Special Features

Laboratory Facilities

Including a 3-by-4 foot closed-circuit low-speed wind tunnel equipped with a six-component load cell; a 6-inch square blowdown supersonic wind tunnel capable of operating at mach numbers as high as 4.5; a modern data acquisition and processing system that can also be used to control experiments; graphics computers and terminals for design and research problems; and a water tunnel for flow studies.

New equipment and facilities continually being added to the College to keep abreast of current technological developments and to maintain its position of excellence in The California State University System.

Special Study Possibilities

Giving students (individually and in teams) the opportunity to work with faculty members on a variety of projects, such as wind and water tunnel testing of vehicles (aircraft, cars, yachts, etc.), aerodynamics research, structural analysis, aeroacoustics, and composite structures. For example, aerospace engineering students performed the aerodynamic analysis on the SDSU solar-powered Suntrakker. In addition, our students have recently placed first in both the international Design, Build and Fly team competition and the AIAA National Undergraduate Student Paper competition.

MESA Engineering Program

The MESA Engineering Program (MEP) provides assistance to ensure student success. The development of academic excellence is fostered through a coordinated program of advising, mentoring, tutoring, group study, and many other support services. In addition, the College of Engineering sponsors the MESA (Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement) Pre-College Program, which operates in many local high schools to encourage entrance into math-based careers. For additional information, please contact MEP at (619) 594-0232.

Student Organizations

Student organizations include Sigma Gamma Tau, the aerospace engineering honor society, a very active chapter of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Many other active student chapters of professional and honorary societies, each with one or more faculty advisors, are housed within the College of Engineering to support and enhance various academic endeavors. The student chapters include: National Society of Black Engineers; Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers; and Society of Women Engineers.