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Michigan Technological University (MTU) announced the establishment of a new Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering degree program, set to commence in the 2025-26 academic year.
This initiative is part of the university’s ongoing commitment to innovation and excellence in the aerospace engineering field.
The program will be offered through the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) within the College of Engineering.
“The addition of this new degree is in recognition of the expertise of our faculty, growing research in the areas of aerospace and space technology and engineering, and a tremendous amount of student interest,” said Blough. “We are very excited to welcome our first freshman class into Aerospace Engineering in the fall of 2025!”
Although this will be Michigan Tech’s first official aerospace engineering program, it builds on existing opportunities in the field. The MAE department already offers an undergraduate minor in aerospace engineering, and the Air Force ROTC program includes a minor in aerospace studies.
The university’s Enterprise Program allows students to engage in project-based experiences, with two teams specifically focused on aerospace engineering.
One such team, the Aerospace Enterprise team, has worked on various projects, including the Oculus-ASR Microsatellite, which was launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy in 2019.
This project served as an imaging calibration target for ground-based observatories. Another team, the Multiplanetary INnovation Enterprise (MINE), focuses on designing robotic technologies for extreme environments.
In addition to these hands-on experiences, students in the aerospace engineering program will have opportunities to collaborate with faculty and researchers on various projects.
Michigan Tech’s Aerospace Engineering Research Center (MARC) supports aerospace activities on campus, while the Planetary Surface Technology Development Lab (PSTDL) is dedicated to developing technology solutions for surface exploration of celestial bodies. The Ion Space Propulsion Lab (ISP Lab) focuses on next-generation plasma thrusters for spacecraft.
“Our students have been asking for this degree, and we listened,” said Michelle Scherer, dean of the College of Engineering. “We’re thrilled to launch the new Aerospace Engineering degree here at Tech.
“With the technical chops and innovative, hands-on-focused curriculum to train the next generation of aerospace engineers, the sky is no longer the limit as our students tackle tomorrow’s space and aircraft needs. We can’t wait to get started.”
