Aerospace Engineering
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Walter Scott, Jr. College of Engineering
CSU is the place to be for students interested in aerospace education, research, and access to industry partnerships.
Pursuing an education in aerospace engineering will expand your knowledge of the theory, design, and performance trades of aerospace and space vehicles and technologies. At CSU, world class faculty lead four hands-on academic programs and will guide you through the understanding of engineering disciplines such as fluid mechanics, chemical propulsion, stability and control, combustion, laser diagnostics, systems and structures as they apply to aircraft and rockets that fly within and above Earth’s atmosphere. Our curricula is continuously evolving to prepare our students for the demands of an ever-changing industry.
With over $16M in active aerospace-related research in our department, our experts work closely with government laboratories and industry partners to solve complex technical challenges. Students have the opportunity to work on many of these projects, contributing to research breakthroughs and helping to grow Colorado’s thriving aerospace economy.
Colorado’s aerospace industry is a major economic driver and continues to rank #1 in the nation for aerospace employment concentration. The state is home to more than 2,000 aerospace companies employing over 55,000 workers directly, with an additional 184,000 indirect jobs supported statewide. These companies span the full spectrum of aerospace activity, including spacecraft, satellites, advanced systems, and communications technologies. Colorado maintains a strong national defense and civil space presence, supported by significant federal investment and contracting from agencies such as NASA, the Department of Defense, and the Department of Energy.
A strategic central location, a highly skilled engineering workforce, and a collaborative ecosystem of government entities, private companies, and leading academic institutions continue to distinguish Colorado from other states. The state’s aerospace cluster has grown significantly, with 26.3% industry growth over the past five years and continued expansion expected in the coming decade.
The aerospace sector in Colorado continues to outpace national trends, with sustained job growth and strong demand for talent. Employment increased 17% between 2018 and 2023, with additional growth projected. Average salaries in the industry remain well above national averages—recent estimates place aerospace engineer compensation in Colorado around $140,000–$160,000 annually on average. Overall, the industry contributes several billion dollars annually in payroll and plays a central role in Colorado’s advanced economy.
Earn an Undergraduate Concentration in Aerospace Engineering when you complete 12 credit hours (four technical electives) of approved coursework, listed below. The 12 credit hours fulfill the technical elective requirement for mechanical engineering students.
To declare a concentration in aerospace engineering, you must be a declared mechanical engineering major. If you decide you would like to declare the concentration, email your academic advisor and they will initiate the process.
Courses with * are recommended if students have a specific interest in that thematic area. Courses can be selected from a single theme or multiple.
To enroll in 500-level courses, students must have a 3.0 GPA or instructor approval.
**Only ECE 521, ENGR 430, or SYSE 501 may count toward the AEC requirements. Nine credits must be MECH prefix coursework.
MECH 419 – Compressible Flow
*MECH 460 – Aeronautics
MECH 478 – Computational Fluid Dynamics
MECH 507 – Laser Diagnostics for Thermosciences
MECH 518 – Orbital Mechanics
MECH 539 – Advanced Fluid Mechanics
MECH 551 – Physical Gas Dynamics
MECH 450 – Aerospace Propulsion
MECH 468 – Space Propulsion & Power Engineering
MECH 517 – Chemical Rocket Propulsion
MECH 519 – Aerospace Vehicles Trajectory and Performance
MECH 557 – Turbomachinery
MECH 558 – Combustion
MECH 567 – Broad-Beam Ion Sources
**ENGR 430 – Engineering with Drones
MECH 417 – Control Systems
*MECH 420 – Aerospace Structures
MECH 425 – ME Vibrations
MECH 426 – Advanced Machine Design
MECH 427A – Study Abroad– Europe: Advanced Machine Design
MECH 515 – Advanced Topics in Mechanical Vibrations Finite
MECH 520 – Element Analysis in ME
**ECE 521 – Satellite Communication
**SYSE 501 – Foundations of Systems Engineering
MECH 407 – Laser Applications in Mechanical Engineering
MECH 530 – Advanced Composite Materials
MECH 535 – Mechanics of Composite Materials
MECH 537 – Processing of Polymer Composites
The Master of Engineering, Aerospace Engineering Specialization is an on-campus or online degree program that offers courses in disciplines such as propulsion, fluid flow, structures, and materials and manufacturing.
This program is intended for professional students who have an undergraduate degree in engineering and are working in the aerospace industry. This is a coursework-only degree program with no thesis requirement. Systems engineering courses are available.
Students pursuing a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering conduct research under the supervision of a faculty advisor who is usually the Principal Investigator for a government- or industry-sponsored project.
The student’s research, in conjunction with coursework and aerospace engineering thesis credits, will culminate in an article for submission to a peer-reviewed journal and a final thesis. This degree is available on campus only.
Our Aerospace Engineering Graduate Certificate provides an introduction to aerospace engineering disciplines. The certificate requires completion of 9 credits of 500-level and above graduate coursework. Students may apply for and complete just the certificate, or may apply for both the certificate and a degree program.
The certificate is available on campus or online, and is intended for working professionals looking to stay competitive in their field, advance their knowledge, and obtain additional training.