Purdue launches new online major in space systems engineering

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue University is launching a new online major in space systems engineering, offered as part of the online Master of Science in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering (MSAAE), to meet a growing demand for experts who can design, construct and test spacecraft.

Created by Purdue’s School of Aeronautics and Astronautics, which is consistently ranked one of the top aerospace engineering schools in the nation, this new online major brings a world-class space systems education to students across the globe and prepares professionals to master the next generation of complex space systems.

The online MSAAE with a major in space systems engineering will provide students with the opportunity to study the tools, methods and processes of designing, analyzing, controlling and improving complex engineered space systems. Graduates will be prepared to respond to the challenges facing space exploration and research today, and they will be given the tools to develop new products and organizations capable of addressing these challenges.

“Preparing the next generation for the dynamic career of extending the human neighborhood to the moon and beyond requires people with systems-level skills, a willingness to try new things and the ability to bring together all the capabilities and teams for mission success,” said Daniel Dumbacher, professor of engineering practice at Purdue. “This major provides that.”

Designed for working professionals, the online space systems engineering major combines flexibility and prestige to give students interdisciplinary expertise they can use to move up in their careers or pivot to new industries. The online MSAAE with a major in space systems engineering offers the same quality as Purdue’s top-ranked, on-campus MSAAE, and it’s taught by the same renowned faculty.

This new major is also available to corporate partners seeking to upskill their employees in space systems engineering. The skills this major teaches are in demand in government agencies, large-scale integrators, small space companies, private equity capital, aerospace consulting and other industries. The major can be customized to fit professionals’ unique career goals.

“We see every day the need for talent across the global space industry,” Dumbacher said. “Purdue, with its world-renowned people and facilities across all the needed disciplines for space, is uniquely suited to offer this program to the space industry.”

Earning the online MSAAE with a major in space systems engineering requires students to complete 30 hours of relevant coursework with at least two core courses in space systems engineering and four electives related to space systems engineering. Upon completion of the program, students will have comprehensive expertise in space systems that they can use in industry and academic roles.

To learn more about the online MSAAE with a major in space systems engineering, visit the program’s webpage.

About Purdue University

Purdue University is a public research university leading with excellence at scale. Ranked among top 10 public universities in the United States, Purdue discovers, disseminates and deploys knowledge with a quality and at a scale second to none. More than 107,000 students study at Purdue across multiple campuses, locations and modalities, including more than 58,000 at our main campus in West Lafayette and Indianapolis. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue’s main campus has frozen tuition 14 years in a row. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap — including its comprehensive urban expansion, the Mitch Daniels School of Business, Purdue Computes and the One Health initiative — at https://www.purdue.edu/president/strategic-initiatives.