Aerospace engineers create highly complex systems that operate in atmospheric environments (aeronautics) and/or space environments (astronautics). Aerospace engineering is a branch of engineering that focuses on the design, development, testing, production, and operation of aircraft, spacecraft, and missiles. The design of an atmospheric flight vehicle requires that aerospace engineers have a fundamental understanding of aerodynamics, aircraft structures, flight dynamics and control, and propulsion, as well as a strong understanding of how each can affect the others. Similarly, the design of a spacecraft requires that aerospace engineers have a fundamental understanding of orbital mechanics, space environment, attitude determination and control, telecommunications, space structures, and rocket propulsion, as well as an in-depth understanding of how each can affect the others. Given the complexity of modern aerospace systems, aerospace engineers frequently rely on computational modeling and simulation tools. At times, they must also develop new computational tools. As a result, proficiency in computer programming is essential for aerospace engineers. The emphasis on highly integrated systems and computational modeling and simulation makes aerospace engineers competitive and sought out in professional fields beyond those commonly associated with the discipline. In fact, The University of Alabama’s Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering program was recently acknowledged for providing our students “with a strong multidisciplinary background that qualifies them to work in a variety of different disciplines..”
The Department of Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics is also home to faculty members with expertise in engineering mechanics. Engineering mechanics is the branch of engineering that applies fundamental physical laws to analyze the behavior of solid and fluid systems under forces and motion. Such an understanding is critical to developing new analytical tools to describe physical systems, including the behavior of advanced materials. At the undergraduate level, students are introduced to engineering mechanics via courses in statics, dynamics, mechanics of materials, and fluid mechanics. The material covered in these courses represents the foundation on which a strong engineering education is built. At the graduate level, courses include fracture mechanics, theory of plasticity, and turbulent flow of fluids. Graduate courses in mechanics often provide the fundamental basis for advanced research in mechanics or other disciplines.
Programs
The undergraduate curriculum in the Department of Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics leads to a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering (BSAE) degree and, in addition to an in-depth knowledge of aerospace engineering, the BSAE degree provides a background in the basic sciences, engineering sciences, humanities, applied analysis and design. Graduates with a suitable academic record are also prepared to pursue advanced degrees in aerospace engineering, engineering science and mechanics, other related engineering/technical fields of study and professional areas such as law and medicine.
Accelerated Masters Program (AMP)
Faculty
Department Head
- Hubner, James (Paul) - Interim
James R. Cudworth Chair and Professor
- Gogineni, Prasad
William D. Jordan Chair and Professor
- Roy, Samit
Associate Department Head and Director of Undergraduate Programs
- Su, Weihua
Associate Department Head and Director of Graduate Programs
- Mulani, Sameer B.
Undergraduate Program Coordinator
- Larson, Jordan D.
Graduate Program Coordinator
- Sood, Rohan
Professors
- Barkey, Mark E.
- Gogineni, Prasad
- Hubner, James P.
- Lang, Amy W.
- Olcmen, Semih M.
- Roy, Samit
Associate Professors
- Mulani, Sameer B.
- Shen, Jinwei
- Sood, Rohan
- Su, Weihua
Assistant Professors
- Hu, Chongze
- John, John P.
- Kobayashi, Daigo
- Larson, Jordan D.
- Papon, Easir
- Rajan Kattil, Sreehari
- Wahidi, Redha
- Wanstall, C. Taber
- Yuan, Sichen
- Zhao, Pan
Professor of Practice
- Alexander, Brian
Instructors
- Baggett, Jennifer
- Brazeal, C. Ellis
- Jones, Stanley E.
- Klose, Katherine
- Mazumder, Sharmi
- Whitaker, Kevin W.
Adjunct Faculty
- Kasemer, Matthew
- Thompson, Gregory B.
Professors Emeriti
- Baker, John
- Jones, Stanley E.
- Karr, Charles L.
Associate Professors Emeriti
- Sharif, Muhammad Ali Rob
- Whitaker, Kevin W.
Assessment Coordinator
- Klose, Katherine