With This Degree Even the Stars Might Not Be the Limit!
It is very likely that in the coming years we will see even more interest and activity than ever in space commerce and space exploration. The vast riches of space are beginning to tug at the minds and hearts of would-be space entrepreneurs looking for the “next Internet.” Many have already concluded that space endeavors, whether it is mining asteroids for their precious metals, mining helium-3 energy sources on the moon, space tourism or a range of other space related activities will indeed be the next big thing. And there is good reason to believe that these entrepreneurs are indeed on the right track. In this article, we will look at bit at the kind of degrees that might make it possible for one to be at the forefront of this potentially blossoming era of exploration.
MIT offers three different aerospace oriented degrees. One is Aerospace Engineering, another is Aerospace Engineering with Information Technology and a third degree is a Bachelor of Science in Engineering degree. This final degree is designed to be a flexible option within the aerospace engineering framework.
The Aerospace Engineering with Information Technology degree, just as the title indicates, instructs students in not just the fundamentals of aerospace engineering, but also incorporates the kind of information technology know-how that one would need to work with control systems, electronics and similar information.
Advanced mathematics and science are, not surprisingly, at the heart of all three of these degree programs. At first glance, the degree requirements may seem similar to some other engineering programs; however, there are some impressive differences. Where else would you expect to take course work on Propulsion, Flight Vehicle Engineering, Space Systems Engineering or Space Systems Development? Clearly, this is a very different kind of degree.
Other highlights and points of interest for this degree program include internships as well as studying aboard. Also note that MIT is one of the nation’s more competitive higher-learning institutions. The competition to get into MIT in general, and the aerospace program in particular, is intense. With that stated, interested high-school students should really start diving into all things math and science with “both feet.”
Those students interested in a serious challenge who want to be at the cutting edge of both commerce and science in the coming years might want to consider such a degree. If classes such as Differential Equations and Statistics and Probability don’t sound like your cup of tea, then – be warned – they are key classes in the degree’s “core” requirements! Once this degree is completed, it is possible to go study everything from aerospace computational engineering and space propulsion to air-breathing propulsion and materials and structures at the graduate level.
It’s true that technically, you don’t need to choose a major until your third year of college. But there are a lot of advantages to selecting your concentration before you even set foot on campus, while you’re still in high school. Choosing early gives you the chance to take relevant AP courses and SAT subject tests that will let you test out of lower-level prerequisites, saving thousands of dollars on course tuition. You can also take the opportunity to find relevant internships early in the game, which will make you look more attractive to employers when you’re ready to find a full-time job.
