Located in Pasadena, California Institute of Technology's Graduate Aerospace Laboratories division is found within the school's Engineering and Applied Science Department. Its academic emphasis is on fundamentals and advanced diagnostics. Undergraduates in engineering who plan to continue their studies minor in aerospace and aeronautical engineering and must maintain a B average in those courses. A Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering is offered. The school works directly with the federal government's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics offers an undergraduate program. All students take general academic courses in the freshman year and declare their major in their sophomore year. Academics are coupled with research, and there is a two-semester experimental project laboratory. A summer intern program links students with businesses in the aerospace industry for practical experience. Graduate degree courses in aerospace engineering, space propulsion and space systems are included in the curriculum.
Located in Palo Alto, California, Stanford University's School of Engineering has an aeronautics and astronautics department. Undergraduates apply for admission to the university and declare a major in their junior year. Graduate students apply directly to the department for admission. Teaching and research are the major components of the curriculum, and coursework includes all aspects of aerospace engineering. An aero/astro master's degree is offered.
Georgia Institute of Technology's School of Aerospace Engineering is located in Atlanta. A four-year aerospace bachelor's degree is offered, as is a five-year combined bachelor/master's degree in aerospace engineering. Undergraduates apply for admission to the university, and graduate applications must be approved by the School of Aerospace Engineering. Academics, research and practical applications are the major components of the curriculum for undergraduates.