Beginning in the fall of 2010, Parks College of Engineering, Aviation & Technology will be offering a Master of Science degree in Engineering and a Master of Science degree in Aviation. Students will not only be able to specialize in a specific field of engineering, but be able to perform research, as well.

“Graduate programs are becoming more of a standard in engineering education,” William Thacker, head of the Physics Department, said. “It will help boost research at Parks.”
Krishnaswamy Ravindra, associate dean of Parks College, echoed these sentiments, saying that, in certain types of engineering, “an undergraduate degree is not good enough.”
“The stimulus comes from both industry and the professional societies,” Ravindra said.

He also said that some of the rationale behind starting this program is that undergraduate degrees in engineering and aviation should have a broader base in the basic sciences, fundamental engineering and liberal arts.

To encourage the research aspect, a new program called the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience will start. Students selected to participate will work closely on research projects with Parks professors. For this summer, more than 70 students applied for 15 spots. Forty-eight research topics were also proposed by faculty for the program, demonstrating a strong interest in engineering and aviation research in the Parks community.

“This is to serve as a pipeline to the graduate program,” Ravindra said.
Although fifth-year senior Dan Ironside will not be participating in SURE, he said that he is interested in this new Master of Science program for its research component. Ironside has been conducting research with Goetz Bramesfeld, in the aerospace engineering and mechanical engineering department. The two have been studying the “interaction of aerodynamics and structural dynamics of aircraft.”

“I’ve always considered getting a Master’s Degree,” Ironside said.

He also said that a program at SLU would make it easier for him to continue his research instead of going to another institution.

“It’s necessary to be competitive in programs around the country,” Ironside said. “A good research program attracts undergraduates as well as graduate students.”

“Parks College needs the Master’s program in order to be competitive with other institutions and to serve student needs,” Ravindra said. “The current high-quality undergraduate programs combined with a new graduate program will elevate Parks College to a new level with more and better opportunities for both students and faculty.”
Those interested in the program can find information at http://parks.slu.edu/current-students/sure.