Aerospace Engineering

The Aerospace Engineering area of emphasis at Marshall University is built within the Mechanical Engineering, B.S.M.E. program and prepares students to work at the intersection of mechanical and aerospace engineering. This shared discipline, known as aeromechanics, focuses on the interactions between airflow and the mechanical behavior of structures and materials operating within it. Students gain expertise in aircraft design, composite materials, aerodynamics, compressible fluid flow, finite element stress analysis and the dynamics and control of machinery.

Mechanical engineering provides the foundational problem-solving framework for this emphasis. Engineers in this field apply principles of motion, force and energy to ensure that designs function safely, reliably and efficiently from initial concept through manufacturing and into service. The aeromechanical specialization extends this foundation directly into aviation and aerospace applications, equipping graduates to pursue careers with some of the most technologically demanding industries in the world.

West Virginia is home to a growing aerospace cluster that benefits from its proximity to major federal defense agencies, original equipment manufacturers and national buying sectors. The state’s aerospace industry supports thousands of jobs and generates more than a billion dollars in annual economic output, making it a strategically significant sector for the region.

Employment of engineers with aerospace competencies is projected to grow at a rate comparable to the average across all occupations, with strong demand driven by both commercial aviation and national defense. Graduates of this program are prepared to enter that workforce or continue into graduate study in mechanical or aerospace engineering.