Aeronautical Engineering at Daniel Webster College

Today, the Professor is making the easy, hour-long drive from Boston to Nashua, New Hampshire, to visit Daniel Webster College’s Aeronautical Engineering program, where students learn to analyze, design, develop, modify, manufacture, and implement aircraft and spacecraft as they work toward a Bachelor of Science degree.

Before dropping by the department, the Professor enjoyed a 17-mile bicycle ride along the Nashua River Rail Trail. He soon noticed that vibrant, bike-friendly Nashua encompasses the best of two worlds. Here, small-city living meets big-city access and historic meets high-tech. With about 90,000 residents, Nashua is small enough to have a pedestrian-friendly downtown full of cafes, tree-lined streets, and New England charm. At the same time, the region is home to world-class tech companies such as Hewlett-Packard, Dell, Oracle Corporation, defense contractor BAE Systems, and The Boston Air Route Traffic Control Center.

With all that going for it, not to mention the nearby Atlantic coast and the breathtaking White Mountains, Nashua was named “Best Place to Live in America” by Money Magazine — twice!

And with so many high-tech companies nearby, it’s no wonder Daniel Webster College has a strong School of Engineering and Computer Sciences. Among its eight different degree offerings are Game Design and Development, Mechanical Engineering, a new Construction Management program, and, of course, Aeronautical Engineering, in which students learn technical skills and problem-solving through hands-on projects such as unmanned flight applications, topographic exploration, and atmospheric research. They also learn the equally important skills it takes to succeed in the industry — commitment, responsibility, and teamwork — by working together in groups.

The Professor was particularly intrigued to learn that junior and senior Aeronautical Engineering students develop test plans and perform in-flight experiments using a Cessna 172 equipped with a Calspan Miniature Flight Data Recording System (MFDRS).

As students work toward their Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Engineering, the Office of Career Services works to help these future aerospace professionals clarify their career goals, brush up on job-seeking skills, and stay in the know about job opportunities. Many graduates go on to become aerospace engineers and work to develop airplanes and spacecraft for the military or for private companies.

When students need a break from their studies, there’s a lot to do here. Daniel Webster College has 15 varsity athletic teams, known as the Eagles. Sports include ice hockey, volleyball, soccer, cross-country, basketball, softball, field hockey, and lacrosse. Students also can attend weekly cafe nights, monthly acoustic music performances, and weekend entertainment events — or just relax on one of the wide, green lawns on this beautiful, 52-acre campus.

To learn more about Daniel Webster College’s application requirements and deadlines for Aeronautical Engineering and other programs, please visit www.dwc.edu.