Program Goal

  • Provide a joint B.S./M.S. academic program with a strong research component for undergraduate students in the School of Aerospace Engineering

Honors Student Benefits

  • Will be automatically admitted to the AE graduate program upon finishing their BS without the need to take the GRE.
  • Can count up to 6 hours of appropriate courses to both their BS and MS degrees, thus will usually be able to complete MS degree 9-12 months after finishing BS degree.
  • Will be given preference in the assignment of Undergraduate Research Fellowships administered by the School and will gain at least 3 semesters of undergraduate research experience.

Applications

  • Eligible undergraduate students (see below for eligibility rules) must be apply for admission to the Honors Program. An application form can be obtained here.
  • Completed applications should be brought to the AE Academic Office (Knight 312) or emailed to Prof. Seitzman (jerry.seitzman@ae.gatech.edu) or Ms. Daurette Joseph (daurette.joseph@ae.gatech.edu).
  • Student applications must be accompanied by a recommendation letter from the student’s AE academic advisor (again, either submitted to Academic Office or emailed to Prof. Seitzman)
  • Applications will be submitted for approval by the Chairs of the AE Undergraduate and Graduate committees - the full committees may approve exceptional admissions for students who do not meet the normal eligibility requirements

Eligibility

  1. Students who enter the AE School during their freshman year (30 hours or less of AP/transfer credit) can be admitted to the program if they have completed no less than 48 total hours total (typically mid-sophomore year) with an overall GPA of 3.5 or higher at GT.
  2. AE transfer students who enter GT with more than 30 credit hours must complete at least 14 hours of coursework at GT, including at least 12 hours in technical subjects, with a GPA of 3.5 or greater.
  3. Students cannot generally be admitted to the program once they have completed more than 80 hours towards their degree program.
  4. Students are permitted to remain in program as long as their overall GPA does not drop below 3.5 for two consecutive terms.
  5. Students must satisfactorily complete (e.g., grade S) the undergraduate research component of their degree (see 2 in next section) to remain in the program.

Other Features of Program

  1. Participants will be assigned to a research advisor who is active in research in the student’s area of interest. If the student wishes, the research advisor can also become the student’s academic advisor
  2. Participants will be expected to participate in research and sign up for at least one hour of Undergraduate Research (AE 4699) for at least three terms before completing the BS component of their degree.
  3. Participants will be given preference in the assignment of AE Undergraduate Research Fellowships, but no financial support can be guaranteed.
  4. Participants will make at least one presentation on their research work at a national conference, student conference, seminar, or brown bag lunch before completing their BS degree.
  5. Participants will receive their BS degree as soon as they have completed the requirements.
  6. The graduate coordinator will do his/her utmost to secure funding for participants who have completed their BS degree, although no financial support can be guaranteed.
  7. The use of up to 6 hours of graduate course work in the major discipline towards both the undergraduate and the graduate degrees is based on the provisions listed under the title “Graduate Course Option” in the GT catalog.
  8. Participants who do not plan to continue on for the Ph.D. degree are encouraged (but not required) to complete an MS degree with thesis. The ultimate decision on this matter lies between the student and his/her advisor.