The goals of the undergraduate Minor in Aeronautics & Astronautics are to provide focused instruction in aerospace design, constraints, criteria, analysis and synthesis for non-majors in STEM fields considering multidisciplinary careers. The student learning goals for the minor include:
- Strengthen and practice intellectual skills for solving multidisciplinary technical problems related to aerospace engineering;
- Strengthen and practice the ability to successfully work within and contribute to multidisciplinary teams;
- Strengthen and practice effective written and verbal communication skills;
- Develop an understanding of contemporary issues in aerospace engineering as well as the impact of aerospace engineering solutions in a global, economic, environmental, and societal context;
- Develop an understanding of professional and ethical responsibility in aerospace engineering.
Entry into the minor
Students are expected to have completed the following prerequisites for required minor courses before declaring the minor:
- MATH 126
- PHYS 121
- CHEM 142
Declaring the minor
The undergraduate Minor in Aeronautics & Astronautics is an open minor. In order to declare a minor, students must:
- Be an undergraduate student with at least sophomore standing (45 credits or more completed);
- Be declared/admitted into a major already;
- Contact your major adviser to discuss the A&A minor and complete the UW change of major/minor form;
- Contact the A&A Undergraduate Adviser with any questions.
Minor requirements (32 credits minimum)
- A A 210 Statics (4)
- CEE 220 Mechanics of Materials (4)
- M E 230 Kinematics and Dynamics (4)
- A A 260 Thermodynamics (4)
- A A 310 Orbital and Space Flight Mechanics (4)*
- A A 311 Atmospheric Flight Mechanics (4)*
- Approved Electives (8)
Approved electives
- A A 301 Compressible Aerodynamics (4)*
- A A 302 Incompressible Aerodynamics (4)*
- A A 312 Structural Vibrations (4)*
- A A 331 Aerospace Structures I (4)*
- A A 332 Aerospace Structures II (4)*
- A A 402 Fluid Mechanics (3)*
- A A 405 Introduction to Aerospace Plasmas (3)*
- A A 406 Electric Propulsion (3)*
- A A 419 Aerospace Heat Transfer (3)*
- A A 430 Finite Element Analysis I (3)*
- A A 447 Control in Aerospace Systems (4)*
- A A 448 Control Systems Sensors and Actuators (3)*
- A A 460 Propulsion (4)*
- A A 461 Advanced Air Breathing Propulsion (3)*
- A A 462 Rocket Propulsion (3)*
- A A 470 Systems Engineering (4)*
- A A 516 Stability and Control of Flight Vehicles (3)*
- A A 532 Mechanics of Composite Materials (3)*
- ESS 471 Introduction to Space Physics (3)
- ESS 472 Rockets and Instrumentation (2-4)
Registration information
*Students who have officially declared the A&A minor will be coded as an AERONAUTICS & ASTRONAUTICS MINOR group student in order to register for A A prefixed courses on their own. Registration for these courses will become available by 12 noon on the first day of Period 2 registration (except during Summer Quarter). Please contact the A&A Undergraduate Adviser at aeroadvising@uw.edu if you have any registration questions.
Minor policies
- Minimum 15 credits taken at UW Seattle
- Minimum 15 credits taken at UW Seattle with A A prefix
- Minimum 2.0 in each course presented for the minor
- Minimum 2.0 average in all courses presented for the minor
- Minimum one approved elective course at the 400-level with A A prefix
- Substitutions for approved elective courses allowed via petition
- Please note it typically takes a minimum of two years to complete the minor.
Sample schedule
| Autumn Quarter | Winter Quarter | Spring Quarter | |
| Year 1 | A A 210 | CEE 220 | A A 260 |
| M E 230 | |||
| Year 2 | A A 310+ | Approved Elective | Approved Elective |
| A A 311+ | Approved Elective |
+ Please note that A A 310 and A A 311 are typically only offered during Autumn Quarter.