Expert: Paul Soderman - 5/10/2011

Question
QUESTION: Hi
I am currently pursuing a bachelors degree in EEE(electrical and electronics engineering) from India.
I want to opt for a masters in aeronautical engineering outside India. IS it possible with this bachelor's background?
if yes,can u suggest me some colleges?

also, what is the difference between aeronautics and aerospace engineering?

ANSWER: Gurismrat
I doubt that EEE is adequate preparation for graduate work in aeronautics.  However, it may be possible to enroll with the requirement to take certain undergraduate classes to bring you up to speed.  You can contact the department chairman of the engineering school department you wish to enter and ask for information.  I can suggest the U. of Washington - Seattle in the U.S., but there are many more.  Do a google search on engineering schools that offer aeronautical engineering.

There is very little difference between aeronautics and aerospace.  Technically, the first deals with flight in air, the second deals with flight in air and space.  Most schools use the term 'aerospace' even if the classes dealing with space are few or none.  Either program can provide proper training for aeronautical engineering.
Paul

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Paul
Thanks for your answe
I did research on it. I have another query regarding what should i opt for summer training to enhance my CV and technical skills in order to earn extra credentials for an Aero future.

I did a training in Embedded Systems in the first year and also worked on some projects.

What should i opt presently?I am in second year
A senior of mine suggested MATLAB. Is it beneficial ?for my career?
or are there other options you would like to suggest ?

Thank you

Answer
MATLAB was a very popular technology when I was at NASA.  But computer science is such a wide-open, evolving field that it is hard for me to say what will be important in five or ten years - web design, code development, security, digital processors, ??? When I was at NASA I used UNIX, C, JAVA, FORTRAN, Excel statistics, CFD simulation codes, and various plotting and math packages such as Kaleidagraph, Mathematica and others I have forgotten.  My colleagues used MATLAB and C++ as well. But that is already 7-10 years out of date so there is probably new technologies available now.
Paul