The MS degree program allows you to specialize in a particular topic in the aerospace field. Traditional MS students are admitted into a specific focus area and are required to complete a focus area curriculum. In addition to meeting focus area curricular requirements, you will choose one of the options below to meet graduation requirements:
Funding is not guaranteed for master’s students. Although in rare cases you can be supported by faculty directly, the department does not guarantee that support.
The Professional MS degree (ProMS) offers a more flexible coursework-only program. As a ProMS student, you do not have to follow a specific focus area curriculum and can customize your degree based on your personal interests; however, 18 credits in ASEN, including a math course from the list of approved math courses is required. Note: ProMS students are ineligible for any university funding (TA/RA/fellowships) but may pursue hourly positions including Teaching Facilitator (TF) positions.
Both the MS and ProMS degrees require 30 total credit hours (10 courses).
Of the 30 total credit hours for both degrees:
The Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering Sciences can be obtained via one of two options: the Traditional MS or the Professional MS.
Traditional MS –
Study is aligned with one of the Focus Areas. This choice requires completion of Focus Area-specific curricular requirements and one of the four options below:
*Thesis Option: Write or defend a master’s thesis. Students must:
Professional MS (ProMS) -
Offers a more flexible, course-based curriculum, not aligned with a specific Focus Area curriculum.
Early in the semester in which you are expecting to graduate, there are some required steps:
- Apply to graduate in Buff Portal with your master's degree.
- Complete your Candidacy Application.
There are some additional required items if applicable to your degree plan:
- If you are completing an AES certificate, complete the Certificate Award Request Form.
- If you are completing an MS thesis, ensure you have done the following at least 2 weeks before your defense date (if not sooner):
- Fill out and submit the Master’s Final Examination Form.
- Submit your thesis to your committee.
Please ensure you are following any deadlines provided to you by the department. You can view more information regarding required steps for graduation and general deadlines on the Graduate School’s Deadlines for Master’s Degree Candidates page.
Tuition & Fees
For all tuition and fee-related questions, please visit the Bursar’s Office page.
General
The MS is self-funded, meaning the department is unable to provide centralized, guaranteed support. There are some funding options you can apply to/seek out. Please see the links and information below.
- Funding your MS/PhD
- Opportunities & Aid
- Some funding information/opportunities may be found on the Graduate School's funding website.
- TA positions are reserved for PhD students. The teaching facilitator (TF) interest form/application and information on TF positions is here. TF positions receive a stipend but do not receive tuition remission. TF positions are available to MS and ProMS students.
- Research positions are not centrally managed. Students must reach out directly to faculty to find research opportunities. For research positions, faculty are listed here or you can see current research on our aerospace research website.
There are two sets of rules defining full-time.
1. The first set of rules is imposed by the Graduate School. In order to be considered a full-time student under the Graduate School criteria, you must be enrolled in:
- 1 hour master's thesis OR
- 5 hours of graduate level coursework OR
- 8 hours of graduate and undergraduate coursework combined OR
- 12 hours of undergraduate coursework OR
- 1-3 hours of Master’s Candidate for Degree^.
2. The second set of rules is imposed by the federal government for federal financial aid purposes. Please contact the Office of Financial Aid with questions.
- Full-time: A graduate student who is enrolled in at least 6 semester hours* in a fall, spring or summer term.
- Half-time: A graduate student who is enrolled in at least 3-5 semester hours* in a fall, spring or summer term.
*Excludes Master’s Candidate for Degree^ courses (ASEN 6949). They cannot be included in the semester hour calculation for financial aid eligibility and/or loan deferment.
^Master’s Candidate for Degree course(s) (ASEN 6949) is what a student would enroll in if additional time is required to complete an MS thesis.
Transfer credit is defined as any credit earned at another accredited institution, credits earned on another campus of the CU system, or credits earned as a non-degree student within the CU system. Credit may not be transferred until you have completed 6 credits of graduate level coursework as a degree-seeking student on the CU Boulder campus with a 3.0 GPA. The following limits apply:
- Master’s student: 9 semester hours
- Students who took courses as a non-degree student toward a CU Boulder graduate certificate: 24 semester hours
- Graduate School Policy & Form for Submission
- Our current graduate director is Robert Marshall, robert.marshall@colorado.edu
Note: Transfer credits typically transfer in as general electives that count towards your 30 credit hour requirement. If you would like specific transfer credits to count towards specific course requirements (i.e. math, focus area specific course, etc.) then you will also need to submit an academic petition.