About

Welcome to the USC Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering!

Aerospace and mechanical engineers design and build unique, complex mechanical-optical-electronic (mechoptronic) systems, ranging in scale from the International Space Station (100 m) to microscale electrical power generators (< 0.001 m). During the last half-century, the applications of mechoptronic systems have expanded to near-Earth, planetary and interplanetary space. There has been a parallel inward extension to the ocean depths, deep underground and intricacies inside human bodies.

A broad range of engineering science education and research is critical to developing novel, complex mechoptronic systems. As a consequence, aerospace and mechanical engineers conduct extensive basic and applied research within and crossing their usual disciplinary boundaries, while also synthesizing research from many other disciplines such as biology and computer science.

At USC, faculty from the Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering (AME) have adopted several strategic themes to help guide the direction and enrich the content of our educational and research programs, at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. These can be found under Research Areas.

Descriptions of our educational programs can be accessed under Academics.

In addition, AME actively supports several student design-and-build competitions that include volunteers from all undergraduate years, along with graduate students and faculty mentors. Among these projects are: the AIAA Design/Build/Fly competition, the Formula SAE [internal combustion engine] and Formula SAE Electric race car competitions, and the  ASME Human Powered Vehicle Challenge. These and other student groups can be found under Current Students.

Also, a year-long senior projects laboratory course facilitates access to the AME faculty’s research thrusts. Moreover, a selected number of undergraduate Merit Research Scholars have an opportunity to participate in academic research through a program supported by the USC Viterbi School of Engineering.

During your visit to this site, I trust you will discover the enthusiasm our faculty, students and staff have for the disciplines of aerospace engineering and mechanical engineering, as well as the educational, vocational and research opportunities we offer our students.

Sincerely,

Paul D. Ronney
Chairman, Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering