MSc in Aerospace Engineering in Virginia Beach United States | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

The Department of Aerospace and Ocean Engineering provides Master of Science programs in both Aerospace Engineering and Ocean Engineering. These degrees offer two pathways: one with a thesis requirement and one without. While both options demand equal credit hours for completion, the thesis track allocates some credits to a research initiative. The non-thesis alternative can be fulfilled through coursework alone or may incorporate a project and report, typically focused on practical engineering challenges rather than research, often involving collaborative student efforts.

To ensure graduates can effectively engage with professionals across disciplines, all students complete coursework spanning aerodynamics, structures, flight mechanics and control, and numerical methods. Non-thesis candidates must take supplementary courses in their specialization. Participants in this program gain hands-on experience with cutting-edge research projects across core disciplines and interdisciplinary fields requiring multi-domain expertise. This prepares many graduates to meet the increasing need for versatile engineering professionals.

Thesis students collaborate with faculty members recognized nationally and internationally for their research contributions. These projects present stimulating challenges, allowing students to work alongside advisors on contemporary issues aligned with the evolving technological priorities of organizations like NASA, the Navy, Air Force, and various aerospace and non-aerospace sectors.