Space Systems, M.S.

The graduate space systems program provides its graduates with the knowledge and capability to perform in a wide variety of technical and managerial areas, in industry, academia, and government agencies involved in the space program. It is for the student who expects to plan, design, build, integrate, test, launch, operate or manage space systems, subsystems, launch vehicles, spacecraft, payloads or ground systems.

The goal of the Master of Science in Space Systems is to prepare individuals for advanced leadership positions in the private, public and military sectors with specific skills and competencies in space systems.

Admission Requirements

Admission to the Master of Science in Space Systems program requires a bachelor’s degree in a recognized field of engineering or physical science from an accredited curriculum. Coursework must have included mathematics through differential equations and at least one year of calculus-based physics. In the case of a marginal undergraduate record (GPA less than 3.0), letters of recommendation and results of recent GRE Tests, both General (verbal and quantitative) and Subject (engineering or physics) are required and could be deciding factors. Holders of the Professional Engineer license (or Engineering Intern status for those less than five years past the Baccalaureate) need not take the GRE Subject Test.

General admission requirements and the application process are discussed under Graduate Academic Information . Individuals who do not meet the stated requirements for regular admission may petition to take graduate courses for credit as a continuing education applicant.

Degree Requirements

The degree of Master of Science in Space Systems is conferred upon students who have successfully completed 33 credit hours of core and elective courses as listed on the student’s graduate program plan. It includes 24 hours of required space systems courses and nine hours of elective courses. Additional prerequisite courses may be required depending on the applicant’s undergraduate preparation. With written permission from the director of space systems graduate studies, a student may substitute six semester hours of thesis credits in place of six elective credit hours.

Four-person student teams compete to develop the best proposal to carry out a specific mission in response to a Request for Proposals issued by the instructor acting as the Source Selection Official. Each team member’s grade is partially determined by the team’s competitive standing.