Final answer:
Wichita State University is recognized for offering one of the first aerospace engineering degrees, indicative of the historical expansion in higher education to include professional and specialized fields of study, in line with the growth of engineering education in the USA.
Step-by-step explanation:
The subject of your question pertains to the history of educational programs in the United States, specifically regarding the field of aerospace engineering. Wichita State University did indeed become one of the first educational institutions to offer a degree in aerospace engineering in the early 20th century, which was a hallmark of the time when higher education was expanding to include new and innovative fields of study. This development in aerospace engineering at Wichita State University represented a significant contribution to the broader field of engineering education in the United States.
The establishment of specialized degrees such as aerospace engineering at universities was part of a larger movement to create institutions that focused on professional careers in various fields including business, medicine, engineering, and other trades during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) represents a professional body that connects the world of aerospace engineering academia to the industry and has played a key role in the development of aerospace engineering standards and education.
The inclusion of aerospace engineering degrees in the curriculum of institutions like Wichita State University clearly aligns with the historical development of educational programs aimed at equipping students with practical and specialized skills for the workforce, as seen with the progression of engineering colleges and the establishment of organizations like NASA.