The MAE Department offers two plans leading to the MSE degree for the Mechanical Engineering option. These are designated: Plan I (Thesis), Plan II (Non-thesis) The following sections describe the requirements for each of these options. For both options, the majority of coursework, not including MAE 699, must be from MAE. With prior approval, up to 12 semester hours of 500 level courses may be taken in fulfillment of the Basic and specific program requirements. The mission of the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering is to provide undergraduate and graduate education, research, and public service in the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering disciplines and to support the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering needs of Huntsville, the State of Alabama, the region, our nation, and the international community. The research activities span the fields of Thermo-Fluids, Solid Mechanics, and Propulsion. In addition to the traditional graduate programs in MAE, we have specialty graduate programs in Rotorcraft System Engineering and Missile Systems Engineering that fill the needs of local government agencies and expand our graduate offerings.