Current Students

Undeclared Majors

Planning and advising
Before starting your first term at Stanford a freshman advisor is assigned to you, based on the academic interests you indicated in your application. This advisor helps you plan your coursework in your first years. Once you declare an engineering major, your department assigns a new advisor (with your input) to assist you in working toward your major requirements. However, your freshman advisor will also remain available for guidance and assistance throughout your undergraduate career.

Engineering majors| View »
View a list of all majors offered in engineering.

Declaring a major
As a Stanford undergraduate you have until the beginning of your junior year to declare a major. However, if you intend to major in engineering you will have to meet requirements at the university level, within the school, and within your chosen department as well. It's important to understand these requirements well before you declare, and to work with your advisor to plan your coursework accordingly. Double majors, in particular, require that you meet all the requirements for each degree, and demand careful planning. For more information on how to declare a major, see the Undergraduate Handbook.

University requirements | View (PDF)»
Stanford's general education requirements are designed to give you a broad-based education, regardless of the major you choose. Because engineering majors require more coursework than many programs, make sure you consider the university requirements as well when planning your schedule.

School and department requirements
The curriculum for the school emphasizes fundamental knowledge, tools, and skills, while allowing engineering students to take advantage of courses offered from the other schools within the university. The departments within engineering share a common curricular structure but also have specific requirements. A detailed list of requirements for all majors can be found in the Undergraduate Handbook.

The Undergraduate Handbook | View »
The definitive resource for undergraduate engineers. There are sections on:
  • Planning your first year (page 2)
  • Exploring engineering (page 2)
  • Summing Up: General advice (page 9)
Your program sheet | View »
This spreadsheet tracks your course of study toward the engineering major, from planning your first-year coursework to verifying your graduation requirements. Once you have declared a major your program sheet resides in your home department.

Research opportunities | View »
There are a number of programs that give undergraduate engineering students an opportunity to work with members of the faculty and their research groups on advanced research topics. Stanford Engineering's Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program gives undergraduate engineering students the means and opportunity to work with faculty members and their research groups. REU helps make advanced research projects more accessible to young engineers, while increasing the number of talented, enthusiastic students who pursue an education in engineering.

Advising resources | View »
Stanford places a very high priority on student advising, and considers it an integral part of teaching. The Undergraduate Advising Programs (UAP) offer expert advising services to all undergraduates. UAP services include peer advisors, freshman and sophomore advising, graduate school preparation, and more.

Introductory seminars | View »
Stanford Engineering seminars give freshmen and sophomores, from their very first days on campus, the chance to work in small-group settings with some of Stanford's most esteemed faculty. The courses are designed to foster long-term mentoring relationships between students and faculty. Faculty from the schools of medicine, law, engineering, Earth sciences, and education have joined their colleagues from the School of Humanities and Sciences to offer courses designed to encourage students to become active participants in the processes of learning and critical inquiry.

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Who are Stanford engineers?
Stanford Engineering students make up a diverse population at all levels of the school. In 2005, approximately 27% of our undergraduates and 23% of all graduate students were women. Ethnic minority students, including African Americans, Asians, Hispanics and Native Americans composed 60 percent of undergraduate and 38 percent of graduate degrees granted to students of U.S. residency and known ethnicity.