About

Message from the Department Head

Welcome to the Department of Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics at The University of Alabama. Accredited since 1937, our department has a long tradition of preparing students for leadership in aerospace engineering and engineering mechanics. Today, we continue that tradition with a growing student body, an expanding faculty, and programs designed to meet the needs of both undergraduate and graduate learners.

Our students learn in and out of the classroom through projects that apply their knowledge to real challenges. Many choose to participate in interdisciplinary clubs such as the AIAA Student Chapter, Alabama Rocketry Association, Astrobotics, TuskaUAV, and UASpace, where they design, build, and test systems in competitive and collaborative settings or interact with engineering leaders from industry and government in a social setting. These experiences connect students directly with the excitement of discovery and the teamwork required in professional practice. We also offer graduate programs available both on campus and through distance education, providing flexibility for students who wish to advance their studies and careers. Many of our top undergraduate students take advantage of the Accelerated Master’s Program (AMP) to enroll in graduate courses while completing their undergraduate degree.

Our facilities support an active environment with a wide range of laboratories and design spaces highlighted by our new supersonic wind tunnel. Our faculty are leading experts in a variety of areas including, but not limited to, additive manufacturing, astrodynamics, computational mechanics, composite materials, experimental aerodynamics, fracture and fatigue, guidance-navigation-control, hypersonics & propulsion, space situational awareness, and trajectory design.

Nearly 100 undergraduates and 50 graduate students earn their respective degrees each year. With a strong technical foundation and practical experience through internships, co-ops, university research, or experiences in engineering clubs and design teams, graduates from our department are recruited by leading aerospace and engineering companies across the country. Some graduates continue their careers in Alabama, with major aerospace technology centers in Huntsville and Mobile, while many others are recruited across the country to leading aerospace firms like Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, NASA, SpaceX, and Blue Origin, to name a few.

I invite you to explore our programs, meet our faculty, and see for yourself the opportunities available here at The University of Alabama. We are proud of our history and excited about the future, and we look forward to welcoming you to our department. If you would like to schedule a visit, please contact our Engineering Welcome Center.

Paul Hubner, PhD
Professor and Interim Department Head