Aerodynamics
Covers the principles of fluid dynamics and how they apply to the design of aircraft and spacecraft.
Difficulty
Highly demanding
Early data puts Aerospace Engineering at 4.5/5 for difficulty from 4 ratings. More responses will make this picture clearer.
Average difficultyBased on 4 students across 2 schools.View review makeupEarly data
4.5/ 5
Share of students at each rating
Class-year breakdown needs more responses.It appears after at least two class years have 5 difficulty ratings each.
What makes this major demanding?
Worth it?
100% would recommend it
Based on 4 reviews across 2 schools
What students say about the payoff
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Curriculum and careers
Aerospace Engineering focuses on the design, development, testing, and production of aircraft, spacecraft, and related systems. Students learn about aerodynamics, propulsion, avionics, and materials science, preparing them for careers in the aerospace industry and beyond.
Core course themes
Propulsion Systems
Explores the various types of propulsion systems used in aerospace applications, including jet engines and rocket propulsion.
Structures and Materials
Focuses on the study of materials used in aerospace structures and their behavior under stress and strain.
Avionics and Control Systems
Introduces students to the electronic systems used for communication, navigation, and control of aerospace vehicles.
Flight Mechanics
Examines the forces acting on an aircraft and how they influence flight performance and stability.
Spacecraft Design
Covers the unique considerations involved in designing vehicles for space exploration and satellite deployment.
Common roles
- Aerospace Engineer
- Flight Test Engineer
- Avionics Engineer
- Propulsion Engineer
- Systems Engineer
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Aerospace Engineering by school
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Community
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Student reviews
PositiveCareers & next steps
Aerospace engineering is a challenging major but with high reward. USC especially offers lots of opportunities for students to gain experience in engineering outside of classes that set you up for success. Once you get used to the workload the major becomes more manageable. Overall I would recommend if you are genuinely interested in the aerospace industry and are willing to take on the workload between classes/design teams.
Apr 2026
PositiveCareers & next steps
I loved it hands on and the environment working with smart minds is a great job. Working at companies was fun
Oct 2025
PositiveEnjoyment & fit
I love aerospace engineering. it is very interesting. it does take a lot of dedication and studying, but in the end, i know it will be worth it.
Sep 2025
PositiveEnjoyment & fit
Lots of studying but very fun if you are interested.
Sep 2026
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