Program Overview

Why Study Aerospace Engineering at UD?

Experiential Learning

You'll have opportunities to be involved with cutting-edge aerospace research with a faculty mentor. Faculty, as well as the Engineering Co-op and Internship Office, can connect you with local and national industries hiring for co-ops and internships. Major Dayton-area employers in government and defense, including UDRI, the Air Force Research Laboratory and GE Aerospace, provide abundant opportunities for internships, co-ops and research — particularly in manufacturing, materials and research and development.

In addition to top notch classroom instructions you'll also have a variety of hands-on experiences. For example, you'll use the state-of-the art flight simulator to gain insights into the stability and control of aircraft and UD's subsonic wind tunnel to measure lift and drag on wings you have designed and 3d printed. You may even get the chance to enter your senior year aircraft design from the flight simulator into a competition to be flown by actual Air Force test pilots!

After Graduation

You can choose to continue your education in a graduate program, or start working directly in industry. The Dayton region has a storied history as the Birthplace of Aviation, which brings many aerospace and defense companies to the area. There is a very large and growing industrial and governmental presence throughout Ohio.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

Explore admission options or schedule an academic visit to learn more about aerospace engineering at UD.

Co-Major Information

About the Program

Students enrolled in the co-major will gain foundational and applied knowledge through courses in structures, aerodynamics, control and propulsion. Examples of courses offered in the co-major include:

  • Introduction to Flight
  • Flight Vehicle Performance
  • Aerospace Structures
  • Propulsion

Additional details, course descriptions and requirements will be published this summer in the 2026-27 Academic Catalog.

Primary Major Options

The aerospace engineering co-major is open to the following majors:

Why a Co-Major?

Having an aerospace engineering specialization in addition to a primary engineering field provides depth and differentiation to your technical qualifications, providing a competitive advantage for post-graduate employment or graduate school.

Declaring the Co-Major

Students can apply to the aerospace engineering co-major on the admission application. Because co-majors must be paired with a primary major, students who apply to aerospace engineering will be placed in the Discover Engineering program as their primary major. Admitted students can change their primary major by contacting the Office of Recruitment and Admission, or enrolled students can meet with their advisor to declare either chemical engineering, civil engineering or mechanical engineering as their primary major.

Additional Information

With appropriate academic planning, you can complete a co-major within the standard eight semesters — even with the additional credits it requires. You and your holistic academic advisor can work together to plan your degree path. You also can use our online Transfer Credit Evaluation tool to find out which college credits you've already earned (e.g., transfer credit, CCP, AP/IB/CLEP exams) might apply to your undergraduate degree.

Please contact Markus Rumpfkeil if you have additional questions about this co-major.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Rooted in our Catholic, Marianist traditions, the University of Dayton is dedicated to being transparent and ensuring student success. And with high graduation and success rates, UD is an excellent value.

To help you cover your costs, a variety of scholarships, grants, loans and part-time work study are available. The University also accepts transfer credits and credit by exam for undergraduates, giving you more flexibility to add a double major or minor or participate in a transformational experience like study abroad or co-op.


Success After Graduation

Get more than your foot in the door — get ready for success. At our School of Engineering, you will have the opportunity to combine the classroom and engineering world together in a way that allows you to further sharpen your skills. It’s a key reason why employers love hiring our students — they can hit the ground running.


Design Your Academic Path

Find Your Home in Engineering

Our Diversity in Engineering Center connects engineering students, faculty, staff, industry and community partners with opportunities for academic success, professional networking and inclusive communities.

Co-ops and Internships

Take your engineering experience to the next level and find your passion with co-op and internship opportunities. Our Engineering Co-op and Internship office helps students find placements.

Bachelor's Plus Master's Program

With UD's Bachelor's Plus Master's (BPM) program, you can earn your bachelor's degree and a master's degree at an accelerated pace — often completing your master's degree within just one year of earning your bachelor's degree.

Engineering for the Common Good

UD's ETHOS Center connects students to community partners around the world for community-engaged engineering education, research, partnerships and action. You can participate in immersions or breakouts in the U.S. and abroad for hands-on social impact engineering projects.