MSAE Thesis Degree Requirements
- Credit Hours
- Core Courses
- Mathematics
- Specialization
- Time to Completion
- Undergraduate Background
- Residency
- Admission to Candidacy
- MS Comprehensive Exams
- Thesis Requirements
- Application for Graduation
MSAE Thesis Degree Policies
The information contained on this page is subject to the requirements
of the University of Alabama Graduate School, College of Engineering, and
the Department of Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics. Students should
check all of these sources for information regarding the degree program.
Every effort has been made to check the information contained on these
pages, but the AEM Department can not be responsible for inadvertent
omissions.
Credit Hour Requirement
The credit hour requirements for a thesis master's degree are as
follows:
The student must earn a minimum of 30 semester hours of credit of these:
- 18 hours must be in the major field (i.e. AE courses) which 6 of these hours must be thesis research (AEM 599)
- 6 hours must be in a minor field
- 6 hours of approved electives must be completed
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Core Course Requirement
MSAE students must take the following core courses:
- AEM 500 Intermediate Fluid Mechanics
- AEM 635 Finite Element Method
- AEM 668 Advanced Dynamics of Flight
These courses satisfy 9 of the required 18 hours in the major field (AEM).
Mathematics Requirement
Six hours of mathematics (beyond the college minimum) must be
completed. GES 554 Partial Differential Equations must be included.
Candidate courses with recommendation from the advisor include:
- GES 551 Matrix and Vector Analysis
- AEM/GES 585 Genetic Algorithms
- AEM/GES 587 Neural Networks
- GES 658 Numerical methods
Specialization Requirement
One of the following areas is selected by the student as the Area of Specialization, and the student must take 2 additional courses (i.e. 6 hours) beyond the core requirements in one of the following categories. These courses are typically AE courses, but other approved designations may also be acceptable.
- dynamics: flight dynamics, simulation, and controls, or
- solid mechanics: flight vehicle structures and materials, or
- fluid mechanics: aerodynamics and propulsion.
Note: the
classification of some courses are obvious; other courses may be
classified in more than one category. Consult the course instructor and
graduate program director to determine the classification of any
particular course, or check the graduate
teaching schedule.
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Time to Completion Requirement
The Graduate School enforces a time limit of six years for the master's degree. The time limit is described from the graduate catalog as, "All requirements for the master's degree must be completed during the six years immediately preceding the date on which the degree is to be awarded."
This time limit does apply to the MSAE QUEST program. Only in exceptional circumstances can the Department petition the Graduate School to extend this time limit. A circumstance when this has arisen in the AEM Department has been for military personnel whose studies have been interrupted by a tour-of-duty (TDY). However, even in this circumstance, the request will not be automatically granted by the Department and Graduate School (click here for information regarding a TDY). Students should consult with the graduate program director for more information.
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Undergraduate Background Requirement
Students may be considered for admission into the
MSAE
program if they hold a bachelor's degree in engineering, math, physics, or a
closely related area.
Students whose background is not aerospace engineering may
be required to take preliminary coursework at the undergraduate level
before beginning to take graduate level courses. Typically, these
courses are in the engineering science and mechanics area, and are by
subject: statics, dynamics, mechanics of materials, and fluid mechanics.
Differential equations is also required if the student has not taken a
course with similar content. Please note that these courses are at
the 200-300 level, and so can not be used as credit toward the
requirements of the master's degree. These courses may or may not
be offered via QUEST.
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Residency Requirement
For MSAE QUEST students, the residency requirement is waived, as the MSAE QUEST program is an approved off-campus degree program. For non-QUEST students only up-to one-half of course credit can be taken by non-traditional means (i.e. via QUEST courses).
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Admission to Candidacy
Admission to the Graduate School does not imply admission of a student to candidacy for a degree. Admission to candidacy is contingent upon the recommendation of the student's department and the approval of the graduate dean, after the student has met the formal requirements for candidacy listed below and demonstrated sufficient preparation to pursue the graduate study and research required for the degree sought.
The application for admission to candidacy for the master's degree
can be filed after 12 semester hours of graduate credit have been earned
at The University of Alabama. It should be approved by the time of
registration for the semester in which requirements for the degree are
completed. Approval will depend on (a) the quality of the applicant's
graduate work prior to the time the application is made (see "Scholastic
Requirements," in the graduate student Catalog); (b) the removal of any
special conditions; and (c) the certification of the major department or
school that the student is well qualified to continue work toward a
degree. Application forms will be supplied by the Graduate School
office.
The departmental requirements for admission to candidacy are as
follows:
MSAE students must earn a 3.0 average for the three
required courses plus the first (approved) mathematics course
taken:
- AEM 500 Fluid Mechanics
- AEM 635 Finite Element Analysis
- AEM 668 Advanced Dynamics of Flight
- GES 554 Partial Differential Equations
Students that do not meet these conditions will not be admitted
to candidacy in the respective programs in the AEM
department.
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MS Comprehensive Exams
For students submitting and defending a thesis, the written thesis and oral
defense will constitute the Comprehensive Exam or culminating experience. The
Comprehensive Exams may only be attempted twice.
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Thesis Requirements
A thesis evidencing research capacity, independent thought, and the
ability to interpret materials is required of all master's degree candidates who
pursue a thesis-based MS degree. The subject chosen must be in the major field and
must be approved by the graduate committee of the major department or school and
by the head of the student's major department or division.
The thesis committee must consist of at least three members appointed by the dean of the Graduate School. One member must be from outside the student's major department.
The candidate must give members of the examining committee a minimum of two weeks to read the thesis before the date of the final oral examination. A completed copy of the thesis must be submitted to the major department at least eight weeks before the date the candidate expects to receive the degree. At least six weeks before graduation, two copies of the thesis, approved by the thesis committee and the head of the major department or division, must be submitted to the Graduate School office, along with an abstract not exceeding 350 words and a receipt for the binding fee. Theses must comply with the regulations set out in A Manual for Students Preparing Theses and Dissertations, available at the Graduate School office. Approval of the thesis by the graduate dean is necessary before graduation.
The thesis should be completed, if possible, while the student is in residence at the University. To request permission to complete a thesis in absentia, the student must, before leaving the University, submit a satisfactory outline of the thesis, as well as evidence that adequate facilities are available where the work will be done, to the head of the major department or school.
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Application for Graduation
Each candidate for a master's degree must apply for graduation through the Office of the Graduate School no later than the registration period for the semester or the first term of the summer session in which requirements for the degree are to be completed. The form "Application for Degree" is required for this purpose and must be completed in duplicate.
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University Policy on the Use of Undergraduate Courses for Graduate
Program
With approval of the student's supervisory committee, a maximum of 6 hours of 400 level courses may be accepted by the Graduate School for the master's degree program. An Approval of 400-level Coursework for Graduate Credit form must be completed and approved by the Graduate School prior to the semester in which the 400-level coursework will be taken. To receive graduate credit, if the courses are in the student’s major field (AE) the student must receive a minimum grade of B, and if the courses are in another field, the student must receive a minimum grade of C.
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Test Pilot School (TPS)
Students that seek credit for Test Pilot School taken through the United States Air Force (USAF) may send official transcripts from the school to the Graduate School for transfer credit. The student must have received a grade of A or B in the school for the credit to be transferable. Additionally, the transfer of credit from TPS is subject to the restrictions placed on the transfer of credit by the Graduate School. The amount of transfer credit will be six hours and will be listed as AE 594. See this page on the Graduate School website.