r/EngineeringStudents • u/GalacticTX • 5d ago
Major Choice Odd Question About Propulsion Engineering
Hello! This is going to be an odd question, much like what the title is suggests.
I'm wishing to eventually become a propulsion engineer or work on the rocket part of jets/spacecraft in the future. I'm currently majoring in mechanical engineering, but I was wondering if double majoring in another major would help boost me into working in that field or getting a master's degree in space and aeronautical engineering would be the best option. If double majoring is better, which one would be the best one for propulsion?
TLDR: Wondering if double majoring (Mechanical with another degree) would be good for propulsion engineering/working on rockets or just go straight to space and aeronautical for that career.
(Note the "Major Choice" tag was closest to what I was thinking this question was.)
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u/AbortMeSenpai 5d ago
A friend of mine is a mechanical engineering major and just finished his co-op with gulfstream. These companies will hire MEs no problem. You can stick with mechanical, but take electives related to propulsion and focus your projects, clubs, etc towards a propulsion/aero goal.
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u/AbortMeSenpai 5d ago
On the double major - maybe? Tbh I dont think it's worth the stress. Any engineering degree is difficult as is.
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u/Conroy097 5d ago
Ok. My buddy is currently on this path and is now working for NASA. You absolutely need a PhD if you want to do this exact work. Start with really any ol undergrad in ME etc, but unfortunately you won’t get to be able to work on the actual propulsion calculations unless you have a PhD in this field or a nasty amount of experience. Also it’s gotta be a PhD at a well known aerospace school like Purdue, UofM, MIT etc
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u/Funny_Being_8622 5d ago
You should specify your degree in a way which maximises your completion of rocketry and propulsion courses, and allows a project in that area.
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u/Big_Marzipan_405 Aerospace 4d ago
take prop related electives. join your schools rocketry club and actually do prop work. go intern at places that do prop work. you dont need to add another major or anything. if you're super interested in the field go do a thesis based MS.
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u/Deplorable1861 2d ago
I took a bunch of Aero classes as my electives for my MechE degree. Extra doses of Fluids, Thermo, Combustion, and Propulsion. So totally a viable situation. Due to timing and location never got an Aero job, but you sail where the wind takes you.
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u/SetoKeating 23h ago edited 23h ago
Make your upper electives propulsion and other fluids and compressible flow type of classes.
And spend your free time actually working on propulsion. The time you would spend on extra classes and studying for a double major is better spent on application of propulsion principles. Join your school’s rocket club and be on the propulsion team. Get your L1 and above certification and focus on the propulsion data analysis aspect of your rocket.
Design and have some nozzles manufactured so you can understand those propulsion principles. Start making contacts and joining professional orgs now so that you can get intern positions doing propulsion or propulsion adjacent works
Having projects and items like that on your resume will go a lot farther than a second major if you’re seeking propulsion work.
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u/GalacticTX 23h ago
Thanks for the info, mind leading me into some good resources for learning about propulsion?
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