Stanford
Mechanical Engineering

Honors

Honors programs are designed to allow undergraduates with strong academic records and enthusiasm for independent research to engage in a significant project leading to a degree with departmental honors.

This option is particularly valuable for students who intend to pursue a PhD after college because it provides research experience that helps prepare a student for doctoral-level work. These programs require that the student find a faculty member from the Academic Council in the School of Engineering to supervise the work, in addition to a second reader.

The Department of Mechanical Engineering offers a program leading to a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering with Honors. This program provides a unique opportunity for qualified mechanical engineering majors to conduct independent study and research at an advanced level with a faculty mentor.

Honors criteria

  • GPA of 3.5 or higher in the major.
  • Arrangement with an ME faculty member who agrees to serve as the thesis advisor. The advisor must be a member of the Academic Council.
  • Application deadline: No later than the second week of the autumn quarter of the senior year.

Application

  • One-page written statement describing the research topic and signed ME Honors Thesis form.
  • Unofficial Stanford transcript (from Axess).
  • Signature of thesis advisor.
  • Submit all of the above to the Student Services Office, Building 530, Room 125.

Applications are subject to the review and final approval by the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee. Applicants and thesis advisors will receive written notification when a decision has been made.

In order to receive departmental honors

  • Declare the honors program in Axess.
  • Maintain the 3.5 GPA required for admissions to the honors program.
  • Under direction of the thesis advisor, complete at least 9 units of ME191H (Honors Thesis) during the senior year (optional).
  • Submit a completed thesis draft to the advisor by April 1.
  • Present the thesis synopsis at the Mechanical Engineering Poster Session held in April.

Further revisions and a final endorsement by the advisor are to be completed by May 15, when two bound copies are to be submitted to the Mechanical Engineering Services Office.