Aerospace Engineering Master's Program
Student Spotlight
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Choose Your Pathway in Aerospace Engineering
We offer two exciting tracks to help you achieve your goals and advance your career.
| Professional MS | Traditional MS |
|---|---|
| Industry-focused | Research-focused |
| Designed for early- and mid-career professionals or students aiming to advance in industry through a coursework-only path. | Intended for students interested in obtaining deep knowledge in a particular aerospace discipline. |
| Customizable curriculum with no required core courses. | Choose from 5 focus areas; some core courses required. |
| 30 credits (minimum 18 from aerospace) | 30 credits |
| 2 years | 2 years |
| Coursework-only | Thesis or non-thesis options |
| Can be pursued full-time or part-time | Can be pursued full-time or part-time |
| In-person/On-campus available | In-person/On-campus available |
Not sure which path is right for you? Contact aerograd@colorado.edu to discuss your career goals and determine the best fit.
Reach for the Skies
If you pursue the traditional MS degree, you’re free to choose from one of five distinct specializations or pursue studies across the entire domain of aerospace engineering. We also offer a dual graduate degree in Engineering Management to complement your aerospace studies and prepare you for a leadership career.Ìý
Investigate orbital motion of spacecraft, interplanetary mission design, attitude control and navigation systems that utilize GNSS and advanced sensors.
This interdisciplinary approach emphasizes robotics, human-robot interaction, artificial intelligence, unmanned systems, formal methods, and estimation and control theory.Ìý
Explore how life is supported in space, with a focus on methods that enable safe and efficient human space exploration.
Study the design and manufacturing processes involved in the solid and fluid mechanics utilized in high-performance aeronautical and aerospace systems.
This specialization bridges the gap between science and engineering by studying Earth from space, as well as space from Earth.Ìý
Complement your aerospace studies with a degree in Engineering Management while preparing yourself to step into management and leadership positions.
Faculty Spotlights
Costs & Financial Information
A master's degree from the College of Engineering and Applied Science represents a valuable investment in your career potential. While costs vary by program, residency status and enrollment type, we're committed to transparency in helping you plan for this important step.
- Tuition structure: Engineering master's programs have different rate structures based on program type, delivery method and course load
- ROI consideration: Most graduates recoup their educational investment within 2.5 years of completing their degree
- Flexible options: Many programs offer part-time enrollment, allowing you to distribute costs while maintaining employment
- Scholarships and fellowships: Program-specific opportunities are rare, and funding for master students is not guaranteed; master students should plan on providing their own resources to finance their education
- Assistantships: Professional master students are not eligible for teaching or research assistantships, but are eligible for on-campus hourly positions that do not include tuition remission
- Employer benefits: Many companies provide tuition assistance for job-relevant graduate education
- Military benefits: Veterans and active-duty military personnel can utilize GI Bill benefits for qualified programs
Admissions Requirements & Application Information
- Bachelor's degree in engineering, mathematics, physics, chemistry or other physical sciences from an accredited institution.
- It is expected that you’ll have completed undergraduate courses in:
- Calculus, linear algebra and differential equations.
- Two semesters of undergraduate calculus-based physics.
- At least two semesters of upper-division courses in engineering or physics.
- Statement of purpose outlining your goals and interests.
- Three letters of recommendation.
- Resume/CV highlighting relevant experience.
- Fall admissions: Dec. 1. All decisions will be announced by the end of February.
- Spring admissions: Oct. 1. All decisions will be announced by mid-November.
- Choose your preferred program and gather the required documents.
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- Applications are evaluated by a faculty committee and admissions decisions are typically announced by the end of February for fall admission and by mid-November for spring admission.
Requirements and information for international students can be foundÌýhere.
- Up to 9 graduate-level credits from another institution may transfer with approval, provided they weren't used toward a previous degree.
Frequently Asked Questions
A traditional master's degree has set focus areas, and many students enter the program immediately after getting their undergraduate degree. With a professional master's:
- Many students already have experience as an engineer in industry or the military.
- The program is more flexible — a focus area is not required.
- You can take 100% of classes online or in-person.
A huge benefit of the program is classes from across the Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences and the entire college can count toward your degree. If you need to learn more programming for your job, take a course or two from computer science. If you need to learn more about chemical engineering, enroll in some chemical and biological engineering classes. Thirty credits are required for your professional master's, but only 18 have to be in aerospace.
You can also earn your entire degree online. With the professional masters, you can take classes in person, or you can take each and every class online. It doesn't matter where you are, so long as you have a computer and internet, you can earn a professional master's from ÀϾÅÆ·²è.
As a professional master's student, you will earn the same Master of Science degree as a traditional master's student. The professional master's and traditional master's are separate programs, but the degree is the same.
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There are no required curriculum tracks for the professional master's. You can choose to pursue your degree within one of our research focus areas, or mix together classes from multiple focuses areas and even other engineering departments.
The professional master's requires a total of 30 credits, of which at least 24 credits must be completed at the 5000 (graduate) level or above, and at least 18 credits in ASEN courses.
Explore Related Programs
If you’re not sure this is the program for you, we offer several related degrees for you to consider:
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