Aerospace Engineering vs. Computer Science

<p>This is going to be lengthy (and I know that's exactly what you wanted when you clicked on this post), but thanks in advance to anyone who reads through this. ANY suggestions or insight is welcome, even if it's only addressing a small part of anything I've said here. However, also feel free to tackle the big picture, if you'd like. I'm currently a freshman at UT, and for my major, I sit "Undecided." Approaching my second semester, I'm supposed to apply for my major in February. As of right now, I have a huge split in my interests: Space/Flight and Computers.</p>

<p>On the space/flight hand:
- I've loved aircraft since I was about 5 years old, when my dad first took me out to launch a model rocket that we had built. This was something he took me out to do for many years following. I'm one of those people that have the "plane bug" and stare at a plane as it goes across the sky until its out of sight. I often don't get more excited than I do when I have the opportunity to be in an airport and fly off somewhere. Just being around it all gets me excited. Also, I've had several RC planes and helicopters just to satisfy my urges to fly. I've played numerous "flight simulator" games over the years: the Microsoft Flight Simulator series, Flanker 2.5, F/A-18 simulator, Mig Alley, etc. I even had the chance to take over and fly a real plane for a short period of time. ...a J3 Cub with floats on it. Besides in-atmospheric flight, I've also never been more captivated by anything than watching a rocket launch. Every time NASA (though not as often anymore) or SpaceX launches a vehicle, I watch the video several times over. Because of this, I know that I would love to be apart of the large teams of engineers that work everyday toward making living in space and becoming an interplanetary people a reality. I always think, if an advisor, friend, or anyone were to ask me of one example that represents my ultimate motivating dream, whether fictional or feasible in the near future or not, I would say it's the Iron Man suit. Granted, I know something like that is pretty far out, mainly for energy reasons, but I think it's the idea of unprecedented freedom and speed that makes it so intriguing.</p>

<p>On the "computers" hand:
- So, I think my interest in computers started when I found a game on the internet when I was about 10 or 11 years old. It's a game called ROBLOX, and it was originally developed with the intentions of allowing kids to design (using lego-esque building blocks) and develop their own games. Basically, when you sign up, they would give you your own blank "Workspace" that existed with a full-fledged physics engine. You could build ANYTHING you could think of, whether it was a mountainous landscape, a city, or a vehicle. And to make everything function, you used a scripting language called LUA, which sits on top of C++, to script or "program" everything that happens. You could do simple things, like make a brick that disappears when your character walks over it, as well as more complex things, like building a rocket ship that you get into and launch (which I did). When you're done creating your game, you could then publish it and play it with other players. The game was also very collaborative, in that many players would work together on projects. I played this game quite a bit until I was about 14, then school and other extracurricular activities started requiring more attention. Anyway... My point in sharing that is to show that I learned to program so that I could reach the end goal, which was to build a rocket in the game (and other things like planes, cars, and functioning cities with monorails and elevators). At this point, I started my freshman year in high school, which happened to be a dual credit school that was inside of a 2 year technical college. It was a beneficial program, in some respects. I was able to take a couple CAD (Computer Aided Design) classes, which I had wanted to do many years prior, and I also got to take a few computer-related and programming courses. I took Basic Drafting, Technical Drafting, then Microcomputer Systems Management, Programming Logic and Design, and Intro to C++. By my senior year, I had dabbled in many different areas, including computing, design, and even some business "management" courses, if you want to call them that. Anyway, I started taking a big interest in programming. I was fascinated with how much you can do with it, and where the world was going with it, technologically. I've done a ton of reading on stuff like Artificial Intelligence, Parallel Processing, Moore's Law and pending "doom" of silicon-driven processors, the advent of graphene computing or quantum computing as its replacement and how we may be able to map the human brain (every synapse and node) with such a powerful computer, and even looked into new advances in avionics. All of these things are extremely fascinating, and I feel like its the future of the world on so many levels. Computers and "computer science" in general has already started to shape many of the ways other fields do research. Many of the amazing advancements in physics, chemistry, biology (e.g. the human genome project), and all the field of engineering, are heavily aided by computers. I feel like it would almost be silly NOT to just go for Computer Science. Literally, everything... is... computers. Haha.</p>

<p>Conclusion:
- With ALL of that in mind, I still canNOT make a decision on which way to go. Although most people are going to advise against (and even though I try to advise myself against it), I have considered the possibility of an Aerospace Engineering/Computer Science double major. However, I wouldn't be able to pick any of the interesting electives in either major if I did that, and moreover, I would be spread too thin and wouldn't be able to focus on becoming the best that I can be in one of those fields alone. So with that aside, could someone give me some insight (even if its insight into myself; feel free to ask me questions) into the career possibilities, the possibility of crossing careers (for each major) down the road, and what is going to play a bigger role in the future, both in general and in each industry, respectively. Will I be more effective/employable in the space/aircraft industry pursuing Computer Science? Would it be best to come at the aerospace industry from that angle? My only regret then would be that I'd be missing out on all of the physics involved. Though, I really don't know which I would prefer more until I experience it, which is the majority of my dilemma. I've sat and programmed for a while, and it CAN be fun (leaving me feeling like I accomplished something and contributed to making a process much easier/automated for others), but I've not had the opportunity to apply physics on paper or using MATLAB - such as using thermodynamics to calculate heat transfer in an engine or using differential equations and statics to determine the stresses on parts of the plane.</p>

<p>What gets me is that I've sat and spent hours a day since freshman year in high school reading about career prospects, possible jobs at companies (Apple, Lockheed Martin, SpaceX, NASA, Google, Facebook, Raytheon, etc.), economic value in certain engineering majors, where the economy is going, where industries are going, and how new technologies are going to change the playing field for each industry/careers, yet all of that information never seems to solidify my TRUE interests. ...or it never helps me find them for that matter. Sadly, I've let it consume me so much, that it's started to keep me up late at night and effects how focused I am in school. I can't get away from reading article after article, forum post after forum post. I feel like I need a clear view of the end goal to focus! I feel like I need to know where I'm going and what my true interest are. I did ask myself one day... During my senior year in college, which companies would I like to be able to apply for, even if I might not actually get that job, and I would say that for each field, Aerospace Engineering and Computer Science, I would love to work at either SpaceX or Google, respectively. Those would be dream jobs of mine. And of course, like many other young students and dreamers, I have entrepreneurial goals as well (including some ideas I've already thought of), if not just managerial goals, but I don't think I need to bring those things up. ...although, those ideas influence my interests as well.</p>

<p>Again, thanks to anyone who takes the time to read this lengthy post. If you have ANY thoughts on this, I'd gladly appreciate your input. If you have know how to address anything here, then at least a conversation about the respective fields to spark my interests would help. Haha. Also, I hope everyone has had a great Christmas!</p>

<ul>
<li>Kaelin D. Hooper</li>
</ul>

<p>I’d suggest you go for Mechanical Engineering. It’s clear that you’re more interested in working in the Aero industry. Mech lets you do everything Aeros do (all of the fundamentals are the same), but Mech job prospects are more stable. There are a lot of subsects of Mech that are programming heavy, and you might want to take some CS electives if that interests you.
Other than that, just realize the economy changes unpredictably and that going after “hot” fields will get you nowhere. A degree should offer a degree of stability, because the market sure as hell will not.</p>

<p>Actually, I almost put “Mechanical Engineering” instead of “Aerospace Engineering” when making this thread. You’re right, it is definitely much more broad. I’d opt for that instead. Also, I definitely feel more drawn towards aerospace. However, if I choose aerospace, I still can’t decide if I’d rather be designing the engine or some other physical part of the aircraft (work on propulsion?) or contribute to the avionics and the software that makes the entire launch possible. Hm. If I could do Mechanical Engineering and somehow still take upper-level CS courses, that would be awesome. I’d be most interested in AI. And that’s true, I probably shouldn’t pursue fields just because they’re “hot.” Though, I don’t see computers going away at any point in the future, and I chose those two fields based on interest.</p>

<p>Tangential questions… Should I maybe consider a degree in Electrical Engineering? Maybe that way I could get an even split between physics and computing. Maybe then I could go into solid state electronics and maybe even take a class on quantum theory electronics (though, that might not really help me with my career in this day and age, unless quantum computers start popping up soon). Also, when comparing an engineering degree to CS, I tend to think that engineering holds more weight, though it seems like CS allows for a much broader range of opportunities right now. Am I right in thinking this? …I am in NO way saying CS is easier. I think they’re both equally hard. I don’t think Discrete Math is necessarily any easier than Diff. Eq. and Thermo. Lol.</p>

<p>You can totally take high level CS courses with MechE as electives.
I’d suggest Mech over Aero because Mech can basically do every job Aero can do and then a few others.</p>

<p>Well, I think I’ll look into doing that then. It sounds like it might would fit for what I want. Thanks for the suggestions!</p>

<p>Any other ideas?</p>

<p>Mechanical with a minor in CS. It would work well in aerospace as well as any other field (so you’ll have a much broader application in case you find a company you love that doesn’t take aerspace engineers). Also, I don’t know about your college, but the ME courses at my college offer a lot of classes like systems, aircraft stuff, design, jet propulsion, etc, so I would look into your catalog as well.</p>

I also play ROBLOX as well! Over the years I’ve learned how to blueprint, program, graphic design, solid model, ect. They’ve updated their physics engine dramatically with the addition of adding newer tools to experiment with. What’s more, ROBLOX allowed me to have the skills to work at NASA for a week through a selective program (VASTS). I even had the chance of having a rocket simulation I created on ROBLOX to be put on NASA TV! ROBLOX should be initial step for children who are interested in STEM.