MS学位被认为是学术性的或基础性的，非常适合希望准备专业职业并衡量其攻读博士学位的能力的学生。在没有超出MS要求的额外时间的前提下，完成MS学位的学生将根据学生和担任学术顾问的教授选择的研究主题撰写论文。根据共同的利益和需求选择主题。课程工作通常侧重于与研究主题相关的主题。相应的论文必须由顾问以及该系系的另外两名委员会成员（硕士委员会）批准，并由学生单独撰写。论文答辩将提交给该委员会。他们的研究已应用于固定翼飞机，旋翼飞机和航天器，以及风能，海底车辆和建筑物等领域。几位航空专业的研究生获得了由美国国家科学
RPI Aero faculty and graduate researchers are at the forefront of discovery in experimental and computational flow physics and flow control, adaptive and morphing structures, adaptive modeling and simulation, new computational analysis and optimization techniques, structural health monitoring, dynamics and control, materials and nanocomposites, and propulsion systems. Their research has application to fixed-wing aircraft, rotary-wing aircraft and space vehicles, as well as to areas such as wind-energy, undersea-vehicles, and buildings. Several Aero graduate students are winners of prestigious national fellowships supported by agencies such as NSF, NASA and the DoD. Graduate students have the opportunity to engage with student chapters of professional societies such as the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and the American Helicopter Society, and participate in student design competitions sponsored by these societies as well as agencies such as NASA.