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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 from an accredited college or university
  • Minimum 2.750 undergraduate or graduate GPA on a 4.000-point scale (starting with fall 2025 admission term, a minimum 3.000 GPA will be required)
  • 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

Applications 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
Advisor-approved courses 10-30
Engineering-Focus Electives, choose from the following:18
ENGR 72410
ENGINEERING OPTIMIZATION
Astronautics
ENGR 78001
ORBITAL MECHANICS
ENGR 78002
SPACECRAFT ATTITUDE DYNAMICS, DETERMINATION AND CONTROL
ENGR 78004
OPTIMAL CONTROL THEORY
Dynamics and Control
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
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 courses as approved by advisor
Culminating Requirements
ENGR 85098RESEARCH (repeated for 9 credit hours total)9
ENGR 85199DISSERTATION I 230
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

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

Architectural and engineering managers

2.6%

slower than the average

198,100

number of jobs

$149,530

potential earnings

Avionics technicians

4.4%

about as fast as the average

22,800

number of jobs

$67,840

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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