Get to know CSU’s Aerospace Engineering concentration

Aerospace students work on space tech in a CSU lab

Have you always been interested in aviation and outer space? Do you love the idea of working for NASA or building prototypes that might someday go to space? The world of aerospace is closer than you may think, and Colorado State University’s Aerospace Engineering concentration is a great foot in the door to the career of your dreams.

What is aerospace engineering and what will I learn?

Adding the aerospace concentration to your Mechanical Engineering major at CSU will expand your knowledge of the design, manufacturing, and operating techniques of air-flight-capable machines. CSU’s aerospace faculty are experts and leaders in the industry, and will guide you through the understanding of engineering disciplines such as fluid mechanics, chemical propulsion, stability and control, and structures of aircraft and rockets that fly within and above earth’s atmosphere. You’ll explore the building and testing of aerospace prototypes, and participate in labs and research that focus on aircraft.

What can I do beyond the coursework?

Outside of the classroom, you’ll get chances to connect and explore the field with the record-breaking CSU Rocket Team, and the chance to participate in the NASA Space Grant Program, which offers project-based team challenges and competitions. Plus, the American Institute of Aeronautics at CSU is an organization dedicated to introducing students to aerospace industry connections, as well as providing opportunities for students to gain hands-on experience in the fields of aeronautics and astronautics through a collection of lectures, seminars, and competitions centered on the aerospace industry.

How does aerospace at CSU contribute to my future goals?

The aerospace concentration can make you an incredibly competitive candidate as you search for jobs within the aerospace field. Engineers with an aerospace education have an average salary of $125,000 per year, and since Colorado has the nation’s second-largest aerospace economy, the opportunities are not lacking. In fact, Colorado is the U.S. center for military space, with four military commands that perform space-based research, development, acquisition, and operations. Many CSU engineering grads end up jobs at the same places they interned as an student, at Colorado companies like Lockheed Martin, United Launch Alliance, Ball Aerospace, Boeing, Raytheon, and Northrup Grumman. Some career options for engineering students with an aerospace concentration include:

  • Stress Engineer
  • Test Engineer
  • Flight Test Engineer
  • Design Engineer
  • Systems Engineer
  • Structures Engineer
  • Structural Analysis Engineer

Is there anything else I should know about aerospace at CSU?

The Aerospace Engineering concentration at CSU is housed under the Mechanical Engineering major, a competitive major with some prerequisites to meet before you can officially declare. If you think this might be the path for you, you can reach out to your admissions counselor or explore more about CSU’s Walter Scott, Jr. College of Engineering and some of its resources for future Rams.

Ready to learn more about aerospace at CSU?

Explore career resources, internship and scholarships, student stories, and what you’ll learn in CSU’s Aerospace Engineering concentration now.

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Prairie Smallwood

Prairie Smallwood is a writer and content creator for the Office of Admissions at Colorado State University. She is passionate about education and exploration, and knows that going to college can be both an adventure and an overwhelming experience. She aims to create content that helps students through that journey — the wonderful, the scary, and everything in between.