July 12, 2005
Purdue, AERO Institute partner in graduate education program
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue University's College of Engineering and the AERO Institute in Palmdale, Calif., will combine their resources to help working professionals earn graduate degrees in engineering.
Purdue Continuing Engineering Education and the NASA Aerospace Education Research and Operations (AERO) Institute will offer courses at the institute in California as part of a strategic partnership.
"Through this partnership, we will be able to offer a wide spectrum of graduate-level courses for practicing engineers," said Linda Katehi, the John A. Edwardson Dean of Engineering at Purdue. "The flexible learning program is geared for practicing engineers and includes courses from Purdue's mechanical engineering and aeronautics and astronautics engineering programs, as well as from other programs."
Degrees offered through this partnership include an interdisciplinary master of science in engineering for those with undergraduate degrees in engineering, and a master of science, designed for those with bachelor's degrees outside of, but related to, engineering. Master's degrees in mechanical, industrial, and electrical and computer engineering also are offered. Aerospace engineering and systems engineering degree programs will be launched in the future.
"Purdue will offer graduate credit courses, degrees and certificates," said Dale Harris, executive director of continuing engineering education at Purdue. "For the most part, courses will be accessed through video streaming over the Internet, although live instruction at the AERO Institute is planned as well. The courses, which begin Aug. 22 and follow the same academic schedule as Purdue, will be taught by the professors at our main campus in West Lafayette."
Graduate courses available this fall include structural acoustics, fluid mechanics, design optimization, fatigue of structures and materials, and methods of aerospace structures.
Other course offerings for the program can be found online.
"What makes this program valuable is its educational quality and the range of courses being offered," said Phil Smith, operations director of the AERO Institute. "This program allows working professionals the opportunity to earn an engineering degree from one of the premier engineering institutions in the nation."
The application process can be completed online. Requirements for admittance include three referral letters, undergraduate or graduate transcripts and a personal statement of purpose regarding the degree sought.
Future plans for the program include a selection of non-credit short courses on technical and engineering management topics designed for practicing engineers that will be held at Palmdale.
The NASA AERO Institute, located in the Palmdale Civic Center, is a partnership including NASA, the California Space Grant Foundation and the City of Palmdale that provides leadership for joint projects among government, academia and industry. The focus is to promote advances in engineering, sciences and business development.
Purdue's College of Engineering is made up of 14 academic programs: aeronautics and astronautics, agricultural and biological, biomedical, chemical, civil, construction engineering and management, electrical and computer, engineering education, first-year engineering, industrial, interdisciplinary, materials, mechanical, and nuclear. In its most recent rankings, U.S. News and World Report magazine named Purdue the No. 8 undergraduate and graduate engineering program in the country, and many of Purdue's programs were ranked in the top 10 nationally.
Writer: Cynthia Sequin, (765) 494-4192, csequin@purdue.edu
Sources: Linda Katehi, (765) 494-5346, katehi@purdue.edu
Dale Harris, (765) 494-0213, harris@purdue.edu
Phil Smith, (619) 944-2555, psmith@csgf.org
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
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