Abstract
This chapter investigates specific approaches to evolve the Aerospace Engineering curricula to increase coverage of the fundamentals of computer science and deepen student experience in programming. First, existing K-12, Aerospace Engineering, and Computer Science and Engineering curricula are examined. Multidisciplinary programs including robotics and Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) are reviewed to provide insight into potential directions in which an Aerospace-centric program might expand. Student, faculty, and industry interests offer insight into key Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) content to infuse into next-generation Aerospace curricula. The approach being taken at the University of Michigan, the author’s home institution, is described, including plans to increase curricular flexibility and introduce a new course providing students background in key computer science concepts such as data structures and complexity, computational science with application to Aerospace analysis and design, and embedded data management and control. A discussion of potential future curricular extensions into human–machine systems and electromechanical devices concludes the chapter.
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Notes
- 1.
This chart is reproduced from https://www.eecs.umich.edu/eecs/undergraduate/computer-science/17_18_cs_eng.pdf.
- 2.
EECS refers to Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.
- 3.
The University of Michigan Aerospace Engineering Department does not currently offer a minor degree option; if available a student selecting a CSE major and Aerospace minor would face similar course credit challenges.
- 4.
These areas are used to loosely organize the robotics graduate curriculum at the University of Michigan.
- 5.
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has embraced information systems long-term, with some growing pains as traditional faculty felt fundamentals were being sacrificed. Stanford University recently introduced an undergraduate Aerospace degree, which offered them a clean slate in which they were able to include CS content. Other universities have not yet responded; however, it is likely they are feeling similar pressures to the University of Michigan’s Aerospace Department.
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Atkins, E.M. (2018). Aerospace Engineering Curricular Expansion in Information Systems. In: Durak, U., Becker, J., Hartmann, S., Voros, N. (eds) Advances in Aeronautical Informatics. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-75058-3_10
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