Catalogue 2004-05

• USC Viterbi School of Engineering
• Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering
  • Degree Requirements
  • Aerospace Engineering Degrees
  • Mechanical Engineering Degrees
  • Courses of Instruction

Aerospace Engineering Degrees

Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering

The requirement for this degree is 127-129 units. A grade point average of C (2.0) is required in all upper division courses taken in Engineering departments and all departments of science and mathematics. See the common requirements for undergraduate degrees section.

First Year, First Semester		Units
AME 105	Introduction to Aerospace Engineering	4
CHEM 105aL	General Chemistry, or
CHEM 115aL	Advanced General Chemistry, or
MASC 110L	Materials Science	4
MATH 125	Calculus I	4
General education	Social Issues	4
		16

First Year, Second Semester		Units
AME 150L	Introduction to Computational Methods	4
MATH 126	Calculus II	4
PHYS 151L*	Fundamentals of Physics I: Mechanics and Thermodynamics	4
WRIT 130	Analytical Writing	4
		16

Second Year, First Semester		Units
AME 201	Statics	3
MATH 226	Calculus III	4
PHYS 152L	Fundamentals of Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism	4
General education		4
		15

Second Year, Second Semester		Units
AME 204	Strength of Materials	3
AME 261	Basic Flight Mechanics	4
AME 282	Astronautics and Space Environment I	3
MATH 245	Mathematics of Physics and Engineering I	4
		14

Third Year, First Semester		Units
AME 301	Dynamics	3
AME 310	Engineering Thermodynamics I	3
AME 341aL	Mechoptronics Laboratory I	3
PHYS 153L	Fundamentals of Physics III: Optics and Modern Physics	4
General education		4
		17

Third Year, Second Semester		Units
AME 308	Computer-Aided Analysis for Aero-Mechanical Design	3
AME 309	Dynamics of Fluids	4
AME 341bL	Mechoptronics Laboratory II	3
General education		4
Free electives		1-2
		15-16

Fourth Year, First Semester		Units
AME 404	Computational Solutions to Engineering Problems	3
AME 441aL	Senior Projects Laboratory	3
AME 451	Linear Control Systems I	3
Electives	AE Core**	6
Elective	Technical***	3
		18

Fourth Year, Second Semester		Units
AME 481	Aircraft Design, or	4
AME 482	Spacecraft Design	3
Elective	AE Core**	3
Elective	Technical***	3
WRIT 340	Advanced Writing	3
General education		4
		16-17
Total units:		127-129

Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering (Astronautics)

The Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering (Astronautics) prepares students for engineering careers in the space sector of the aerospace industry; for research and development in industry and government centers and laboratories; and for graduate study. The program provides a core in the fundamentals of aerospace engineering; specialized work in astronautics and space technology; and technical electives to broaden and/or deepen the course work.

This area of emphasis (so designated on the transcript) requires completion of the following required courses.

First Year, First Semester		Units
AME 105	Introduction to Aerospace Engineering	4
CHEM 105aL	General Chemistry, or
CHEM 115aL	Advanced General Chemistry, or
MASC 110L	Materials Science	4
MATH 125	Calculus I	4
General education	Social Issues	4
		16

First Year, Second Semester		Units
AME 150L	Introduction to Computational Methods in Mechanical Engineering	4
MATH 126	Calculus II	4
PHYS 151L*	Fundamentals of Physics I: Mechanics and Thermodynamics	4
WRIT 130	Analytical Writing	4
		16

Second Year, First Semester		Units
AME 201	Statics	3
MATH 226	Calculus III	4
PHYS 152L	Fundamentals of Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism	4
General education		4
		15

Second Year, Second Semester		Units
AME 204	Strength of Materials	3
AME 282	Astronautics and Space Environment I	3
MATH 245	Mathematics of Physics and Engineering I	4
PHYS 153L	Fundamentals of Physics III: Optics and Modern Physics	4
General education		4
		18

Third Year, First Semester		Units
AME 301	Dynamics	3
AME 311a	Thermal and Statistical Systems	3
AME 341aL	Mechoptronics Laboratory I	3
AME 382	Astronautics and Space Environment II	3
AME 404	Computational Solutions to Engineering Problems	3
		15

Third Year, Second Semester		Units
AME 308	Computer-Aided Analysis for Aero-Mechanical Design	3
AME 311b	Thermal and Statistical Systems	3
AME 341bL	Mechoptronics Laboratory II	3
WRIT 340	Advanced Writing	3
General education		4
		16

Fourth Year, First Semester		Units
AME 441aL	Senior Projects Laboratory	3
AME 473	Spacecraft Propulsion	3
Elective	Technical elective**	9
Free elective		1
		16

Fourth Year, Second Semester		Units
AME 482	Spacecraft Design	3
AME 483	Spacecraft Dynamics	3
Elective	Technical**	6
General education		4
		16
Total units:		128

4+1 Program

The 4+1 Program offers qualified students the opportunity to simultaneously complete the requirements for the B.S. and M.S. degrees in five years. Students are eligible for the 4+1 Program upon completing 96 or more units toward their B.S. with a GPA of 3.2 or higher. Qualified students who are interested should see their advisor in their junior year to begin planning for the inclusion of graduate courses during their senior year. Students should apply to the graduate program in the fall of their senior year. Eligible students will be automatically accepted to the M.S. program without needing to take the GRE. All requirements for both the B.S. and M.S. degrees must be met; however, up to six units of course work will be counted toward satisfying the unit requirements of both programs. Application information may be obtained in the School of Engineering Office of Admissions and Student Affairs. Students should see their departmental advisors for assistance with course selection.

Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering

In addition to the general requirements listed in this catalogue, the department has identified requirements in the following areas of specialization: aerodynamics/fluid dynamics; aerospace controls; aerospace design; aerospace structures; astronautics; computational fluid dynamics; hypersonics/kinetics of gases and plasmas; propulsion; and space science. Core requirements and elective requirements are defined for each area of specialization. Information on the current approved courses that comprise these core and elective requirements is available from the department.

Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering (Astronautics)

This degree is in the highly dynamic and technologically advanced area of space technology. The program is designed for those with B.S. degrees in science and engineering who desire to work in the space sector of the aerospace industry, government research and development centers, and laboratories. If the applicant's degree is in science or engineering other than aerospace engineering, he or she may be required to take 1-3 upper-division undergraduate classes to make up the deficiency. The program uses the USC Distance Education Network (DEN).

The general portion of the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) and two letters of recommendation are required.

Required courses: 27 units

Core Requirement (6 units)		Units
AME 501	Spacecraft System Design	3
AME 585	Space Environments and Spacecraft Interactions	3

Core Elective Requirement (choose one)		Units
AME 473	Spacecraft Propulsion	3
AME 502	Systems for Remote Sensing from Space	3
AME 506	Design of Low Cost Space Missions	3
AME 508	Spacecraft Power Systems	3
AME 580	Orbital Mechanics I	3
AME 581	Orbital Mechanics II	3
AME 583	Spacecraft Attitude Dynamics	3
AME 599	Special Topics	3

Recommended Technical electives		units
AME 511	Compressible Gas Dynamics	3
AME 520ab	Physical Gas Dynamics	3-3
AME 521	Engineering Vibrations II	3
AME 549ab	Systems Architecture	3-3
AME 557	Space Exploration Architectures Concept Synthesis Studio	3
AME 564	Computational Techniques in Rarefied Gas Dynamics	3
AME 586	Partially Ionized Plasmas	3
AME 587	Gas-Surface Processes	3

technical elective Requirement (12 units)		Units
Four 3-unit courses. It is advisable to select these four elective courses from the list of core electives above or from the list of recommended technical electives above. No more than 3 units of directed research (AME 590) can be applied to the 27-unit requirement. New courses on emerging space technologies are often offered; consult the current semester's course offerings, particularly for AME 599 Special Topics.

engineering mathematics requirement (6 units)		Units
AME 525	Engineering Analysis	3
AME 526	Engineering Analytical Methods	3

At least 21 units must be at the 500 or 600 level.

M.S., Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering (Computational Fluid and Solid Mechanics)

The program prepares students for professional careers in engineering companies that develop products using computational tools of fluid and solid mechanics. The program also provides the necessary background for pursuing higher degrees, Engineer and Ph.D., in aerospace and mechanical engineering with specializations in computational fluid mechanics, computational solid mechanics and computational heat transfer. The degree course work provides a necessary background in basic aerospace and mechanical engineering disciplines (solid mechanics, fluid mechanics, heat transfer), engineering mathematics and numerical methods. The capstone project courses, AME 535b and CE 551, provide practical examples using existing numerical programs to simulate structures, heat transfer and fluid flows as well as commercial mathematical packages for analyzing data.

Admission requirements follow the general admission rules for aerospace and mechanical engineering graduate programs. The program requires completion of a minimum of 27 units and a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 for graduation. The program with thesis requires 28 units, four of which are to be with thesis.

Required core courses (24 units)		Units
AME 404	Computational Solutions to Engineering Problems	3
AME 509	Applied Elasticity, or
CE 507	Mechanics of Solids I	3
AME 525	Engineering Analysis	3
AME 526	Engineering Analytical Methods	3
AME 530a	Dynamics of Incompressible Fluids	3
AME 535a	Introduction to Computational Fluid Mechanics	3
AME 535b	Introduction to Computational Fluid Mechanics, or
CE 551	Computer-Aided Engineering Project	3
CE 529a	Finite Element Analysis	3

Selected technical electives from the following list or other electives approved by a graduate advisor: 3 units.

Technical electives		Units
AME 511	Compressible Gas Dynamics	3
AME 516	Convection Processes	3
AME 564	Computational Techniques in Rarefied Gas Dynamics	3
AME 590	Directed Research	1-12
AME 599	Special Topics	2-4, max 9
CE 529b	Finite Element Analysis	3
CE 541a	Dynamics of Structures	3
CE 542	Theory of Plates	3

One core class requirement may be waived at the discretion of a graduate advisor if a student documents that he or she completed or is enrolled in an equivalent course. The waived class must be replaced by a technical elective. Credit for one course of not more than 4 units from another accredited institution may be approved by a graduate advisor. The Master's Thesis (4 units) may be substituted for a technical elective class (3 units).

Master of Science in Product Development Engineering

See the listing under Product Development Engineering.

Master of Science in Systems Architecture and Engineering

See the listing under Systems Architecture and Engineering.

Master of Engineering in Computer-Aided Engineering

The Master of Engineering program educates and trains multidisciplinary professionals in the use of computational techniques in the planning, design and management of engineering projects. The emphasized computer-aided engineering subjects are modeling, simulation, visualization, optimization, artificial intelligence and advanced design, documentation, manufacturing and information management.

The program provides the graduate with advanced education in a particular engineering subject area, associated with aerospace, civil or mechanical engineering. This advanced engineering education is coupled with an intensive concentration in computational procedures appropriate for that subject area. The program also includes substantial project work to provide a background in the application of CAE techniques in real world situations. See the listing under Computer-Aided Engineering.

Engineer in Aerospace Engineering

Requirements for the Engineer in Aerospace Engineering are the same as the general requirements. Three to six of the units required for the degree must be AME 690. Prior approval must be obtained from the guidance committee before registration in AME 690.

Doctor of Philosophy in Aerospace Engineering

The Doctor of Philosophy with a major in aerospace engineering is also offered. See general requirements for graduate degrees.

Certificate in Aerospace Engineering (Astronautics)

The Certificate in Aerospace Engineering (Astronautics) is designed for practicing engineers and scientists who enter space-related fields and/or who want to obtain training in specific space-related areas. The students enroll at USC as limited status students; they must apply and be admitted to the certificate program after completion of no more than 9 units of required course work. The required course work consists of 12 units; the students will choose four 3-unit courses from the following:

Required courses (choose four)		Units
AME 501	Spacecraft System Design	3
AME 502	Systems for Remote Sensing from Space	3
AME 506	Design of Low Cost Space Missions	3
AME 508	Spacecraft Power Systems	3
AME 511	Compressible Gas Dynamics	3
AME 520ab	Physical Gas Dynamics	3-3
AME 549a	Systems Architecture	3
AME 580	Orbital Mechanics I	3
AME 581	Orbital Mechanics II	3
AME 582	Spacecraft Attitude Control	3
AME 583	Spacecraft Attitude Dynamics	3
AME 585	Space Environments and Spacecraft Interactions	3
AME 599	Special Topics	3

Most classes are available through the USC Distance Education Network (DEN).

The credit for classes may be applied toward the M.S. or Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering should the student decide later to pursue an advanced degree. In order to be admitted to the M.S. program, the student should maintain a B average or higher in courses for the certificate and must satisfy all normal admission requirements. All courses for the certificate must be taken at USC. It is anticipated that other classes on emerging space technologies will be added to the list of the offered classes in the future.

Certificate in Computer-Aided Engineering

See the listing under Computer-Aided Engineering.

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