Astronautical Engineering Certificate

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The Certificate in Astronautical Engineering is designed for practicing engineers and scientists who enter space-related fields and/or want to obtain training in specific space-related areas. Students enroll at USC as limited status students; they must apply and be admitted to the certificate program after completion of no more than 9 units of required course work. The required course work consists of 12 units; students will choose four 3-unit courses from the following:

Required Courses (Choose Four)

ASTE 501a Physical Gas Dynamics Units: 3
ASTE 501b Physical Gas Dynamics Units: 3
ASTE 505a Plasma Dynamics Units: 3
ASTE 505b Plasma Dynamics Units: 3
ASTE 520 Spacecraft System Design Units: 3
ASTE 523 Design of Low Cost Space Missions Units: 3
ASTE 524 Human Spaceflight Units: 3
ASTE 527 Space Studio Architecting Units: 3
ASTE 528 Reliability of Space Systems Units: 3
ASTE 529 Safety of Space Systems and Space Missions Units: 3
ASTE 535 Space Environments and Spacecraft Interactions Units: 3
ASTE 552 Spacecraft Thermal Control Units: 3
ASTE 553 Systems for Remote Sensing from Space Units: 3
ASTE 554 Spacecraft Sensors Units: 3
ASTE 555 Space Cryogenic Systems and Applications Units: 3
ASTE 556 Spacecraft Structural Dynamics Units: 3
ASTE 557 Spacecraft Structural Strength and Materials Units: 3
ASTE 561 Human Factors of Spacecraft Operations Units: 3
ASTE 562 Spacecraft Life Support Systems Units: 3
ASTE 566 Ground Communications for Satellite Operations Units: 3
ASTE 570 Liquid Rocket Propulsion Units: 3
ASTE 571 Solid Rocket Propulsion Units: 3
ASTE 572 Advanced Spacecraft Propulsion Units: 3 *
ASTE 574 Space Launch Vehicle Design Units: 3
ASTE 575 Rocket and Spacecraft Propulsion Units: 3
ASTE 577 Entry and Landing Systems for Planetary Surface Exploration Units: 3
ASTE 580 Orbital Mechanics I Units: 3
ASTE 581 Orbital Mechanics II Units: 3
ASTE 583 Space Navigation: Principles and Practice Units: 3
ASTE 584 Spacecraft Power Systems Units: 3
ASTE 585 Spacecraft Attitude Control Units: 3
ASTE 586 Spacecraft Attitude Dynamics Units: 3
ASTE 589 Solar System Navigation Units: 3 *
ASTE 599 Special Topics Units: 2, 3, 4

Note:

Most classes are available through the USC Distance Education Network (DEN).

*Prerequisite required