Aerospace Engineering

Aerospace Engineering

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Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering

Concentrations Offered

Aeronautics, Astronautics

Certificates / Endorsements

Materials

Top 5 Reasons to Study

01

Work on the Edge of Innovation: Design aircraft, spacecraft, satellites, and emerging space technologies.

02

Strong Job Demand: Aerospace engineers are needed in defense, aviation, space exploration, and private industry.

03

High Earning Potential: Competitive salaries reflect the technical skill and responsibility of the field.

04

Solve Big, Complex Problems: Apply math, physics, and creativity to challenges few people can tackle.

05

Global Impact: Contribute to national security, transportation, and space exploration.

Core
Skills

  • Aircraft systems design
  • Spacecraft systems design
  • Advanced structural analyses including composites
  • UAS design, flight test and operation
  • Advanced simulation techniques in thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and solid mechanics

Sample
Jobs

  • Flight Test Engineer
  • System Engineer
  • Structural Analyst
  • Project Manager
  • Aerodynamist

Successful Career Outcomes

94% of MSU aerospace engineering graduates reported a successful career outcome within six months after finishing their degree.

Top
Employment
Industries

  • Government - NASA & Department of Defense
  • Commercial Aviation - Gulfstream & Boeing
  • Space Sector - SpaceX & Blue Orgin
  • Propulsion - General Electric & RTX
  • Automotive - Formula 1 & Nissan

Brag
Points

  • MSU has one of the oldest aerospace engineering programs, with over 90 years of history preparing engineers to shape flight and space exploration.
  • From designing and flying Marvel, the first all-composite aircraft, to playing a role in the HondaJet, our program has helped shape modern aviation.
  • Home to Space Cowboys, our international award-winning student rocketry design team.

Experiential Learning Opportunities

Co-ops and Internships

Co-ops and internships allow you to alternate semesters of paid, full-time work with academic study, giving you extended, hands-on experience before you graduate. You’ll apply what you learn in the classroom to real engineering projects, build professional skills, and often graduate with a stronger resume, industry connections, and a clearer sense of your career goals.

Spotlight

MSU Space Cowboys is Mississippi State University’s nationally competitive rocketry team open to all students at MSU. Every year, the structures, payload, and simulations sub-teams work together to design, build, and launch a rocket at competitions, including the IREC Spaceport America Cup, the world’s largest intercollegiate rocket engineering conference and competition, where the team was the 2015 & 2025 champions. 

Aerospace Engineering

2025-2026 Major Map

Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering

Get the Courses You Need

1st Year

Major Courses & Knowledge

In your first year, you’ll be introduced to the major areas of the aerospace industry in our Introduction to Aerospace Engineering course, where you’ll also step into hands-on labs that bring flight and space concepts to life. As you begin your journey through Calculus, you’ll build the mathematical foundation engineers rely on, while courses in Graphic Communications and structured or object-oriented programming help you develop the design and coding skills used to turn ideas into real aerospace systems.

2nd Year

Fundamentals of Aerospace Engineering

As you move through the program, you’ll build the skills needed to understand how aircraft and spacecraft perform by mastering core engineering principles like statics (EM 2413), dynamics (EM 2433), strength of materials (EM 3213), and fluid mechanics (EM 3313). You won’t just study these concepts—you’ll apply them in hands-on labs where theory turns into real-world problem solving. Together, these courses create the strong foundation you’ll rely on as you advance into upper-level aeronautical and astronautical classes.

3rd Year

Aerospace Specializations & Analysis

In your third year, you’ll learn advanced solution techniques and industry-standard software that build your specialized skills. You’ll analyze every major aspect of aircraft and spacecraft design, from structures and aerodynamics to thermodynamics, stability and control, and even orbital mechanics. Most importantly, you won’t just study these systems in theory—you’ll apply your analyses in hands-on lab environments where aerospace concepts come to life.

4th Year

Systems of Flight Vehicles and Professional Development

In your senior year, you’ll bring everything together by designing aircraft or spacecraft using the knowledge and tools you’ve built over the past several years. You’ll work on a team, collaborating on complex technical analyses and practicing the kind of clear, professional communication engineers use every day. From defining mission requirements to completing detailed designs of flight vehicle components, you’ll experience what it’s like to take a concept all the way to a fully developed aerospace system.

Hands-On Learning

1st Year

Getting involved

Early in the program, you’ll connect with student design teams and get to know upper-level aerospace students who can help you navigate the major. You’ll have opportunities to earn certifications that prepare you to work with UAS and model rocketry, while building hands-on skills in composites, soldering, and CAD through guided mentorship.

You’ll also begin working with the Career Center to build your resume, practice interviewing, and prepare for co-ops and internships, so you’re gaining professional momentum right alongside your technical skills.

2nd Year

Industry Preparation

You’ll attend your first Career Expo and begin meeting potential employers for co-ops, internships, and future full-time roles. To prepare, you’ll stay active in departmental organizations and design teams, continuing to build both technical skills and leadership experience.

You may also begin undergraduate research with aerospace engineering faculty, exploring specialties across the field. Through research, you’ll gain hands-on experience with the simulation and experimental techniques used in industry that gives you insight into how aerospace innovation happens in the real world.

3rd Year

Leadership Development 

This is the year you will transition to leadership roles while continuing to advance your technical work. Participating in these roles will allow you to mentor first-year and second-year students in our college and departmental organizations. Other leadership opportunities you can participate in include becoming an ambassador for Bagley College of Engineering, which welcomes prospective students and parents to the college. You will further advance your research knowledge by participating in the Thrive in Five program, which allows undergraduates to take classes at the graduate level for dual credit in both their undergraduate program and for graduate credit.

4th Year

Transitioning to Career

In your final year, you’ll have built a comprehensive portfolio that highlights your hands-on technical skills and leadership experience. Consider taking on more leadership roles within your design team or departmental organization, helping guide projects and mentor younger students. During your senior capstone, you’ll also work closely with industry partners, giving you direct exposure to real-world expectations and professional connections as you prepare for what comes next.

 

Connect with Community

1st Year

Engagement

You’ll be encouraged to get involved in professional organizations like the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), including activities hosted by the August Raspet student chapter. Through guest speakers from faculty and industry, resume workshops, and social events, you’ll start building both your professional network and your sense of community. You can also connect with groups such as Women of Aerospace (WoA) and the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), where you’ll find mentorship, support, and leadership opportunities within the department and across the college.

2nd Year

Generating Community Connections

As you begin undergraduate research, you may have the opportunity to turn your work into conference papers and present at the AIAA Region II Student Conference, held each spring. There, you’ll meet aerospace students from universities across the Southeast and connect with industry professionals who attend and judge the event. You might also compete in AIAA essay or design competitions, opening the door to even more industry interaction and recognition.

3rd Year

National Connections:

You may take your research even further by presenting at major conferences like the AIAA SciTech Forum or AIAA Aviation Forum, where you’ll share your work with an international audience of aerospace professionals. These are among the largest aerospace conferences in the world, giving you the chance to network with engineers from across the country and around the globe. Back on campus, you’ll meet recruiters at career fairs and grow through student organizations, often stepping into leadership roles and even helping lead outreach efforts in local schools and youth programs.

4th Year

Joining the Professional Community

As you continue presenting at Region II, SciTech, and Aviation Forum conferences, you’ll build confidence and visibility within the aerospace community, experiences that can make a strong impression on future employers. By graduation, you’ll be ready to transition into AIAA professional membership and join the Young Professionals community. Along the way, you may lead student organizations and continue outreach efforts, leaving your own mark on the aerospace community at MSU and beyond.

Explore the World

1st Year

Discover

Start by talking with your advisor about study abroad options and attending events like International Fiesta to explore global opportunities. If international experiences interest you, you might also begin thinking about the global engineering leadership minor.

2nd Year

Plan and Explore

This is the year to dig a little deeper. Attend the Study Abroad Fair, meet with the Bagley College of Engineering’s Director of International Programs, and explore faculty-led trips or exchange programs that fit your goals.

3rd Year

Experience and Lead

If the timing is right, you may choose to study abroad or participate in an exchange program. You could also continue working toward the global engineering leadership minor or serve as a study abroad or Bagley Ambassador to help others explore global opportunities.

4th Year

As you wrap up, you can highlight your global experiences in interviews and on LinkedIn, complete any remaining minor requirements, and connect with computing professionals around the world.

Launch Your Career

1st Year

Career Preparation

You’ll hear directly from practicing aerospace engineers as they share their career paths and experiences in industry. You can attend the Career Expo and connect with the Career Center to start preparing for co-ops, internships, and future job opportunities. By registering with the Career Center, you’ll gain ongoing access to workshops, company visits, and resources that help you explore careers in aerospace and take early steps toward your goals.

2nd Year

Career Pathway

As your interests take shape, you’ll meet with faculty to talk through career options and identify courses and experiences that align with your goals. That might mean pursuing undergraduate research in a specific aerospace specialty or joining a design team that matches your interests. Along the way, you’ll continue attending guest lectures and Career Center workshops, building your resume, and practicing with mock interviews so you feel confident and prepared.

3rd Year

Career Exposure

You’ll gain real-world experience through internships and co-ops, working with aerospace companies and agencies where you can apply your skills in professional settings. If you’re involved in undergraduate research, you may present your work at national conferences and expand your professional network. Design team members compete in rocketry and UAS competitions judged by industry professionals, giving you valuable exposure and feedback from the field.

4th Year

Career Mastery

In your senior year, everything comes together in your capstone design experience. You’ll apply the knowledge and skills you’ve developed to solve complex aerospace design challenges while working in large teams that mirror industry dynamics. Along the way, you’ll deliver presentations and detailed written reports documenting your work. Companies often visit campus to host hiring sessions, share available positions, and conduct interviews, helping you transition from student to aerospace professional.

Learn More

Curriculum - Aeronautics concentrationCurriculum - Astronautics concentrationApply to MSUBagley College of EngineeringDepartment of Aerospace Engineering