University of Southern California USC Astronautics and Space Technology Division The USC Andrew and Erna Viterbi School of Engineering USC
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B.S. in Astronautical Engineering

The Bachelor of Science in Astronautical Engineering prepares students for engineering careers in the space sector of the aerospace industry; for research and development in industry and government centers and laboratories; and for graduate study. The program provides a core in the fundamentals of aerospace engineering; specialized work in astronautics and space technology; and technical electives to broaden and/or deepen the course work.

The general requirements for B.S. degrees in Engineering are given in the appropriate section of the USC Catalogue.

This major requires completion of the following course of study. Each course is listed in the semester in which it is typically taken. The student may choose a different schedule than that shown, as long as any prerequisites for each course are met. Note also that many engineering courses are offered only once per academic year, so care must be taken when altering the schedule.
FIRST YEAR, FIRST SEMESTER

UNITS

ASTE 101L

Introduction to Astronautics

4

CHEM 105aL

General Chemistry, or

CHEM 115aL

Advanced General Chemistry, or

MASC 110L

Materials Science

4

MATH 125

Calculus I

4

General Education

Social Issues

4

_____

16

FIRST YEAR, SECOND SEMESTER

UNITS

AME 150L

Introduction to Computational Methods in Mechanical Engineering

4

MATH 126

Calculus II

4

PHYS 151L*

Fundamentals of Physics I: Mechanics and Thermodynamics

4

WRIT 130

Analytical Writing

4

_____

16

SECOND YEAR, FIRST SEMESTER

UNITS

AME 201

Statics

3

MATH 226

Calculus III

4

PHYS 152L

Fundamentals of Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism

4

General Education

4

_____

15

SECOND YEAR, SECOND SEMESTER

UNITS

ASTE 280

Astronautics and Space Environment I

3

AME 204

Strength of Materials

3

MATH 245

Mathematics of Physics and Engineering I

4

PHYS 153L

Fundamentals of Physics III: Optics and Modern Physics

4

General Education

4

_____

18

THIRD YEAR, FIRST SEMESTER

UNITS

ASTE 301a

Thermal and Statistical Systems

3

ASTE 330

Astronautics and Space Environment II

3

AME 301

Dynamics

3

AME 341aL

Mechoptronics Laboratory I

3

AME 404

Computational Solutions to Engineering Problems

3

_____

15

THIRD YEAR, SECOND SEMESTER

UNITS

ASTE 301b

Thermal and Statistical Systems

3

AME 308

Computer-Aided Analysis for Aero-Mechanical Design

3

AME 341bL

Mechoptronics Laboratory II

3

WRIT 340

Advanced Writing

3

General Education

4

_____

16

FOURTH YEAR, FIRST SEMESTER

UNITS

ASTE 470

Spacecraft Propulsion

3

AME 441aL

Senior Projects Laboratory

3

Elective

Technical elective**

9

Free elective

1

_____

16

FOURTH YEAR, SECOND SEMESTER

UNITS

ASTE 420

Spacecraft Design

3

ASTE 480

Spacecraft Dynamics

3

Elective

Technical elective**

6

General Education

4

_____

16

Total units:

128

*Satisfies general education Category III.

**Technical electives consist of (1) any upper division course in engineering except CE 404, CE 412 and ISE 440, or (2) an upper division course in chemistry, physics or mathematics and MATH 225. No more than three units of 490 course work can be used to satisfy the technical elective requirement.