The Center for Aerospace Sciences
John D. Odegard, Dean
MISSION AND HISTORY
The principal mission of the Center for Aerospace Sciences is to preserve, create, and
disseminate knowledge and to
demonstrate the principled use of knowledge for and about aerospace, meteorology, and
computer science. In consort with
other units of the University of North Dakota, it is committed to providing a comprehensive, high
quality, relevant
education for students preparing for careers in these fields.
Always at the forefront of technology, the Center has earned national acclaim for its
achievements in collegiate
aviation education and atmospheric research. In just a few years, the Center has received a steady
stream of
multi-million dollar research contracts and attracted students from every state and at least a
dozen foreign countries.
The aviation program was founded in 1968 as an academic department within the College of
Business and Public
Administration. It offered the nation's first four-year degree that combined an undergraduate
business degree with an
in-depth aviation education and professional flight training. Since then, new degree options and
research programs
emerged at a rapid pace and, in 1982, the Department of Aviation became the Center for
Aerospace Sciences, now a
degree-granting college within the University.
In 1992, the Center's aviation degree programs became the first in the nation accredited by the
Council on Aviation
Accreditation.
SCOPE
The college is comprised of four academic departments and five major research and support
organizations. The Aviation
Department offers undergraduate degrees in aerospace fields including flight, air traffic control,
aviation business and
management, and aviation education. With its roots in research, the Atmospheric Sciences
Department's undergraduate
program offers students unique opportunities to participate in funded research using the
department's Digital Doppler
radar, a customized Cessna Citation II research jet, and in operational forecasting enterprises.
The graduate program in
Space Studies offers an interdisciplinary approach to understanding our activities space by taking
a look at the broad
area of activities beyond Earth's atmosphere and the use of extraterrestrial resources in space
development. In addition
to presenting the current and future technology needs, the program examines the social, political,
economic, and legal
issues of this new human experience. Computers are transforming the aerospace industry. To
meet this challenge, the
Department of Computer Science became a part of the Center in 1982 offering undergraduate
and Master's degrees.
To facilitate its unique mix of activities, the Center has formed five major support organizations.
The Scientific
Computing Center supports the high performance computing needs of the college for research,
academic, and administrative
functions, operating a variety of mainframe and mini-computers, and a Cray supercomputer.
Working in consort, the
Center's Atmospheric Sciences Department, Space Studies Department, and Scientific
Computing Center engage in
multi-disciplinary research as the Earth System Science Institute to better understand the earthÕs
complex environment
and provide practical tools for agriculture generated from this research. The college's Regional
Weather Information
Center houses a world class forecasting and weather analysis center for agricultural, aviation,
transportation,
education, research, and broadcast weather forecasting and nowcasting utilizing a vanguard
approach to data gathering,
storage, and analysis 24 hours a day. The Center for Aerospace Sciences is the home of a unique
multimedia production
facility called the AeroSpace Network. It supports distance learning activities via satellite and
internet, develops
state-of-the art multimedia classroom presentation tools for faculty, and develops
computer-based instructional
materials to aid student learning. UND Flight Operations at the Grand Forks International
Airport supports the flight
training component of the Center's aviation programs operating a fleet of more than 100 aircraft
and simulators.
FACILITIES
The state-of-the-art aerospace facilities, built largely with grants from the Federal Aviation
Administration, are
located on the western edge of campus. The four-building complex houses some of the finest
classrooms and specialized
laboratories available on any college campus today. Among its many features are advanced flight
simulators, cockpit
procedure trainers, a high altitude chamber for aerospace physiology training, a unique air traffic
control simulation
lab, weather forecasting facilities with satellite downlink, sophisticated computing labs, and the
Arthur C. Anderson
Atmospherium-- a computerized planetarium and multi-media instructional theater.
The Center's computer facilities have developed into one of the most advanced technical and
scientific computer systems
in the nation. It has achieved a national reputation for the processing and analysis of digital radar
data and cloud
physics data collected during research flights. The fully integrated systems with advanced
networking provide a wide
range of computer support for academic, research, government, and industry programs. The
facilities are linked by fiber
optics to 20,000 square feet of space dedicated to computer studies.
At Mark Andrews International Airport, the Center operates a modern flight training facility with
a fleet of 86 aircraft
including jets, turboprops and helicopters. Aviation students fly more than 90,000 flight hours in
pursuit of their
undergraduate aviation degrees. A new five-story office building with deli/cafeteria and two new
hangars are among the
recent additions to the newly expanded facility. Two new FAA facilities - a 90-foot air traffic
control tower and an
automated flight service station - are located within a short walking distance. A high-speed fiber
optic link provides
access to the Center's digital computer systems for dispatching, billing, student records, and
weather data. A shuttle
bus is available to transport students to and from the campus and flight operations.
ADMISSION
To be eligible for admission to programs within the Center for Aerospace Sciences, the student
must have completed at
least twenty-four hours of credit and must have earned a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA)
of 2.50.
DEGREES AND REQUIREMENTS
FOR GRADUATION
The Degree of Bachelor of Science in Aeronautics or Bachelor of Science in Atmospheric
Sciences is conferred upon a
student who successfully fulfills the following requirements:
1. Complete the University's General Education Requirements (see pages 27-30)
2. Earn a minimum Grade Point Average of 2.50 in all courses taken. (Note: transfer
students must not only
earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50, but must also earn a minimum 2.50 average in work
completed at the University of
North Dakota).
3. Complete the curriculum for the major as outlined in the departmental listings.
4. Make formal application to the Registrar for the degree sought within four weeks of the
beginning of the
semester of expected graduation.
The Department of Aviation and the College of Business and Public Administration also award
the degree of Bachelor of
Business Administration with major in Aviation Management or Airport Management upon
completion of curriculum outlined
under specific departmental listings on page 62-68.
The Department of Computer Science and the College of Arts and Sciences award the degree of
Bachelor of Science with
major in Computer Science upon completion of curriculum outlined on pages 84-85. A minor in
Computer Science may also be
completed.
The Department of Space Studies offers a minor in space studies to introduce students to the
variety of space projects
and issues that will affect their careers and lifestyles in the coming decades. At other universities,
it is rare to
find courses at the undergraduate level dealing with such topics as space mission design, life
support systems, space
commercialization, and space law.
OTHER PROGRAMS
Cooperative Education. The Center encourages its students to gain practical on-the-job
experience in their chosen field
prior to graduation. Cooperative Education experiences allow students to secure salaried,
career-related work
experiences under the supervision of both a sponsoring employer and the appropriate academic
department, while at the
same time receiving academic credit.
Weather Modification Pilot Training. This one-of-a-kind cooperative education is supported by
the U.S. Bureau of
Reclamation. Classes are offered in ground and air cloud seeding technology taught by
nationally-respected cloud
physicists and meteorologists. Students selected to fly as weather modification pilots for the
program must have a
commercial certificate with instrument and multi-engine ratings.
Scholarships. An extensive scholarship program is available to recognize and reward high
achievers in aviation,
meteorology, and computer science. These scholarships are donated by numerous private
individuals and companies who
support the Center's commitment to excellence.
Youth Programs. Special aviation programs are offered to young people during the summer
months. The Epoch Pilot Program,
available to high school juniors, makes it possible to earn a private pilot certificate for college
credit during the
University's summer session. The Aerospace Camp offers a ten-day summer program to
introduce the excitement and
challenge of aerospace to 8th, 9th, and 10th graders. Also, in conjunction with the FAA, the
Center sponsors a 4-day
Aviation Career Education Academy for North Dakota high school students.
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
Flying Team. The UND Flying Team has held the National Intercollegiate Flying Association
national championship title
and the judges' trophy for best overall school for ten of the last twelve years - 1985, 1986, 1987,
1988, 1989, 1990,
1991, 1994, 1995, and 1996. Students chosen for the 12-member team participate in a rigorous
training program and take
part in regional and national competitive flying events oriented toward increasing piloting skills.
Student Aviation Advisory Council. This six-member student advisory council is appointed by
their peers to act as a
liaison between students and aviation faculty. The group also sponsors monthly safety seminars
and recognizes a student-
and instructor-of-the-month.
Student Aviation Management Association. This organization, founded in 1975, has the honor of
having been recognized as
the first student chapter of the American Association of Airport Executives in 1983. Among its
many professional
development activities, SAMA hosts an annual seminar featuring aviation professionals from
across the nation and Canada.
Alpha Eta Rho. The Delta Chapter of Alpha Eta Rho, an international aviation fraternity, stresses
closer ties between
students and the industry through education. Efforts to achieve this goal include providing free
tutoring and awarding
annual scholarships to aviation students. The group also sponsors the annual Parents' Day, an
opportunity for students
to share the excitement of their education with parents.
The UND chapter of Ninety-Nines, the international organization for women pilots, provides
opportunities for women
students to learn more about their chosen profession and participate in a variety of
aviation-related activities.
Workshops and guest speakers are arranged throughout the year to help prepare students for the
job market.
Wilderness Pilots Association. Floatplane enthusiasts have their own special group to promote a
better understanding of
air safety as it relates to flying into remote areas. Activities include an annual fly-in, field trips, a
four-day
wilderness survival program, and first aid courses.
Student Air Traffic Control Association provides opportunities for students interested in the
fast-paced career of
controlling air traffic. This group is involved with policies and procedures affecting their
program, and also provides
a forum for hiring information and job opportunities.
Association for Computing Machinery. As the student branch of the National Association for
Computing Machinery, this
organization sponsors such events as computer programming contests, computer demonstrations,
and tutorial programs.
Weekly meetings with guest speakers and field trips provide valuable insight into the computer
industry.
American Meteorological Society. The Lake Agassiz Student Chapter of the American
Meteorological Society seeks to
promote advancement and understanding of meteorology. This effort includes sponsoring
community awareness seminars on
severe weather and natural hazards. Other group activities include monthly meetings with guest
speakers and field trips
to weather services in Winnipeg and Minneapolis.
SERVICE
Service to the University, the community and the aerospace industry is a vital part of the Center's
mission. This
commitment is typified by such activities as hosting aerospace education workshops, conducting
airport management
seminars, and sponsoring pilot/instructor refresher courses.
The Center also provides an air transportation service to fly faculty, staff, administrators, and
students safely and
efficiently on University business. A Cessna Citation and a variety of single-engine and
multi-engine aircraft are
available for this purpose. Students who have their commercial/instrument rating may fly as
co-pilots.
During times of severe weather, atmospheric sciences faculty and their student assistants staff the
Center's Severe
Weather Analysis Center around-the-clock to provide timely weather information to the general
public. This work,
conducted in cooperation with city emergency crews, is provided on a volunteer basis.