Aerospace Engineering, Ph.D.

Program Learning Outcomes

Students will be able to:

• apply engineering research and theory to advance the art, science, and practice of the discipline.
• design and conduct experiments as well as to analyze, interpret, apply, and disseminate the data.
• understand research methodology.

Contact Information

Aerospace Graduate Program Director

aegrad@unr.edu

Admission Requirements

We expect applicants to have a grade point average of 3.25 (4.0 scale) or better for the B.S. degree program.

The GRE is highly recommended, but not required to apply. Candidates with a combined GRE verbal and quantitative score of at least 300 and quantitative scores above 155 are especially encouraged to apply. 

For the English language requirement, please refer to the graduate school website: https://www.unr.edu/grad/admissions/requirements/international.

Research and/or industrial experience, three letters of recommendation, and a statement of purpose are important parts of the application package.

I. Program Requirements

Students must complete coursework fulfilling the UNR Graduate School’s requirements for a Ph.D. degree. The degree requires a minimum of 60 graduate credits, comprising 40 credits of coursework and 20 credits of dissertation research. At least 18 units of 700 level courses, exclusive of dissertation units, are required for a doctoral degree. At least 15 credits must be aerospace engineering courses of which 6 credits must be at the 700 level.

In addition to coursework, Ph.D. candidates work closely with a thesis advisor to determine a course of study for their dissertation topics. Near the end of the first year of formal coursework, each candidate must pass a qualifying examination to demonstrate mastery of a wide range of topics in mechanical engineering. An individual dissertation committee is then established to aid progress. A comprehensive examination is required, during which the candidate is examined on both the completed work and the proposed work towards the completion of the dissertation. Finally, during the Ph.D. defense, conducted after all other requirements are met, the candidate is examined on the dissertation itself and possibly on related topics.

II. Total Units (60 units)

Notes

For more information, refer to the Graduate Study Admission Requirements  section of this catalog or contact the graduate program director.

Undergraduate Prerequisites

Incoming students should have a background in the core areas of Aerospace Engineering, including Statics, Dynamics, Thermodynamics, Dynamic Systems and Control, Fluid Mechanics, Aerodynamics, Propulsion, Flight Mechanics, and Solid Mechanics.  For students lacking in this background, the Aerospace Engineering Graduate Committee will specify undergraduate and graduate courses that must be taken before completion of the degree program.