EDGE

Master's Degree in Aeronautics & Astronautics Engineering (MSAA)

Master's Degree in Aerospace Engineering (MAE)

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UW Aeronautics and Astronautics

Through EDGE, Aeronautics and Astronautics offers its MSAA and MAE degrees. The Master of Science and Master of Aerospace Engineering programs are designed to provide a high level of technical competence for careers as professional engineers. Aerospace engineering is at the forefront of revolutionary technology developments in transportation, exploration, and national security. New and significant challenges are emerging to include space-based information systems, energetics, and complex autonomous systems.

Who Should Apply

Curriculum Overview

The Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics offers two degree programs.

Master of Science in Aeronautics and Astronautics (MSAA)

The MSAA degree is intended for students with an undergraduate degree in Aerospace Engineering or a closely related field, such as Mechanical Engineering, who are interested in research in engineering sciences. Students' undergraduate backgrounds should include core courses in aerodynamics, flight mechanics, fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, heat transfer, mechanics of materials, dynamics, propulsion, controls or other related or equivalent subjects.

There are two paths toward the MSAA degree, the Thesis Option (10 courses plus 9 research thesis credits); and the Non-Thesis Option (13 courses.) The MSAA program is between 42-45 credits.

Master of Aerospace Engineering (MAE)

The Master of Aerospace Engineering is intended to be a practice-oriented master's degree program. The program is for either recent graduates or engineering professionals who wish to expand their knowledge in specific technical areas or broaden their skills in new areas, while also learning about other aspects of aerospace engineering, such as business, management, manufacturing, or technical communication. The MAE program is designed to be multidisciplinary and is aimed at developing practical engineering skills needed in industry. The program requires a minimum of 37 credits of course work and 8 credits of independent or team project work. No thesis is required, but written and oral reports must be submitted at the conclusion of the project. The MAE program is structured to permit students to complete the degree requirements in 3 years of part-time study. Portions of the business and management requirements may not be available through distance learning.

Aerospace Engineering in Composite Materials and Structures

The new University of Washington online Master of Aerospace Engineering in Composite Materials and Structures is a practice-oriented program designed for engineering professionals and graduate students pursuing careers in composite materials. You'll explore new areas of composite materials and structures and cover essential aspects of aerospace engineering, including business, management, manufacturing, and communication.

Admission Requirements

Admission to graduate study in the department of Aeronautics & Astronautics at the University of Washington is granted by the Dean of the Graduate School upon recommendation by the departmental Graduate Admissions Committee. This committee recommends admission for those students judged best qualified to benefit from the graduate program offered by the department. The University requires that the students seeking admission have a minimum undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 (on a 4.0 basis) in the last 90 graded quarter hours or the last 60 semester hours. Exceptions are possible in special cases.

In determining the qualifications of an applicant for admission, the following factors are considered:

  1. The record of all prior academic work at the undergraduate and graduate levels;
  2. The results of the Graduate Record Examination;
  3. Recommendations from persons qualified to evaluate the applicant's academic record and promise as an engineer;
  4. Engineering work experience or creative projects which add to the applicant's preparation for a graduate degree program;
  5. Consistency of the applicant's career objectives with the graduate degree programs available, and
  6. Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), where applicable.
    A satisfactory command of the English language is required for admission to the University of Washington Graduate School. Applicants who are citizens of Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Ireland or the United Kingdom are not required to take the TOEFL. For more information, visit: English Language Competence or the TOEFL site.

Course Descriptions

Specific course offerings vary from year to year. For course descriptions, see the UW course catalog, or the EDGE course plan at: www.engr.washington.edu/edge/course_desc.html.

Courses available through EDGE from other departments may also be applied to the MSAA and MAE degrees. Other applicable departments include Electrical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Materials Science & Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering.

For more information

For more information about the AA curriculum and faculty, contact:

University of Washington
Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics
Box 352400
Seattle, WA 98195-2400
Phone: (206) 616-1113
Email: wanda@aa.washington.edu
Web: www.aa.washington.edu/

For more information about the EDGE Program, email: graduate@extn.washington.edu, call 206.685.3618, or submit this form: Request Information Form.