Developing an Aerospace Degree Program Responsive to Student Needs—If You Build It They Will Come

Michael C. Hatfield; Denise Thorsen

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Conference: 2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition
Location: Portland, Oregon
Publication Date: June 23, 2024
Start Date: June 23, 2024
End Date: July 12, 2024
Conference Session: Aerospace Division (AERO) Technical Session 2
Tagged Division: Aerospace Division (AERO)
Permanent URL: https://peer.asee.org/47155

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Paper Authors

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Michael C. Hatfield University of Alaska, Fairbanks orcid.org/0009-0001-9905-7044

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Dr Michael Hatfield is an Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and Associate Director for Education at the Alaska Center for Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration. He earned a BS in electrical engineering from Ohio Northern University ('84); an MS in electrical engineering from California State University Fresno ('87), and a PhD in Electrical/Aerospace Engineering from the University of Alaska Fairbanks ('99). As part of his joint appointment with UAF's College of Engineering & Mines and Geophysical Institute, Dr Hatfield teaches courses in electrical and aerospace engineering, conducts UAS research in support of ACUASI, and participates in STEM outreach activities. In addition, Dr Hatfield administers UAF's Aerospace Engineering Programs and serves as faculty advisor for the university's student chapter of the American Institute of Aeronautics & Astronautics. Prior to joining UAF in 2013, Dr Hatfield was a US Air Force officer where he served in numerous capacities over a 28-year career. Dr Hatfield's assignments included 2 tours teaching at the USAF Academy (Department of Astronautics, '92-'96, '99-'02) and building USAFA's space systems program in rocketry and satellites. He also served as Deputy Director of the AF Office of Scientific Research in Arlington, VA ('06-'09) and as Director of the Air Force Research Laboratory's Air Vehicles Directorate at WPAFB in Dayton, OH ('09-'12).

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Denise Thorsen University of Alaska, Fairbanks orcid.org/0000-0002-5358-9846

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Denise Thorsen received her B.S. (1985), M.S. (1991) and Ph.D. (1996) degrees in electrical and computer engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She is currently a Professor in Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University

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Abstract

Aerospace engineering has seen a resurgence in popularity in recent years, with major advancements being made across a broad spectrum of space exploration and technology. This interest spans various age groups and professions, from school students participating in science fairs to professionals in the aerospace industry. NASA’s efforts in returning to the moon and in visiting Mars have redoubled the interest in our youth for learning about rocketry, satellites, and related aerospace technologies. Likewise, the success of private space companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin has also sparked a renewed interest in this field.

Due to strong and consistent student demand for aerospace education opportunities, UNIVERSITY has initiated a new Aerospace Engineering bachelor’s degree program, effective fall semester 2023. Even in its infancy, this program has already been well received by prospective students, current students, and faculty. There are only about 80 aerospace engineering programs across the country at this time. The popularity of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), and the international interest in US aerospace programs focusing on lunar habitation and Mars exploration have caused a strong resurgence in aerospace programs. UNIVERSITY is well positioned to take advantage of this movement, with only a very small investment needed to create a major academic program and opportunities.

Unfortunately, most colleges often do not possess an organic aerospace engineering program or other formal means of implementing interdisciplinary engineering at the program level. UNIVERSITY, like many other small schools, initially lacked the resources to offer an aerospace engineering degree, and instead needed to thoughtfully and incrementally build such a program over a period of time utilizing the basic building blocks at its disposal.

With the goal of eventually providing an aerospace engineering degree, UNIVERSITY first sought student input to develop a series of courses and capstone/research experiences at the graduate and undergraduate level that provided an aerospace flavor to their education and distinguished them as such in their transcripts. Building upon that, UNIVERSITY then introduced an aerospace engineering minor, consisting exclusively of the courses that had been constructed to that point. To satisfy graduate student interest in achieving a similar level of aerospace experience in their education, UNIVERSITY introduced aerospace engineering certificate programs.

Alongside the academic programs, interested students actively sought senior capstone courses with aerospace interdisciplinary projects available, as well as (in many cases, follow-on) graduate student research projects. In addition, students also enthusiastically joined aerospace related clubs and worked on efforts such as NASA’s cubesat program and AIAA UAS competitions. As student interest continued to peak, their call for an aerospace engineering degree was eventually heard and approved.

UNIVERSITY’S aerospace engineering degree offers several tracks responsive to student desires. These include a track with traditional aeronautical engineering focus (aircraft design and performance), a track focusing on astronautical/space systems engineering (satellites, rockets, communication and guidance systems), and a track emphasizing UAS design and operations. The program also can be tailored toward other aerospace-related interests and goals.

This paper is intended to serve as motivation in providing aerospace experiences by faculty and institutions with limited resources. It will detail UNIVERSITY’s new aerospace program elements and opportunities, how it was purposely grown in response to student desires and to provide increased academic and research opportunities within limited personnel/resources, how existing academic courses and design team opportunities were leveraged to satisfy student interests, and how this program satisfies UNIVERSITY, STATE, and federal needs in developing a vibrant and sustainable STATE aerospace ecosystem supporting arctic research, industry, and national defense. The paper is authored by UNIVERSITY’s faculty lead for developing the aerospace engineering program and contains insights and motivations of students who have been a part of this program, past and present.

Citation
Format

Hatfield, M. C., & Thorsen, D. (2024, June), Developing an Aerospace Degree Program Responsive to Student Needs—If You Build It They Will Come Paper presented at 2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Portland, Oregon. https://peer.asee.org/47155

TY - CPAPER
AB - Aerospace engineering has seen a resurgence in popularity in recent years, with major advancements being made across a broad spectrum of space exploration and technology. This interest spans various age groups and professions, from school students participating in science fairs to professionals in the aerospace industry. NASA’s efforts in returning to the moon and in visiting Mars have redoubled the interest in our youth for learning about rocketry, satellites, and related aerospace technologies. Likewise, the success of private space companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin has also sparked a renewed interest in this field.

Due to strong and consistent student demand for aerospace education opportunities, UNIVERSITY has initiated a new Aerospace Engineering bachelor’s degree program, effective fall semester 2023. Even in its infancy, this program has already been well received by prospective students, current students, and faculty. There are only about 80 aerospace engineering programs across the country at this time. The popularity of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), and the international interest in US aerospace programs focusing on lunar habitation and Mars exploration have caused a strong resurgence in aerospace programs. UNIVERSITY is well positioned to take advantage of this movement, with only a very small investment needed to create a major academic program and opportunities.

Unfortunately, most colleges often do not possess an organic aerospace engineering program or other formal means of implementing interdisciplinary engineering at the program level. UNIVERSITY, like many other small schools, initially lacked the resources to offer an aerospace engineering degree, and instead needed to thoughtfully and incrementally build such a program over a period of time utilizing the basic building blocks at its disposal.

With the goal of eventually providing an aerospace engineering degree, UNIVERSITY first sought student input to develop a series of courses and capstone/research experiences at the graduate and undergraduate level that provided an aerospace flavor to their education and distinguished them as such in their transcripts. Building upon that, UNIVERSITY then introduced an aerospace engineering minor, consisting exclusively of the courses that had been constructed to that point. To satisfy graduate student interest in achieving a similar level of aerospace experience in their education, UNIVERSITY introduced aerospace engineering certificate programs.

Alongside the academic programs, interested students actively sought senior capstone courses with aerospace interdisciplinary projects available, as well as (in many cases, follow-on) graduate student research projects. In addition, students also enthusiastically joined aerospace related clubs and worked on efforts such as NASA’s cubesat program and AIAA UAS competitions. As student interest continued to peak, their call for an aerospace engineering degree was eventually heard and approved.

UNIVERSITY’S aerospace engineering degree offers several tracks responsive to student desires. These include a track with traditional aeronautical engineering focus (aircraft design and performance), a track focusing on astronautical/space systems engineering (satellites, rockets, communication and guidance systems), and a track emphasizing UAS design and operations. The program also can be tailored toward other aerospace-related interests and goals.

This paper is intended to serve as motivation in providing aerospace experiences by faculty and institutions with limited resources. It will detail UNIVERSITY’s new aerospace program elements and opportunities, how it was purposely grown in response to student desires and to provide increased academic and research opportunities within limited personnel/resources, how existing academic courses and design team opportunities were leveraged to satisfy student interests, and how this program satisfies UNIVERSITY, STATE, and federal needs in developing a vibrant and sustainable STATE aerospace ecosystem supporting arctic research, industry, and national defense. The paper is authored by UNIVERSITY’s faculty lead for developing the aerospace engineering program and contains insights and motivations of students who have been a part of this program, past and present.

AU - Michael C. Hatfield
AU - Denise Thorsen
CY - Portland, Oregon
DA - 2024/06/23
PB - ASEE Conferences
TI - Developing an Aerospace Degree Program Responsive to Student Needs—If You Build It They Will Come
UR - https://peer.asee.org/47155
ER -