Graduate Student Handbook
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Chapter 1
General Information
This Handbook describes the graduate programs of the Aerospace Engineering Department at Old Dominion University (ODU). These programs are Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Master of Science (M.S.) and Master of Engineering (M.E.) degrees in Aerospace Engineering and in Engineering Mechanics and a Master of Engineering in Experimental Methods (MEXM). As a graduate student here, you are a vital part of our Department and we feel that it is important that you thoroughly understand the relationship between you and your Department. For additional information, or to answer any specific questions, please consult the Graduate Program Director (GPD), your Faculty Advisor, the Department Chair, and the University Catalog. This Handbook specifies and describes the Departmental, College and University requirements; however, the University Catalog is the authoritative source for University policy.
The Aerospace Engineering (AE) Department is closely associated with area industries, consulting firms, government agencies, and research laboratories, principally NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton. This association adds a special degree of relevance to the curricula and creates a stimulating environment for the pursuit of graduate studies.
Graduate engineering programs in the Aerospace Engineering Department are designed to serve full-time and part-time graduate students. Many graduate engineering courses are offered at times and locations convenient to those with full-time employment. For instance, the Department offers many courses at the ODU Peninsula Graduate Center (PGC), particularly convenient for personnel from NASA Langley Research Center, Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (formerly CEBAF), Newport News Shipbuilding, and other industrial organizations on the Peninsula. This center serves as the prime receiving site for the graduate TV courses taught on the main campus. In addition, many classes are televised through a local network by the Virginia Consortium of Engineering and Science Universities (VCES), located adjacent to the Peninsula Graduate Center, on Butler Farm Road in Hampton.
1.1 The University
Old Dominion University is an accredited, state-supported, comprehensive institution whose mission is to serve residents of Hampton Roads, the state of Virginia, the United States, and the rest of the world. The University was founded in 1930 as the Norfolk Division of The College of William and Mary and became an independent institution in 1962. The first engineering Ph.D. was awarded in 1974. Since that time, the University has experienced rapid growth in size and quality of its programs, particularly within the College of Engineering. This was due in large part to the support and cooperation of NASA Langley Research Center. Despite its relative youth, Old Dominion University has established an outstanding national and international reputation in many fields.
The main campus of Old Dominion University is located in Norfolk, Virginia, an area that is recognized as a commercial and cultural crossroads. The southeastern Virginia region, usually referred to as Hampton Roads, has a total population exceeding one million people. It is the home of the world's largest natural harbor and the world's largest naval installation. The region is rich in history, events, and attractions. Virginia Beach is approximately one-half hour from the main campus, and Colonial Williamsburg is about an hour to the north. Washington D.C. is only a four-hour trip by car or train.
In support of its mission, the University encourages a healthy interaction between students of diverse backgrounds. The University's Office of International Student/Faculty Services assists students from various countries in adjusting to a new culture and to university life. The office provides information on such matters as housing and immigration procedures, and hosts a series of multicultural events, such as cross-cultural workshops.
Old Dominion University is an affirmative action, equal opportunity institution and does not discriminate in admissions, employment, or any other activity on the basis of race, sex, color, age, religion, national origin, veteran status, or handicap.
1.2 The College
The Frank Batten College of Engineering and Technology comprises six separate departments, Aerospace Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Engineering Management, Engineering Technology, and Mechanical Engineering. The Engineering Technology program is an undergraduate program only, while the Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Management programs are graduate programs only. There are approximately 80 faculty members in these six departments. Of these 80, six have been named as eminent scholars, and of these six, four are in the Aerospace Engineering Department. Student enrollments for the entire College are around 1,500 undergraduate students and around 400 graduate students.
1.3 The Department
The Department of Aerospace Engineering was formed on July 1, 1993, with the intention of further developing existing strengths in the areas of Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics at ODU. The Department emphasizes excellence in graduate instruction and research in Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics and also administers the Aerospace Option for senior undergraduates in the Mechanical Engineering Department.
The initial regular faculty complement of 7 has quickly increased to 11, with additional faculty expected to be added in the near future. A complement of 5-10 visiting faculty, research faculty, and research associates is also maintained. The Department has very close links with NASA Langley Research Center, with all of the faculty and most of the graduate students having the opportunity to work in support of NASA-sponsored research programs. Additional sponsoring agencies include the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, the Universities Space Research Association, the National Science Foundation, and several aerospace and high technology companies. Around $1.1 million is generated annually in sponsored research projects.