Aerospace Engineering Undergraduate Certificate

Students carry an experimental rocket

World-Class Faculty. Hands-On Experiences.

This is a program for aspiring engineers who want to work on challenges related to aircraft and spacecraft.

Open to all engineering majors. Successful completion of the certificate is noted on your Duke transcript.

Hands-On Experiences

While you work toward the certificate, you’ll have access to participate in the student chapter of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and the rocket-building Duke AERO club.

Related Student Clubs & Teams

  • Academy for Model Aeronautics
  • Duke Aviation Association
  • Duke Motorsports
  • Duke Robotics

Tuned to Industry Needs

Unlike traditional aerospace engineering programs, this Duke MEMS undergraduate certificate is tuned to modern industry needs.

Our students leave the program inspired and equipped for careers in the aerospace industry and the public sector.

Many go on to graduate study in leading aerospace engineering programs.

Technical Training From Top Faculty

Duke’s aerospace engineering faculty ranks among the nation’s most accomplished.

Courses on flight vehicle applications are taught by expert faculty actively involved in cutting-edge aerospace research.

Students walk across a university campus
Undergraduates and graduate students head to class and socialize with friends during FDOC (First Day of Classes) on Duke’s West Campus.

Open to All Engineering Majors

Duke MEMS will provide you the flexibility you need to complete this certificate and your major, regardless of department. Questions? Please contact our certificate coordinator.

Research Opportunities

In addition to coursework, we offer enriching independent research for our students under the supervision of a member of the Duke MEMS aerospace faculty.

Mechanical engineering majors may request an academic advisor from the aerospace faculty.

Students, professor look at a computer screen connected to an experimental wind tunnel

Requirements

Complete seven (7) courses.

  • Required:

    ME 472 Aircraft Performance and Design

    An overview of the aerodynamics of wings and bodies including profile and induced drag, performance of propellers and internal combustion and gas turbine power plants; the power curve and implications on the performance of the aircraft in steady-state and accelerated flight included power required, airspeeds to fly, takeoff and landing performance, performance of aircraft in turning flight; introduction to the conceptual design of new aircraft. Co-requisite: ME 336L Fluid Mechanics.

  • Choose two:

    • Control Systems
    • Fluid Mechanics
    • Heat and Mass Transfer
    Important Note

    Two courses are already required for the Mechanical Engineering major. Substitutions are possible for non-ME students.

  • Choose one:

    • Aerodynamics
    • Aerospace Structures
    • Compressible Fluid Flow
  • Choose two:

    • Computational Fluid Mechanics and Heat Transfer
    • Spacecraft Flight Dynamics
    • Aerodynamics
    • Aerospace Structures
    • Engineering Acoustics
    • Finite Element Method
    • Mathematical Fluid Dynamics
    • Compressible Fluid Flow
    • Intermediate Dynamics
    • Applied Mathematics
    • Advanced Mechanical Vibrations
    • Modern Control and Dynamic Systems
    • Introduction to Robots and Automation
    • Special Topics Courses related to Aerospace Engineering
    • Graduation with Departmental Distinction Independent Project Course
      If your project is aerospace related, it can be used for GwDD.
    • Independent Project Course
      If aerospace related, independent projects from other engineering departments are permitted.
    • Pratt Research Fellows Independent Study Course
      If aerospace related, Pratt Fellows from other engineering departments are permitted
    Important Note

    Other senior- and graduate-level courses in related areas such as control, robotics and structures are also permissible subject to approval of the aerospace certificate program coordinator. New courses may also be created in the future.

  • A course in the Trinity College of Arts & Sciences.

    Choose one:

    • Economics — applicable to large or international corporate structures
    • History — applicable to the role of technology and science
    • Public Policy — applicable to the use and impact of technology
    Important Note

    This course is to be approved by the certificate coordinator. Other course options will be considered on an individual basis with consideration given to the relevance to the field.

Certificate Coordinator