Expert: Paul Soderman - 5/21/2008

Question
Paul...my very bright son yearns to study aeoronautical engineering..he's a junior, good grades, very good if not off the charts SAT's. I'm wondering if he should specialize so soon...much of the core curriculum seems similar in mechanical..can he get equivalent education in a mech engineering program with electives, as he can in an undergrad program in aeronautics? suggestions on good schools?

Answer
Hi Ruth
Congratulations on some good opportunities your son has earned.  In my experience, all engineering students take pretty much the same courses the first two years.  They all have to learn the basics of physics, chemistry, math, etc., so no one really specializes too soon.  By the junior year, they start taking a few courses in their major field.  And you are right, mechanical and aeronautical engineering students take almost the same things.  The aero students take a few special courses like aerodynamics where the mechanical students might stop at fluid mechanics.  But both are good.  At NASA I worked with many aerodynamicists who studied mechanical engineering.  At the graduate level, more differences are possible.

So, even though I love aero, a mechanical engineering degree might offer more opportunities.  But if he loves airplanes, why not take aero.  He can always switch to mechanical engineering later.  I have two degrees in aero engineering and a state license to practice mechanical engineering.  The subjects are very close.  Good luck to you both.

Here is the popular list of best engineering schools:
http://www.infozee.com/channels/ms/usa/aerospace-aeronautical-astronautical-rank...

but one can get a very good education at state universities that may be better at teaching than at research.  Choice of schools is a whole topic in itself that involves discussion of desire and resources.
Paul