6
COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES
In this chapter:
We will review the following topics in this chapter:
• Undergraduate and graduate educational programs and classes
• Finding student research activities
• Funding your education through space scholarship and fellowship opportunities
• Education that starts at the undergrad level and continues throughout your career.
“The greatest gain from space travel consists in the extension of our knowledge. In a hundred years this newly won knowledge will pay huge and unexpected dividends.”
—Wernher von Braun
Pioneering rocketeer
GETTING STARTED: UNIVERSITY PROGRAMS
Choosing a college for your undergraduate or graduate studies can be a time-consuming and agonizing task. In addition to balancing location, course offerings, school reputation, professors’ backgrounds, and financial aspects, you have also chosen the option of trying to find a school that will allow you to pursue a career in the space industry. Keep in mind that a space career does not necessitate a specific discipline or even that you participate in space-related programs while gaining your education.
Take, for instance, a technical career. Many engineers and scientists in the industry have a degree(s) in any one of the following: electrical engineering (circuits, control systems, etc.); mechanical engineering (structures, propulsion, fluid mechanics, etc.); materials and materials engineering (composite materials, ceramics, high-temperature metals, etc.); physics, chemical engineering, software and computer science engineering; robotics; etc.
Opportunities within the space industry are as broad as the degrees you may pursue—from engineering and science to business and management, policy analysis, and sales. The space industry has a position for almost anyone.
Even if you choose a school that does not have a major program or research effort in space, chances are that there are at least one or two professors with a similar interest or a small research study involved with disciplines that can be applied to space.
• Your time at a university is meant for you to gain a broad, diversified education.
• Your time in industry will be spent applying that knowledge.
Choosing an Area of Study
In choosing an undergraduate program, we recommend that you treat your education as a broader opportunity rather than focus on one specific school because it performs space research. Attending a school with a specific program may give you a clearer understanding of a specific part of the industry, but as an undergraduate, establishing a broad background may be more important in the long run. Keep in mind that a large number of people change or modify their career paths as time goes on. What you think you want to do today, may not be what you want to do tomorrow.
EXAMPLES OF SPACE-RELATED COURSES
(Titles taken from course catalogs of institutions mentioned later in this chapter.)
TECHNICAL COURSES
Aerospace Vehicles
Asteroids, Meteors, Comets
Celestial Mechanics
China/Russian Space Program
Communications Theory
Combustion Systems
Computer Vision
Deep Space Communications
Earth System Science
Global Change
Human Factors in Space
Intro to Orbital Mechanics
Intro Spaceflight Dynamics
Life Support Systems
Observational Astronomy
Quasars and Cosmology
Satellite Information Processing
Satellite Propagation Effects
Space Science and Exploration
Space Vehicle Design
Technical Issues in Space
Theory of Propulsion
BUSINESS AND POLICY
Communications Policy
Engineering Economics
Fundamentals of Marketing
Remote Sensing Policy and Law
Space Policy and International Implications
Space Treaties and Legislation
Strategic Implications of Space
Strategic Planning
Universities with Space-Related Programs
There are a number of universities that offer degrees or specialized programs related to space. The list below has been compiled only to show the breadth of programs and activities available. It is not meant to provide a complete list of programs. You will find—at the end of this chapter—a more in-depth list of schools, along with information on how to contact them.
A number of universities you may find have even launched their own student-built miniature satellites. To name but a few: Stanford, San Jose State, Cal Poly, University of Michigan, Brown, Iowa State, Utah State, and Montana State.
Finding Space Activities at a University Without a Devoted Curriculum
Don’t worry if your university doesn’t offer a degree program in aerospace engineering, there are plenty of other degrees that the industry finds valuable. To guide you on your path, you will have to do some research but more than likely you will be able to identify professors at your university who can suggest courses that your might want to take. A perfect example is R.P.I. (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute) located in upstate New York, near the Vermont and Massachusetts borders. During the 1980s, while one of the book’s authors attended, the school did not have a specific program or easily identifiable course offerings devoted to space or space sciences. When an inquiry was made to the mechanical engineering department faculty mentor, I was informed there were no classes in this area, but I could look at the aeronautical engineering courses. However, after investigating further, several programs and activities were identified: The university president at the time was George M. Low, a former deputy administrator of NASA; a professor with a research grant studying how space-based lasers could be used for Earth-to-orbit propulsion systems; and a number of research projects being funded by NASA in the areas of microgravity materials processing and robotic systems.
The lesson to be learned is that many universities can provide you opportunities to feed your interests, you just have to look closely and do some research.
GRADUATE DEGREE PROGRAMS
A graduate degree is meant to focus your early career in a given direction—either by emphasizing a more narrow specialization or by adding a discipline to your desired goal (MBA, in addition to a B.S. in Engineering). Two of the most important considerations in choosing a graduate program are your advisor and your research project. As with undergraduate activities, even schools without a narrow degree program may have a professor who can provide the opportunity for you to do research in a specific area. The U.S. government offers hundreds of millions of dollars in research grants to professors and schools throughout the nation. In addition, private industry sponsors numerous research endeavors. To find the graduate program and professor you want, you will need to undertake a research effort to determine your options. You may choose to make this task as simple as asking your undergraduate advisor to suggest a list of programs to investigate or as complicated as calling all potential universities and inquiring with whom to talk.
Before calling schools, unless you know exactly where you want to go, it is highly recommended that you talk with some people in the industry who are working in the specific area or field that you are hoping to pursue. It is more than likely that they may be able to tell you of an opportunity that you may not find otherwise.
There are many ways to find expert advice. The most direct way would be to ask your alumni relations department, your undergraduate department chairman, or even alumni at your fraternity/sorority. Contacts are everywhere; you only need to ask.
A list of some university programs placing an emphasis on space can be found at the end of this chapter.
FINANCING YOUR EDUCATION:
SCHOLARSHIPS AND FELLOWSHIPS
Many of the space-related fellowships and scholarships that exist are offered by industry associations, NASA, or other government agencies. When looking for financing, it is recommended that you investigate all sources including the industry associations mentioned in Chapter 8. A number of fellowships and scholarships are listed below:
Scholarships and Grants
American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics Scholarships http://www.aiaa.org
• Vicki and George Muellner Scholarship for Aerospace Engineering, $5,000
• Catherine and David Thompson Space Technology Scholarship, $5,000
• Liquid Propulsion Scholarship, $2,500
• Cary Spitzer Digital Avionics Scholarship, $1,500
• Ellis F. Hitt Digital Avionics Scholarship, $1,500
• Dr. Amy R. Pritchett Digital Avionics Scholarship, $1,500
• Dr. James Rankin Digital Avionics Scholarship, $1,500
• Space Transportation Scholarship, $1,500
• Leatrice Gregory Pendray Scholarship (Female applicants only), $1,250
• Orville and Wilbur Wright Graduate Awards (multiple awards), $5,000
• Guidance, Navigation, and Control Graduate Award, $2,500
• Martin Summerfield Propellants and Combustion Graduate Award, $1,250
• Gordon C. Oates Air Breathing Propulsion Graduate Award, $1,000
• John Leland Atwood Graduate Award, $1,000
American Meteorological Society (AMS) Freshman Undergraduate Scholarship
The scholarship is open to all high school students and designed to encourage study in the atmospheric and related sciences. http://www.ametsoc.org/amsstudentinfo/scholfeldocs/freshundergradscholarhip.html
AMS Graduate Fellowships
A $24,000 stipend is presented to each fellowship recipient for a nine-month period in the upcoming academic year. http://www2.ametsoc.org/ams/index.cfm/information-for/students/ams-scholarships-and-fellowships/ams-graduate-fellowships/
ASPRS Awards Program
Offers 14 awards totaling more than $50,000 in value. Available to both undergraduate and graduate student-members of ASPRS and others, these resources have been generated with the intention of advancing academic and professional goals within the fields of photogrammetry, remote sensing, and related disciplines. http://www.asprs.org/ASPRS-Awards-and-Scholarships.html
• Altenhofen, Undergraduate or Graduate, 1-Year, $2,000
• Anson, Undergraduate, USA Only, 1-Year, $2,000
• Behrens, Undergraduate, USA Only, 1-Year, $2,000
• Colwell, Doctoral Student, USA or Canada, 1-Year, $6,500
• Fischer, Graduate Student, 1-Year Award, $2,000
• DigitalGlobe, High-Res Digital Imagery, $20,000 potential value
• Moffitt, Graduate or Undergraduate, 1-Year, $6,500
• Osborn, Undergraduate, USA Only, 1-Year, $2,000
• Ta Liang, Graduate Student Travel Grant, $2,000
• Wolf, Prospective Teachers/Graduate Student, USA only, 1-Year, $4,000
• Z/I Imaging, Graduate Student, 1-Year, $2,000
Astronaut Scholarship Foundation (ASF)
More than 100 astronauts from the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, Skylab, and Space Shuttle programs have joined in the mission to award merit-based scholarships to the best and brightest university students who excel in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Since its inception, ASF has awarded over $4 million in scholarships to more than 370 of the nation’s top scholars via $10,000 awards. http://astronautscholarship.org
Dr. Robert H. Goddard Memorial Scholarship
The National Space Club awards a $10,000 scholarship each year, in memory of Dr. Robert H. Goddard, America’s rocket pioneer. The scholarship is presented at the Goddard Memorial Dinner each spring, for the following academic year. The award is given to stimulate the interest of talented students in the opportunity to advance scientific knowledge through space research and exploration. http://www.spaceclub.org/education/goddard.html
Lady Mamie Ngan Memorial Scholarship
The American Astronautical Society offers $10,000 for students to attend the International Space University’s Master of Science in Space Studies program conducted at the ISU Central Campus in Strasbourg, France, or at its regional summer program www.astronautical.org
The National Space Grant College and Fellowship Project
The project contributes to the nation’s science enterprise by funding research, education, and public service projects through a national network of 52 university-based space grant consortia. The consortia fund graduate fellowships and undergraduate scholarships for students pursuing careers in science, mathematics, engineering and technology, or STEM, as well as curriculum enhancement and faculty development.
http://www.nasa.gov/education/spacegrant
NASA MUREP Funding
MUREP scholarship funds are competitive opportunities that focus on minority serving institutions and the underserved and underrepresented students in the science, technology, engineering, and math disciplines. The scholarship includes up to a $9,000 academic scholarship, not to exceed 75 percent of verified tuition, and $6,000 stipend for a required summer ten-week internship at NASA. http://www.nasa.gov/offices/education/programs/national/murep/
home/index.html#.VVqF1VLZmPI
NASA OE Scholarships
NASA OE Scholarships are a competitive yearlong opportunity focused on students in eligible NASA science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) disciplines. Eligible students include rising freshman, sophomores, and juniors, at the undergraduate level, who will complete their undergraduate degree in spring 2016 or later and community college students, with at least two years remaining at the community college. The goal is to address the agency’s mission-specific workforce needs. The scholarship includes up to a $9,000 academic scholarship, not to exceed 75 percent of verified tuition, and $6,000 for a required summer ten-week internship at a NASA center.
https://intern.nasa.gov/ossi/web/public/main/
Sacknoff Prize for Space History
Annual prize to a university student consisting of trophy, $300 cash prize, publication in the peer-reviewed journal Quest, and the opportunity to present at the Society for the History of Technology annual meeting.
http://www.spacehistory101.com/prize
Small Satellite Scholarship Program
Offered annually at the AIAA-Utah State University Small Satellite Conference for the student with the best application/research technology project that would benefit the small satellite industry. Multiple scholarships ranging from $2,500 to $10,000.http://www.smallsat.org
The Society of Satellite Professionals International (SSPI)
The SSPI Scholarship Program assists deserving high school and university graduates with meeting the high costs of undergraduate and post-graduate study in satellite-related disciplines. Through the generosity of scholarship sponsors, SSPI provides scholarships ranging from $2,500 to $3,500 to high school seniors, undergraduate, and graduate students from locations around the world. http://www.sspi.org
The USRA Scholarship Awards
Provides college scholarship awards to students who have shown a career interest in science or engineering with an emphasis on space research or space science education. Several $2,000, one-time awards are given.
http://www.usra.edu/about/outreach/scholarship/
Postdoctoral Opportunities
AFOSR Resident Research Associateship Program
Awards are made to doctoral-level scientists and engineers who can apply their special knowledge and research talents to research areas that are of interest to them and to the Air Force laboratories and centers. Awards are made to postdoctoral associates (within five years of the doctorate) and senior associates (normally five years or more beyond the doctorate). Each awardee works in collaboration with a research advisor who is a staff member of the research laboratory.
http://www.wpafb.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=9378
Einstein Postdoctoral Fellowship
Awards Fellowships to recent PhDs in astronomy, physics, and related disciplines. Einstein fellows hold their appointments at a host institution in the United States for research that is broadly related to the science goals of the NASA Physics of the Cosmos program. The proposed research may be observational, instrumental, theoretical, archival, or study sources from these missions at other wavelengths. The fellowship duration is three years (subject to review after the second year and to availability of funds from NASA). http://cxc.harvard.edu/fellows/
Fellowships for Early Career Researchers
To facilitate the integration of new planetary science researchers into the established research funding programs and to provide tools and experience useful when searching for a more advanced (i.e., tenure-track, civil servant, or equivalent) position. Selected fellows have the opportunity to apply directly to the Early Career Fellowship program for up to $100,000 in start-up funds when they obtain a tenure-track or equivalent position. Participation is limited to proposers submitting research proposals to planetary science research programs http://nspires.nasaprs.com/external/solicitations/summary.do?method=init&solId=%7B874EB6B2-2F61-C82D-B2D4-EE48CD9EB574%7D&path=open
The Hubble Postdoctoral Fellowship Program
Supports outstanding postdoctoral scientists whose research is broadly related to NASA cosmic origins scientific goals as addressed by any of the missions in that program. The research supported may be theoretical, observational, or instrumental. The fellowships are tenable at U.S. host institutions of the fellows’ choice, subject to a maximum of one new fellow per host institution per year. The duration of the fellowship is up to three years: an initial one-year appointment and two annual renewals contingent on satisfactory performance and availability of NASA funds.
http://www.stsci.edu/institute/smo/fellowships/hubble
NAI Postdoctoral Fellowship Program:
Provides opportunities for PhD scientists and engineers of unusual promise and ability to perform research on problems largely of their own choosing, yet compatible with the research interests of NASA and the member teams of the NASA Astrobiology Institute. Note that the NAI does not participate in every application/award cycle, so check the ORAU post-doc page for details.
https://astrobiology.nasa.gov/nai/funding/nasa-astrobiology-postdoctoral-fellowship-program/
The NASA Postdoctoral Program (NPP)
One-to three-year, post-doctoral fellowships for highly talented national and international individuals to engage in research at NASA centers, or at a NASA-affiliated research institution. There are also opportunities via this program to perform science administration work at NASA Headquarters. Although primarily for recent doctoral graduates, “senior” NPP fellowships can also be awarded to researchers who have been active in their fields for a substantial amount of time. http://nasa.orau.org/postdoc/
National Air and Space Museum
Offers a variety of fellowships for predoctoral, postdoctoral, and non-academic researchers. http://airandspace.si.edu/research/fellowships/
• Guggenheim Fellowships are competitive three- to twelve-month in-residence fellowships for pre- or postdoctoral research in aviation and space history. An annual stipend of $30,000 for predoctoral candidates and $45,000 for postdoctoral candidates will be awarded http://airandspace.si.edu/research/fellowships/guggenheim.cfm
• Verville Fellowship is a competitive nine- to twelve-month in-residence fellowship intended for the analysis of major trends, developments, and accomplishments in the history of aviation or space studies An annual stipend of $55,000 will be awarded for a 12-month fellowship http://airandspace.si.edu/research/fellowships/verville.cfm
• Charles A. Lindbergh Chair in Aerospace History is a competitive twelve-month fellowship open to senior scholars with distinguished records of publication who are at work on, or anticipate being at work on, books in aerospace history. Support is available for replacement of salary and benefits up to a maximum of $100,000 a year. http://airandspace.si.edu/research/fellowships/lindbergh.cfm
• Postdoctoral Earth and Planetary Sciences Fellowship to support scientific research in this area. Scientists in the Center for Earth and Planetary Studies concentrate on geologic and geophysical research on Earth and other terrestrial planets, using remote-sensing data obtained from Earth-orbiting and interplanetary spacecraft. Research also focuses on global environmental change. Appointments can be made for one or more years. Stipends are compatible with NRC postdoctoral fellowships in the applicant’s field. http://airandspace.si.edu/research/fellowships/ceps.cfm
National Space Biomedical Research Institute Postdoctoral Fellowship
NASA has an annual call that can be found at http://solicitation.nasaprs.com/open by searching for NSBRI.
Naval Research Lab Postdoctoral Fellowship
NRL sponsors a postdoctoral fellowship program at a number of Navy R&D centers and laboratories. The program is designed to significantly increase the involvement of creative and highly trained scientists and engineers from academia and industry to scientific and technical areas of interest and relevance to the Navy. https://nrl.asee.org/
Roman Technology Fellowship in Astrophysics
Provides early career researchers the opportunity to develop the skills necessary to lead astrophysics flight instruments/projects and become principal investigators of future astrophysics missions; to develop innovative technologies that have the potential to enable major scientific breakthroughs; and to foster new talent by putting early-career instrument builders on a trajectory toward long-term positions. The fellowship duration is one to five years (subject to a peer review process and availability of funds from NASA).
http://science.nasa.gov/researchers/sara/student-programs/nancy-grace-roman-technology-fellowships-astrophysics-early-career-researchers/
Sagan Fellowship Program
Supports outstanding recent postdoctoral scientists to conduct independent research that is broadly related to the science goals of the NASA exoplanet exploration area. The primary goal of missions within this program is to discover and characterize planetary systems and Earth-like planets around nearby stars. Fellowship recipients receive financial support to conduct research at a host institution in the United States for a period of up to three years (subject to annual review and availability of funds from NASA).
http://nexsci.caltech.edu/sagan/fellowship.shtml
Zonta International Amelia Earhart Fellowship
Established in 1938 in honor of famed pilot and Zontian Amelia Earhart, the fellowship is awarded annually to women pursuing PhD/doctoral degrees in aerospace-related sciences or aerospace-related engineering. The fellowship of $10,000, awarded to 35 fellows around the globe each year, may be used at any university or college offering accredited post-graduate courses and degrees in these fields.
http://www.zonta.org/WhatWeDo/InternationalPrograms/AmeliaEarhartFellowship.aspx
ENHANCING YOUR EDUCATION—GETTING REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCE TO INCREASE YOUR EMPLOYMENT PROSPECTS
Regardless of what your major is, you can increase your chances of being offered a position and improve your resume by participating in research projects or by going on a cooperative education (COOP) assignment at a private company, participating in an on-campus research activity, and/or taking part in one of the many specialized programs sponsored by government agencies, such as NASA.
Companies place great emphasis on practical knowledge as compared to book knowledge. The ability to work with a team, knowing how to handle problems that arise on a project, and the ability to organize the tasks needed to finish a project, are skills that are better learned by doing than in a classroom.
COOPERATIVE EDUCATION PROGRAMS
COOP affords undergraduate students the opportunity to take a six-month to one-year leave of absence from school to work at a private or public institution and gain real-world experience. These programs are usually coordinated by employees of the career services and professional development office at your university. It is their role to arrange for employers to interview on campus. If you decide to pursue the COOP option and would like to find an assignment with a space focus, it is recommended that you do some research on your own. Many of the larger space companies offer COOP programs. As it is highly unlikely that they will all visit your campus for interviews, you should plan to contact them on your own or with the help of your COOP office.
ON-CAMPUS RESEARCH ACTIVITIES
Another option for gaining real-world project experience is through supporting a professor’s sponsored research project. Although most research opportunities are reserved for graduate students, many professors save a few slots for undergraduates. While larger schools, or those with extensive research budgets, will inevitably have more opportunities, there will also be more competition for the prime activities.
Other opportunities exist at universities that house major non-profit research facilities. Several such examples are the Charles Stark Draper Laboratory with MIT; the Applied Physics Laboratory at Johns Hopkins University; the Space Dynamics Laboratory at Utah State University; and the Institute for Earth, Oceans, and Space at the University of New Hampshire.
Students should also talk with individual professors to see if they have a need for support.
High School Student Programs
Virginia Aerospace Science and Technology Scholars (VASTS)
A ten-week distance-learning program for Virginia high school juniors. The course consists of NASA-based, STEM-related curricula. The culmination of the online coursework is a six-day residential summer academy at NASA Langley Research Center. http://www.vasts.spacegrant.org/
Summer Programs
NASA Academies
The NASA Academies are a unique summer experience at the university level for developing future leaders of the U.S. Space Program. The program is an intensive, resident, 10ten-week summer experience with laboratory research work, a group project, lectures, meetings with experts and administrators, visits to NASA centers and space-related industries, technical writing, and presentations. Rising junior, senior undergraduate or at the early graduate level in accredited U.S. college or university as of May of the program year. Must be U.S. citizen or permanent resident (as of May of the program year).
https://www.nasa.gov/offices/education/programs/descriptions/NASA_Academy.html#.VVqIO1LZmPI
Planetary Science Summer School
This program seeks people who have a keen interest in planetary exploration, and who have completed their graduate work in science or engineering, to engage in an intensive one-week team exercise designed to teach the process of developing a robotic mission.
https://pscischool.jpl.nasa.gov/index.cfm
International Space University
The International Space University provides graduate-level training to the future leaders of the emerging global space community at its central campus in Strasbourg, France, and at summer session locations around the world. http://www.isunet.edu/
The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Scholars Program
Offers stipend-paid summer internship opportunities to undergraduate and graduate-level university students pursuing STEM degrees, as well as upper-level high school students; select locations also offer internships to university students pursuing education-related degrees and K–12 professional educators. The selected interns gain valuable hands-on experiences working with full-time AFRL scientists and engineers on cutting-edge research and technology and are able to contribute to unique, research-based projects. Graduate interns are able to collaborate with AFRL on current research and incorporate the research into their graduate work.
http://afrlscholars.usra.edu/overview/
Summer Fellowship Program at the Center for Space Nuclear Research
Undergraduate and graduate level students experience cutting-edge research in nuclear power and propulsion technologies at the Center for Advanced Energy Studies. As a CSNR summer fellow, you work as part of a team of students and with scientists at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) to complete a research project of current interest to NASA in potential nuclear technology performance. The summer fellows program allows participants to experience a real research environment, to learn from top-notch nuclear scientists, and to preview careers in research.
http://csnr.usra.edu/public/default.cfm?content=322
Undergraduate Research Opportunities
NASA’s Planetary Geology and Geophysics Undergraduate Research Program
Undergraduates majoring in geology or related fields take part in an eight-week summer internship program, in which qualified students get to work with a NASA-funded planetary scientist at the scientist’s home institution. In the past, sites have included NASA Ames Research Center, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the U.S.G.S. Astrogeology Branch in Flagstaff, Arizona, and many others. http://www.acsu.buffalo.edu/~tgregg/pggurp_homepage.html
NASA Undergraduate Student Research Program (USRP)
Offers undergraduates across the United States mentored internship experiences at NASA centers and research support facilities. Currently sponsored through the NASA Office of Education, this program is analogous in many ways to the NESSF program sponsored by the Science Mission Directorate.
http://www.epo.usra.edu/usrp/
Summer Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Program
A competitively selected program designed to support current sophomore and junior undergraduate students to work with scientists at the SETI Institute and at the nearby NASA Ames Research Center on projects spanning the field of astrobiology from microbiology to observational astronomy.
http://www.seti.org/reu/
The Lunar and Planetary Science Summer Intern Program
Undergraduates with at least 50 semester hours of credit to experience cutting-edge research working one-on-one with a scientist at the LPI or at the NASA Johnson Space Center on a research project of current interest in lunar and planetary science.
http://www.lpi.usra.edu/lpiintern/
Graduate Opportunities
NASA Earth and Space Science Fellowship (NESSF) Program
Supports graduate students in basic and applied research in Earth science and space science. Awards of $30,000 per year are made for up to three years. Information and application instructions can be found at http://solicitation.nasaprs.com/open by searching for NESSF.
NASA Graduate Student Researchers Program
The project offers competitive fellowships to U.S. citizens who are pursuing graduate degrees at the master and doctoral levels, at U.S. accredited colleges and universities in areas of science and engineering that support the NASA research and development mission. GSRP and other NASA Office of Education fellowship opportunities can be found via the NASA One Stop Shopping Initiative (OSSI) online application system at: http://intern.nasa.gov
NASA Harriett G. Jenkins Predoctoral Fellowship Project (JPFP)
This and other NASA Office of Education fellowship opportunities can be found via the NASA One Stop Shopping Initiative (OSSI) online application system at: http://intern.nasa.gov
NASA Space Technology Research Fellowships (NSTRF)
Open to U.S. citizens or permanent resident students who have applied to, been admitted to, or are already enrolled in, a full-time master’s or doctoral degree program at accredited U.S. universities. Information and application instructions can be found at: http://solicitation.nasaprs.com/open by searching for NSTRF.
The National Consortium for Graduate Degrees for Minorities in Engineering and Science, Inc., Fellowship
GEM assists underrepresented minority students in obtaining MS degrees in engineering and PhD degrees in engineering and the natural and physical sciences. http://www.gemfellowship.org/
Department of Defense (DoD) National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellow Program (NDSEG)
The NDSEG fellowship program is a joint program of the United States Army, Navy, and Air Force within the University Research Initiative (URI), designed to increase the number of U.S. citizens trained in science and engineering disciplines important to defense goals. http://www.onr.navy.mil/en/Education-Outreach/undergraduate-graduate/NDSEG-graduate-fellowship.aspx
Accredited Aerospace Degree Programs
(Courtesy: Council of Higher Education Accreditation)
Astronautical Engineering
| Capitol College | Laurel, Maryland | http://www.captechu.edu/academics /undergraduate-academics/bachelor-degree-programs/astronautical-engineering |
| Naval Postgraduate School | Monterey, California | http://www.nps.edu/Academics/Schools/GSEAS/ Departments/SpaceSystems/index.html |
| Purdue University | West Lafayette, Indiana | https://engineering.purdue.edu/AAE |
| Ohio State University | Columbus, Ohio | https://mae.osu.edu/aeronautical-and-astronautical-engineering-program |
| UCLA | Los Angeles, California | http://www.mae.ucla.edu |
| University of Washington | Seattle, Washington | https://www.aa.washington.edu/ |
Aerospace Engineering
| Air Force Institute of Technology | Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio | http://www.afit.edu |
| Arizona State | Tempe, Arizona | http://semte.engineering.asu.edu/aerospace-engineering/ |
| Auburn University | Auburn, Alabama | http://www.eng.auburn.edu/aero/ |
| Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo | San Luis Obispo, California | https://aero.calpoly.edu/ |
| Cal Poly, Pomona | Pomona, California | https://www.cpp.edu/~aro/ |
| Cal State, Long Beach | Long Beach, California | http://web.csulb.edu/colleges/coe/mae/ |
| Case Western Reserve | Cleveland, Ohio | http://engineering.case.edu/emae/ |
| Embry Riddle | Daytona Beach, Florida | http://www.erau.edu/ |
| Embry Riddle- Prescott | Prescott, Arizona | http://prescott.erau.edu/ |
| Florida Institute of Technology | Melbourne, Florida | http://coe.fit.edu/mae/ |
| Georgia Tech | Atlanta, Georgia | http://www.ae.gatech.edu |
| Illinois Institute of Technology | Chicago, Illinois | http://engineering.iit.edu/mmae |
| Iowa State University | Ames, Iowa | http://www.aere.iastate.edu/ |
| MIT | Cambridge, Massachusetts | http://aeroastro.mit.edu/ |
| Mississippi State University | Mississippi State, Mississippi | http://www.ae.msstate.edu/ |
| Missouri University of Science | Rolla, Missouri | http://mae.mst.edu/ |
| New Mexico State | Las Cruces, New Mexico | http://mae.nmsu.edu/ |
| NC State University | Raleigh, North Carolina | http://www.mae.ncsu.edu/ |
| Oklahoma State | Stillwater, Oklahoma | http://www.mae.okstate.edu/content/aerospace-osu |
| Penn State University | University Park, Pennsylvania | http://www.aero.psu.edu/ |
| Princeton University | Princeton, New Jersey | http://www.princeton.edu/mae/ |
| St. Louis University | St. Louis, Missouri | http://parks.slu.edu/departments/aerospace-mechanical-engineering/ |
| San Jose State | San Jose, California | https://ae.sjsu.edu/ |
| San Diego State | San Diego, California | http://aerospace.sdsu.edu/aerospaceengineering/ |
| SUNY Buffalo | Buffalo, New York | http://www.mae.buffalo.edu/ |
| Syracuse University | Syracuse, New York | http://eng-cs.syr.edu/our-departments/mechanical-and-aerospace-engineering/ |
| Texas A&M | College Station, Texas | http://engineering.tamu.edu/aerospace |
| University of Alabama | Tuscaloosa, Alabama | http://aem.eng.ua.edu/ |
| University of Alabama, Huntsville | Huntsville, Alabama | http://www.uah.edu/eng/departments/mae/ |
| University of Kansas | Lawrence, Kansas | http://ae.engr.ku.edu/ |
| Tuskegee University | Tuskegee, Alabama | http://www.tuskegee.edu/academics/colleges /ceps/aerospace_science.aspx |
| USAF Academy | Colorado Springs, Colorado | http://www.usafa.edu/df/dfan/aero/aero _major.cfm |
| US Naval Academy | Annapolis, Maryland | http://www.usna.edu/AeroDept/ |
| University of Arizona | Tucson, Arizona | http://ame.arizona.edu/ |
| UC Davis | Davis, California | http://mae.ucdavis.edu/ |
| UC Irvine | Irvine, California | http://mae.eng.uci.edu/ |
| UC Los Angeles | Los Angeles, California | http://www.mae.ucla.edu/ |
| UC San Diego | La Jolla, California | http://maeweb.ucsd.edu/ |
| University of Central Florida | Orlando, Florida | http://mae.ucf.edu/ |
| University of Cincinnati | Cincinnati, Ohio | http://ceas.uc.edu/aerospace.html |
| UC Boulder | Boulder, Colorado | http://www.colorado.edu/aerospace/ |
| University of Florida | Gainesville, Florida | http://www.mae.ufl.edu/ |
| University of Illinois at Urbana | Urbana, Illinois | http://aerospace.illinois.edu/ |
| University of Maryland | College Park, Maryland | http://www.aero.umd.edu/ |
| University of Miami | Coral Gables, Florida | http://www.mae.miami.edu /aerospace_engineering.php |
| University of Michigan | Ann Arbor, Michigan | http://www.engin.umich.edu/aero |
| University of Notre Dame | Notre Dame, Indiana | http://ame.nd.edu/ |
| University of Oklahoma | Norman, Oklahoma | http://www.ou.edu/coe/ame.html |
| University of Tennessee | Knoxville, Tennessee | http://mabe.utk.edu/ |
| University of Texas | Arlington, Texas | http://www.ae.utexas.edu/ |
| University of Virginia | Charlottesville Virginia | http://www.mae.virginia.edu/NewMAE/ curriculum/resources-for-undergraduates/ |
| University of Washington | Seattle, Washington | https://www.aa.washington.edu/ |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute | Blacksburg, Virginia | http://www.aoe.vt.edu/ |
| West Virginia University | Morgantown, West Virginia | http://www.mae.statler.wvu.edu/ |
| Wichita State | Wichita, Kansas | http://www.wichita.edu/ae |
| Worchester Polytechnic Institute | Worchester, Massachusetts | http://www.wpi.edu/academics/aero.html |
Aeronautical Engineering
| Clarkson | Potsdam, New York | http://www.clarkson.edu/mae/ |
| Daniel Webster College | Nashua, New Hampshire | http://www.dwc.edu/academics/programs/ engineering/undergrad/bs_ae.cfm |
| Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute | Troy, New York | http://mane.rpi.edu/ |
| Western Michigan | Kalamazoo, Michigan | http://wmich.edu/mae/ |
Remote Sensing Programs
| Arizona State University | Remote Sensing and Spatial Analysis | http://more.engineering.asu.edu/windlab/?page_id=24 |
| Boston University | Center for Remote Sensing | http://www.bu.edu/remotesensing/ |
| Cornell University | School of Civil and Environmental | http://www.cee.cornell.edu/ |
| Florida International University | GIS Center | http://gis.fiu.edu/ |
| George Mason University | Earth System and Geoinfo Science | https://cos.gmu.edu/about/research/#centers |
| Georgia Tech | School Earth and Atmospheric Sciences | http://www.eas.gatech.edu/ |
| MIT | Earth, Atmosphere, and Planetary Sciences | http://eapsweb.mit.edu/ |
| Naval Postgraduate School | Remote Sensing Center | http://www.nps.edu/rsc/ |
| Purdue University | Lab for Applications of Remote Sensing | http://www.lars.purdue.edu/ |
| Texas A&M | GIS Science and Remote Sensing | http://geography.tamu.edu/research/giscience-and-remote-sensing |
| University of Arizona | Remote Sensing and Spatial Analysis | http://ag.arizona.edu/oals/rssa/rssa.html |
| University of California Davis | Spatial Technologies and Remote Sensing | http://www.cstars.ucdavis.edu/ |
| University of Colorado at Boulder | Remote Sensing | http://www.colorado.edu/catalog/2012-13/content/remote-sensing |
| University of Miami | Remote Sensing Group | http://yyy.rsmas.miami.edu/groups/rrsl/ |
| University of Michigan | Geosciences and Remote Sensing | http://aoss.engin.umich.edu/pages/graduate/grs http://wwweb.eecs.umich.edu/RADLAB/content/remote-sensing |
| University of Minnesota | Remote Sensing and Geospatial Analysis Lab | http://rsl.gis.umn.edu/ |
| University of New Hampshire | Institute for Study of Earth, Oceans, and Space | http://www.eos.unh.edu/ |
| University of Rhode Island | Laboratory for Terrestrial Remote Sensing | http://www.ltrs.uri.edu/ |
| Washington University | Remote Sensing and Geospatial Analysis | http://depts.washington.edu/rsgal/ |
| Western Michigan University | Earth Sciences Remote Sensing | http://www.esrs.wmich.edu/ |
| Yale University | Center for Earth Observation | http://yceo.yale.edu/ |
Some Other Space-Focused Programs
| American Military University (online) | Space Studies | http://www.amu.apus.edu/academic/programs/list |
| American Public University (online) | Space Studies | http://www.apu.apus.edu/lp2/space-studies |
| International Space University | Space Studies | http://www.isunet.edu |
| McGill University, Montreal | Institute of Air and Space Law | http://www.mcgill.ca/iasl/institute-air-and-space-law |
| MIT | Man Vehicle Laboratory | http://mvl.mit.edu/ |
| MIT | Space Nanotechnology Lab | http://snl.mit.edu/ |
| MIT | Space Systems Lab | http://ssl.mit.edu/newsite/ |
| Rice University | Masters in Space Studies | http://www.profms.rice.edu/spacestudies.aspx?id=1003 |
| Stanford University | Aeronautics and Astronautics | http://aa.stanford.edu/ |
| University of Maryland | Space Systems Laboratory | http://ssl.umd.edu/ |
| University of Maryland | Space Power and Propulsion Lab | http://www.sppl.umd.edu/ |
| University of Mississippi | Remote Sensing, Air, and Space Law | http://www.spacelaw.olemiss.edu/ |
| University of North Dakota | Department of Space Studies | http://www.space.edu/ |
| UCLA | Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences | http://epss.ucla.edu/ |
| University of Texas at Austin | Center for Space Research | http://www.csr.utexas.edu/rs/ |
Top Graduate Schools for Astronomy
(Courtesy: 2014 U.S. News and World Report)
| California Institute of Technology | Pasadena, California | http://www.astro.caltech.edu/ |
| Columbia University | New York, New York | http://www.astro.columbia.edu/ |
| Cornell University | Cornell, New York | http://astro.cornell.edu/ |
| Harvard University | Cambridge, Massachusetts | http://astronomy.fas. harvard.edu/ |
| Johns Hopkins University | Baltimore, Maryland | http://physics-astronomy. jhu.edu/ |
| MIT | Cambridge, Massachusetts | http://web.mit.edu/astronomy/ |
| Pennsylvania State University | University Park, Pennsylvania | http://astro.psu.edu/ |
| Princeton University | Princeton, New Jersey | http://www.princeton.edu/astro/ |
| Stanford University | Stanford, California | http://web.stanford.edu/ dept/astro/ |
| UC Berkeley | Berkeley, California | http://astro.berkeley.edu/ |
| UC Santa Barbara | Santa Barbara, California | http://web.physics.ucsb.edu/ ~astrogroup/ |
| University of Chicago | Chicago, Illinois | http://astro.uchicago.edu/ |
| University of Maryland | College Park, Maryland | http://www.astro.umd.edu/ |
| University of Texas | Austin, Texas | http://www.as.utexas.edu/ |
| University of Wisconsin | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | http://www.astro.wisc.edu/ |
| Yale University | New Haven, Connecticut | http://astronomy.yale.edu/ |
A more in-depth list of schools offering astronomy programs can be found in Appendix C.
Other Sources of Education
Your education doesn’t end with college. Sometimes it is necessary to keep up-to-date with the latest technologies or a job change to a new field makes it necessary.
Advancing Your Career
• Determine your training needs and develop an education plan.
• Clarify how you’d like to gain new skills.
1–5 Day Training Courses
• Many are sponsored by associations or take place at conferences, so visit the later sections of this book to identify target groups and visit their website calendars.
• There are also a number of non-affiliated groups that offer training. One that offers a number of space-related courses is the Applied Technology Institute www.aticourses.com.