Space Science Area – Bachelor of Science
The Bachelor of Science in Space Science is an interdisciplinary degree program, and requires students to complete requirements in physics, mathematics, electricity-electronics-telecommunications technology and astronomy-space science.
Program Competencies
The student will:
- Develop basic competencies in system engineering and gain familiarity with the concepts and technologies associated with aerospace systems requirements, particularly spacecraft and related subsystems.
- Learn how to use basic laboratory instrumentation and acquire skills that permit a rapid start in practical "real world" applications in the workplace.
- Understand issues common to all radio frequency based communications systems, specify relevant system components, participate in design trade studies, perform field/laboratory work at the engineering technologist level, prepare technical reports including studies and analyses and have sufficient preparation to be able to quickly assimilate new technical information.
- Be prepared to enter the workforce as an entry-level systems engineer or engineering technologist with the ability to integrate the knowledge gained in coursework with the necessary skills of self-direction and research/project implementation.
- Have an understanding of semiconductor physics, atomic bonding, and crystal structures and imperfections that ultimately dictate the physical and mechanical properties of the materials. Students will also be familiar with processes leading to materials failure, such as thermal, radiative, erosive and corrosive degradations, as well as the corresponding protection approaches as related to the extreme conditions of the space environment.
- Become familiar with a variety of government and commercial professional opportunities in addition to those in the space industry. These include opportunities in commercial satellite services, space commercial transportation services, space tourism, direct-to-home television, GPS telecommunications, electronics, technical marketing, electronics instrumentation and defense technologies.
Assessment
- Performance on the senior research or design project
- Performance in individual courses
- Acceptance rates into job market and/or graduate school
Program Requirements
General Education
| MATH 175 | Calculus I | 4 |
| ASTR 125 | Astronomical and Physics Methods to Explore the Universe (NSC2) | 3 |
| SSE 499C | Senior Design Project II | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 37 |
Area Requirements
Space Science Core
| CHEM 111 | Principles of Chemistry I | 4 |
| SSE 105 | Introduction to Electronic Processes | 3 |
| SSE 120 | Satellites and Space Systems I | 3 |
| SSE 122 | Satellites and Space Systems II | 3 |
| SSE 210 | Spacecraft Mechanical Systems | 3 |
| SSE 320 | Spacecraft Electronic Systems | 3 |
| SSE 324 | Principles of Radio Astronomy | 3 |
| SSE 340 | Digital Control Systems for Space Applications | 4 |
| SSE 341 | Solid-State Electronic Devices & Applications | 3 |
| SSE 360 | Advanced Space Systems | 3 |
| SSE 380 | Materials Science for Space Applications | 3 |
| SSE 431 | Space Plasma Physics | 3 |
| SSE 442 | RF/Microwave Systems & Antennas | 3 |
| SSE 444 | Satellite Communications | 3 |
| SSE 445 | Space Systems Communications Laboratory | 1 |
| SSE 498 | Senior Design Project I | 2 |
| EEC 400 | Digital Signal Processing I | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 50 |
Additional Program Requirements
Mathematics
Physics
| PHYS 231 | Engineering Physics I | 4 |
| PHYS 231A | Engineering Physics I Lab | 1 |
| PHYS 232 | Engineering Physics II | 4 |
| PHYS 232A | Engineering Physics II Lab | 1 |
| PHYS 270 | Introduction to Scientific Computing | 3 |
| PHYS 381 | Computer Solutions to Engineering and Science Problems | 3 |
| Choose one: | 1. EEC 141 and EEC 241 or 2. PHYS 211 | 4-6 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 20-22 |
Technical Electives
Choose three to five credit hours from the following (at least two of the technical electives must be upper-level):
| ASTR 130 | Stars, Galaxies and Cosmology | 3 |
| ASTR 311 | Astrophysics I: Stars and Stellar Evolution | 3 |
| ASTR 312 | Astrophysics II: Galaxies and Cosmology | 3 |
| ASTR 460 | High Energy Astrophysics | 3 |
| MATH 363 | Differential Equations | 3 |
| PHYS 332 | Electricity and Magnetism | 4 |
| PHYS 361 | Fundamentals of Electronics | 3 |
| ESS 303 | Planetary Geology | 3 |
| SSE 476 | Directed Research | 1-6 |
| SSE 299 | Selected Topics in Space Science and Engineering | 3 |
| SSE 399 | Selected Topics | 1-4 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 3-5 |
Total Credit Hours: 120-122