<p>I'm hoping to find some information on the best programs for someone interested in propulsion engineering. At this point it seems likely that my son will have to attend UMD - CP for his undergrad but
what grad schools? Who has the best program and will a degree from UMCP
put him in a good position to get into a good graduate program?</p>
<p>UMD CP is a great engineering school. When you say propulsion engineering, do you mean rockets or cars? Either case, probably chemical engineering. UMD CP has an affiliation with Goddard Space Flight Center.</p>
<p>automotive engineering is generally a specialty within mechanical. Some schools have a aerospace/aeronautical engineering program.</p>
<p>The U of Cincinnati, right down the road from GE engines, has a Masters in Aerospace Engineering with a concentration in Propulsion Systems. I would imagine there would be a similar school near Pratt & Whitney in Connecticut</p>
<p>Penn State
PERC</a> Homepage</p>
<p>Purdue
<a href="https://engineering.purdue.edu/AAE/Research/Propulsion%5B/url%5D">https://engineering.purdue.edu/AAE/Research/Propulsion</a></p>
<p>Thanks for the replies everyone. My son's focus is on advanced propulsion systems for rockets (probably should have included that info from the start, but the blackberry keyboard makes me lazy).
I find i'm having trouble advising him regarding which undergraduate major to choose. UMD does have an undergrad degree in aerospace, but I wonder if it wouldn't be wiser to do physics for undergrad and
wait 'til grad school to do aerospace. I'm not even sure where to go to ask. Thanks for any and all help and advice.</p>
<p>I think rocket propulsion is a very specialized field. It typically involves graduate-level studies in computational fluid dynamcis, either in the mechanical engineering or aerospace departments. For undergraduate studies, I'd suggest sticking with mechanical engineering with electives taken in the areas of interest.</p>
<p>At Embry-Riddle[/url</a>], undergrad AE students choose to pursue a concentration in either Aeronautics or Astronautics starting [url=<a href="http://www.erau.edu/prescott/engineering/aed/bae/junior.html%5Djunior">http://www.erau.edu/prescott/engineering/aed/bae/junior.html]junior</a> year. Space propulsion is covered in the astronautics concentration senior</a> year, while turbine-based propulsion courses are taught under the aeronautics concentration.</p>
<p>Now that I've reread the OP, I see that info on undergrad programs doesn't answer the question. Perhaps my links will assist some other budding rocket scientist :) .</p>