Atmosphere and Energy Program
2023-24 Program Requirements
Atmosphere and energy are strongly linked: fossil-fuel energy use contributes to air pollution, global warming, and weather modification; and changes in the atmosphere feedback to renewable energy resources, including wind, solar, hydroelectric, and wave resources.
Because atmospheric problems can be mitigated by increasing energy efficiency, developing new energy technologies, and shifting to less-polluting energy sources, and because it is important to study the climate, air pollution, and weather impacts of new energy technologies, the two areas, atmosphere and energy, are naturally coupled together.
The Atmosphere/Energy (A/E) undergraduate curriculum prepares undergraduates for an A/E master’s degree program, as well as careers in industry, research, consulting, government, non-governmental organizations, and academia. The A/E degree is NOT an ABET-accredited degree, as ABET accreditation is advantageous only for obtaining specific jobs that do not overlap with those that students obtaining the A/E degree would generally consider. The degree is accredited as part of Stanford’s accreditation through the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).
A/E students take classes in both Atmosphere and Energy, as well as classes that integrate the two. The curriculum is flexible in that students more interested in one field can take most of their Engineering Depth classes in the area of their choice. Similarly, students desiring to focus more on technology or on science can take the appropriate Depth classes to suit their interest.
Qualified students may also apply to engage in the A/E Honors program (see Honors page).
Exploring the Atmosphere/Energy Major
Try one of these recommended Introductory Seminars:
APPPHYS 79N Energy Options for the 21st Century, A, 3 units
CEE 34N Wind Energy Explained, W, 3 units
ECON 17N Energy, the Environment, and the Economy, W, 3 units
MS&E 92Q International Environmental Policy, W, 3 units
Or one of these A/E courses that can also be used in some other School of Engineering majors:
CEE 63 Weather and Storms, A, 3 units
CEE 64 Air Pollution & Global Warming: History, Science & Solutions, W, 3 units
CEE 70 Environmental Science and Technology (same as ENGR 90), W, 3 units
ENGR 50E Introduction to Materials Science, Energy Emphasis, W, 4 units
In addition, the Math, Science, Technology in Society, and Engineering Fundamentals courses required by the A/E major will also count toward most of the other School of Engineering majors (see course lists below; other major programs and their specific requirements are listed elsewhere on this site).
For Excel or pdf program sheets and plans, see the Plans & Program Sheets page on this site.
A/E REQUIREMENTS
Explore Degrees lists all School of Engineering major program requirements, as well as other major and minor programs across the University.
A total of 96 units are required, distributed as follows:
45 Units of Mathematics and Science Combined
Mathematics (23 units minimum, including at least one class from each group):
Group A:
Course | Description | Units | Quarter |
MATH 53 | Ordinary Differential Equations with Linear Algebra | 5 | A,W,S,Sum |
CME 102 | Ordinary Differential Equations for Engineers | 5 | A,W,S,Sum |
Group B:
Course | Description | Units | Quarter |
CME 106 | Introduction to Probability and Statistics for Engineers | 4 | W,Sum |
STATS 60 | Introduction to Statistical Methods: Pre-calculus | 5 | A,W,S,Sum |
STATS 101 | Data Science 101 | 5 | S |
STATS 110 | Statistical Methods in Eng. and the Physical Sciences | 5 | A,S |
Science (20 units minimum, including all of the following):
Course | Description | Units | Quarter |
PHYSICS 41 | Mechanics | 4 | A,W |
PHYSICS 43 | Electricity/Magnetism (S) –OR– PHYS 45 Light/Heat (A) | 4 | W,S |
CHEM 31B or CHEM 31M | Chemical Principles II (or CHEM 31M [formerly 31X]) Chemical Principles From Molecules to Solids (formerly 31X) | 5 5 | W A |
CEE 70* | Environmental Science and Technology (same as ENGR 90; can count as science or Fundamental but not both) | 3 | W |
*Can count as science or as ENGR Fundamental, but not both
Technology in Society
One course required, see the Approved Courses TiS chart. Must be on the Approved List the year it is taken.
Writing in the Major (WIM): One 3-5 unit course required. Choose either:
Choose a TiS course that also fulfills WIM: | |||
BIOE 131 | Ethics in Bioengineering | S | 3 |
OR a Skills Course: | |||
CEE 102W/ENGR 102W | Technical and Professional Communication | S | 3 |
CEE 100 | Managing Sustainable Building Projects | A | 4 |
EARTHSYS 191 | Concepts in Environmental Communication | A | 3 |
Engineering Fundamentals and Depth Units:
Engineering Fundamentals (two courses minimum, pick two out of the following):
Course | Description | Units | Quarter |
ENGR 50E | Introduction to Material Science: Energy Emphasis | 4 | Sum |
ENGR 10 | Intro to Engineering Analysis | 4 | A,Sum |
CS 106A or 106B | Programming Methodology or Abstractions | 5 | A,W,S,Sum |
ENGR 21 | Engineering of Systems | 3 | S |
ENGR 60 | Engineering Economics and Sustainability (online only) | 3 | A,S,Sum |
Engineering Depth (42 units minimum)
Of the 42 units required below, 30 units minimum must be School of Engineering coursework. One of CEE 176A, 176B, 162I, or 199 must be taken to satisfy the Capstone requirement.
1) Required Courses (6-8 units):
Course | Description | Units | Quarter |
CEE 63 or CEE 64 or CEE 172 | Weather and Storms (req’d)* or Air Pollution & Global Warming: History, Science & Solutions Air Quality Management | 3 3 3 | A W S |
CEE 107A or CEE 107S | Understanding Energy or Understanding Energy: Essentials | 3-5 3 | A,S Sum |
2) Skills Courses | (elective; 0-5 units may count towards 42 units) | ||
Course | Title | Units | Qtr |
CEE /ENGR 102W | Technical and Professional Communication (WIM) | 3 | S |
CEE 100 | Managing Sustainable Building Projects (WIM) | 4 | A |
CEE 199 | Undergraduate Research in CEE (must have A/E focus) ++ | 3 | A,W,S |
EARTHSYS 191** | Concepts in Environmental Communication | 3 | A |
EARTHSYS 194A** | Environmental Justice Colloquium | 1 | A |
3) Elective Courses (At least 29-36 units from the following, with at least 4 courses of 3 or more units from each group):
Group A: Atmosphere
Course | Title | Qtr | Units |
AA 100 | Introduction to Aeronautics and Astronautics | W | 3 |
ANTHRO 103** | The Archaeology of Climate | W | 5 |
CEE 63 | Weather and Storms (if not counted under ENGR depth) | A | 3 |
CEE 64 | Air Pollution & Global Warming: History, Science & Solutions | W | 3 |
CEE 101B or CEE 101E or ME 70 | Mechanics of Fluids or Introduction to Mechanics of Fluids or Introductory Fluids Engineering | A Sum W,S | 4 3 3 |
CEE 162H | Big Earth Hackathon Wildland Fire Challenge | S | 3 |
CEE 162I | Atmosphere, Ocean, & Climate Dynamics: Ocean Circulation | W | 3 |
CEE 172 | Air Quality Management (if not counted under Req'd depth) | S | 3 |
EARTHSYS 2** | Climate and Society | A | 3 |
EARTHSYS 111** | Biology and Global Change | W | 4 |
EARTHSYS 123A** | Biosphere-Atmosphere Interaction | W | 4 |
EARTHSYS 144** | Fundamentals of Geographic Information Science (GIS) | A | 3-4 |
ESS 102** | Scientific Basis of Climate Change | S | 3 |
HUMBIO 116** | Climate Perspectives: Climate Science, Impacts, Policy, Negot. | A | 3 |
ME 133 | Intermediate Fluid Mechanics | W | 4 |
SUSTAIN 2** | Climate and Society | W | 3 |
SUSTAIN 101C** | Climate 101 | A | 3 |
** Courses outside the School of Engineering do not count toward the 30-unit engineering minimum in Fundamentals and Depth categories but can count toward the 42-unit Depth total.
Group B: Energy
CEE 107R | Extreme Energy Efficiency | W,S | 3-5 |
CEE 108 | Explore Energy | A | 2 |
CEE 130B | Quest for an Inclusive Clean Energy Economy | W | 3 |
CEE 130R | Racial Equity in Energy | S | 2-3 |
CEE 156 | Building Systems Design & Analysis | W | 4 |
CEE 173S | Electricity Economics | W | 3 |
CEE 176A | Energy Efficient Buildings | A,Sum | 3 |
CEE 176B | 100% Clean, Renewable Energy and Storage for Everything | S | 3-4 |
CEE 176C | Energy Storage Integration-Vehicles, Renewables and the Grid | Sum | 3 |
CEE 263G | Energy Policy in California and the West | S | 1 |
EARTHSYS 101** | Energy and the Environment | W | 3 |
EARTHSYS 102** | Fundamentals of Renewable Power | S | 3 |
ECON 156** | Energy Markets and Policy | W | 5 |
EE 116 | Semiconductor Devices for Energy and Electronics | S | 3 |
EE 153 | Power Electronics | A | 4 |
EE 157 | Electric Motors for Renewable Energy, Robotics, and Electric Vehicles | S | 3 |
ENERGY 104** | Sustainable Energy for 9 Billion | S | 3 |
ENERGY 153** | Carbon Capture and Sequestration | W | 4 |
ENERGY 191* | Optimization of Energy Systems | S | 4 |
ENGR 50E | Introduction to Materials Science, Energy Emphasis (if not counted as an ENGR Fundamental) | W | 4 |
MATSCI 144 | Thermodynamic Evaluation of Green Energy Technologies | S | 4 |
OSPSANTG 29* | Sustainable Cities: Comparative Transportation Systems in Latin America | Sum | 4-5 |
** Courses outside the School of Engineering do not count toward the 40-unit engineering minimum in Fundamentals and Depth categories but can count toward the 42-unit Depth total.
++ To fulfill the Capstone requirement, 3 units of CEE 161I (Atm), 176A (Energy), 176B (Energy), or 199 (Skill) must be taken.
A/E 4-Year Plans and Program Sheets can be found under the Plans and Program Sheets tab.
Suggested Course Concentrations and Sequences
Subject to the requirements outlined above, students have flexibility in selecting their depth electives and other courses to best suit their interests. If you would like to see two suggested programs outlined, one with an emphasis on energy studies and the other on atmospheric studies, go to the 4-Year Plans page and open the A/E plans. Either approach provides the necessary preparation for the master’s degree program in Atmosphere/Energy.
Instructions For Declaring Major in Engineering: Atmosphere/Energy (ENGR-BS)
- Enter your major declaration for Atmosphere/Energy in Axess. Select ENGR-BS as your major and Atmosphere/Energy as your subplan.
- Download your unofficial Stanford transcript from Axess.
- Download and complete the Excel major Program Sheet
- Open the A/E program sheet from the year you are declaring.
- Be sure and list all courses already taken and those you plan to take -- you will have the opportunity to revise this later, so please fill in as many courses as you can.
- Contact Jill Filice to have an advisor assigned to you (you may request a specific advisor if you wish). Meet with the advisor and have him/her review and sign your program sheet.
- Scan your transcript and completed program sheet to Jill Filice or bring to the CEE Student Services office, Room 316 of the Jerry Yang and Akiko Yamazaki Environment & Energy (Y2E2) Building. She can then approve your major declaration in Axess.
- You are encouraged to meet with your advisor at least once a quarter to review your academic progress. Changes to your program sheet can be made by printing out a revised sheet, obtaining your A/E undergraduate adviser’s signature, and returning the approved sheet to the CEE Student Services Office. NOTE – It is very important to hand in to student services your up-to-date program sheet immediately after the add/drop deadline of the quarter you plan to graduate.
Other information:
- Procedures and forms for requesting transfer credits and/or program deviations are described in detail on the Petitions page. If you are requesting a program deviation, or transfer credit for use in Depth, you should bring your completed petition form with your transcript to the CEE Student Services office. Attach your program sheet on file in CEE.
- Check with the CEE Student Services Office to make sure that you are on the CEE undergraduate student email list for important announcements about department events and activities.