MECH 498 – Introduction to Aerospace Propulsion

Undergraduate elective, California State University, Chico, Department of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering and Advanced Manufacturing, 2026

A new technical elective developed to connect mechanical engineering students with the aerospace industry. Drawing on my background in aerospace engineering, the course introduces the fundamentals of jet propulsion while demonstrating how core mechanical engineering concepts are applied to real aerospace systems.

Topics Covered

  • Thermodynamic cycle analysis for jet engines
  • Turbojets, turbofans, and ramjets
  • Rocket propulsion: thrust, specific impulse, staging
  • Nozzle design and performance
  • Combustion fundamentals
  • Propulsion system design and selection

Course Details

  • Units: 3
  • First offered: Fall 2026
  • Prerequisites: MECH 332 (Thermodynamics), CIVL 321 (Fluid Mechanics)
  • Textbook: Hill and Peterson, Mechanics and Thermodynamics of Propulsion, 2nd ed.