The Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering combines mechanical engineering and aerospace engineering to study how various machines work and the differences in the aviation environment. After graduation, students can choose to pursue joint research and careers in a variety of industries, and the combined majors give them a significant advantage when seeking employment.
Mechanical engineering and aeronautical engineering have evolved alongside human history. Mechanical engineering is closely related to the history of man’s creation and use of tools, and the history of mechanical engineering can be traced back to the pulleys used in the construction of the pyramids in ancient Egypt in BC. Aeronautical engineering also began to be studied in earnest in the early 20th century, when the Wright brothers made the first successful manned powered flight. The combination of these two fields makes mechanical and aeronautical engineering an important discipline that is at the core of modern technology and the foundation of future industries.
I was once asked about my major at a house where I was doing a tutoring demonstration. I replied, “I’m a mechanical and aeronautical engineering major,” and the question came back, “What is that?” I replied, “It’s just like a mechanical engineering major…” but I couldn’t help but get an awkward look from both the questioner and the answerer. Why did this happen? The reason is very simple. I’m in the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, but the person I was talking to had no idea about the field. For people who aren’t interested in engineering, the word “mechanical” can be very unfamiliar or too broad a concept. But that’s natural.
We look around us and see tons of them. Clocks, wardrobes, cars, doors, and so on. If you call a watch or a car a “machine,” most people will nod their heads. But are wardrobes and doors machines, too? The answer is yes, the hinges on a wardrobe, the pulleys on a chest of drawers, the lock on a door, etc. are all mechanical parts. There are so many everyday objects that can be categorized as machines that it’s now harder to find something that isn’t a machine. As such, mechanical engineering has a very broad scope of study, and the study, design, and application of how these machines work is what mechanical engineering is all about.
So why is it called the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and not just Mechanical Engineering? The School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering is a combination of mechanical engineering and aerospace engineering. While the two majors are not completely separate, there are differences in the subjects studied. While mechanical engineering studies and designs the working principles of machines in general, aerospace engineering studies machines specifically related to aviation. The reason aerospace engineering is studied as a separate discipline instead of being included in mechanical engineering is because of the differences in the environments in which aircraft operate. Aircraft operating at altitudes as low as 6 kilometers and as high as 10 kilometers in space have different operating principles due to the presence of various variables, including different air pressures than those on the ground. Therefore, aerospace engineers must not only study the working principles of machines, but also adjust and design them according to the environment in which they operate.
This difference in background theory between mechanical engineering and aerospace engineering leads to differences in the subjects studied. For example, students studying mechanical engineering are more interested in automobiles and heavy industry, while those studying aerospace engineering are more interested in aircraft and the space industry.
So, what are the career paths of mechanical and aerospace engineering graduates? Typically, more than 60% of bachelor’s graduates go on to pursue a master’s program. More than 40% of master’s students go on to doctoral programs, but many students choose to work directly after graduation. You might think that students who studied mechanical engineering can’t work in aviation companies, but that’s not the case. In fact, there are only about five universities in Korea that specialize in aerospace engineering, and not all employees of aviation companies are from those schools. Aircraft are machines, and the basic principles are the same, so students who studied mechanical engineering can also work in aviation.
One of the biggest advantages of the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering is the collaboration with other disciplines. Machines are an essential part of many engineering disciplines, so those who study mechanical engineering can play an important role in many different fields. For example, you don’t need to major in shipbuilding and marine engineering to work in a shipyard, and you don’t need to major in architectural engineering to work in a construction company. Many students go on to work in automotive, heavy industry, and aviation. Of course, there are also many students who go into academia and research.
As you can see, students who graduate from the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering can utilize their majors in a variety of fields. Another advantage of the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering is the utilization of interdisciplinary majors. An interdisciplinary major allows you to minor in classes from other departments, which gives you additional knowledge in a variety of fields. For example, students who want to work in the field of mechanical design may choose to minor in design, or students who want to become an executive may choose to minor in business administration. In addition to helping you grow academically, these majors also give you a huge advantage when it comes to finding a job.
At first glance, mechanical and aerospace engineering may seem like a difficult major to understand because of its broad scope, but the important thing to remember is that it’s not just an extension of mechanical engineering, it’s a core discipline that underlies all engineering fields. And with so many options, it’s exciting and rewarding to design your own path. Your academic journey in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering will bring you new challenges, which will help you to shape your own future.
