Program Outcomes & Objectives

The Undergraduate Program Educational Objectives are that, within three to five years after graduation:

• Alumni of the program will use their breadth and depth of knowledge and skills in the fundamental disciplines of aerospace engineering to pursue successful professional careers;
• Alumni will feel that they received outstanding preparation for the next step in their careers, whether it be graduate school or work in industry, government or academia;
• Alumni of the program will be emerging leaders in engineering, science, academia, business and public service; and,
• Alumni of the program will be productive citizens with high professional and ethical standards.

The above program educational objectives are accomplished by a rigorous curriculum that emphasizes fundamentals in basic sciences, mathematics and the humanities and integrates classroom and laboratory experiences in the fundamental disciplines of Aerospace Engineering. More specifically, our curricular goals are to:

• Educate students in the fundamental disciplines of Aerospace Engineering, aerodynamics, materials, structures, propulsion, flight mechanics, orbital mechanics, software, and stability and control;
• Educate students in the methodology and tools of design and the synthesis of fundamental aerospace disciplines necessary to carry out the design of an aerospace vehicle or system;
• Educate students in the basics of instrumentation and measurement, laboratory techniques and how to design and conduct experiments;
• Develop students’ ability to function on multi-disciplinary teams and provide them with teamwork experiences throughout their curriculum;
• Develop students’ ability to communicate effectively;
• Expose students to environmental, ethical and contemporary issues in Aerospace Engineering; and,
• Expose students to other disciplines of engineering beyond the aerospace field.

Undergraduate Program Outcomes

The corresponding, desired program outcomes are that UM Aerospace Engineering graduates demonstrate:

• An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics;
• An ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors;
• An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences;
• An ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts;
• An ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives;
• An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions;
• An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.