Expert: Paul Soderman - 8/9/2006

Question
I am helping my son research schools in aero eng.  We would like information about how the schools are rated, what schools are considered to be the best amongst professionals in the field.  Also, is a masters or a doctorate advised to increase employment options?  Who are the main employers of aero engineers in the U.S.? (I did read your earlier reply regarding the possibility of getting a degree in ME also/instead of/in addition to).  Thank you, P.S. are aerospace and aeronautical engineering the same thing?

Answer
Hi Carol
You are doing a good thing - researching a school and career choice can remove a lot of uncertainty.  First, aerospace and aeronautical engineering are basically the same things, but years ago schools decided they wanted to get on the NASA bandwagon and offer a few courses in orbital mechanics and other space related subjects.  That led them to the slightly loftier title of Aerospace Engineer.  But the bulk of the subject study relates to aeronautics.  Most of us are proud to be Aeronautical Engineers, so I wouldn't worry about the title.

As for schools, I don't have any official rating, but worked with engineers from all over the world.  The best, at least theoretically, came from Europe - the french Ecole Polytechnique for example.  But for all around theoretical, experimental and computational abilities, it is hard to do better than MIT, Cal Tech, Cal Poly, Stanford, Princeton, Virginia Tech, U. of Washington, Penn State, Texas A&M, Georgia Tech, Notre Dame, Iowa State, Ohio State, Florida State, and many many more.  It is probably sufficient at the Bachelor level to find a school that offers the range of courses that would qualify for a full blown Aero Engineering degree or at least an ME degree with heavy options in fluid mechanics.  At the MS level, which I recommend, one can then choose a more prestigious school if desired. An MS is highly recommended for landing that first job.  A PhD is definitively a plus, especially if one is inclined towards teaching or research, which might lead to another school change.  But the PhD decision is best left for later in the game.  As an aside, one of the best engineers I worked with found his school on a match book cover.  He was just well motivated.  A student who really wants to learn doesn't need a world class school to get his start in his career.

The main employers of Aero Engineers in the U.S. are Boeing, NASA, the several defense contractors who I have lost track of (General Dynamics, Lockheed, Raytheon, etc.), and a few small companies that make general aviation or special purpose aircraft (Rutan, Cessna).

Good luck to you both.

Paul