Course Requirements

The master's degree program requires 45 quarter units of course work, 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 elective must be taken for a letter grade.

The course work is divided into four categories:

Basic Courses
Mathematics Courses
Technical Electives
Other Electives

Basic Courses

Master's degree candidates must select eight courses as follows:

		Units

(I) Five courses in the basic areas of Aeronautics and Astronautics (one in each area):
Fluids
course	Applied Aerodynamics	3
course	Fundamentals of Compressible Flow	3
Structures
course	Analysis of Structures	3
Guidance and Control
course	Feedback Control Design	3
course	Introduction to Control Design Techniques	3
Propulsion
course	Aircraft and Rocket Propulsion	3
course	Spacecraft Electric Propulsion	3

Experimentation/Design Requirement - Please choose one course (for at least 3 units) from the list below.

		Units

course	Spacecraft Design	4
course	Spacecraft Design Laboratory	3
AA246X	Aircraft Design Laboratory	3
course	Structural Health Monitoring	3
course	Principles of Robot Autonomy I	3-4
course	Spacecraft Attitude Determination and Control	3
course	Spacecraft Formation-Flying and Rendezvous	3
course	Propulsion System Design Laboratory	3
course	Propulsion System Design Laboratory	3
course	Problems in Aero/Astro (with experimental/design content)	3
course	Experimental Robotics	3
course	Beyond Bits and Atoms - Lab	1-3
course	Analog Communications Design Laboratory	3-4
course	Photonics Laboratory	3
course	High-Frequency Circuit Design Laboratory	3
course	Integrated Circuit Fabrication Laboratory	3-4
course	Nanomaterials Laboratory	3-4
course	Electronic and Photonic Materials and Devices Laboratory	3-4
course	Energy Materials Laboratory	3-4
course	X-Ray Diffraction Laboratory	3-4
course	Mechanical Behavior Laboratory	3-4
course	Transmission Electron Microscopy Laboratory	3
course	Introduction to Mechatronics	4
course	Smart Product Design Fundamentals	4-5
course	Smart Product Design Applications	4-5
course	Smart Product Design Practice	4-5
course	Smart Product Design: Projects	3-4
course	Introduction to Sensors	3-4
course	Global Engineering Design Thinking, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship	4
course	Global Engineering Design Thinking, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship	4
course	Global Engineering Design Thinking, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship	4
course	Precision Engineering	4
course	Experimental Stress Analysis	3
course	Experimental Methods in Fluid Mechanics	4-5
course	Optical Diagnostics and Spectroscopy Laboratory	4

(II) Three courses (one each from three of the four areas below)
Fluids
course	Applied Aerodynamics	3
course	Fundamentals of Compressible Flow	3
course	Introduction to Plasma Physics and Engineering	3
Structures
course	Mechanical Vibrations	3
course	Mechanics of Composites	3
course	Structural Health Monitoring	3
course	Smart Structures	3
Guidance and Control
course	Classical Dynamics	3
course	Mechanical Vibrations	3
course	Introduction to the Space Environment	3
course	Dynamics and Control of Aircraft	3
course	Global Positioning Systems	3
course	Principles of Robot Autonomy I	3-4
course	Navigation for Autonomous Systems	3
course	Multi-Robot Control and Distributed Optimization	3
course	Space Mechanics	3
One course selected from AA courses numbered 200 and above, excluding seminars and independent research

Course Waivers

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 that 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 adviser to judge the effect on their overall program plans. To request a waiver, students should fill out a Petition for Waiver form (reverse side of the department's program proposal) and have it approved by the instructor and their adviser. One additional technical elective must be added for each basic course that is waived.

Mathematics Courses

M.S. candidates are expected to exhibit competence in applied mathematics. Students meet this requirement by taking two courses, for a minimum of 6 units, of either advanced mathematics offered by the Mathematics Department or technical electives that strongly emphasize applied mathematics. Common choices include:

course Optimal and Learning-based Control
course Advanced Feedback Control Design
course Numerical Methods for Compressible Flows
course Introduction to Symmetry Analysis
course Engineering Design Optimization
course Decision Making under Uncertainty
course Mechanical Vibrations
course State Estimation and Filtering for Robotic Perception
course Multi-Robot Control and Distributed Optimization

See the list of mathematics courses in the list below for additional suggestions, which includes all courses in the Mathematics Department numbered 200 or above.

Each Aero/Astro degree has a mathematics requirement, for which courses on the following list are pre-approved. (Other advanced courses may also be acceptable.) Students should consult with their advisers in selecting the most appropriate classes for their field. M.S. candidates select 2 courses; they may also use the mathematics courses listed as common choices in the master's degree course requirements.

		Units


course	Optimal and Learning-based Control	3
course	Advanced Feedback Control Design	3
course	Numerical Methods for Compressible Flows	3
course	Introduction to Symmetry Analysis	3
course	Engineering Design Optimization	3-4
course	Decision Making under Uncertainty	3-4
course	Mechanical Vibrations	3
course	State Estimation and Filtering for Robotic Perception	3
course	Multi-Robot Control and Distributed Optimization	3
course	Mechanics and Finite Elements	3
course	Introduction to Scientific Computing	3
course	Numerical Linear Algebra	3
course	Partial Differential Equations of Applied Mathematics	3
course	Numerical Solution of Partial Differential Equations	3
course	Optimization	3
course	Stochastic Methods in Engineering	3
course	Artificial Intelligence: Principles and Techniques	3-4
course	Machine Learning	3-4
course	The Fourier Transform and Its Applications	3
course	Introduction to Linear Dynamical Systems	3
course	Digital Signal Processing	3-4
course	Introduction to Statistical Signal Processing	3
course	Convex Optimization I	3
course	Convex Optimization II	3
course	Analysis and Control of Nonlinear Systems	3
course	Linear Algebra and Matrix Theory	3
course	Functions of a Real Variable	3
course	Groups and Rings	3
course	Fundamental Concepts of Analysis	3
course	Linear Algebra with Application to Engineering Computations	3
course	Partial Differential Equations in Engineering	3
course	Introduction to Numerical Methods for Engineering	3
course	Finite Element Analysis	3
course	Finite Element Analysis	3
course	Finite Element Analysis	3
course	Spectral Methods in Computational Physics	3
course	Computational Methods in Fluid Mechanics	3
course	Dynamic Systems	3
course	Stochastic Modeling	3
course	Optimization	3
course	Dynamic Programming and Stochastic Control	3
course	Continuum Mechanics	3
course	Statistical Methods in Engineering and the Physical Sciences	5
course	Theory of Probability	4
course	Introduction to Stochastic Processes I	3

A maximum of six AA290 (or research/independent study in another department) may count toward the MS program. These units may be used to satisfy the technical elective, free elective and/or the experimentation/design requirements. If used to satisfy the experimentation/design requirement, an instructor’s signature certifying the experimentation/design content is required.

Technical Electives

Students, in consultation with their adviser, select at least four courses* from among the graduate-level courses, totaling at least 12 units, from departments in the School of Engineering and related science departments. These courses should be taken for a letter grade; the student should not elect the credit/no-credit option for any course except free elective.

*Up to three seminar units may count toward an M.S. program, and are counted as one technical elective. At least three additional graduate courses offered in Engineering or related math/science departments should be taken to meet the technical elective section requirement.

Other Electives

It is recommended that all candidates enroll in a humanities or social sciences course to complete the 45-unit requirement. Practicing courses in, for example, art, music, and physical education do not qualify in this category. Language courses may qualify.

Coterminal Master's Program in Aeronautics and Astronautics

This program allows Stanford undergraduates an opportunity 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 prior to 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 web site 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 transfer of courses from the undergraduate to the graduate career to satisfy requirements for the master’s degree. Transfer of 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 prior to 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.

Honors Cooperative Program

The Honors Cooperative Program (HCP) makes it possible for academically qualified engineers and scientists in nearby companies to be part-time master's students in Aeronautics and Astronautics while continuing nearly full-time professional employment. Prospective HCP students follow the same admission process and must meet the same admission requirements as full-time master's students. For more information regarding the Honors Cooperative Program, see the Stanford Center for Professional Development web site.

Master of Science in Engineering (AA)

Students whose career objectives require a more interdepartmental or narrowly focused program than is possible in the M.S. program in Aeronautics and Astronautics (Aero/Astro) may pursue a program for an M.S. degree in Engineering (45 units). This program is described in the Graduate Programs in the "School of Engineering" section of this bulletin.

Sponsorship by the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics in this more general program requires that the student file a proposal before completing 18 units of the proposed graduate program. The proposal must be accompanied by a statement explaining the objectives of the program and how the program is coherent, contains depth, and fulfills a well-defined career objective. The proposed program must include at least 12 units of graduate-level work in the department and meet rigorous standards of technical breadth and depth comparable to the regular Aero/Astro Master of Science program. The grade and unit requirements are the same as for the M.S. degree in Aeronautics and Astronautics.

AA-MS - Aeronautics and Astronautics (MS)

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