In this blog post, we’ll explore—based on an understanding of engineering—what subjects are studied in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and how students deepen their expertise in their major.
When I mention that I’m studying in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, I often hear the same response: “So, after you graduate, you’ll be flying on airplanes or piloting them, right?” Whenever I hear this, I smile and explain that it’s a field focused on researching and designing technologies in the mechanical and aerospace sectors, rather than actually piloting airplanes. This misunderstanding likely stems from the word “aerospace” in the department’s name. Additionally, while the term “Department of Mechanical Engineering” is familiar, “Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering” is a designation used only at a few universities, including Seoul National University, which may make it feel even more unfamiliar. Even adults often make this mistake, so it’s only natural that students just starting to prepare for college would find the concept even more vague.
First and foremost, the most crucial element in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering is the “engineering” part. As the saying goes, “You have to listen to the end to understand Korean,” and the word “engineering”—which comes at the very end—determines the direction of this field of study. As an example, while traveling abroad, I was once asked what I majored in at university. At the time, I simply replied “mechanic,” but I later learned that this term refers to a mechanic who repairs or assembles cars or machinery. To accurately describe my major, I should have answered “mechanical engineering.” As this example shows, the single word “engineering” is a crucial term that completely changes the meaning.
So, what exactly is engineering? Generally, engineering is defined as a discipline that applies the principles of science and mathematics to solve various technical problems arising in real-world society and industry. In other words, it is the discipline of identifying problems and designing and implementing the technologies and systems needed to solve them. Therefore, mechanical and aerospace engineering can be described as a discipline that analyzes various technical problems arising in the mechanical and aerospace fields and researches the theories and technologies needed to solve them.
Students admitted to the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering choose either the mechanical or aerospace field to specialize in. To understand this, it is necessary to first examine the curriculum. Here, we will explain the curriculum based on that of Seoul National University’s School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering.
Freshmen study the fundamentals of basic science, basic engineering, and design without distinguishing between mechanical and aerospace engineering. Subsequently, they study theory centered on the four core disciplines of mechanical and aerospace engineering: solid mechanics, dynamics, thermodynamics, and fluid mechanics. They also gain experience solving real-world engineering problems through design and laboratory courses.
Recently, the curriculum has been partially revised, bringing forward the timing for selecting a major compared to the past. In the past, students often distinguished between mechanical and aerospace fields primarily through major-specific elective courses in their upper years; however, today, most students choose either mechanical engineering or aerospace engineering after completing their first year, allowing them to complete required and elective major courses in a more systematic manner. While specific curricula may vary by university, the general framework—building on a foundation of basic engineering education to deepen expertise in a major—remains similar. Through this process, students develop into engineers equipped with specialized knowledge and design capabilities in the fields of mechanical and aerospace engineering.
There is a saying: “Know your enemy and know yourself, and you will never be in danger in a hundred battles.” This means that if you understand your opponent and yourself, you will never be in danger even after a hundred battles. This is not to suggest that you should view the university as an enemy. Rather, it emphasizes the importance of fully understanding the major you intend to pursue. If you examine the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering based on a fundamental understanding of engineering, you will be able to more clearly grasp the direction the school is pursuing and your own aptitudes. If you choose your major after thoroughly considering what you want to learn and in which field you wish to grow, you can expect a more satisfying college life and excellent academic achievements. I look forward to seeing many outstanding engineers emerge from this school in the future.
