Why pursue a Masters (MS) in Aerospace Engineering

Aerospace Engineering degrees open the way to professions involved in development, building and maintenance of aircrafts and spacecrafts, developing new flight technology and understanding the science of aerospace and technological advances and breakthroughs in the field. MS in Aerospace Engineering encompasses learning theories and principles, testing and prototyping in the labs, as well as full scale builds in workshops. It is important to understand the several branches, specializations, subjects, course curriculum to understand employability after this STEM degree.

Masters of Science in aerospace engg has two major and overlapping branches-aeronautical engineering and astronautical engineering. Aeronautical Engineering deals with designing aircraft, jets, airplanes, and helicopters, while astronautical engineering deals with designing spacecraft, rockets, spaceships, satellites, lunar probes, etc. Whereas astronautical engineers work with the science and technology of designing spacecraft and satellites, aeronautical engineers handle aircraft and propulsion systems, confined to those that operate under the Earth’s atmosphere. However, there is some overlap between the two professions because they use many of the same skills, tools and abilities for their employers. Avionics engineering is similar, but deals with the electronics side of aerospace engineering. Aerospace engineering, particularly the astronautics branch, is often referred to as "rocket science".

Aerodynamics
Space mission analysis and design
Mechanics of flight
Aircraft design
Management and business
Heat transfer
Airframe design and flight dynamics
Space systems, Thermodynamics
Control systems
Propulsion, Celestial mechanics
Electronics, Acoustics
Fluid Dynamics
Advanced Composite Materials

An aerospace engineering degree can lead to hundreds of different careers. The top aerospace companies include Boeing, Airbus, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, General Electric (GE), Rolls Royce, Raytheon, Leonardo (formerly Finmeccanica). The common ones are Aerospace Engineer, Manufacturing Engineer, Engineering Consultant, Aeronautical Designer, Structural Engineer, Automotive Engineer:
Aerospace Engineer
Create designs for aircraft, spacecraft, missiles, national defence systems, etc.
Conduct research, test materials, produce new developments
Recommend improvements for testing equipment and methods
Cooperate with team members to ensure designs respect mission and safety requirements
Military Aerospace Engineer
Conduct research relevant to air warfare, design military aircraft and aerospace equipment Supervise the manufacturing and
testing of new aircraft models and prototypes
Research materials, systems, and equipment necessary for the manufacturing process
Aerospace Technician
Design and test the basic elements like propulsion and control systems for aircraft and spacecraft
Assist aerospace engineers with drawings, blueprints, and scale models
Write technical materials and evaluate the overall manufacturing costs
Research solutions to problems related to aerodynamics, structural design and integrity, safety testing, etc.
Inspector and Compliance Officer
Ensure designers, engineers, constructors, and pilots are protected, follow safety procedures
Enforce regulations and testing methods to find design flaws before the initial testing
Review internal policies, keep procedures up-to-date, and organise educational training for staff members
Structural Engineer
Use CAD (computer-aided design) software to create engineering plans and drafts
Evaluate safety and usability of different materials
Identify weak design elements and make suggestions for improvement