Aerospace Graduate Certificate

Enhance Your Degree with a Focus on Aerospace Research and Technology

Students in Duke Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science master's and PhD programs can expand their learning experience through the Studies and Opportunities in Aerospace Research (SOAR) Aerospace Graduate Certificate.

In our research groups and courses we educate future leaders in engineering to enable the development of high performance and ultra-efficient aircraft, including drones and UAVs. Reduced emissions, noise and vibration are also important goals for our team.

The globally recognized faculty within the SOAR certificate program are experts in structures and dynamics, aerodynamics, acoustics, and mathematical and computational methods.

"I chose Duke because its aeroelasticity faculty are some of the most renowned in this field in the world."

Jing Li
TurboMachine Research Engineer, Ge

Program Features

In-Depth and Hands-On

Advanced training in focused courses
Compelling aerospace seminars, featuring academic and industry experts
Create a research presentation to deliver to faculty
Receive a transcript designation to share with potential employer or doctoral program

Certificate Requirements

Aligned with Duke Graduate Degree Requirements

Four technical courses (click below to browse course lists)
Attend four aerospace seminars
Aerospace research presentation delivered to program faculty

Structures & Dynamics Courses

ME 544 Advanced Mechanical Vibrations (Fall)—Core Course
ME 524/CE 530 Introduction to Finite Element Methods (Spring)—Core Course
ME 527 Buckling of Engineering Structures (Every other Spring)
CEE 541 Structural Dynamics (Occasionally)
ME 541 Intermediate Dynamics (Fall)
ME 742 Nonlinear Mechanical Vibrations (Spring)
CEE 629 System Identification (Every other Spring, even years)

Aerodynamics & Acoustics Courses

ME 571 Aerodynamics (Fall)—Core Course
ME 572 Engineering Acoustics (Spring)—Core Course
ME 672 Unsteady Aerodynamics (Fall)
ME 671 Advanced Aerodynamics (Occasionally)
ME 555 Advanced Acoustics (Occasionally)
ME 775 Aeroelasticity (Spring)

Mathematical and Computational Methods Courses

MATH 551 Applied Partial Differential Equations & Complex Variables (Fall)
MATH 577 Mathematical Modeling (Spring)
ME 639 Computational Fluid Mechanics and Heat Transfer (Fall)
ME 524/CE 530 Finite Element Method (Fall)
MATH 561 Numerical Linear Algebra, Optimization & Monte Carlo Simulation (Fall)
COMPSCI 520 Numerical Analysis (Spring)
MATH 563 Applied Computational Analysis (Spring)

Important Notes

The certificate is only available to graduate students in the Duke Department of Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science
Students must declare enrollment in this certificate program within their first semester
Participants must select a focus area, either Structures & Dynamics or Aerodynamics & Acoustics
Each focus area has two (2) required core courses (in bold)—at least one (1) must be in another area
Only one (1) Mathematical and Computational Methods course can be counted toward the four required courses
Course lists are subject to change

Meet Our Faculty

Top-Flight Aerospace and Engineering Experts

With over 250 years combined of academic and industrial experience, our faculty includes many AIAA and ASME fellows—as well as recipients of the highest awards for research excellence in aerospace engineering.

Also, Duke is home to the GUIde Consortium of government, university and industry experts in turbomachinery aeroelasticity.