Wright State University

Programme overview

The Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering offers a Master of Science in Aerospace Systems Engineering (MSE). The program is non-traditional in that it requires students to complete an interdisciplinary minor in an aerospace-relevant area. Students plan their program of study with the department chair and should finalize that plan by the time they have completed 9 credit hours of graduate study. Further degree requirements are listed in the university Academic Catalog.

What you'll study

Research and coursework focus on engineering topics applied to flight systems. Depending on faculty support, funding and student interest, graduate students may participate in departmental and college research labs. Facilities available to students include wind tunnels, materials testing laboratories, structural testing labs, controls laboratories and other labs tied to an individual student’s program of study. Computational resources include departmental file servers and workstations, X-windowing terminals, personal computers and access to the Ohio Supercomputer through the Ohio Academic and Research Network (OARNET). Many students also make use of labs and computer equipment at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, subject to Air Force approval. The Dayton Area Graduate Studies Institute provides additional collaboration through shared courses, faculty and research resources with nearby institutions.

Entry requirements

Applicants submit materials through Wright State's Graduate School. Minimum entrance criteria listed by the department include GRE scores, an undergraduate GPA and English-proficiency test scores for international applicants. The published minimums include GRE: 158(740) quantitative, 146(400) verbal; an undergraduate GPA threshold of 3.4 (3.5 A scale noted); and TOEFL 89 or IELTS 6.0 for international students. Three letters of recommendation are required. Prospective students should send TOEFL/IELTS scores to the Wright State International Admissions Office and indicate interest in assistantships on the application.

Career prospects

Graduates are prepared for applied aerospace research roles or engineering positions requiring systems-level knowledge of flight technologies. Exact career paths depend on the student’s chosen minor, research experience and industry or government collaborations pursued during the degree.

Scholarships & funding angle (general)

The College of Engineering and Computer Science offers competitive graduate assistantships and hourly positions (graders, teaching assistants, recitation teachers). Individual researchers also hire graduate research assistants; these positions commonly include a stipend and tuition remission. Applicants should indicate interest in assistantships when they apply.