Distance Learning: The Online Aerospace Engineering MS
The Distance Learning MSAE program at Georgia Tech offers you the opportunity to earn a masters in science in aerospace engineering without taking up residency at our Atlanta campus.
Engagement with Distance Learning MSAE Students
As a Distance Learning MSAE student, you will employ digital learning tools for online lectures, videos, discussion boards, web conferencing, and more. Lectures and student-faculty interactions will be digitally captured and then posted for you to view on demand. You will be granted access to class materials online and will have an online account to submit and monitor homework and exams. You will submit regular assignments including homework, projects, and papers. In addition, some degrees may include secure, proctored online exams. find out more
What Distance Learning MSAE Students Learn
At the heart of your program will be research - one or more projects that will define your program. We recommend you acquaint yourself with Aerospace Engineering School's Research Areas. A member of the Aerospace Engineering Academic Advising Office will guide you as you pursue the same overall 33 credit-hour requirement as your on-campus classmates. A member of the Aerospace Engineering School faculty will directly advise you as you prepare your AE 8900 project9 (see below). You are welcome, but not required, to visit campus to participate in Commencement at the conclusion of your studies.
Why the Distance Learning MSAE Degree?
With more than 14 years of experience in online instruction, we have earned the respect of employers, academics, researchers, and alumni. Our faculty have the breadth, depth, and industry connections to deliver a masters of science program that sharpens critical thinking skills and contributes significant research to the discipline.
What Distance Learning MSAE Students Do
Using an array of remote technologies you will attend the DLP orientation, participate in classes, study with your classmates, consult with advisors, and create a research program that expands your critical thinking skills and your mastery of cutting-edge concepts. There is no dissertation and you can take just one class per semester.
- How It Works: The AE School uses digital learning tools for online lectures, videos, discussion boards, web conferencing, and more. Our Distance Learning lectures and student-faculty interactions are digitally captured and then posted for you to view on demand. You will be granted access to class materials online and will have an online account to submit and monitor homework and exams. You will submit regular assignments including homework, projects, and papers. In addition, some degrees may include secure, proctored online exams.
Apply to the Distance Learning MSAE Program
Well-qualified individuals who have earned an undergraduate degree in aerospace engineering or a related field, are encouraged to apply. Admission decisions are made throughout the year. All applications are processed by Georgia Tech's Office of Graduate Admissions.
No GRE Requirement: Spring 2025
The AE School will not require the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) as part of the Spring 2025 admissions process for our MS and Ph.D. programs
GRE Requirement: Summer 2025, Fall 2025, Spring 2026
The GRE is optional for the AE MS and PhD programs. AE conducts a holistic review of applications and, if GRE scores are submitted, they will be considered in this review. The GRE is recommended for applicants whose academic preparation may otherwise be difficult to assess.
- Spring 2025: September 1, 2024
- Summer 2025: (final deadline): February 1, 2025
- Fall 2025: (final deadline): March 1, 2025
Please check with the AE Academic Office for Deferral Deadlines. You can defer your application for up to one academic year. Please send your request to the AE Graduate Info mailbox if you need to defer.
Past Distance Learning Courses
Distance Learning MSAE Course Offerings
The Distance Learning MSAE option offers you a chance to tailor your educational program to meet your research interests and goals.
To view a list of currently available DL courses, see the box, right. You may petition the Aerospace Engineering School to add an AE graduate course to the list of online MSAE courses offered during any given semester. To view a list of all AE courses being taught during a particular semester, see the Five-Year Curriculum Schedule, right. If a sufficient number of DL master's students request the course, and the petition has been submitted in time, the AE School will make every effort to offer the course.
- Here's a list of DLP courses that have been taught by petition or request.
AE 8900 Special Problem Research Project
As one of the top public research institutions in the world, the Aerospace Engineering School at Georgia Tech aims to equip all of our students with the necessary tools to study and produce unique academic research. As a Distance Learning student, you will complete the AE 8900 Special Problem research project. You should plan to meet with your academic advisor a year prior to graduation to get started on this project. We encourage students to get an early start on the research project to produce thorough research results that can potentially lead to publication. If required, findings from your final research project will be presented using video-conferencing technology.
Distance Learning MSAE Credit Overview
Students enrolled in the MSAE Distance Learning Program will follow the non-thesis course outline, below.
MS Credit-Hours Requirements | MS without Thesis (33 credit-hour total) |
AE Graduate Seminar | AE 8002* |
Formal Courses (minimum, not including AE8900) | 30 |
| 12 |
| 6 |
| 6 |
| 24 |
Research Coursework OR 3 hours of additional AE coursework*** | 3(AE 8900) OR 3 (AE formal course) |
*The AE8002 requirement is waived for Distance Learning students |
NOTE: The AE School does not require its grad students to take specific classes. Graduate students are expected to work with their advisors to map out a rigorous and individualized educational program that includes research in one or more of the six research disciplines and meets the following requirements:
- Completion of at least six (6) credit-hours of mathematics
- No more than nine (9) credit-hours may come from the Senior Undergraduate (4000) course level
- Transfer students may bring no more than six (6) credit-hours from an accredited school in the US or Canada. All transfer credit award decisions will be made by the Graduate Curriculum Committee
- Graduate-level courses may be chosen from the current Georgia Tech course catalog, as well as from the appropriate Special Topics courses (AE 88XX) listed here.
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