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Soar Higher: Launch Your Career in Aerospace Engineering

Aerospace Engineering at USF

Take off with one of Florida’s newest and most exciting degree programs. The University of South Florida’s Aerospace Engineering program is opening doors to the next era of innovation in air and space transportation.

Launch your career and apply today!

Undergraduate Program Graduate Program

At USF, we are dedicated to advancing Florida’s aerospace legacy by cultivating the next generation of innovators and engineers. With the establishment of the aerospace engineering program, we are poised to lead this mission and shape the future of the industry.

Rajiv Dubey, PhD Department Chair, USF Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Build the Skills Employers Want

At USF, you’ll gain the technical expertise and real-world experience to step directly into one of the world’s fastest-growing industries. From day one, you’ll dive into the fundamentals of aerospace systems and explore advanced topics such as:

• Drones & Flight Autonomy

• Urban Air Mobility

• Space Exploration

• Supersonic & Hypersonic Systems

• Aerodynamics & Propulsion

• Flight Stability & Control

The launch of USF’s new aerospace engineering major comes at the perfect time. Florida is a leader in the aerospace industry, home to more than 17,000 aerospace-related companies and the Kennedy Space Center, driving a $19 billion industry. With the U.S. aerospace market soaring, USF has stepped up to prepare the next generation of engineers for this rapidly expanding field.

Levi Thompson, PhD Dean, USF College of Engineering

$19 Billion Florida Aerospace Industry

Why Choose Aerospace Engineering?

• Direct Career Path: Florida is a $19 billion aerospace hub, employing 130,000+ professionals across aviation and space.

• Florida is a Global Hub: Space launches from Florida nearly tripled between 2021 and 2024, with more spaceports and launch pads than any other U.S. state, anchored by Kennedy Space Center and the Space Force.

300+ Aerospace & Defense Companies in Tampa Bay

$1.8 Trillion Projected Space Economy by 2035

• Statewide Commitment: Space Florida, established in 2006, unified the state’s spacerelated economic development under one streamlined entity. This investment has accelerated Florida’s leadership in aerospace and fueled a growing demand for highly skilled engineers.

• Employer Connections: Tampa Bay is home to 300+ aerospace and defense companies with major industry players in Central Florida including Honeywell, Lockheed Martin, Blue Origin, Airbus, and BAE Systems.

• Growth Industry: The global space economy is projected to reach $1.8 trillion by 2035.

Hands-On Experiences

USF students don’t just learn in the classroom - they advance their knowledge in ways employers value:

• Faculty-led research opportunities sponsored by NASA, the Department of War, the Department of Transportation, the National Science Foundation, and the Space Force.

• Access to advanced laboratories and technology.

• Internship and co-op opportunities with aerospace and defense companies across Tampa Bay and beyond.

Industry Connections

We have built a strong network with local aerospace companies to create internship and co-op opportunities for our students. These experiences let you learn directly from industry experts, apply classroom knowledge to real-world challenges, and grow a professional network that can help launch your career after graduation.

Our program actively involves undergraduates in cutting-edge research while also preparing them through structured internships and co-op opportunities. These experiences allow students to apply what they learn in the classroom, build professional networks, and gain valuable insight from industry leaders.

My students engage in a diverse range of projects aimed at advancing resilient autonomy in aerospace systems, with support from agencies such as the Air Force Research Laboratory. They play pivotal roles in these initiatives, contributing to both theoretical research, such as adaptive and distributed control, and hands-on experimentation using platforms like multirotor UAVs, autonomous ground vehicles, and full-scale Hexa eVTOL aircraft.

Ahmad Vaselbehagh, PhD

Associate Professor, USF Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Director,

USF Aerospace Engineering Program

Current student-led efforts include control systems for hypersonic vehicles, swarm coordination for UAVs, and safety frameworks for urban air mobility. These experiences equip our students with the skills and insight to become future leaders in academia and industry.

Tansel Yucelen, PhD

Professor, USF Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Undergraduate Program

• Introduction to Flight, Compressible Flows, Jet Propulsion, Stability & Control, Aerostructures, Astrodynamics, and Space Mission Design and Planning.

• Extensive technical electives, including Flight Autonomy, Unmanned Aerial Systems, Motion Planning & Control, Turbulence, Bioastronautics, Composite Materials.

• Hands-on learning through a state-of-the-art Aerospace Engineering Laboratory.

• Design-Build-Fly senior capstone experience, taking students from concept to flight testing.

• Industry-delivered courses in applied aerodynamics, propulsion systems, and flight autonomy, connecting students directly with real-world practice. A 120-credit hour program completed in 4 years, featuring core courses such as

Graduate Programs

Advance your expertise through our Aerospace Engineering graduate programs, designed to elevate your career in one of the world’s fastest-growing industries.

M.S. Program

• A 30-credit hour program, completed in just one year!

• Builds a strong technical foundation, opening doors to advanced research opportunities and leadership positions in industry.

Ph.D. Program

• Offers fully-funded research and teaching assistantship positions.

• Access to modern, well-equipped research laboratories.

• Prepares you to lead in academia, industry, and government research.

Student Clubs and Competitions

At USF, aerospace engineering isn’t confined to the classroom—it’s about taking your learning to new heights with experiences that go far beyond textbooks and lectures.

Get involved with exciting student organizations like the Society of Aeronautics and Rocketry (SOAR), USF’s student chapter of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), or SmallSat. These groups give you the chance to compete in national design competitions, build rockets, design satellites, and collaborate with peers - all while having fun and gaining hands-on engineering experience.

Being a part of the Small Satellite Society at USF gives students the opportunity to take part in a real aerospace project that launches classroom knowledge into action. From designing, building, and testing hardware, you’ll gain hands-on experience that’s exciting, collaborative, and directly connected to the future of space exploration.

Alecia Bechtold

Vice President of the

Small Satellite Student

Club

USF’s Society of Aeronautics and Rocketry (SOAR) turns passion for engineering into hands-on experience, giving students the chance to design, build, and launch rockets while growing as engineers and leaders. With SOAR, the sky is not the limit.

Kyle Shum

Senior Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Student and SOAR President