ARO_PHD - Aerospace Engineering (Ph.D.)

Program Information

The Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering offers the degrees of Master of Science (thesis or non-thesis), Master of Engineering (thesis or non thesis), and Doctor of Philosophy in Aerospace Engineering. Official minimum requirements for these degrees are given in the Graduate Degrees section of this catalog.

Master of Science & Master of Engineering

Any Master’s degree candidate will pursue the Master of Science degree (M.S.), however only those holding ABET-accredited baccalaureate degrees in engineering may choose the Master of Engineering degree (M.E.). All other degree requirements remain the same. A Master’s degree candidate should establish a Plan of Study by the end of the second term of enrollment. As the candidate progresses toward their degree, any deviations in their program from an approved Plan of Study should be recorded by the submission of a revised Plan of Study. A Master’s degree candidate seeking a thesis option must form a supervisory committee by the end of the second term of enrollment and the supervisory committee must approve the Plan of Study. A Master’s degree candidate seeking a non-thesis option submits a self-guided Plan of Study.

A total of 30 credit hours is required for the Master’s degree.  Of this total, at least 18 credits of coursework (excluding S/U courses) must be in the student’s major field of study. Technical courses from other fields may be used to satisfy remaining credits, so long as they are graduate level courses (5000 and above, excluding S/U courses).

The Master’s degree, with thesis option, includes a minimum of 24 graded credit hours of coursework (excluding S/U courses), up to 6 credit hours of EAS6971 Research for Master’s Thesis, and up to 3 credit hours of EGN5949 Practicum/ Internship/ Cooperative Work Experience. For a Master’s degree candidate pursuing the non-thesis degree option, a minimum of 27 graded credit hours (excluding S/U courses) is required, and up to 3 credit hours of EGN5949 Practicum/ Internship/ Cooperative Work Experience may be used.  

For both the thesis and non-thesis degrees, up to 6 credit hours of out of department coursework at the 3000 or 4000 level (excluding EGN courses and S/U courses) may be completed to satisfy degree requirements, as long as the coursework completed is included in an approved Plan of Study.

A comprehensive final examination is required by the Graduate School for a master’s student taking the non-thesis option for the M.S. degree. The exam may not be scheduled earlier than the term in which the degree is to be conferred. The non-thesis option M.S. degree program students who apply for degree certification will be automatically enrolled in the final examination. Students should select an examination based on any three core courses, that are listed in Plan of Study worksheet. NOTE: If the expected graduation term is extended more than one semester beyond when the student applied for graduation, then the exam will need to be retaken.

Doctor of Philosophy

The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) is a research intensive degree requiring independent mastery of a field of knowledge. As such, considerable flexibility is allowed by the Graduate School and by MAE in the tailoring of individual programs.

All Ph.D. students must take a minimum of 39 graded credit hours (excludes S/U graded courses) beyond the B.S. degree. Work in the major must be in courses numbered 5000 or above. For work outside the major, 6 credits of courses numbered 3000 or above may be taken if part of an approved plan of study.

Students must form a Ph.D. supervisory committee and must complete a Plan of Study by the end of the third term of enrollment. As the student progresses toward the degree, any significant deviations in their program from the approved Plan of Study should be discussed and approved by the student’s advisor, and recorded in the submission of a revised Plan of Study.

Guidelines for Plan of Study

During the first year of graduate study, each student should complete a minimum of three didactic courses in the Fall and Spring semesters. Generally, core courses are included, as well as an appropriate mix of elective courses.  Ph.D. students must include coursework to satisfy Ph.D. Basic Skills course requirements and to prepare for the Ph.D. Candidacy Exam.

For more information, please reference the MAE degree programs and requirements (http://www.mae.ufl.edu/current /graduate/degree-programs-requirements).