Educational Preparation

A bachelor’s degree in any engineering or engineering technology discipline is required to gain an entry-level engineering position in the aerospace industry. It is not a requirement to major in aerospace engineering. The majority of engineering programs include core curriculums that will enable the recent graduate to work in any of the job functions associated with the aerospace industry. In addition to those majoring in aeronautical, astronautical and aerospace engineering, aerospace companies draw on students majoring in mechanical engineering, civil engineering, electrical engineering, industrial engineering, chemical engineering and computer engineering. Students should also consider taking "soft" (project management, presentation, etc.) courses soon after entering the workforce.

College/University Coursework
Aerospace engineering programs provide coursework that allows the engineering graduate to concentrate studies in areas specific to the aerospace industry. In many cases, an aerospace employer might target these graduates for select programs or job functions. If you have majored in another area of engineering and your interest is in aerospace, it would benefit you to complete coursework in several of the following areas:

• Aerodynamics
• Aerospace Structures and Materials
• Aircraft and Spacecraft Design
• Computer Graphics
• Finite Element Analysis
• Propulsion
• Flight Mechanics, Stability and Control\
• Orbital Mechanics
• Astrodynamics

Internships and Co-ops
In today's competitive employment environment, engineering students are advised to have some sort of experience working in a field relevant to their major. Having this type of experience on your résumé demonstrates to prospective employers that you understand the work environment and the typical duties of an engineer. It also gives the student an opportunity to check out a prospective employer, as many companies offer positions to students who have completed employment-training programs.

Contact your career services department to find out about internships and co-ops in your area. Discuss options with your professors and search for positions on company websites. Check out the Industry Sectors section in this module for a list of companies in the aerospace industry.