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Aerospace Engineering - Ph.D.

Embark on a journey of discovery and innovation in aerospace engineering with our Ph.D. degree, where you will be challenged to push boundaries, uncover new knowledge and contribute to the advancement of this exhilarating field.

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Ph.D in Aerospace Engineering

Kent State University’s Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering provides targeted education in aerospace engineering including orbital mechanics, control systems, and spacecraft design.

Program Information for Aerospace Engineering - Ph.D.

Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

  1. Conduct literature searches, comprehend advanced research materials and uncover connections between related work.
  2. Perform research, discovery and integration by applying advanced knowledge of aerospace engineering.
  3. Communicate clearly problems and solutions in aerospace engineering, both verbally and in writing.

Admissions for Aerospace Engineering - Ph.D.

Admissions

For more information about graduate admissions, visit the graduate admission website. For more information on international admissions, visit the international admission website.

Admission Requirements

  • Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering or a closely related area (e.g., mechanical engineering) from an accredited college or university
  • Minimum 3.000 undergraduate or graduate GPA on a 4.000-point scale
  • Official transcript(s)
  • Goal statement
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • English language proficiency - all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions to waive) by earning one of the following:1
    • Minimum 79 TOEFL iBT score
    • Minimum 6.5 IELTS score
    • Minimum 58 PTE score
    • Minimum 110 DET score
1

International applicants who do not meet the above test scores may be considered for conditional admission.

Application Deadlines

  • Fall Semester
    • Application deadline: March 1

All application materials (including applicable fee, transcripts, recommendation letters, etc.) submitted after this deadline will be considered on a space-available basis.

Coursework

On This Page

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

Major Requirements
ENGR 81091GRADUATE SEMINAR (taken three times)3
Courses approved by a graduate program representative 10-30
Engineering-Focus Electives, choose from the following: 218
ENGR 72410
ENGINEERING OPTIMIZATION
ENGR 75270
HUMAN FACTORS ENGINEERING
Aerodynamics
ENGR 85501
ADVANCED FLUID MECHANICS
ENGR 85502
COMPUTATIONAL FLUID DYNAMICS
Astronautics
ENGR 78001
ORBITAL MECHANICS
ENGR 78002
SPACECRAFT ATTITUDE DYNAMICS, DETERMINATION AND CONTROL
ENGR 88013
SPACECRAFT PROPULSION
Dynamics and Control
ENGR 75400
ADVANCED DYNAMICS
ENGR 75401
VIBRATIONS
ENGR 78005
LINEAR SYSTEM ANALYSIS AND CONTROL
ENGR 78006
NONLINEAR SYSTEMS AND CONTROL
ENGR 78007
DIGITAL CONTROL SYSTEMS
ENGR 78008
INTRODUCTION TO ROBUST CONTROL
ENGR 78101
AUTONOMOUS UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEMS
ENGR 88004
OPTIMAL CONTROL THEORY
Structure and Materials
ENGR 72111
STRENGTH OF MATERIALS FOR ENGINEERS
ENGR 72363
MATERIALS SELECTION IN DESIGN AND APPLICATIONS
ENGR 75901
INTRODUCTION TO FINITE ELEMENT METHOD AND APPLICATIONS
Systems and Design
ENGR 78003
SPACECRAFT DESIGN
ENGR 78102
INTELLIGENT SENSING AND PLANNING OF UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEMS
Additional graduate courses as approved by graduate program representative
Culminating Requirements
ENGR 85098RESEARCH (taken for 9 credit hours total)9
ENGR 85199DISSERTATION I 330
Minimum Total Credit Hours for Post-Baccalaureate Students:90
Minimum Total Credit Hours for Post-Master’s Students:60
1

Post-baccalaureate students may apply toward the 30 credit hours a maximum 15 credit hours of coursework outside the College of Aeronautics and Engineering and 9 credit hours of research (maximum 18 credit hours total of research toward the degree).

2

While coursework outside of Engineering (ENGR) may be considered, a minimum 50 percent of the required credits must be designated ENGR doctoral-level courses (70000 or 80000 level). Not all ENGR courses outside of this list will be approved.

3

Doctoral candidates, upon admission to candidacy, must register for ENGR 85199 for a total of 30 hours. It is expected that doctoral candidates will continuously register for ENGR 85199—and, thereafter, ENGR 85299—each semester until all requirements for the degree have been met. The doctoral candidate must successfully propose and defend their research dissertation in a public setting before the dissertation committee. 

Graduation Requirements
Minimum Major GPA Minimum Overall GPA
- 3.000
Program Delivery

Program Delivery

  • Delivery:
    • In person
  • Location:
    • Kent Campus

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries for Aerospace Engineering - Ph.D.

Graduates of Kent State University’s Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering are equipped for specialized roles in research, discovery and integration.

Aerospace engineers

2.8%

slower than the average

66,400

number of jobs

$118,610

potential earnings

Engineering teachers, postsecondary

8.6%

much faster than the average

44,600

number of jobs

$103,600

potential earnings

Notice: Career Information Source
* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.

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