Rules and Regulations

The School of Aeronautics and Astronautics offers the following graduate programs:

  • MS program in Aeronautics and Astronautics (non-thesis and thesis)
  • Ph.D. program in Aeronautics and Astronautics
  • MS with Engineering Leadership Concentration (Professional MS)

The regulations governing the various programs of the School are covered in the present document and are supplemental to the regulations of the Office of the Vice Provost for Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Scholars (OGSPS) of Purdue University. The students are advised to review the University regulations listed in the OGSPS University Catalog.

These regulations deal with procedural matters associated with meeting degree requirements. Since academic integrity is the foundation of all scholarship, it is expected that all study and research will be pursued with the highest standards of ethical conduct. Lapses in academic integrity will not be tolerated by the faculty or student body.

Minimum Grade Requirements

MS students must obtain a grade of B-, or higher, on any course appearing in the primary area of the plan of study. In all other courses on the plan of study, grades as low as C- are acceptable so long as the cumulative grade point index is above a 3.0/4.0.

PhD plans of study require a grade of B, or better, in courses fulfilling the math requirement and for minor/secondary area courses in lieu of the minor qualifying exam.

The minimum graduate index for courses appearing on the plan of study is 3.0/4.0. A student is placed on academic probation if, at any time, the semester index falls below 3.0. Withdrawal from the School will ordinarily be recommended to the student's advisory committee following two successive semesters with a semester index below 3.0. An exception to this policy is provided for students whose lowest grade during the semester in question is a B-, provided that the student’s cumulative GPA is at least 3.0. Under special circumstances, the students’ advisory committee may appeal to the Graduate Committee, which will then rule on the appropriateness of the request.

 

MS PROGRAM IN AERONAUTICS AND ASTRONAUTICS

The School of Aeronautics and Astronautics offers a program leading to the degree of Master of Science in Aeronautics and Astronautics (MSAA). The student will confer with either the AAE Graduate Office, or a prospective faculty advisor, to determine first semester coursework. Students will need to identify a faculty chair before the second semester course registration, listing the chair on a plan of study to approve the plan for remaining coursework.

Credit Requirements

The credit requirement for the MS degree is 30 credit hours. A full-time load is between 8-18 hours per semester, although the student should consider a load of more than 12 hours exceptional.

Each MS plan of study must indicate a primary area of study from one of the six primary AAE areas listed below, a secondary area (related area), and a math requirement (related area). All courses appearing on the plan of study should be at the 500 or 600 level, although an exception can be made if there are extenuating circumstances that the Advisory Committee deems appropriate. In such a case, the Advisory Committee can petition the Graduate Committee for an exception.

A student must obtain grades of  B-, or above, on any course appearing in the primary area. In all other courses on the plan of study, grades as low as C- are acceptable so long as the cumulative grade point index is above a 3.0/4.0.

The student shall choose a primary/secondary focus from one of the following areas:

  1. Aerodynamics
  2. Aerospace Systems
  3. Astrodynamics and Space Applications
  4. Autonomy and Control
  5. Propulsion
  6. Structures and Materials
  7. Interdisciplinary Secondary Areas (such as Aeroacoustics, Biomechanics, Design, Manufacturing, Artificial Intelligence, Materials, etc.)

MS in Aeronautics and Astronautics (Non-Thesis)

30 credit hours needed (typically 10 graduate level courses):

  • 4 courses (12 credit hours) in the primary focus area of study
  • 2 courses (6 credit hours) in the secondary focus area of study
  • 2 courses in a math requirement (6 credit hours) (see MS course list for options)
  • 2 technical electives (6 credit hours) in Engineering (excluding ENE), Science, additional MA/STAT, or independent studies (AAE 59700)

Professional MS with Engineering Leadership Concentration (Non-Thesis)

30 credit hours needed (typically 10 graduate level courses):

  • 4 courses (12 credit hours) in the primary focus area of study
  • 2 courses (6 credit hours) in the secondary focus area of study
  • 1 courses for the math requirement (6 credit hours) (see MS course list for options)
  • 9 credit hours of professional-oriented coursework (see MS course list for options)

MS in Aeronautics and Astronautics- Thesis

30 credit hours needed: 21 hours of graduate level coursework, and at least 9 credit hours of AAE 698 thesis research credits

  • 3 courses (9 credit hours) in the primary focus area of study
  • 2 courses (6 credit hours) in the secondary focus area of study
  • 2 courses in a math requirement (6 credit hours) (see MS course list for options)

 

Plan of Study and Advisory Committee

The student should select an advisory committee and a major professor before the end of the first semester. The plan of study must be filed prior to the second semester of study at Purdue or registration may be denied.

A thesis student's advisory committee will normally consist of a faculty advisor (Chair) and two other professors from either the focus or the secondary area, while non-thesis MS students just need one committee chair. One of the purposes of finding the Chair is to help formulate a plan of study. As an aid, a list of professors and their areas of primary interest is available. The plan of study describes the program that the student intends to follow while pursuing their degree at Purdue. It must be reviewed and signed by the Graduate Chair who acts on behalf of the Faculty and the Graduate Committee. It is then sent to the Office of the Vice Provost for Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Scholars (OGSPS) for final approval. The official student plan of study plays an important role in the student's program

MS thesis committees must meet the following requirements:

  • MS thesis committees consist of 3 or 4 members (including the chair)
  • The chair must be a regular tenured/tenure-track core or courtesy AAE professor, or a special faculty member who was previously a regular tenured/tenure-track core or courtesy AAE professor
  • The committee must have at least 1 member who is a core AAE tenured/tenure-track faculty member.  (A “core” faculty member has at least a 0.25 FTE appointment in AAE.)
  • University regulations require 51% (2 of 3, or 3 of 4) of the committee members be R1 faculty at Purdue.

MS in Aeronautics and Astronautics- Non-Thesis Option

Students choosing the non-thesis option must select a focus area of study, as well as a secondary area of study.

At least twelve credit hours of coursework is required in the primary focus area. The student shall choose at least six credit hours of coursework in the secondary area and another six credit hours in applied mathematics or mathematics (see MS course list for all options). The remaining 6 credit hours is in technical elective credit. Courses shall be chosen by the student in consultation with the faculty advisor.

Non-thesis students are exempt from a formal final examination.

Professional MS with Engineering Leadership Concentration (Non-Thesis)

Students choosing the Engineering Leadership Concentraiton must still select a focus area of study, as well as a secondary area of study.

At least twelve credit hours of coursework is required in the primary focus area. The student shall choose at least six credit hours of coursework in the secondary area and three credit hours in applied mathematics or mathematics (see MS course list for all options). The remaining 9 credit hours is in professionally oriented coursework, typically management or related subjects, for which students can refer to the MS course list, or, propose specific courses to the Graduate Office. Courses shall be chosen by the student in consultation with the faculty advisor.

Non-thesis students are exempt from a formal final examination. Per University Policy, professional MS students are not eligible for assistantships.

MS in Aeronautics and Astronautics- Thesis Option

The MS thesis option consists of 21 hours of course work and a thesis which receives at minimum 9 hours of credit. The thesis topic is chosen by the student and the faculty advisor and is usually in an area of research related to the student's primary focus area of study.

The 21 hours of course work chosen for the plan of study include 9 credit hours in the primary focus area, 6 hours toward the math requirement, and 6 hours in a secondary area chosen by the student and the faculty advisor, and from the list above. Thesis credit receives a grade of S (satisfactory) or U (unsatisfactory).  OGSPS policy states that two consecutive sessions of U grades for research registration mandate that the department take formal action and inform the student, in writing, and OGSPS with regard to discontinuation or conditions for continuation of the student’s graduate study. (Section VI of the OGSPS manual.)

Following completion of the thesis research, a public presentation followed by a closed oral examination will be scheduled (thesis defense). To establish the final examining committee and to schedule the final exam requires the student to submit a Form 8 in the Graduate School Database. OGSPS requires the Form 8 at least TWO weeks  before the examination.

 

PhD PROGRAM IN AERONAUTICS AND ASTRONAUTICS

The School of Aeronautics and Astronautics offers a program leading to the degree of PhD. Students enrolled in this program will be expected to meet the highest standards of academic achievement in both their course work and their research.

The minimum PhD degree plan of study will contain 21-27 credit hours beyond the MS degree. Of the 21-27 credit hours on the plan of study, four courses (12 credit hours) is decided between the student and faculty advisor (must be technical and at the graduate-level), two courses (6 credit hours) in lieu of the minor area exam and from an approved course list, and one to three math courses, depending on the student’s specific circumstances (see below for more details on the math policy).

Major Professor and Advisory Committee

A major professor/faculty chair should be selected from the faculty of the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics before the end of the first or second semester of studies to help the student select courses along the lines of the chosen area of PhD work. The PhD plan of study must be filed before the end of the second semester of study in the doctoral degree program. The advisory committee will consist of the major professor and three or four additional members. The PhD committee must meet the following rules:

  • PhD thesis committees consist of 4 or 5 members (including the chair)
  • The chair must be a regular tenured/tenure-track core or courtesy AAE professor, or a special faculty member who was previously a regular tenured/tenure-track core or courtesy AAE professor
  • The committee must have at least 2 members who are core AAE tenured/tenure-track faculty members.  (A “core” faculty member has at least a 0.25 FTE appointment in AAE.)
  • University regulations require 51% (3 of 4, or 3 of 5) of the committee members be regular tenured/tenure-track faculty at Purdue
  • The committee must have at least two core AAE faculty members

Qualifying Examinations

To demonstrate to the faculty that a student is qualified to pursue the PhD program in the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics, the student is required to take and pass qualifying examinations. These qualifying examinations are offered once each semester (except Summer) at approximately 2-3 weeks after the start of the term. Students who received their MS degree from Aeronautics and Astronautics at Purdue should take the qualifying examinations within two semesters of starting the PhD program. Students who received the MS degree elsewhere should take qualifying exams within three semesters of starting the PhD program. A student earning their MS in AAE but switching major discipline areas for their PhD may take the qualifying exam within the first three semesters. Summer semesters do not count.

These examinations are prepared and graded by the appropriate area committee of the School. The scores and a recommendation are forwarded to the student's major professor, and to the Graduate Committee for further action. The results of the Graduate Committee action are passed on to the faculty.

Examinations are offered in each of the following areas:

  1. Aerodynamics
  2. Aerospace Systems
  3. Astrodynamics and Space Applications
  4. Autonomy and Control
  5. Propulsion
  6. Structures and Materials

The student shall be required to take the examination in their major/primary area of focus and another in one of the remaining five areas (“minor” area). As an option, a student may elect with the approval of his/her advisor, to replace the minor area qualifying examination with two graduate courses, in one of the minor areas indicated above, using an approved list from the minor area committee. These substitute courses must be taken following satisfaction of the requirements for the MS degree, and the student must receive a grade of B or better (a B- is not sufficient) in both courses. In a case where the student is in the last semester of MS study and takes more credits than required for the MS plan of study, these minor area courses will be accepted. Selection of the two-course option, or the examination for the minor area, must be made at the time the student originally schedules the major area exam. Switching from one option to another will not be permitted after this time. In the event that a student fails one or more of the examinations, they must repeat that examination or examinations the next time they are offered. If, on the repeat examination, the student still fails to achieve acceptable scores, the student will be required to terminate studies in this school at the end of that semester. In the event that a student receives a Conditional Pass to take additional coursework on one or more of the examinations, then this coursework should be added to the PhD Plan of Study in excess of the other course requirements.

See the Qualifying Exam Policy in full here (link to policy document).

Math course policy:

PhD students must take a total of three math courses (9 credit hours) as a replacement to the previous Mathematics qualifying exam:

  • Two courses (6 credit hours) may be taken during the MS degree.  (Students earning an MS degree at another university may count 6 credit hours of graduate level math or statistics courses; mathematics courses offered by engineering departments will be considered on a case-by-case basis and must be approved by the Chair of the Graduate Program, who may consult the Math Committee as needed.)
  • One math course (3 credit hours) must be taken beyond the courses required for the MS degree and must be on the list of approved math courses for PhD students. This course must be taken while the student is a PhD student
  • The grade earned in the one math course that must be taken as a PhD student must be a B or better (a B- is not sufficient)

Preliminary Examinations  

Each graduate student should take the preliminary examination within one year after completing the Qualifying Examinations. The preliminary examination is composed of an oral examination and submission of a written research proposal of not more than 25 typed pages. The advisory committee may require written examinations if it chooses. The purpose of the Preliminary Examination is to determine whether the student has assimilated the contents of the courses he/she has taken, both in the general and the specialized parts of the plan of study, and to evaluate the student’s potential for successful completion of a PhD dissertation. The examining committee will assess the student’s ability to use this knowledge in an independent and imaginative way in order to ensure that future research work will lead to a suitable PhD thesis.

The examining committee is typically the same as the advisory committee on the plan of study.

At least two weeks before the oral preliminary examination, the student must provide written copies of a research proposal to each of the members of the examining committee. The purpose of this proposal is to aid the student in selecting and initiating work on a dissertation, to provide a theme for the oral preliminary examination, and to enable the examining committee to offer maximum assistance and advice to the student. Although the format of this proposal varies, it should not, in general, exceed twenty-five pages in length. The proposal should contain a clear statement of a proposed topic of research, a review of the literature relating to the problem, and an outline of the proposed solution to the problem. This proposal is not a contract between a student and the advisory committee.

At least two academic sessions devoted to research and writing (registering for research credits) must elapse between the preliminary and final doctoral examinations.

SCHEDULING OF THE PhD PRELIMINARY EXAM IS DONE BY SUBMITTING A FORM 8 (REQUEST FOR APPOINTMENT OF EXAMINING COMMITTEE) TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THE EXAM. This form is submitted electronically in the Graduate School Database (plan of study system).

Thesis

The special research carried on as part of the doctoral work is expected to make a definite contribution to the candidate's chosen field of knowledge—a contribution of sufficient importance to merit publication in a recognized journal. The candidate must, therefore, prepare a thesis describing his/her research, subject to the approval of the advisory committee.

Thesis research is registered as AAE 69900. Thesis credit receives a grade of S (satisfactory) or U (unsatisfactory). University policy states that a student receiving a grade of U for two consecutive semesters will not be allowed to register for additional research credits, nor will they be allowed to continue in the thesis option program. OGSPS policy states that two consecutive sessions of U grades for research registration mandate that the department take formal action and inform the student, in writing, and OGSPS with regard to discontinuation or conditions for continuation of the student’s graduate study. (Section VI of OGSPS manual.)

Final Examination (Thesis Defense)

In addition to the usual examination administered in primary and related area coursework, the student will be required to take such final examinations over their focus subject and thesis as the examining committee may require.

If the candidate successfully passes these examinations, the examining committee will then formally recommend him/her to the Faculty to receive the degree.

Scheduling of the final exam for both PhD and thesis MS degree is accomplished by submitting the Form 8 (Request for Appointment of Examining Committee) in the Graduate School Database (plan of study system) at least two weeks before the final examination is held.

Research in Absentia

Only PhD students who have passed their preliminary examinations may register for research in absentia. The designation "in absentia" means that a reduced fee is charged for registration. Although research in absentia is not permitted for MS students or for PhD students who have not passed their preliminary examinations, it may be possible, under special conditions, for them to conduct research at an off-campus location through an off-campus research request with OGSPS (Form 19) and a  "Change of Duty Station" request with the Business Office (if a student will be paid while off-campus). More details of this are available in the OGSPS policies and procedures manual.

Since Research in Absentia places extra demands on the ability of the student's major professor to monitor the research, it is essential that particular attention be placed on timely communication of progress and potential problems. It is strongly suggested that a regular schedule of written reports, telephone conversations, and in-person visits be established.

If the research requires non-Purdue support, a letter from the sponsoring organization authorizing the student's use of those facilities and research results must be placed in the student's academic file. It is recommended that, if possible, a qualified person in the student's organization serve as a member of the Advisory Committee. The procedures for this approval are governed by OGSPS.

Direct PhD

Students in the Direct PhD program will first complete a MS along-the-way (typically non-thesis with 10 courses). Two of these courses can be 597s related to the PhD dissertation. They will then be able to move on to the PhD plan of study. This option is open to students with GPAs greater than 3.5. The Qualifying Exam must be taken within two semesters after completing the MS requirements.

DEGREE AND REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL GRADUATE STUDENTS

In fulfilling degree requirements, a maximum of 18 credit hours will be allowed from any one semester (9 credit hours for the summer session).

  1. Master's Degree:
    1. At least one-half of the total credit hours used to satisfy degree requirements must be earned while registered at Purdue University.
    2. More than 50 percent of the Purdue credits must be earned through the campus where the degree is conferred.
    3. At least 30 total credit hours are required.

 

  1. Doctor of Philosophy Degree:
    1. At least one-third of the total credit hours used to satisfy degree requirements must be earned while registered for doctoral study at Purdue University
    2. At least 90 total credit hours are required.
    3. A master's degree or professional doctoral degree from any accredited institution may be considered to contribute up to 30 credit hours toward satisfying this requirement at the discretion of the student's graduate program.

The AAE policy is that the total time taken for the completion of the residential M.S. degree should not exceed 3 years, the PhD degree will not exceed 5 years (beyond the MS degree), and that the PhD degree in absentia will not exceed 8 years (beyond the MS degree), except in extreme circumstances.