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Space Systems Engineering Area – Bachelor of Science

The Bachelor of Science in Space Systems Engineering is an interdisciplinary degree program and requires students to complete requirements in physics, mathematics, electricity-electronics-telecommunications technology and astronomy-space science.

Program Competencies

The student will:
  1. Develop the basic competencies in system engineering and gain familiarity with the concepts and technologies associated with aerospace systems requirements, particularly spacecraft and related subsystems.
  2. Learn how to use basic laboratory instrumentation and acquire skills that permit a rapid start in practical "real world" applications in the workplace.
  3. Understand issues common to all radio frequency based communications systems, specify relevant system components, participate in design trade studies, perform field/laboratory work at the engineering technologist level, prepare technical reports including studies and analyses and have sufficient preparation to be able to quickly assimilate new technical information.
  4. Be prepared to enter the workforce as an entry-level systems engineer or engineering technologist with the ability to integrate the knowledge gained in coursework with the necessary skills of self-direction and research/project implementation.
  5. Have an understanding of semiconductor physics, atomic bonding, and crystal structures and imperfections that ultimately dictate the physical and mechanical properties of the materials. Students will also be familiar with processes leading to materials failure, such as thermal, radiative, erosive and corrosive degradations, as well as the corresponding protection approaches as related to the extreme conditions of the space environment.
  6. Become familiar with a variety of government and commercial professional opportunities in addition to those in the space industry. These include opportunities in commercial satellite services, space commercial transportation services, space tourism, direct-to-home television, GPS telecommunications, electronics, technical marketing, electronics instrumentation and defense technologies.

Assessment

  1. Performance on the senior research or design project.
  2. Performance in individual courses.
  3. Acceptance rates into job market and/or graduate school.

Program Requirements

General Education

General Education Courses(See GNED Course Listings)

Variable
MATH 175Calculus I

4
Total Credit Hours:34

Refer to the General Education section for a complete listing of general education requirements for the University. Program requirements that are also general education requirements will count in both places (as applicable).

Area Requirements

Space Systems Engineering Core

SSE 105Introduction to Electronic Processes

3
SSE 120Satellites and Space Systems I

3
SSE 122Satellites and Space Systems II

3
SSE 210Spacecraft Mechanical Systems

3
SSE 320Spacecraft Electronic Systems

3
SSE 324Principles of Radio Astronomy

3
SSE 340Digital Control Systems for Space Applications

4
SSE 360Advanced Space Systems

3
SSE 370Flight Software Systems

3
SSE 431Space Plasma Physics

3
SSE 442RF/Microwave Systems & Antennas

3
SSE 444Satellite Communications

3
SSE 445Space Systems Communications Laboratory

1
SSE 464Astrodynamics

3
SSE 475Rocket Propulsion

3
SSE 498Senior Design Project I

2
SSE 499CSenior Design Project II

3
CHEM 111Principles of Chemistry I

4
EEC 400Digital Signal Processing I

3
ETM 307Materials Science

3
MATH 175Calculus I

4
PHYS 211Circuits

4
Total Credit Hours:67

Additional Program Requirements

Mathematics
MATH 275Calculus II

4
MATH 276Calculus III

4
MATH 312Numerical Methods

3
Total Credit Hours:11
Physics
PHYS 231Engineering Physics I

5
PHYS 232Engineering Physics II

5
Total Credit Hours:10
Technical Electives

Choose two credit hours from the following:

ASTR 403Astrophysical Instrumentation and Payloads

3
ASTR 460High Energy Astrophysics

3
MATH 363Differential Equations

3
PHYS 332Electricity and Magnetism

4
PHYS 361Fundamentals of Electronics

3
ESS 303Planetary Geology

3
SSE 476Directed Research

1-6
SSE 299Selected Topics in Space Science and Engineering

3
SSE 399Selected Topics

1-4
Total Credit Hours:2

ASTR 460 requires a prerequisite of MATH 276.

Free Electives

Free Electives (chosen by student)

variable

Total Credit Hours: 120