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AA-MS - Aeronautics and Astronautics (MS)

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Aeronautics and AstronauticsAeronautics and AstronauticsMS - Master of Science

General

Program Policies

Learning Outcomes

Program Overview

Graduate Degrees outlines the university’s basic requirements for the master’s degree.

Students with an aeronautical engineering background should be able to complete the master’s degree in five quarters; note that many courses are not taught during the summer. Students with a bachelor’s degree in Physical Science, Mathematics, or other areas of Engineering may find it necessary to take specific prerequisite courses, which may lengthen the time required to obtain the master’s degree.

The Master of Science (MS) program is a terminal degree program. It is based on completing lectures focused on a theme within Aeronautics and Astronautics engineering. No thesis is offered. Research is optional (required to take the qualifying examination).

Minimum Units in the Program

45

Minimum University Units

45
Completion requirement
The master’s degree program requires 45 quarter units of coursework, which must be taken at Stanford. All units must be in courses at or above the 100 level, and all courses other than seminars and free electives must be taken for a letter grade. Grade Point Averages A minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.75 is required to fulfill the department’s master’s degree requirements. Students must also meet the university’s quarterly academic requirements for graduate students as described in this Bulletin and in the Degree Completion section of the Guide to Graduate Studies in Aeronautics and Astronautics. All courses (excluding seminars) used to satisfy the requirements for basic courses, mathematics, and technical electives must be taken for a letter grade. Insufficient grade points on which to base the GPA may delay expected degree conferral or result in the refusal of permission to take the qualifying examinations.

The coursework is divided into four categories:

  • Core Breadth courses

  • Advanced A/A courses

  • Mathematics courses

  • Technical electives

  • Other electives

Fulfill ALL of the following requirements:
Master’s degree candidates must select five courses as follows:
AND
Fulfill ALL of the following requirements:
Complete at least 1 of the following Courses:
AND
Complete at least 1 of the following Courses:
AND
Complete at least 1 of the following Courses:
AND
Complete at least 1 of the following Courses:
AND
Complete at least 1 of the following Courses:
AND

These units cannot be counted twice towards the Core Breadth Courses.

Complete at least 3 of the following Courses:
AND
M.S. candidates are expected to exhibit competence in applied mathematics by taking two courses, for a minimum of six units, of either advanced mathematics offered by the Mathematics Department or technical electives that strongly emphasize applied mathematics. Students are encouraged to consult their advisors to select the most suitable classes for their specific field, as other advanced courses may also be acceptable. Please refer to the list of pre-approved mathematics courses below. Additionally, 200+ level or higher lecture courses in MATH taken for 3 or more units will fulfill this requirement. Note: Courses with the same "footnote" cannot be combined, e.g., both Math 113 (*) and ME 300A (*).
AND
Complete at least 2 of the following Courses:
AND
In consultation with their advisor, students must choose graduate-level courses* totaling at least 12 units from departments within the School of Engineering and related science departments. With advisor approval, one 100-level course may be included. These courses should be taken for a letter grade.

*Up to three seminar units can be counted toward the M.S. program and will be considered one technical elective. Seminar courses may be taken for a credit grade.

AND
Complete ANY of the following Courses:

A maximum of six units of AA290 (or research/independent study in another department) may be counted toward the M.S. program. These units can be used to satisfy the technical elective, free elective, and/or experimentation/design requirements. If these units are used to meet the experimentation/design requirement, a signature certifying the experimentation/design content is required.

AND
Choose any course at the 100 level or above to fulfill 3 units. It is recommended that all candidates enroll in a humanities or social sciences course to meet the total 45-unit requirement. Please note that practicing courses in fields such as art, music, and physical education do not qualify. Language courses may be eligible.
AND

M.S. candidates must complete a minimum of 3 units to fulfill the experimentation/design requirement, please refer to the list of pre-approved courses below. Students should consult their advisors to select the most appropriate classes for their field. Other advanced courses may also be acceptable. If a course is not on the pre-approved list, students may petition for approval.

AND
Complete at least 1 of the following Courses:
AND
M.S. waiver requests are due by the end of the first enrollment quarter (autumn quarter, year 1). Waivers of the basic courses required for the M.S. degree in Aeronautics and Astronautics can only be granted by the instructor of that course. Students who believe they have had a substantially equivalent course at another institution should consult with the course instructor to determine if they are eligible for a waiver, and with their advisor to judge the effect on their overall program plans. To request a waiver, students should complete a Petition for Waiver form (reverse side of the department’s program proposal) and have the instructor and advisor approve it. One additional technical elective must be added for each basic course that is waived.

This program allows Stanford undergraduates to work simultaneously toward a B.S. degree and an M.S. in Aeronautics and Astronautics. Stanford undergraduates who wish to continue their studies for the master of science degree in the coterminal program must have earned a minimum of 120 units towards graduation. This includes allowable Advanced Placement (AP) and transfer credit.

The department-specific Aero/Astro coterminal program application, which includes information and deadlines, can be obtained from the Aero/Astro Student Services Office. A completed application (including letters of recommendation and transcripts) must be received no later than the quarter before the expected completion of the undergraduate degree. Admission is granted or denied through the departmental faculty admissions committee. Stanford undergraduates interested in learning more about receiving an Aero/Astro master’s degree as a coterm student should review the information on the University Registrar’s website and visit the Aero/Astro Student Services Office.

University Coterminal Requirements

Coterminal master’s degree candidates are expected to complete all master’s degree requirements as described in this bulletin. University requirements for the coterminal master’s degree are described in the "Coterminal Master's Degrees" section. University requirements for the master’s degree are described in the "Graduate Degrees" section of this bulletin.

After accepting admission to this coterminal master’s degree program, students may request a transfer of courses from the undergraduate to the graduate career to satisfy the requirements for the master’s degree. Transferring courses to the graduate career requires review and approval of both the undergraduate and graduate programs on a case-by-case basis.

In this master’s program, courses taken during or after the first quarter of the sophomore year are eligible for consideration for transfer to the graduate career; the timing of the first graduate quarter is not a factor. No courses taken before the first quarter of the sophomore year may be used to meet master’s degree requirements.

Course transfers are not possible after the bachelor’s degree has been conferred.

The university requires that the graduate advisor be assigned in the student’s first graduate quarter even though the undergraduate career may still be open. The university also requires that the Master’s Degree Program Proposal be completed by the student and approved by the department by the end of the student’s first graduate quarter.

The Honors Cooperative Program (HCP) allows academically qualified engineers and scientists to pursue a part-time master’s degree in Aeronautics and Astronautics while continuing with nearly full-time professional employment. This program is especially suitable for students who are employed locally, as some on-campus coursework may be required.

Prospective Honors Cooperative Program (HCP) students follow the same admissions process and must meet the same admissions requirements as full-time graduate students. For more information regarding the Honors Cooperative Program, see the Stanford Center for Professional Development website.

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