航空航天工程关注在大气和太空中运行的车辆和系统的行为和设计所基于的科学和技术。它需要广泛的学科领域的知识，包括基础科学，数学和工程科学，以及对空气动力学，推进系统，结构，材料，飞行动力学，航天和计算方法的专门研究。广阔的背景使应届工程师不仅有能力处理航空航天领域的特殊问题，而且还能够应对社会所面临的跨学科性质的挑战，例如涉及环境，交通和能源的挑战。<br> <br >航空航天工程课程提供了流体动力学，结构，推进，控制，飞行动力学和设计的全面背景。该课程通过强调应用科学，设计和技术，同时为数学和物理学奠定了
Aerospace engineering is a highly specialized, yet widely diverse field. Aerospace engineers are involved in such varied and exciting activities as enabling hypersonic flight, sending a spacecraft to Mars, designing an artificial heart, and improving tomorrow's automobiles. We have come a long way since the Wright brothers at Kitty Hawk. In just a few short years, we have converted aviation from daredevil and barnstorming adventures to a safe, fast, and widely used mode of transportation. There is every reason to believe that the next fifty years will bring about even more dramatic advances, and UVa is playing a major role. With the increasing need for high-speed civil transport or more efficient, higher performance commercial and military aircraft, Aerospace Engineering will continue to offer ample opportunities for careers and advancement. The Aerospace Engineering curriculum provides a thorough background in fluid dynamics, structures, propulsion, controls, flight dynamics and design. The curriculum provides flexibility with regard to all areas of potential aerospace practice by emphasizing applied science, design, and technology while providing a firm foundation in mathematics and physics. With a strong science and mathematics based education, aerospace engineers have also found employment opportunities outside of the traditional aerospace industry. Many work in oceanography, biotechnology, weather prediction, energy conservation, and in the petrochemical, nuclear or automotive industries. In addition, the aerospace design provides an excellent background for business, law or medicine. Of course, people with the ambition to become pilots, either military or commercial, find the aerospace degree very attractive.