Engineering Physics: Pros & Cons for Grad School

[Feldoh]

So recently I've been thinking about switching from aero/mech engineering over to engineering physics because I enjoy physics more so than a typical engineering degree allows for course wise. However I'm also interested in engineering so I think it would be a good combo.

But my main question concerns grad school. Another reason I'd like to do engineering physics is because from what I've heard it's possible to go to grad school for either engineering or physics which is really appealing to me, because right now I'm sort of undecided which one I like more so in that sense engineering physics seems to have more flexibility.

Just wondering what others thoughts/experiences were...

 

[ekrim]

I'm an engineering physics major. The ease at which you can transition into a grad program depends heavily on your curriculum and electives. For instance, mine is not heavy on physics, but their are quite a few engineering grad programs I could enter.

 

[Feldoh]

Well here is what I'm looking into: http://www.phys.cwru.edu/undergrad/programs/bs_engr.php with an aerospace concentration

 

[Future-boy]

@Feldoh:
Wow that is a rich programme. So many options.

If a such a programme would exist here, i would go for it!

 

[Cyrus]

Well here is what I'm looking into: http://www.phys.cwru.edu/undergrad/programs/bs_engr.php with an aerospace concentration

What exactly do you mean by an aerospace concentration?

The list of courses seem's good. But many are not very relevant to the field of aerospace. There not bad, but you'd be better off taking classes in vibrations, materials, aerodynamics and such.


I think the following are not really aero-topics:
PHYS 332 Introduction to Quantum Mechanics II
PHYS 327 Quantum Electronics
EEAP 321 Physical and Solid State Electronics
EEAP 420 Solid State Electronics I
EMSE 314 Electrical, Magnetic, and Optical Properties of Materials
EMSE 405 Dielectric, Optical, and Magnetic Properties of Materials

The two in bold might be good though.


PHYS 313 Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics

If you go into gas dynamics or heat transfer this will be good.

PHYS 324 Electricity and Magnetism I
PHYS 325 Electricity and Magnetism II

Um...debateable.

PHYS 331 Introduction to Quantum Mechanics I

Probably not.


If you take this:

Aerospace Engineering
EMAE 325 Fluid and Thermal Engineering
EMAE 359 Aero/Gas Dynamics
EMAE 381 Flight Dynamics I
EMAE 382 Flight Dynamics II

You will be ok. You should be pretty flexible with that degree though.

 

[Astronuc]

If one does Engineering Physics, and also the Aerospace courses,

Aerospace Engineering
EMAE 325 Fluid and Thermal Engineering
EMAE 359 Aero/Gas Dynamics
EMAE 381 Flight Dynamics I
EMAE 382 Flight Dynamics II

Then one should be reasonably prepared for graduate school in Aerospace Engineering.

If one is interested in propulsion or structures, then I'd recommend some basic Mat Sci courses, e.g.

Materials Science and Engineering
EMSE 201 Introduction to Materials Science
EMSE 202 Phase Diagrams and Phase Transitions

However if one is interested in control systems, then one should look at EECS courses, e.g.

Control Systems and Automation
EECS 212 Systems and Control
EECS 214 Systems and Control Laboratory (1hr)
EECS 313 Signal Processing
EECS 304 Control Engineering I
EECS 305 Control Engineering Laboratory (1hr)

 

[Feldoh]

What exactly do you mean by an aerospace concentration?

Well the major requires you take 12 credit hours in a particular field of engineering to be approved by an adviser. The example listed for aerospace was:

EMAE 325 Fluid and Thermal Engineering
EMAE 359 Aero/Gas Dynamics
EMAE 381 Flight Dynamics I
EMAE 382 Flight Dynamics II

----------------------------------------

Yeah it does seem like the degree is aimed towards electrical specialties, but still fairly flexible.

Thanks for the advise guys, I appreciate it!

 

[Cyrus]

Well the major requires you take 12 credit hours in a particular field of engineering to be approved by an adviser. The example listed for aerospace was:

EMAE 325 Fluid and Thermal Engineering
EMAE 359 Aero/Gas Dynamics
EMAE 381 Flight Dynamics I
EMAE 382 Flight Dynamics II

----------------------------------------

Yeah it does seem like the degree is aimed towards electrical specialties, but still fairly flexible.

Thanks for the advise guys, I appreciate it!

If you take those four aero classes, I really see no reason why you can't do fine in any aero graduate school. (My undergrad background was in Mechanical, so I was somewhat in the same boat as you).

 

[leumas614]

How about work in combustion? What sort of classes would I need for that? Could a chemical engineer work in the aerospace industry designing rocket fuels or propulsion systems?