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Dec 05, 2025
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2025-2026 University Catalog
Space Engineering Certificate
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About the Certificate
Students will acquire fundamentals and principles in engineering topics that are important in the broad and multi-disciplinary fields of space exploration, space commerce, space research, or similar. A choice of topical focus is made by the student. The Certificate documents the student’s background in these aerospace topics.
Requirements for the Certificate (16 credits)
- Of the 16 credits, 9 or more must be from outside of the School of the student’s primary BS degree.
- If a course below is listed in more than one topic, that course can be counted in either the Primary or Secondary topic as needed by a student but not in both topics.
Space Engineering Seminar (1 credit)
Primary Space Industry (9 credits)
A minimum of 9 credits in a Primary Space Industry topic from the list below; see supplemental information. (Courses cannot be counted for Primary and Secondary Space Industry area)
Habitat Design including ISRU
Habitat Life Support/Thermal
Habitat Robotic Construction
Secondary Space Industry (3 credits)
(Courses cannot be counted for Primary and Secondary Space Industry area) Communications and Cybersecurity in Space
Science Missions and Space as a Laboratory
Space Commerce and Policy
In-Space Manufacturing, Assembly, Debris Management
Required Practical Aerospace Experience (0-3 credits)
Examples of these practical experiences include: - Campus-based research experience in aerospace topic or topics;
- Successful completion of design-build-test project course in an aerospace topic. Credits earned for this aerospace design-build-test course are counted towards the required 16 credits.
- Relevant project-based experience through a Purdue student organization (e.g., Purdue Space Program) or sponsored competition (e.g., NASA Lunabotics);
- Off-campus (including paid) internship or co-op rotation in an aerospace topic
- If the Practical Experience provides 0 credit, then a 3 credit course must be taken from any Space Industry area to complete the 16 credits required for the certificate.
Learning Outcomes
Students will have gained some experience in and good appreciation for the multi-disciplinary nature of the field of aerospace. Whether a student seeks a career related to space exploration, space science, rocket propulsion, space commerce, space communications, space life support systems, and additional topics in this vast field, the student will pursue a structured path through aerospace-related courses and an experiential educational opportunity to become better suited for a career in the part of aerospace that interests them the most.
Pre-Requisite Information
For pre-requisite information, log in to mypurdue.purdue.edu and click here. Disclaimer
The student is ultimately responsible for knowing and completing all degree requirements. Consultation with an advisor may result in an altered plan customized for an individual student. The myPurduePlan powered by DegreeWorks is the knowledge source for specific requirements and completion. Comparative information about Purdue University and other U.S. educational institutions is also available through the College Navigator tool, provided by the National Center for Education Statistics, and through the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. |
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