As a major department within the Texas A&M University College of Engineering, we are excited and proud to be among the top aerospace engineering programs in the United States by providing unique cutting-edge educational and research opportunities in areas including space exploration, national defense, air transportation, communications and sustainable energy.
Our History
To prepare students for careers in modern aviation, Texas A&M introduced its first aeronautical courses in 1928. This introduction into the field led to the establishment of the Department of Aeronautical Engineering in 1940. By 1963, as the nation was in the midst of the space race and dreaming of exploring the universe, the department expanded to include the study of astronautics and was renamed the Department of Aerospace Engineering.
Through our rich history, we have continued to evolve and today offer our students a modern curriculum balanced across four principal disciplines of aerospace engineering:
- Aerodynamics and Propulsion
- Dynamics and Control
- Materials and Structures
- Systems, Design and Human Integration
Students also benefit from the program's strong connections to major aerospace industries, the Department of Defense and NASA.
Student Experience
Our undergraduate curriculum prepares students for a successful career by equipping them with essential knowledge in the classroom and culminating with a hands-on capstone design, build and fly sequence. The industry-inspired experience engages our students' education and interests by offering them their first opportunity to choose between airplanes, helicopters, rockets and space missions. Extracurricular activities are also available for students to design, build and fly solar planes, competitive airplanes and satellites. Additionally, opportunities exist for real-world experiences such as study abroad, internships, co-ops and departmental research.
Our graduate students and post-doctoral scientists are exposed to an advanced curriculum, current events through an active seminar series and state-of-the-art research supported by our faculty's externally funded research programs. This research supports assistantships, internships and furnishes our laboratories with modern facilities, instrumentation and computing resources. Some of our research topics include:
- Crewed and uncrewed aircraft
- Satellites and constellations
- Aerospace sciences
- Propulsion and energy
- Robotics and sensing
- Rotorcraft
- Hypersonic vehicles
- Autonomous morphing vehicles
- Advanced materials and structures
Prospective Students
For high school students interested in learning more about and experiencing aerospace engineering, we offer Camp SOAR. The summer program offers high school students the opportunity to spend a week at Texas A&M working with current students on hands-on projects and engaging with faculty to gain an appreciation for the fundamentals of aerospace engineering. Other opportunities for different age groups include Aggieland Saturday, Physics Festival, Discover Engineering and the Youth Adventure Program.