Aeronautics and Astronautics Program
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.
| Course | Title | Units |
| AA 115N | The Global Positioning System: Where on Earth are We, and What Time is It? | 3 |
| AA 119N | 3D Printing | 3 |
| AA 114Q | Large Spacecraft Structures | 3 |
| AA 121Q | It IS Rocket Science! | 3 |
PROGRAM SHEETS: Excel & pdf versions are now posted, as are 4-Year Plans
Program Requirements 2022-23
(Major, Minor and Honors degree programs also listed in ExploreDegrees)
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Mathematics |
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24 units minimum |
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MATH 19 |
Calculus (required ) 2 |
3 |
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MATH 20 |
Calculus (required) 2 |
3 |
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MATH 21 |
Calculus (required) 2 |
4 |
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CME 100/ENGR 154 |
Vector Calculus for Engineers (required) 3 |
5 |
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or MATH 51* |
Linear Algebra and Differential Calculus of Several Variables |
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CME 102/ENGR 155A |
Ordinary Differential Equations for Engineers (required) 3 |
5 |
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or MATH 53* |
Ordinary Differential Equations with Linear Algebra |
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CME 106/ENGR 155C |
Introduction to Probability and Statistics for Engineers (required) |
4-5 |
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or STATS 110 |
Statistical Methods in Engineering and the Physical Sciences |
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or STATS 116 |
Theory of Probability |
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or CS 109 |
Introduction to Probability for Computer Scientists |
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CME 104 |
Linear Algebra and Partial Differential Equations for Engineers (strongly recommended) 3 |
5 |
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or MATH 52 |
Integral Calculus of Several Variables |
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CME 108 |
Introduction to Scientific Computing (strongly recommended) or MATH 114 |
3 |
| *If taking the MATH series rather than the CME series, CME 192: Introduction to MATLAB is strongly recommended | ||
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Science |
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17 units minimum |
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PHYSICS 41 |
Mechanics (required) (or AP credit with score of 5 and Physics Diagnostic placement into 43) |
4 |
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PHYSICS 43 |
Electricity and Magnetism (required) (or AP credit with score of 5 and Physics Diagnostic placement) |
4 |
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PHYSICS 45 |
Light and Heat (required) |
4 |
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CHEM 31M (formerly 31X) |
Chemical Principles Accelerated (or CHEM 31A and CHEM 31B, or AP Chemistry and placement via the Chemistry Diagnostic) (required) |
5 |
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Technology in Society (Complete one course; 3 units min) |
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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 |
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AA 252 |
Techniques of Failure Analysis (recommended) |
3 |
Engineering Fundamentals (two courses; 8 units min) |
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ENGR 21 |
Engineering of Systems (required) |
3 |
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One req'd of CS 106A or CS 106B |
Programming Methodology Programming Abstractions (recommended; only 1 CS allowed) |
5 |
| Optional: | Recommended additional ENGR Fundamentals: | |
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ENGR 10 |
Introduction to Engineering Analysis (recommended ) |
4 |
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ENGR 40M |
An Intro to Making: What is EE (recommended ) |
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| ENGR 80 | Introduction to Bioengineering or BioE 80 (recommended) | |
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or alternative Fundamentals Elective options |
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Aero/Astro Depth Requirements |
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30 units minimum |
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ENGR 14 |
Intro to Solid Mechanics (required) |
3 |
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ENGR 15 |
Dynamics (required) |
3 |
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ENGR 105 |
Feedback Control Design (required) |
3 |
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ME 30 |
Engineering Thermodynamics (required) |
3 |
| ME 70 | Introductory Fluids Engineering (required) | 3 |
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AA 100 |
Introduction to Aeronautics and Astronautics (required) |
3 |
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AA 131 |
Space Flight (required) |
3 |
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AA 141 |
Atmospheric Flight (required) |
3 |
| AA 151 | Lightweight Structures (required) | 3 |
| AA 174A | Principles of Robot Autonomy I (required)) or EE160A, CS237A, EE260A, or AA274A | 3-4 |
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Aero/Astro Focus Electives (9 units minimum) |
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| AA 102 | Introduction to Applied Aerodynamics (recommended ) | 3 |
| AA 103 | Air and Space Propulsion | 3 |
| AA 135 | Introduction to Space Policy | 3 |
| AA 149 | Operation of Aerospace Systems | 1 |
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AA 156 |
Mechanics of Composite Materials |
3 |
| AA 172 | Guidance & Navigation | 3 |
| AA 173 | Flight Mechanics and Controls1 | |
| AA 174B | Principles of Robot Autonomy II | 3-4 |
| AA 199 | Independent Study in Aero/Astro | 1-5 |
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AA 279A |
Space Mechanics |
3 |
| EE 102A | Signal Processing and Linear Systems I | 4 |
| ME 161 | Dynamic Systems, Vibrations, and Control | 3 |
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MS&E 178 |
The Spirit of Entrepreneurship |
2 |
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Aero/Astro Capstone Requirement (7 units minimum. Select either the Spacecraft or Aircraft capstone course sequence; also satisfies WIM*) |
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| AA 136A Spacecraft Design | 4 | |
| AA 136B Spacecraft Design Laboratory | 3 | |
| OR | ||
| AA 146A Aircraft Design | 3 | |
| AA 146B Aircraft Design Laboratory | 4 | |
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Engineering Fundamentals and AA Depth Course List |
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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 by the School of Engineering Dean's office.
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2 |
A score of 4 on the Calculus BC test or 5 on the AB test only gives students 6-8 units, not 10 units, so is equal to MATH 19 + MATH 20, but not MATH 21. The Math Placement Exam determines what math course the student starts with. |
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3 |
It 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. |
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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 |
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