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GENERAL INFORMATION
The Space Systems Engineering Certificate Program is primarily designed
for students in the College of Engineering who wish to be recognized for
completing a core set of courses in space systems engineering-related topics
and for participating in a space-systems project. The project work is to
be documented through a report. This certificate program, under the direction
of, and jointly administered by the electrical engineering department's Communications
and Space Sciences Laboratory (CSSL) and the aerospace engineering department,
is designed to help prepare students for a career in the space industry.
It is also relevant to students with an interest in systems engineering and
who wish to bolster their credentials.
The program is directed primarily at junior- and senior-level undergraduate
students in engineering. However, applications from interested graduate students
as well as students outside engineering will be considered, provided they
have completed the appropriate prerequisite courses or their equivalent.
Applicants will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis and will need approval
from both the student's department and the Space Systems Engineering Certificate
director.
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OBJECTIVES
Upon completion of this space systems engineering certificate a student
will:
- Be better prepared (in terms of breadth and depth of knowledge) to
enter the space industry
- Have experienced a hands-on project involving the application of learned
principles
- Have a better understanding of (a) systems approach to engineering;
(b) several technical subjects related to space systems; and (c) processes
and procedures for development of space hardware;
- Have experienced working in multifunctional and multidisciplinary teams
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REQUIREMENTS
Students wishing to participate in the certificate program must complete
and submit an application indicating
how they plan to meet the certificate requirements. Students are highly encouraged
to submit the application to the director of the program as soon as possible
once they have made the decision to complete the certificate. The application
must be received, however, before the project work is completed to ensure
an appropriate level of rigor in project work and proper systems focus.
The minimum number of credits required is 12, with no fewer than nine credits
at the 400- (or 500-) level (which may include the project work). Certificate
requirements are summarized in the table below. All students must complete
significant hands-on, project-based work on a space systems project and submit
a report of their work to the certificate director. Students also will be
required to take E E 497E—Space Systems Engineering Seminar (1), offered
annually in the fall semester. A minimum of two space systems-related courses
must be selected from a list of appropriate courses. The remainder of the
requirements may be met by taking any of a number of recommended supporting
courses approved by the certificate director.
| Requirement |
Description/Options |
Credits |
| Seminar |
E E 497E† Space Systems Engineering Seminar |
1 |
| Project |
Report submitted adhering to SPSYS Certificate formatting
and systems content guidelines (Note: <3 credits of project work
may only be selected by co-op students) |
0-3 |
| 6 credits of space systems-focused courses at 400 level
(or above*) |
Courses from list maintained by certificate director |
6 |
| Remainder of credits |
May include up to 3 credits of internship/co-op credits
when work is in space systems area (Note: 9 total credits must be at
the 400 level (or above*) |
2-5 |
| Total |
12 |
| † This course will be converted to
a permanent number (E E/AERSP 475). |
| *Schreyer Honors students and seniors with
at least 92 credits and a 3.5 cumulative GPA may schedule a graduate
course with approval of the course instructor. Other undergraduate
students wishing to schedule a graduate course need the approval of
his/her adviser and the course instructor. |
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PROJECT REQUIREMENTS
The hands-on project component is the core requirement
for the Space Systems Engineering Certificate. This project work may be completed
as part of a 296/496 independent study, 494(H) thesis research, a projects-based
course (e.g., AERSP 497K—Aerospace Engineering Projects), or another
pre-arranged method (e.g., as part of a work experience or internship). Many
projects are available through the Student Space Programs Lab. The report
should adhere to graduate school thesis formatting guidelines (see PsuThesi) with the SPSYS title page.
A significant portion of the report must be a systems engineering analysis
of the project. The properly formatted, signed report is due no later than
the Monday of the last week of classes in the semester the student plans
to graduate.
Co-op experience with a space systems company may be used to meet the certificate's
credit requirements. This must be approved by the certificate director, and
co-op reports must be forwarded to the certificate director as well as the
Co-op Program. If project work at the space systems company is to be used
to meet the project requirement, it is incumbent on the candidate to get
approvals from the company that their report may be released to the public
and does not contain proprietary information.
Click here for
the application form (PDF format).
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CONTACT INFORMATION
For more information contact:
Dr. Sven G. Bilén
Director, Space Systems Engineering Certificate
Associate Professor of Engineering Design, Electrical Engineering,
and Aerospace Engineering
213N Hammond Building
University Park, PA 16802
Tel: 814-863-1526
Email: sbilen@psu.edu
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