Welcome to the forum! I'm a former engineering student, so I understand your desire to learn.
Does the engine stumble or idle low just before it stalls, or does it just stall with no real indications/warnings? Does it generally idle fine? Does this seem to only happen when the engine has been off for quite some time (cold)? When's the last time the car had a tune up (spark plugs, plug wires, fuel filter, etc)?
Assuming the engine normally idles fine, I'd start with the simple things, like making sure the battery cables are clean and tight. If you're on the original battery, you might consider replacing it in the event there are some loose cells inside. Have you happened to notice if when the car stalls, other electrical items stop working (radio, lights blink, etc.)?
If you're confident that the battery is not the issue, you might pull the intake air tube at the throttle body and check for carbon build-up on the throttle plate. You may need to open the throttle plate to see this well. If there is quite a bit of carbon at the throttle plate, you might be snuffing the air to the engine when the throttle snaps closed, especially if the Idle Air Control (IAC) passages are restricted or the IAC is a bit slow to respond.
-Rod