The advanced design program at Penn State

The NASA/USRA Advanccd Design Program has been an important program to the Pennsylvania Slate University because the focus on design war the comerstom of a commiunent to improving the educational experiencc of students interested in space-relaled fields. To illusmte the degree to which improvemenls in the program havc been accomplished. a description of the design courses and the Dcpament of Aerospace Enginecring prior tn panicipation in thc Advanced Dcsign Program is given with particular emphasis on how the design courses were structured and thc resources available to the instructors of those courses. Further, resources available through the College of Engineering and the University are listed. Thc comprchcnsivc program to expand the Depanment's spacerclakd arw is summarizd; goals that havc been achieved are noted. including the contribution of thc ADP, and arcas of continuing development are listed. Finally, implemcnlation of thc ADP into the current design courses is described, and the effect of this program on the overall educational expcrienee of the students is assessed.