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Aeronautics and Astronautics Program

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Stanford's Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics undergraduate major program provide students with the fundamental principles and techniques necessary for success and leadership in the conception, design, implementation, and operation of aerospace and related engineering systems. Courses in the major introduce students to engineering principles. Students learn to apply this fundamental knowledge to conduct laboratory experiments, and aerospace system design problems. Courses in the major include engineering fundamentals, mathematics, and the sciences, as well as in-depth courses in aeronautics and astronautics, dynamics, mechanics of materials, autonomous systems, computational engineering, embedded programming, fluids engineering, and heat transfer. The major prepares students for careers in aircraft and spacecraft engineering, autonomy, robotics, unmanned aerial vehicles, drones, space exploration, air and space-based telecommunication industries, computational engineering, teaching, research, military service, and other related technology-intensive fields.

Completion of the undergraduate program in Aeronautics and Astronautics leads to the conferral of the Bachelor of Science in Aeronautics and Astronautics.

Gateway to AA

Freshmen and sophomores interested in Aeronautics and Astronautics should consider taking one of our freshmen or sophomore seminars to get an early introduction to the major. These courses can be taken freshmen or sophomore year and do not have any prerequisites. 

CourseTitleUnits
AA 115NThe Global Positioning System: Where on Earth are We, and What Time is It?3
AA 107NHow to Shoot the Moon3
AA 114QLarge Spacecraft Structures3
AA 100Introduction to Aeronautics & Astronautics3

PROGRAM SHEETS: Excel & pdf versions are now posted, as are 4-Year Plans

Program Requirements 2023-24

(Major, Minor and Honors degree programs also listed in ExploreDegrees)

Mathematics 
24 units minimum 
MATH 19Calculus (required ) 23
MATH 20Calculus (required) 23
MATH 21Calculus (required) 24
CME 100/ENGR 154Vector Calculus for Engineers (required) 35
or MATH 51*Linear Algebra and Differential Calculus of Several Variables
CME 102/ENGR 155AOrdinary Differential Equations for Engineers (required) 35
or MATH 53*Ordinary Differential Equations with Linear Algebra
CME 106/ENGR 155CIntroduction to Probability and Statistics for Engineers (required)3-5
or STATS 110Statistical Methods in Engineering and the Physical Sciences
or STATS 117Theory of Probability I
or CS 109Introduction to Probability for Computer Scientists
CME 104Linear Algebra and Partial Differential Equations for Engineers (strongly recommended) 35
or MATH 52Integral Calculus of Several Variables
CME 108Introduction to Scientific Computing (strongly recommended) or MATH 1143
*If taking the MATH series rather than the CME series, CME 192: Introduction to MATLAB is strongly recommended 
Science 
17 units minimum 
PHYSICS 41Mechanics (required) (or AP credit with score of 5 and Physics Diagnostic placement into 43)4
PHYSICS 43Electricity and Magnetism (required) (or AP credit with score of 5 and Physics Diagnostic placement)4
PHYSICS 45Light and Heat (required)4
CHEM 31M (formerly 31X)Chemical Principles Accelerated (or CHEM 31A and CHEM 31B, or AP Chemistry and placement via the Chemistry Diagnostic) (required)5
Technology in Society (Complete one course; 3 units min) 
See School of Engineering approved Technology in Society Course List. The course must be on the School of Engineering approved list the year you take it.3-5
AA 252Techniques of Failure Analysis (recommended)3
Engineering Fundamentals and AA Depth Course List

Engineering Fundamentals (two courses; 8 units min)

 
ENGR 21Engineering of Systems (required)3

One req'd of

CS 106A or

CS 106B

 

Programming Methodology

Programming Abstractions (recommended; only 1 CS allowed)

5
Optional:Recommended additional ENGR Fundamentals: 
ENGR 10Introduction to Engineering Analysis (recommended )4
ENGR 40MAn Intro to Making: What is EE (recommended ) 
ENGR 80Introduction to Bioengineering or BioE 80 (recommended) 
or alternative Fundamentals Elective options 

Aero/Astro Depth Requirements

 
33 units minimum 
ENGR 14Intro to Solid Mechanics (required)3
ENGR 15Dynamics (required)3
ENGR 105Feedback Control Design (required)3
ME 30Engineering Thermodynamics (required)3
ME 70Introductory Fluids Engineering (required)3
AA 100Introduction to Aeronautics and Astronautics (required)3
AA 131Space Flight (required)3
AA 141Atmospheric Flight (required)3
AA 151Lightweight Structures (required)3
AA 174APrinciples of Robot Autonomy I (required)) or EE160A, CS237A, EE260A, or AA274A3
ME 161Dynamic Systems, Vibrations and Control3
Aero/Astro Focus Electives (9 units minimum) 
AA 102Introduction to Applied Aerodynamics (recommended )   3
AA 103Air and Space Propulsion   3
AA 135Introduction to Space Policy   3
AA 149Operation of Aerospace Systems   1
AA 156Mechanics of Composite Materials3
AA 160Flying: Private Pilot Ground School3
AA 172Guidance & Navigation3
AA 173Flight Mechanics and Controls 
AA 174BPrinciples of Robot Autonomy II3-4
AA 190Directed Research and Writing in Aero/Astro (satisfies the Writing in the Major requirement, (WIM) 
AA 199Independent Study in Aero/Astro (up to 3 units may be used for major; a total of 9 units are required for Honors students1-3
AA 279ASpace Mechanics3
EE 102ASignal Processing and Linear Systems I4
ME 161Dynamic Systems, Vibrations, and Control3
MS&E 178The Spirit of Entrepreneurship2
Aero/Astro Capstone Requirement (6 units minimum. Select either the Spacecraft or Aircraft capstone course sequence; also satisfies WIM) 
AA 136A             Spacecraft Design3
AA 136B             Spacecraft Design Laboratory3
OR 
AA 146A            Aircraft Design   3
AA 146B            Aircraft Design Laboratory   3
  

All courses taken for the major must be taken for a letter grade if that option is offered by the instructor.

Minimum Combined GPA for all courses in Engineering Topics (Engineering Fundamentals and Depth courses) is 2.0.

Transfer and AP credits in Math, Science, Fundamentals, and the Technology in Society course must be approved for use in the major by the School of Engineering Dean's office.

2MATH 19/20/21 or equivalent (10 units AP BC, or transfer credit) with placement into MATH 51/CME 100 is also allowed. If 6-8 units AP or IB credit are used, must take Math 21 (21 may not be skipped using Math Diagnostic Placement results).
3It is recommended that the CME series (100, 102, 104) be taken rather than the MATH series (51, 52, 53). It is recommended that students taking the MATH series also take CME 192 Introduction to MATLAB.
 

AA Coterm Application Deadlines (contact is Patrick Ferguson):

10/18/22 for Win 22-23

01/24/23 for Spr 22-23

04/25/23 for Aut 23-24

Informational Website

 

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 email Aero/Astro Student Services Specialist Jenny Scholes at jscholes@stanford.edu to assign you an Aero/Astro faculty member to be your advisor.

3. Meet with your faculty advisor over zoom 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
5. Declare the Aero/Astro major on Axess!

6. Email Aero/Astro Student Services Specialist Jenny Scholes if you have any questions at jscholes@stanford.edu