What Degrees/Majors Get Into Aerospace?
Posted by Willing_Act_9686@reddit | aviation | View on Reddit | 20 comments
I've recently switched my undergraduate major from Mechanical Engineering (ME) to Construction Management (CM). I got tired of the mathematics, theoretical/conceptual thinking, and just lost interest in ME overall a year in.
My dream is to work in aerospace, ideally being involved in optimizing systems or products to improve safety and performance without being an engineer (sense I wouldn't have an engineering degree).
I've landed on the plan of completing my B.S. in CM, then going straight to grad. school for something more closely aligned to my goal of working in aerospace. I intend to join aerospace clubs at my school and try to get involved in research/internships that are adjacent to or directly involved in aerospace. I'm aware that a B.S. in CM will most likely not get me into aerospace.
I'm now stumped on what to study in grad. school. So far, I have considered Safety Science/Engineering, Occupational Safety, and Human Factors. Are these good majors to consider for grad. school? Are there any other graduate majors that would be a better fit for the type of work I've described in aerospace?
RingGiver@reddit
EE and ME are the big ones.
AE is fundamentally a more specialized ME program. Materials engineering is often also a more specialized ME program (and the aerospace industry has some fancy and expensive materials).
But if you're not willing to do the math, this might not be for you.
Neither-Way-4889@reddit
Mechanical Engineering would have been perfect...
Willing_Act_9686@reddit (OP)
I suck at math...
Neither-Way-4889@reddit
It takes practice to be good at it, we all equally sucked at math as babies. Any way into the fun side of aerospace is going to involve math, unless you're happy with building runways and hangar buildings.
That is called being an engineer my friend
Willing_Act_9686@reddit (OP)
That's the issue though, I'm not willing to dedicate time to a degree that involves so much mathematics. Not only am I bad at math, I also don't enjoy it, so I don't think engineering is a good match academically :/ That's why I'm trying to find alternative major for grad school that aligns more with what I want to do professionally that isn't engineering. I'm aware that CM would most likely not get me into aerospace beyond managing buildings in the aerospace sector.
Neither-Way-4889@reddit
If you aren't willing to put the time and energy towards achieving a goal, then don't. Just understand that the aerospace field by its very nature is very math and physics heavy, so if you aren't interested in putting in effort at improving your math and physics skills then your options are going to be extremely limited.
Optimization, systems engineering, and product design for aerospace applications require a background in engineering, or at the very least they involve working with math, physics, and conceptual thinking.
You could always focus on aerospace machining. There is still a decent bit of math and coding involved, but its less calculus-heavy than the actual design and engineering work.
Willing_Act_9686@reddit (OP)
I guess the goal isn't necessarily engineering though. What I described doesn't have to be the entirety of my job, but if there's a major that gets me close to doing that kind of work, that'd be great.
I just know I cannot put myself in a position to be struggling with math courses and math-heavy courses... I'd get burnt out so quickly. If I am struggling and don't enjoy it, what's the point (especially if there are alternative paths)?
Plus, at my university, I'd have to take diff. eq., calc III, and prob and stats all at the same time to continue on in ME. It's just not something that's feasible for me.
I've accepted that I won't have as much design or optimization authority as an engineer because I do not want to pursue an engineering degree.
Neither-Way-4889@reddit
Well, you basically just described what engineers do then said "how do I do engineering work without being an engineer", and the answer is you don't lmao.
Sales and marketing could still be a good career path though. You make a lot of money and are expected to have very thorough product knowledge which involves learning about systems
Willing_Act_9686@reddit (OP)
I guess my thought process was that there are other titles that involve some of that “engineering” work, but also do much more analytical and management work than engineering, such as analysts, operations managers, specialists, etc.
I have a decent idea of what to pursue in grad. school, but I wanted to see if there were other major suggestions out there that I hadn’t considered. Sales and marketing sounds interesting, but it’s probably not for me :) Thanks anyways!
Neither-Way-4889@reddit
Yeah, these folks generally got to where they are because they have an engineering background and work experience...
At the very least these types of positions in the aerospace field generally require a technical degree.
Anon_Tax_1738@reddit
Electrical, mechanical, and aerospace engineering is what you want.
Or become an A&P and tell engineers they’re fucking stupid for living. Professionally of course. It’s almost therapeutic when they realize they can’t math their way out of a piss poor design.
Neither-Way-4889@reddit
A&Ps think engineers are stupid because shit breaks or is hard to work on and they just assume it was an oversight by the designer. It very well could be an oversight, but it is equally as likely that they just don't have the full picture and understand why something was designed the way it is.
A common example would be the fellow that replaced all the rubber fuel hoses in his navion with steel braided line because the hoses would wear out over time. At his next annual he had to have both wings fully replaced because the engine vibrations turned the braided fuel line into little bandsaws that damaged the ribs and stringers.
CamCorncob@reddit
Mechanical engineering is a great major if you’re trying to get into aerospace. It’s sort of a Swiss Army knife degree. Electrical engineering is in high demand on the “space” end of aerospace, if that’s what you’re into. It should be said that if you go the engineering route, make sure you absolutely love engineering. I got my degree in mechanical engineering, and it was difficult. The reason I got through when many of my peers dropped out or switched majors was because I fundamentally love engineering itself. It made the pain worth it. Talk to a few in-industry experts!
Forest_Orc@reddit
I have a limited Aerospace experience (Like everyone between 35 and 50 I've spent a couple of years working on the LEAP engine). Depending on whether they are hiring a lot or not, you can be working in aerospace with a master in any field of "engineering" and associated science. Or be in a phase where even people with degree in aerospace/fluid dynamic/material science struggle to find a job.
For the fun fact, many people find job with un-related degree. Safran who does the LEAP even have a person who graduated as an ornithologist working as a Avian risk specialist. So everything is possible if you're there at at the right time
LitRick6@reddit
You can sort of get into aerospace with that BS, but youre not going to be working as an aerospace/mechanical engineer or directly on the aircraft.
Hangers, runways, test cells, office buildings etc all have to be constructed and maintained for aerospace companies. So there will be construction companies or in-house teams for that. For example, some construction company is being paid to build a new maintenance and engine test facility for us. And my company has an in-house team of civil engineers and likely other construction type roles for ensuring upkeep of the building.
And most companies (aerospace or otherwise) manufacturing/engineering things are going to have occupational health, ergonomics, human factors, etc type employees or contract companies to do that work for them. Are they good? Idk, do you want to do that type of work? Then yes. Do you not want to do those kinds of jobs? Then no.
Will doing aerospace clubs will be good experience. You could also be better served doing other extracurriculars. For example, human factors fell under industrial engineering at my university. So youd maybe be better off joining their clubs instead.
Human factors is very vague. Like it could be referring to ergonomics, and you dont need to know a single thing about aerospace specifically to make an ergonomic chair or platform to work on for the people manufacturing thr aerospace components. But human factors could also be things like cockpit design where it could be helpful to have some understanding of aerospace engineering to know the importance of certain alerts and what not. Though again, an actual engineer will also be involved in that kind of work too. As a senior engineer, ive had to veto cockpit display designs from human factors people because they incorrectly determined an alert was non-critical when said alert was in fact extremely critical.
juanmlm@reddit
Yes. For what it’s worth, I studied mechanical engineering, but I took a course on human factors in my last year, and the professor was a doctor in psychology. As a matter of fact, the class referenced aviation fairly often, but not at all in depth.
I knew what I was getting into: I took that class because I knew it would be easy so it would leave more time for the harder compulsory subjects.
flyghu@reddit
Electrical and mechanical engineering are the widest breath degrees to get you into aviation, aerospace, or anything else. Construction management is great if you want to build hangars or porta-potties.
Global-Fact7752@reddit
You are definitely going to need advanced mathmatics and calculus.
PuppyPuppy_PowPow@reddit
Delay grad school until you get some work experience and actually figure out what you want to do. Your interests will amost certainly change once you start working.
Right now you’re specializing in something that’s not aligned with your goals and then you’re plan is to…again, specialize in something not aligned with your goals. Bad plan, waste of money.
Ancient_Swimming58@reddit
I'm going thru embry riddle for aviation maintenance so I'm hoping that'll work out for me.