Aerospace Engineering: Is It Really the Hardest Engineering Major?

[TechFlyer]

Aerospace...what to expect??

Im thinking of switching my major from applied physics to Aerospace eng... I am really good at calculus and fairly good with physics. Is Aersopace going to be ridiculously hard, or just as hard as anything else compared to how much studying you put forth? And how much is chemistry used throughout AE? Appreciate any feedback.

 

[cronxeh]

Hardest major among all engineering fields is Chemical Engineering, then EE, then ME/AE, then Civil, etc. I went over the books used in junior and senior years for AE - propulsion, aircraft controls, etc - and they seem hard but if you take into account that its mostly applied differential equations for fluid mechanics class, partial differential equation for dynamics, physics1 for statics - its not really that complicated.

 

[hhegab]

As an aerospace engineering graduate, I can confidently say that aerospace engineering is definitely a challenging major. However, I wouldn't say it's necessarily the hardest engineering major. Every engineering discipline has its own unique challenges and requires a lot of dedication and hard work.

One of the biggest challenges in aerospace engineering is the integration of various engineering principles, such as mechanics, thermodynamics, and materials science, to design and develop aircraft and spacecraft systems. This requires a strong foundation in mathematics and physics, which you seem to have.

In terms of difficulty, I would say that aerospace engineering is on par with other engineering majors. It ultimately depends on your interest and aptitude for the subject. If you have a passion for aerospace and are willing to put in the effort, you will find the coursework manageable.

As for the use of chemistry in aerospace engineering, it is not a major component. However, a basic understanding of chemistry is important for materials selection and understanding the behavior of fluids in aerospace systems.

If you are considering switching to aerospace engineering, I would recommend talking to current students and professors to get a better understanding of the coursework and career opportunities in the field. It's also important to keep in mind that any engineering major requires a significant amount of studying and dedication, but it can also be a rewarding and exciting field to be a part of. Good luck with your decision!