
| Introduction to Composition and Rhetoric and Composition, Rhetoric, and Research | ||
or ENGL 103 | Accelerated Academic Writing | |
| F2A/F2B - Science & Technology | 4-6 | |
| F3 - Math & Quantitative Reasoning | 3-4 | |
| F4 - Society & Connections | 3 | |
| F5 - Human Inquiry & the Past | 3 | |
| F6 - The Arts & Creativity | 3 | |
| F7 - Global Studies & Diversity | 3 | |
| F8 - Focus (may be satisfied by completion of a minor, double major, or dual degree) | 9 | |
| Total Hours | 31-37 | |
Please note that not all of the GEF courses are offered at all campuses. Students should consult with their advisor or academic department regarding the GEF course offerings available at their campus.
Curriculum Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| GEF Elective (5, 6 or 7) | 3 | |
| ENGR 191 | First-Year Seminar | 1 |
| ENGL 101 & ENGL 102 | Introduction to Composition and Rhetoric and Composition, Rhetoric, and Research (GEF 1) | 6 |
| MATH 155 | Calculus 1 (GEF 3 - Minimum grade of C-) | 4 |
| MATH 156 | Calculus 2 (GEF 8 - Minimum grade of C-) | 4 |
| MATH 251 | Multivariable Calculus (Minimum grade of C-) | 4 |
| MATH 261 | Elementary Differential Equations (Minimum grade of C-) | 4 |
| PHYS 111 & 111L | General Physics 1 and General Physics 1 Laboratory (GEF 8 - Minimum grade of C-) | 4 |
| PHYS 112 & 112L | General Physics 2 and General Physics 2 Laboratory (GEF 8) | 4 |
| CHEM 115 & 115L | Fundamentals of Chemistry 1 and Fundamentals of Chemistry 1 Laboratory (GEF 2) | 4 |
| ECON 201 | Principles of Microeconomics | 3 |
| EE 221 | Introduction to Electrical Engineering | 3 |
| EE 221L | Introduction to Electrical Engineering Laboratory | 1 |
| ENGR 101 | Engineering Problem Solving 1 | 2 |
| ENGR 102 | Engineering Problem Solving 2 | 3 |
| A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 is required in all MAE courses | ||
| MAE 241 | Statics | 3 |
| MAE 242 | Dynamics | 3 |
| MAE 243 | Mechanics of Materials | 3 |
| Elective | 1 | |
| Total Hours | 60 | |
Suggested Plan of Study
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| ENGL 101 (GEF 1) | 3 | ENGL 102 (GEF 1) | 3 |
| ENGR 101 | 2 | ENGR 102 | 3 |
| MATH 155 (GEF 3) | 4 | MATH 156 (GEF 8) | 4 |
| CHEM 115 & 115L (GEF 2) | 4 | PHYS 111 & 111L (GEF 8) | 4 |
| ENGR 191 | 1 | Elective | 1 |
| 14 | 15 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| MATH 251 | 4 | MATH 261 | 4 |
| PHYS 112 & 112L (GEF 8) | 4 | MAE 242 | 3 |
| MAE 241 | 3 | MAE 243 | 3 |
| EE 221 | 3 | ECON 201 (GEF 4) | 3 |
| EE 221L | 1 | GEF Elective (5, 6 or 7) | 3 |
| 15 | 16 | ||
| Total credit hours: 60 | |||
Major Learning Outcomes
Aerospace Engineering
Upon completion of the associates in aerospace engineering program, students will be able to:
- Explain the basics concepts of electrical engineering, statics, dynamics, mechanics or materials and thermodynamics.
- Use mathematical, chemical and physical concepts to solve engineering-related problems.
- Transfer into a bachelor degree program in aerospace engineering.