Stanford
Aeronautics and Astronautics

Honors

Student Spotlight! Isobel Porteous (AeroAstro BS ’25) presenting her honors thesis as part of the 2025 CISAC Honors Program presentations 6/5/25. Title: Verifying the Outer Space Treaty’s Nuclear Ban: Technical and Political Feasibility of In-Space Satellite Inspection.

The Aero/Astro honors program was designed to allow undergraduates with strong records and enthusiasm for independent research to engage in a significant project leading to a degree with departmental honors.

Students who meet the eligibility criteria and wish to be considered for the honors program would apply to the program by the end of their junior year. All applications will be subject to the review and final approval by the Aero/Astro Undergraduate Curriculum Committee.

Application Requirements:

  • One-page written statement describing the research topic and signed advisor form
  • GPA of 3.5 or higher in the major
  • Unofficial Stanford transcript (from Axess)
  • Signature of thesis advisor

Honors criteria:

  • Maintain the 3.5 GPA required for admissions to the honors program.
  • Arrangement with an Aero/Astro faculty member who agrees to serve as the thesis advisor. The advisor must be a member of the Academic Council.
  • Under the direction of the thesis advisor, complete at least two quarters of research with a minimum of 8-9 units of independent research; three of these units may be used towards a student’s Aero/Astro Focus Elective requirement.
  • Submit an honors thesis (20-30 pages). Thesis 1st draft due beginning of spring quarter of senior year to faculty advisor and Undergraduate Program Director Professor Simone D'Amico, in order for thesis be approved well in advance before department thesis presentation is scheduled.
  • Schedule to present honors thesis mid to end of spring quarter of senior year once thesis final draft has been approved by faculty advisor and Undergraduate Program Director Professor Simone D'Amico. Please email Jenny Scholes at jscholes@stanford.edu to schedule and advertise thesis presentation.