Objectives & Outcomes

The MIT Aeronautics and Astronautics Department educational program, and its objectives and outcomes, are based on the CDIO (Conceive-Design-Implement-Operate) system and philosophy, created at MIT and now implemented at universities throughout the world. The mission, goals, objectives, and outcomes, all are CDIO-based.

Department Mission

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics prepares engineers for success and leadership in the conception, design, implementation, and operation of aerospace and related engineering systems.

Department Program Goals

The goal of the programs in Aero-Astro is to:

educate students to master a deep working knowledge of technical fundamentals
educate engineers to lead in the creation and operation of new products and systems
educate future researchers to understand the importance and strategic value of their work

Program Objectives

The Aero-Astro program objectives are to:

develop a deep working knowledge of technical fundamentals
develop a refined ability to discover knowledge, solve problems, think about systems, and master other personal and professional attributes
develop an advanced ability to communicate and work in multidisciplinary teams
develop skills to conceive, design, implement, and operate systems in an enterprise and societal context

Program Outcomes

The above four program educational objectives map to 16 program outcomes. The 16 program outcomes are listed below as second-levels of the four objectives.

1. Develop a working knowledge of technical fundamentals.

1.1 Demonstrate a capacity to use the principles of the underlying sciences of mathematics, physics, chemistry, and biology.

1.2 Apply the principles of core engineering fundamentals in fluid mechanics, solid mechanics and materials, dynamics, signals and systems, thermodynamics, control, computers and computation.

1.3 Demonstrate deep working knowledge of professional engineering in aerodynamics, structural mechanics, structures and materials, jet and rocket propulsion, flight and advanced aerospace dynamics, computational techniques, estimation and navigation, human and supervisory control, digital communication, software engineering, autonomy, and digital circuits and systems.

2. Develop a refined ability to discover knowledge, solve problems, think about systems, and master other personal and professional attributes.

2.1 Analyze and solve engineering problems.

2.2 Conduct inquiry and experimentation in engineering problems.

2.3 Think holistically and systemically.

2.4 Master personal skills that contribute to successful engineering practice: initiative, flexibility, creativity, curiosity, and time management.

2.5 Master professional skills that contribute to successful engineering practice: professional ethics, integrity, currency in the field, career planning.

3. Develop an advanced ability to communicate and work in multidisciplinary teams

3.1 Lead and work in teams.

3.2 Communicate effectively in writing, in electronic form, in graphic media, and in oral presentations.

4. Develop skills to conceive, design, implement, and operate systems in an enterprise and societal context.

4.1 Recognize the importance of the societal context in engineering practice.

4.2 Appreciate different enterprise cultures and work successfully in organizations.

4.3 Conceive engineering systems including setting requirements, defining functions, modeling, and managing projects.

4.4 Design complex systems.

4.5 Implement hardware and software processes and manage implementation procedures.

4.6 Operate complex systems and processes and manage operations.