<p>Is this possible or would there be too much gaps to fill in that would make it very cumbersome?</p>
<p>Physics plays a huge part in aerospace engineering so there would not be any huge gaps. My AP Physics teacher did physics undergrad and worked as a naval engineer so it is possible.</p>
<p>I think it depends on your area of study in aerospace and what you studied in physics. Physics is a good background for all engineering, but physics lacks a lot of the actual engineering that AE's would do. </p>
<p>If your physics background was in thermodynamics, you would be decently prepared if that is the area you wanted to study within aerospace. If your physics focus was in mechanics, then that would also be beneficial for certain fields. However, fields like E&M and QT/QM have almost no use in aerospace (although could be perfect if you wanted to work with ion propulsion engines in spacecraft). </p>
<p>But generally, I would disagree with the previous poster about it being an easy transition. For the main disciplines within aerospace engineering: aerodynamics, structural mechanics, flight mechanics and controls, propulsion, performance, and design, I fail to see the "fit" with a classical physics degree. </p>
<p>With that said, a well qualified student with a strong math and physics background could make the jump to any field with the right motivation. When applying to grad school, you will just have to convince the admissions committee that you have what it takes to do relevant research. The main problem will be that you will be competing with people who have a much stronger aerospace background than you, so you will have to show them why you would be a better candidate. The official answer is that "students must show evidence of preparation in their chosen field sufficient to ensure profitable graduate study" (from Georgia Tech) or U Michigan's requirement that the student have "solid undergraduate preparation in mathematics and engineering."</p>
<p>Your main obstacle will be ABET certification. A lot of grad schools will force you to meet the undergrad ABET requirements if they accept you into a grad degree program in which you do not have a very closely related undergrad degree in. The net result is that you'll spend longer getting the graduate degree because you'll be taking undergrad classes so that you can meet your prerequisites for grad classes. What you need to ask yourself is there any advantage in the route you have chosen for yourself.</p>
<p>I think the gaps between AE and physics are significant enough that you would have to at least worry about even being considered for aerospace programs at the graduate level. If the physics curriculum at your school is anything like the one at my school, you really aren't prepared at all for graduate work in engineering after finishing a physics degree. Physics (the major) is much more theoretical in nature so you miss a lot of the applicable physics that is seen in engineering. You won't be taking aerospace structures, propulsion, and fluid dynamics as a physics major. So unless you can somehow fit things like that into your curriculum I think it could be difficult. </p>
<p>It certainly isn't impossible though. I tend to agree with sky that if you concentrate on something AE related the gaps that you would have to cross would be reduced.</p>
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Your main obstacle will be ABET certification. A lot of grad schools will force you to meet the undergrad ABET requirements if they accept you into a grad degree program in which you do not have a very closely related undergrad degree in.
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<p>I know that the aero/astro grad program at MIT does not require its grad students to meet undergrad ABET requirements. Neither do Stanford or Caltech. These are widely acknowledged to be the top 3 aero grad programs. So maybe it would help the readers if you could name those programs that actually require such a thing?</p>
<p>every professor i've talked to about it assured me that you can definitely study physics as an undergraduate and either work as an engineer or go to grad school for engineering...</p>
<p>You definately can. In general I'd say engineering schools have a lot of respect for a physics major. Don't worry about whatever that guy said about ABET...I saw several physics and math majors jump into graduate school in engineering. Heck, there are several professors at Purdue who teach engineering but actually have physics PhDs.</p>
<p>It all depends on the field you are going into in grad school. Is it possible that they would require a prep class or two? Sure. But in many cases (especially for a physics major) you can jump right in.</p>