Gruntman

Effective in Fall, 2009, new degree requirements will take effect aimed at maintaining the successful 3-year old Master of Science in Astronautics and Space Technology Engineering (MS ASTE) program's momentum as a U.S. leader in its field.

According to an announcement by program director Mike Gruntman, the changes restructure "the balance of required, core elective and engineering mathematics courses," putting more emphasis on subject areas including "fundamentals of space systems, space enviroment and spacecraft interactions, orbital mechanics, and spacecraft propulsion."

Gruntman says the changes will "solidify USC leadership at the Masters level in space engineering education in the United States."

The new requirements will affect both on-campus students and the increasing numbers taking the course through the USC Viterbi School's Distance Education Network. Existing students will have a one-time opportunity to choose between the existing requrements and the new ones,

"The growth of the program convincingly confirms the wisdom and timeliness of establishing, in 2004, a new independent space-focused academic unit in astronautical engineering," Gruntman's letter says.

The MS ASTE degree "is designed for those with undergraduate degrees in engineering, hard science and mathematics who work or wish to work in the space sector of the defense/aerospace industry, government research and development centers and laboratories, or academia," according to its description.

Further information is available at http://www.astroanauticsnow.com/msaste/