AA-ENG - Aeronautics and Astronautics (ENG)
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Program Overview
The Engineer degree represents an additional year (or more) of study beyond the MS degree and includes a research thesis. The program is designed for students who wish to do professional engineering work upon graduation and who want to engage in more specialized study than is afforded by the master’s degree alone. It is expected that full-time students will be able to complete the degree within two years of study after the master’s degree.
Director of Graduate Studies
Graduate Degrees outlines the university’s basic requirements for the degree of Engineer. The following are department requirements.
Each individual Engineer’s Degree program, designed by the student in consultation with the advisor, should represent a strong and cohesive program reflecting the student's major field of interest. Engineer’s Degree candidates must complete a minimum of 90 units. All units must be in courses at or above the 100 level. Candidates who received their M.S. from Stanford may count up to 45 units towards the 90-unit total. Students who received an M.S. degree at another institution may petition (through the university Registrar’s Office) to transfer up to 45 units toward the 90-unit requirement.
Of the 45 units required beyond the M.S., a student must complete a minimum of 21 units (including 6 units of mathematics) of approved courses in advanced study in engineering, science, and mathematics (excluding research, directed study, and seminars) beyond the M.S. degree. These units must be taken for a letter grade, and all courses must be numbered 200 and above. Note: One math course may be taken at the 100 level if approved by the advisor. Students may register for up to 24 units of Engineer thesis. Units which were applied toward the M.S. degree cannot be used again. An advisor approved Engineer’s Degree course proposal must be submitted when applying for Engineer’s Degree candidacy.
Mathematics Courses: Engineer’s Degree candidates are expected to exhibit competence in applied mathematics. Students meet this requirement by taking two courses - a minimum of six units – of either advanced mathematics offered by the Mathematics department or courses that strongly emphasize methods of applied mathematics. The Aero/Astro Department and the other engineering departments offer many courses that have sufficient mathematical content that they may be used to satisfy the mathematics requirement; a pre-approved list is included in this Guide, but there are many others which may be acceptable. Please consult with your advisor and the Aero/Astro Student Services Office before assuming that a particular course will be accepted in your own program. Note: One math course may be taken at the 100 level if approved by the advisor.
Every student should be familiar with the University’s requirements for minimal progress as outlined in the Graduate Academic Policies and Procedures GAP. A minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 is required to fulfill the department’s Engineer’s Degree, and to maintain satisfactory academic standing in the program. It is incumbent upon the student to request letter grades in all courses listed on the Application for Candidacy form. Students must receive a passing grade, and maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0, on all courses listed on the Candidacy form.
For specific information on the format and deadlines for submission of theses, please check with the Graduate Degree Progress Office. The department recommends that students follow the format defined in the handbook Directions for Preparing Doctoral Dissertations, available in the Graduate Degree Progress Office. Note: the advisor must sign the thesis before the filing deadline, generally on the last day of classes during the graduation quarter.