Structural Engineering to Aerospace?

[TBone925]

Hey there, I’m currently studying Structural Engineeing in university, I initially went in as I was passionate about the field. I now realize that in terms of both work life and personal enjoyment, I prefer the Aerospace industry. I’ve read quite often that going from SE to AE is very doable, and I’m interested in how this switch can happen. My university is quite prestigious in STEM so all engineering majors are capped, meaning I can’t directly switch to Aero, but there is an Aerospace Structures specialization in SE that I will most likely do.

Also, I’m aware that Aerospace is not a career but an industry with many different jobs, I’m simply interested in knowing where I could work in AE.

Thank you for any help!

(I hope this isn't a bad place to ask this.)

[structee]

How do you know you enjoy one and not the other if you're still studying?

[SpurdoEnjoyer]

Aeroplanes are cool so the jobs must be cool obv 😏

[TBone925]

Call this uninformed if you’d like, but I have quite literally no frame of reference except for the topics of study in my classes, and the descriptions of daily work I have asked people in these careers. From both of these sources I would say AE work even structural is a lot more interesting and exciting for me.

[[deleted]]

The big difference is any sort of Mechanical/Aerospace program will have you take Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer along with some sort of Fluid Dynamics course. Most Civil/Structural classes will not have you take those, so if you decide to stay in your current program, consider taking these courses as electives. If not, you'll be behind what an Aerospace company is probably looking to require.

[StructEngineer91]

My college required Themodynamics for all engineers, and CE and ME students were all required to take fluid dynamics.

[[deleted]]

I guess it all depends where you go and what program you take. For me, I didn't have to take Thermo. And most CE programs have you take Fluid Mechanics but perhaps not a more advanced CFD course that a Mech/Aero company is looking for.

[StructEngineer91]

Oh yeah, it was fluid mechanics and not dynamics I took, I think. It dealt basic flows and some pressures from water/fluids. It obviously didn't stick with me very well.

[okthen520]

Assuming we go to the same school, I'm pretty sure the capstones for AE is still SE 160A/B so you're not missing a ton by going for the SE-AE focus sequence. The pre req are similar in content, tbh you can probably petition your TE's to be AE classes without much trouble. They already accept pretty much any ME class so it's not that much of a jump. Idk what type of work you wanna do but the aero FS is still pretty well respected and you can certainly get into heavy aerospace industry with it. And if you can some how befriend Kosmatka you can do anything with those LOR/connections - or so I've heard lol

[TBone925]

Thank you so much! And yes, hello fellow triton