Stanford
Aeronautics and Astronautics

Undergraduate Major & Minor

Stanford freshmen and sophomores who want to pursue Aeronautics and Astronautics should follow the course plan prescribed in the SoE Undergraduate Handbook. Taking the appropriate math, physics, and computer science courses in the early years will be a great help throughout the undergraduate program. We also encourage you to take some of our freshmen and sophomore seminars and join Stanford Student Space Initiative or Stanford Flight Club.

Freshmen and sophomore seminars offered this year

Stanford Student Space Initiative, or Stanford Flight Club. We strongly encourage all students interested in majoring in Aero/Astro to join SSI or Stanford Flight club to gain valuable hands-on project experience earlier in your academic career before the capstone courses senior year.

We also encourage students to checkout the Additional Calculus for Engineers (ACE) program (ACE) is designed to provide a solid foundation in mathematics, computational math in engineering, and computer science to undergraduate students interested in pursuing an engineering degree.

What can I do with a BS in Aeronautics & Astronautics ?

Our graduates have gone on to do wonderful things. Below are some of the career paths our undergraduate alumni have taken 2019-2022.

Propulsion Engineer, ABL Space Systems

Consultant at Oliver Wyman

Engineer, NASA Jet Propulsion

Propulsion Engineer, SpaceX

Flight Test Engineer, Skydio

System Engineer, Northop Grumman

Engineer, Boeing

Mechanical Engineer, Zipline

System Engineer, Planet

Aerospace Engineer, Zenith Aerospace

Accepted in Stanford Law School

Accepted into our Aeronautics Astronautics MS & PhD programs

Instructions for declaring major in Aeronautics & Astronautics

1. Download the Aero/Astro Program Sheet from the School of Engineering web site. Complete the Program Sheet indicating how you plan to fulfill the major requirements. (Your program proposal may change as you progress in the program: Submit revisions in consultation with your faculty advisor. Submit a final Program Sheet to your major department student services office at least two quarters before you graduate.)

2. Complete the program sheet and declare the Aero/Astrro Major on Axess! Then email Aero/Astro Student Services Specialist Jenny Scholes to assign you an Aero/Astro faculty member to be your advisor.

3. Meet with your faculty advisor to go over your program sheet. Have your Aero/Astro faculty advisor electronically sign your program sheet.

4. Email the signed program sheet to Aero/Astro Student Services Specialist Jenny Scholes at jscholes@stanford.edu

Minor

The Aero/Astro minor introduces undergraduates to the key elements of modern aerospace systems. Within the minor, students may focus on aircraft, spacecraft, or disciplines relevant to both. No double counting allowed.  All courses taken for the minor must be taken for a letter grade if that option is offered by the instructor. Minimum GPA for all minor courses combined is 2.0.

Aeronautics and Astronautics Undergraduate Minor Program Sheet

Honors Program

The Aero/Astro honors program was designed to allow undergraduates with strong records and enthusiasm for independent research to engage in a significant project leading to a degree with departmental honors. Students who meet the eligibility criteria and wish to be considered for the honors program would apply to the program by the end of their junior year. All applications will be subject to the review and final approval by the Aero/Astro Undergraduate Curriculum Committee.

Application Requirements:

  • One-page written statement describing the research topic and signed advisor form
  • GPA of 3.5 or higher in the major
  • Unofficial Stanford transcript (from Axess)
  • Signature of thesis advisor

Honors criteria:

  • Maintain the 3.5 GPA required for admissions to the honors program.
  • Arrangement with an Aero/Astro faculty member who agrees to serve as the thesis advisor. The advisor must be a member of the Academic Council.
  • Under the direction of the thesis advisor, complete at least two quarters of research with a minimum of nine units of independent research; three of these units may be used towards a student’s Aero/Astro Focus Elective requirement.
  • Submit an honors thesis (20-30 pages). Thesis is due by April 30th of senior year in order to be eligible for University prizes.
  • Attend REU Poster Session or present in another suitable forum approved by the faculty advisor.