PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE AEROSPACE ENGINEERING DEGREE PROGRAM IN THE COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING SECTION IN THE UNDERGRADUATE CATALOG 2014-2016 Type of Change Academic Change 1. IF THE ANSWER TO ANY OF THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS IS YES, THE COLLEGE MUST CONSULT NEAL ARMSTRONG TO DETERMINE IF SACS-COC APPROVAL IS REQUIRED. Is this a new degree program? No Does the program offer courses that will be taught off campus? No Will courses in this program be delivered electronically? No 2. EXPLAIN CHANGE TO DEGREE PROGRAM AND GIVE A DETAILED RATIONALE FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL CHANGE: Writing flag for ASE 361L. ASE 361L was reviewed and approved to carry a writing flag in the fall 2012 semester to ensure that all students pursuing the ASE degree would have their two writing flags covered by ASE 333T (required for all students) and their senior design class. ASE 361L is the senior design class for the Atmospheric Flight technical area. Require a portable computing device. As has been done in CHE, ME, and ECE, we would like to begin incorporating a laptop computer into our classes. In particular, this will be done in ASE 301 (Intro to Computer Programming) and ASE 324L (Aerospace Materials Laboratory). Other courses will be allowed the opportunity to request students bring a laptop to a class as needed. Remove ASE 102 from the required curriculum. ASE 102 (Introduction to Aerospace Engineering) has been continuously taught by a faculty member retiring in June 2014. With this change, we will redesign the curriculum and organization of the class to mirror that which is currently done in the Department of Chemical Engineering (CHE). The plan for inventory changes for fall 2014 will outline the following changes: the course will be offered in fall semesters on an optional basis and will include a hands-on project to introduce students to engineering as well as weekly presentations/lectures by varied faculty, alumni in industry, and/or External Advisory Committee (EAC) members. As is done in CHE, we will expect a high attrition, but will not require the class toward overall hours, and it will be graded on a pass/fail basis. Return ASE 201 to the required curriculum and add an hour to make it ASE 301. ASE 201 (Introduction to Computer Programming) was dropped from the curriculum in the 2010-12 revision. The rational for this step was that ASE 311 (Engineering Computation) was supposed to be amended to include introductory programming content, but this has not happened successfully. Also, per the recommendation of our External Advisory Committee (EAC), our curriculum needed more programming instruction. During inventory changes for fall 2014, we will change the content of ASE 201 to include programming in both MATLAB and C or C++, making this a 3-hour class, ASE 301. Change ASE 311 back to ASE 211. Due to the reinstatement of ASE 301 (Introduction to Computer Programming) as a required class, we will be able to return this course, ASE 311 (Engineering Computation), back to a 2-hour course, ASE 211, since it no longer requires the inclusion of introductory programming instruction. During inventory changes for fall 2014, we will change the course number and description accordingly. Remove ASE 269K, ME 340, and ME 140L from the curriculum. Education in conducting experiments is currently handled via ME 340/140L (Mechatronics) and ASE 269K (Measurements and Instrumentation). The former was introduced in place of EE 331 (Electronics) in the last revision of the ASE undergraduate curriculum. This has not worked well due to a significant amount of overlap in content between the three classes and the manner in which coordination between the mechatronics class and lab was being handled. In place of these six hours of duplicating coursework, we
added a new course to our curriculum in the fall 2013 inventory changes, ASE 375 (Electromechanical Systems), which will not be taught until fall 2014 when the new catalog is in place. Add ASE 375 to the curriculum. As per the reasons listed above for eliminating ASE 269K, ME 340, and ME 140L, this course, ASE 375 (Electromechanical Systems), was designed by faculty in both aerospace engineering and engineering mechanics fields as a new class with relevant coursework for aerospace engineering undergraduate students. It will feature a series of experiments related to the behavior solids and structures where each experiment will be chosen to highlight a particular technique, sensor/actuator or concept in measurement theory or practice. 3. SCOPE OF PROPOSED CHANGE a. Does this proposal impact other colleges/schools? No b. Will students in other degree programs be impacted (are the proposed changes to courses commonly taken by students in other colleges)? No c. Will students from your college take courses in other colleges? No changes. d. Does this proposal involve changes to the core curriculum or other basic education requirements (42- hour core, signature courses, flags)? No e. Will this proposal change the number of hours required for degree completion? If yes, explain: Yes, the total number of hours required for the Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering will be lowered from 128 to 126. 4. COLLEGE/SCHOOL APPROVAL PROCESS Department approval date: March 18, 2013 College approval date: March 25, 2013 Dean approval date: April 8, 2013
Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering Aerodynamics and Propulsion Structural Mechanics Flight Mechanics and Orbital Mechanics Flight Control Portable Computing Devices Students entering aerospace engineering are required to have access to a portable computing device capable of running the software tools required for undergraduate engineering analyses (MatLab, Word, Excel, etc). This device does not need to be brought to campus on a daily basis, but individual courses may require that the device be brought to certain lectures, labs, and/or exams. Once admitted, students will be informed by the Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics Department office about specific device requirements. Curriculum Course requirements are divided into three categories: basic sequence courses, major sequence courses, and other required courses. In addition, each student much complete the University s Core Curriculum. In some cases, a course that fulfills one of the following requirements may also be counted toward core curriculum or flag requirements; these courses are identified below. To ensure that courses used to fulfill the social and behavioral sciences and visual and performing arts requirements of the core curriculum also meet ABET criteria, students should follow the guidance given in ABET Criteria. In the process of fulfilling engineering degree requirements, students must also complete coursework to satisfy the following flag requirements: one independent inquiry flag, one quantitative reasoning flag, one ethics and leadership flag, one global cultures flag, one cultural diversity in the US flag, and two writing flags. The independent inquiry flag, the quantitative reasoning flag, the ethics and leadership flag, and one both writing flags are carried by courses specifically required for the degree; these courses are identified below. Students are advised to fulfill the second writing flag requirement with a course that meets another requirement of the core curriculum, such as the first-year signature course. Courses that may be used to fulfill flag requirements are identified in the Course Schedule. Enrollment in major sequence courses is restricted to students who have received credit for all of the basic sequence courses and have been admitted to the major sequence. Requirements for admission to a major sequence are given in Admission to a Major Sequence. Enrollment in other required courses is not restricted by completion of the basic sequence. Courses used to fulfill technical elective requirements must be approved by the aerospace engineering faculty before the student enrolls in them. The student must take all courses required for the degree on the letter-grade basis and must earn a grade of at least C- in each course, except for those listed as Remaining Core Curriculum Courses. He or she must also maintain grade point averages of at least 2.00 in the major area of study and in required technical courses as described in Academic Standards, and a cumulative University grade point average of at least 2.00 as described in General Information.
Courses Basic Sequence Courses Aerospace Engineering 301102, 211311, 333T (Aerospace Engineering 333T carries a writing flag and an ethics and leadership flag) Chemistry 301 (may be used to fulfill the science and technology, part II, requirement of the core curriculum.) Sem Hrs Engineering Mechanics 306, 311M, 319 9 Mathematics 408C, 408D, 427K, 427L (Mathematics 408C may be used to fulfill the mathematics requirement of the core curriculum; Mathematics 408C and 427K each carry a quantitative reasoning flag.) Physics 303K, 303L, 103M, 103N (Physics 303K and 303L may be used to fulfill the science and technology, part I, requirement of the core curriculum; both courses carry a quantitative reasoning flag.) Rhetoric and Writing 306 (may also be counted toward the English composition requirement of the core curriculum.) Major Sequence Courses 87 3 16 8 3 Total 4746 Aerospace Engineering 320, 120K, 324L, 330M, 362K, 365, 366K, 367K, 269K, 370L, 375, 376K 3130 Technical area courses 13 Approved technical electives 6 Other Required Courses Total 5049 Mechanical Engineering 210, 320, 340, 140L 59 Remaining Core Curriculum Courses English 316K (humanities) 3 American and Texas government 6 American history 6 Social and behavioral sciences 3 Visual and performing arts 3 Undergraduate Studies 302 or 303 (some sections carry a writing flag) 3 Technical Area Options Total 24 Minimum Required 126128 Area 1, Atmospheric Flight Also called aeronautics, this area provides the student with a well-rounded program of study emphasizing the major disciplines of aerodynamics, propulsion, structures, design, performance, and control of aircraft. These subjects are treated at a fundamental level that lays a foundation for work in a broad variety of specialties in the aircraft industry. This option is intended for the undergraduate student whose primary interest is aircraft. Aerospace Engineering 321K, Structural Analysis Aerospace Engineering 361K, Aircraft Design I (carries an independent inquiry flag) Aerospace Engineering 361L, Aircraft Design II (carries a writing flag) Aerospace Engineering 162M, High-Speed Aerodynamics Laboratory Aerospace Engineering 364, Applied Aerodynamics
Area 2, Space Flight Also called astronautics, this area offers a well-rounded program of study that provides a background in the traditional areas of fluid mechanics, materials, structures, propulsion, controls, and flight mechanics, while also giving the student a chance to learn about the space environment, attitude determination and control, orbital mechanics, mission design, and spacecraft systems engineering. These subjects are treated at a fundamental level that lays a foundation for work in a broad variety of specialties in space-related industries. This option is intended for the undergraduate student whose primary interest is space and spacecraft. Aerospace Engineering 366L, Applied Orbital Mechanics Aerospace Engineering 166M, Spacecraft Systems Laboratory Aerospace Engineering 372K, Attitude Dynamics Aerospace Engineering 374K, Space Systems Engineering Design Aerospace Engineering 374L, Spacecraft/Mission Design (carries an independent inquiry flag and a writing flag) Special Projects Laboratories Suggested Arrangement of Courses Courses First Year Sem Hrs Undergraduate Studies 302 or Undergraduate Studies 303, First-Year Signature Course 3 Chemistry 301, Principles of Chemistry I 3 Mathematics 408C, Differential and Integral Calculus 4 Rhetoric and Writing 306, Rhetoric and Writing 3 Social and behavioral sciences or visual and performing arts 3 Total 16 Aerospace Engineering 301102, Introduction to Aerospace Engineering Computer Programming 31 Mathematics 408D, Sequences, Series, and Multivariable Calculus 4 Mechanical Engineering 210, Engineering Design Graphics 2 Physics 303K, Engineering Physics I 3 Physics 103M, Laboratory for Physics 303K 1 American and Texas government 3 American history 3 Second Year Total 17 Aerospace Engineering 333T, Engineering Communication 3 Engineering Mechanics 306, Statics 3 Mathematics 427K, Advanced Calculus for Applications I 4 Physics 303L, Engineering Physics II 3 Physics 103N, Laboratory for Physics 303L 1 Mechanical Engineering 210, Engineering Design Graphics 2 Mechanical Engineering 320, Applied Thermodynamics 3 American and Texas government 3 Total 1617 Aerospace Engineering 211311, Engineering Computation 23
Engineering Mechanics 311M, Dynamics 3 Engineering Mechanics 319, Mechanics of Solids 3 Mathematics 427L, Advanced Calculus for Applications II 4 Aerospace Engineering 333T, Engineering Communication 3 Mechanical Engineering 320, Applied Thermodynamics 3 Third Year Total 1516 Aerospace Engineering 320, Low-Speed Aerodynamics 3 Aerospace Engineering 120K, Low-Speed Aerodynamics Laboratory 1 Aerospace Engineering 330M, Linear System Analysis 3 Aerospace Engineering 366K, Spacecraft Dynamics 3 Aerospace Engineering 375, Electromechanical Systems 3 English 316K, Masterworks of Literature 3 Social and behavioral sciences or visual and performing arts 3 Total 16 Aerospace Engineering 362K, Compressible Flow 3 Aerospace Engineering 365, Structural Dynamics 3 Aerospace Engineering 367K, Flight Dynamics 3 Mechanical Engineering 340, Mechatronics 3 Mechanical Engineering 140L, Mechatronics Laboratory 1 Social and behavioral sciences or visual and performing arts 3 Technical area courses 73 Fourth Year Total 16 Aerospace Engineering 269K, Measurements and Instrumentation 2 Aerospace Engineering 324L, Aerospace Materials Laboratory 3 Aerospace Engineering 376K, Propulsion 3 Technical area courses 67 Technical elective 3 Total 15 Aerospace Engineering 370L, Flight Control Systems 3 Aerospace Engineering 365, Structural Dynamics 3 Aerospace Engineering 324L, Aerospace Materials Laboratory 3 American history 3 American and Texas government 3 Technical area course 3 Technical area elective 3 Total 15