HOUGHTON, Mich. (WLUC) – Michigan Tech University (MTU) has announced the creation of a long-requested Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering.
“Students have been asking for this for a long time, and we listened,” MTU College of Engineering Dean Michelle Scherer said.
It is the university’s first official aerospace engineering program. Up until now, the university has only offered a minor in the subject and a minor in aerospace studies.
“Through ROTC, as well as our Enterprise programs,” Scherer continued. “Which I think a lot of people are familiar with. These are student programs that have industry clients, and the students are involved with for several years.”
MTU Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department Chair Jason Blough says that he kicked off the creation process. Last year, he asked faculty to see if there was an interest in creating the degree.
“Twelve of our faculty, about a quarter of our faculty, have aerospace degrees, and they got very excited about the opportunity,” Blough said. “We formed a committee to develop the curriculum and put the proposal together, which got approved a few weeks ago by the State of Michigan.”
Blough says that there are 10 new courses involved in the degree, including spacecraft engineering and avionics. To fit them all, some changes are being made to the university’s R. L. Smith (MEEM) building.
“The 11th floor of the building is going to be completely renovated to be undergraduate lab space and enterprise project space for aerospace and mechanical engineering,” Blough added. “And in the sub-basement, we’re renovating six rooms for aerospace laboratories as well.”
Students of the program will also be able to collaborate with faculty and researchers on various projects. The program will kick off during the fall semester next year.
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