Students are admitted to study leading toward programs in Astronautical Engineering with concentration in one of the three major divisions of the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics. A pro-tem advisor will be appointed by the Department to assist each full-time student in program planning. Additionally, each fully-funded officer student has an educational code, the requirements of which are to be met within the appropriate division. Please see the Department Blue Book for selections and additional information.

Typically, a PhD degree program in the Department consists of two phases:
PHASE ONE: Course work and an examination period of six academic quarters, and phase two is dedicated to research. During phase one, all requirements for admission to candidacy (course work, examinations, and approval of research prospectus) are met.

PHASE TWO: Dedicated to research. This phase usually lasts 18-24 months, and the students devote their full attention to a research problem investigated under the direction of an approved member of the faculty of the Graduate School of Engineering and Management. A doctoral specialty may be pursued in any of the areas of concentration within the Department. Specialty coursework generally consists of one or more graduate sequences, augmented by the more advanced courses, which are offered for doctoral students. Students interested in a doctoral program should discuss those interests with a member of the department who is actively engaged in research in an area of interest to the student.