Aerospace engineering is a broad and dynamic field that centers on the design, construction, and science behind aircraft and spacecraft. Intended for undergraduate electrical engineering majors, the aerospace concentration offers students an electrical engineering degree foundation and specialized training in the aerospace discipline. Coursework will focus on applications of key electrical engineering principles in the areas of deep-space communications, robotics, embedded systems, flight avionics, and more. These courses will enable and encourage students to solve complex engineering problems in aerospace such as improved satellite communications, electric propulsion technologies, and remote sensing methods. Electrical engineering students concentrating in aerospace will experience first-hand the necessity of their major in innovating new solutions to support humanity’s ascent to the stars.

Learning Objectives

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

  1. Identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.
  2. 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.
  3. Communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
  4. 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.
  5. Function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives.
  6. Develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.
  7. Acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

Effective Fall 2026

In order to maintain professional standards required of practicing engineers, the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering requires a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.000 in ECE courses as a graduation requirement. It is the responsibility of any student who fails to maintain a 2.000 average to work with their advisor to correct grade point deficiencies. In addition, ECE courses required for the major at the 100, 200, and 300 level must be passed with a minimum grade of C (2.000); grades below a C will require the student to retake the course. ECE courses designated as an elective are exempt from the C or higher minimum grade requirement. 

Freshman
AUCCCredits
CHEM 111General Chemistry I (GT-SC2)3A4
CHEM 112General Chemistry Lab I (GT-SC1)3A1
CO 150College Composition (GT-CO2)1A3
ENGR 111Fundamentals of Engineering 3
ENGR 114Engineering for Grand Challenges 3
MATH 160Calculus for Physical Scientists I (GT-MA1)1B4
MATH 161Calculus for Physical Scientists II (GT-MA1)1B4
PH 141Physics for Scientists and Engineers I (GT-SC1)3A5
Select one group from the following:1 3
Group A
  
Culture and Coding: Python3B 
Group B
  
3B 
Group C
  
3B 
 Total Credits 30
Sophomore
 
ECE 205Analog Circuits I 3
ECE 206Analog Circuits II 3
ECE 232Introduction to Project Practices 1
ECE 252Introduction to Digital Circuits 3
ECE 253Microcontrollers and C for Internet-of-Things 3
MATH 261Calculus for Physical Scientists III 4
MATH 340Intro to Ordinary Differential Equations 4
PH 142Physics for Scientists and Engineers II (GT-SC1)3A5
Select one group from the following:1 4
Group A
  
CS1--Computational Thinking with Java  
Group B
  
CS1--Computational Thinking with Java
CS1---No Prior Programming Experience
  
Group C
  
Python for STEM  
CS1--Introduction to Java Programming  
1C1C3
 Total Credits 33
Junior
 
ECE 303/STAT 303Introduction to Communications Principles 3
ECE 311Linear System Analysis I 3
ECE 312Linear System Analysis II 3
ECE 331Electronics Principles I 4
ECE 332Electronics Principles II4A4
ECE 341Electromagnetic Fields and Devices I 3
ECE 342Electromagnetic Fields and Devices II 3
JTC 300 or CO 301BStrategic Writing and Communication (GT-CO3)
Writing in the Disciplines: Sciences (GT-CO3)
23
Electives 2 7
 Total Credits 33
Senior
 
ECE 401Senior Design Project I4A,4B3
ECE 402Senior Design Project II4C3
Aerospace Technical Electives (See list below) 12
Electrical Engineering Technical Electives (See list below) 3
Arts and Humanities3B3
Historical Perspectives3D3
Social and Behavioral Sciences3C3
 Total Credits 30
 Program Total Credits: 126

Aerospace Technical Electives  

ATS 550Atmospheric Radiation and Remote Sensing3
ECE 404Experiments in Optical Electronics2
ECE 411Control Systems3
ECE 412Digital Control and Digital Filters3
ECE 415Semiconductor Physics and Junctions2
ECE 421Telecommunication3
ECE 441Optical Electronics3
ECE 444Antennas and Radiation3
ECE 452Computer Organization and Architecture3
ECE 455Introduction to Robot Programming/Simulation3
ECE 456Computer Networks4
ECE 463Electrical Motors and Generators4
ECE 512Digital Signal Processing3
ECE 514Applications of Random Processes3
ECE 516Information Theory3
ECE 520Optimization Methods--Control and Comm.3
ECE 521Satellite Communication3
ECE 528/CS 528Embedded Systems and Machine Learning4
ECE 529Signal Processing & Artificial Intelligence3
ECE 536RF Integrated Circuit Design3
ECE 539Digital Communications3
ECE 540Computational Electromagnetics3
ECE 541Applied Electromagnetics3
ECE 548Microwave Theory and Component Design3
ECE 549Radar Systems and Design3
ECE 553Adaptive Systems and Machine Learning3
ECE 554Computer Architecture3
ECE 556AI for Radar and Remote Sensing3
ECE 561/CS 561Hardware/Software Design of Embedded Systems4
ECE 562Power Electronics I3
ECE 565/ENGR 565Electrical Power Engineering3
ECE 572Semiconductor Transistors1
ECE 578Satellite Data Analysis3
ECE 579Global Navigation Satellite Systems3
ENGR 430Engineering With Drones3
ENGR 570Coupled Electromechanical Systems3
MECH 518Orbital Mechanics3
MECH 519Aerospace Vehicles Trajectory and Performance3

Electrical Engineering Technical Electives 

ATS 550Atmospheric Radiation and Remote Sensing3
CS 314Software Engineering3
CS 320Algorithms--Theory and Practice3
CS 345Machine Learning Foundations and Practice3
CS 356Systems Security3
CS 370Operating Systems3
CS 4XX Any CS course numbered 400-479, excluding CS 408, CS 457 and CS 4704
CS 5XX Any CS course numbered 500-5794
DSCI 475Topological Data Analysis2
ECE 4XX Any ECE course at the 400-levelVar.
Select up to 3 credits from the following:
Independent Study
Independent Study: Open Option Project
Independent Study: Vertically Integrated Projects
ECE 5XX Any ECE course at the 500-levelVar.
ENGR 430Engineering With Drones3
ENGR 570Coupled Electromechanical Systems3
MATH 417Advanced Calculus I3
MATH 419Introduction to Complex Variables3
MATH 450Introduction to Numerical Analysis I3
MATH 451Introduction to Numerical Analysis II3
MATH 460Information and Coding Theory3
MATH 463Post-Quantum Cryptography3
MATH 466Abstract Algebra I3
MATH 469Linear Algebra II3
MATH 474Introduction to Differential Geometry3
MECH 403Energy Engineering3
MECH 518Orbital Mechanics3
MECH 519Aerospace Vehicles Trajectory and Performance3
MECH 564Fundamentals of Robot Mechanics and Controls3
PH 315Modern Physics Laboratory2
PH 425Advanced Physics Laboratory2
PH 451Introductory Quantum Mechanics I3
PH 452Introductory Quantum Mechanics II3
PH 462Statistical Physics3
STAT 421Introduction to Stochastic Processes3
1

Recommended sequence for most incoming students is Group A: CS 150B to CS 164.

2

Select enough elective credits to bring the program total to a minimum of 126 credits, of which at least 42 credits must be upper-division (300-level or higher).

Distinctive Requirements for Degree Program:

TO PREPARE FOR FIRST SEMESTER:  The curriculum for this major assumes students enter college prepared to take calculus.   

In order to maintain professional standards required of practicing engineers, the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering requires a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.000 in electrical engineering courses as a graduation requirement. It is the responsibility of any student who fails to maintain a 2.000 average to work with their advisor to correct grade point deficiencies. ECE courses required for the major at the 100, 200, and 300 level must be passed with a minimum grade of C (2.000); grades below a C will require the student to retake the course.  ECE courses designated as an elective are exempt from the C or higher minimum grade requirement. 

Freshman
Semester 1CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
CHEM 111General Chemistry I (GT-SC2) X3A4
CHEM 112General Chemistry Lab I (GT-SC1) X3A1
ENGR 111Fundamentals of EngineeringX  3
MATH 160Calculus for Physical Scientists I (GT-MA1)X 1B4
Course(s) from Group A, B, or C (See options in Program Requirements Tab) X3B3
 Total Credits   15
Semester 2CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
CO 150College Composition (GT-CO2) X1A3
ENGR 114Engineering for Grand ChallengesX  3
MATH 161Calculus for Physical Scientists II (GT-MA1)X 1B4
PH 141Physics for Scientists and Engineers I (GT-SC1)X 3A5
 Total Credits   15
Sophomore
Semester 3CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
ECE 205Analog Circuits IX  3
ECE 252Introduction to Digital CircuitsX  3
MATH 261Calculus for Physical Scientists IIIX  4
Course(s) from Group A, B, or C (See options in Program Requirements Tab)X  4
1C X1C3
 Total Credits   17
Semester 4CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
ECE 206Analog Circuits IIX  3
ECE 232Introduction to Project PracticesX  1
ECE 253Microcontrollers and C for Internet-of-ThingsX  3
MATH 340Intro to Ordinary Differential EquationsX  4
PH 142Physics for Scientists and Engineers II (GT-SC1)X 3A5
 Total Credits   16
Junior
Semester 5CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
ECE 303/STAT 303Introduction to Communications PrinciplesX  3
ECE 311Linear System Analysis IX  3
ECE 331Electronics Principles IX  4
ECE 341Electromagnetic Fields and Devices IX  3
Electives X 3
 Total Credits   16
Semester 6CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
ECE 312Linear System Analysis IIX  3
ECE 332Electronics Principles IIX 4A4
ECE 342Electromagnetic Fields and Devices IIX  3
JTC 300 or CO 301BStrategic Writing and Communication (GT-CO3)
Writing in the Disciplines: Sciences (GT-CO3)
 X2,23
Electives  X 4
 Total Credits   17
Senior
Semester 7CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
ECE 401Senior Design Project IX 4A,4B3
Aerospace Technical Electives (See List on Concentration Requirements Tab)X  6
Arts and Humanities X3B3
Historical Perspectives  X3D3
 Total Credits   15
Semester 8CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
ECE 402Senior Design Project IIX 4C3
Aerospace Technical Electives (See List on Concentration Requirements Tab)X  6
Electrical Engineering Technical Electives (See List on Concentration Requirements Tab)X  3
Social and Behavioral SciencesX 3C3
The benchmark courses for the 8th semester are the remaining courses in the entire program of study.X   
 Total Credits   15
 Program Total Credits:   126