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:

  1. Develop the basic competencies in system engineering and gain familiarity with the concepts and technologies associated with aerospace systems requirements, particularly spacecraft and related subsystems.
  2. Learn how to use basic laboratory instrumentation and acquire skills that permit a rapid start in practical "real world" applications in the workplace.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. 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

  1. Performance on the senior research or design project
  2. Performance in individual courses
  3. Acceptance rates into job market and/or graduate school

Program Requirements

General Education

MATH 175Calculus I

4

ASTR 125 Astronomical and Physics Methods to Explore the Universe (NSC2)

3

SSE 499CSenior Design Project II

3

Total Credit Hours:37

Refer to the General Education section for a complete listing of general education requirements for the University.

Area Requirements

Space Science Core

CHEM 111Principles of Chemistry I

4

SSE 105Introduction to Electronic Processes

3

SSE 120Satellites and Space Systems I

3

SSE 122Satellites and Space Systems II

3

SSE 210Spacecraft Mechanical Systems

3

SSE 320Spacecraft Electronic Systems

3

SSE 324Principles of Radio Astronomy

3

SSE 340Digital Control Systems for Space Applications

4

SSE 341Solid-State Electronic Devices & Applications

3

SSE 360Advanced Space Systems

3

SSE 380Materials Science for Space Applications

3

SSE 431Space Plasma Physics

3

SSE 442RF/Microwave Systems & Antennas

3

SSE 444Satellite Communications

3

SSE 445Space Systems Communications Laboratory

1

SSE 498Senior Design Project I

2

EEC 400Digital Signal Processing I

3

Total Credit Hours:50

Additional Program Requirements

Mathematics
MATH 275Calculus II

4

MATH 276Calculus III

4

Total Credit Hours:8
Physics
PHYS 231Engineering Physics I

4

PHYS 231AEngineering Physics I Lab

1

PHYS 232Engineering Physics II

4

PHYS 232AEngineering Physics II Lab

1

PHYS 270Introduction to Scientific Computing

3

PHYS 381Computer 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 130Stars, Galaxies and Cosmology

3

ASTR 311Astrophysics I: Stars and Stellar Evolution

3

ASTR 312Astrophysics II: Galaxies and Cosmology

3

ASTR 460High Energy Astrophysics

3

MATH 363Differential Equations

3

PHYS 332Electricity and Magnetism

4

PHYS 361Fundamentals of Electronics

3

ESS 303Planetary Geology

3

SSE 476Directed Research

1-6

SSE 299Selected Topics in Space Science and Engineering

3

SSE 399Selected Topics

1-4

Total Credit Hours:3-5

ASTR 311 requires prerequisite ASTR 130 and ASTR 312 requires prerequisite ASTR 311.

ASTR 460 requires prerequisite MATH 276.

Total Credit Hours: 120-122