This is the preliminary (or launch) version of the 2024-2025 VCU Bulletin. Courses that expose students to cutting-edge content and transformative learning may be added and notification of additional program approvals may be received prior to finalization. General education program content is also subject to change. The final edition and full PDF version will include these updates and will be available in August prior to the beginning of the fall semester.
Program mission
The mission of the M.S. in Engineering degree is to provide graduate students with learning opportunities for acquiring a broad foundation of engineering knowledge including business and manufacturing aspects; an in-depth research experience at the frontiers of engineering; and skills for lifelong learning and professional development. Graduates of this program will pursue careers in business/industry and government, or will pursue doctoral degrees.
- Advanced research skills: To produce graduates who possess the necessary advanced analytical, technical and research skills in engineering and the sciences – responds directly to the higher goal of fulfilling the needs of industry, academe and research laboratories for effective, productive engineers, professors and researchers
- Communication: To produce graduates who possess a facility with both written and oral communications – emanates from the requirement that engineers, researchers and professors must be able to interact and share ideas with others in the work environment, and at a higher level, be capable of creative self-expression, conveying knowledge and leadership
- Advanced problem-solving: To produce graduates who demonstrate creativity and innovation in solving technological problems – stems from the realization that new knowledge and new solutions to existing problems are necessary to meet the needs of our changing society and to advance the quality of human life
Student learning outcomes
- Apply advanced knowledge of mathematics, science or engineering: Graduates will demonstrate an ability to apply advanced knowledge of mathematics, science or engineering.
- Communicate effectively: Graduates will demonstrate an ability to communicate effectively.
- Identify, formulate and solve engineering problems: Graduates will demonstrate an ability to identify, formulate and solve engineering problems.
VCU Graduate Bulletin, VCU Graduate School and general academic policies and regulations for all graduate students in all graduate programs
The VCU Graduate Bulletin website documents the official admission and academic rules and regulations that govern graduate education for all graduate programs at the university. These policies are established by the graduate faculty of the university through their elected representatives to the University Graduate Council.
It is the responsibility of all graduate students, both on- and off-campus, to be familiar with the VCU Graduate Bulletin as well as the Graduate School website and academic regulations in individual school and department publications and on program websites. However, in all cases, the official policies and procedures of the University Graduate Council, as published on the VCU Graduate Bulletin and Graduate School websites, take precedence over individual program policies and guidelines.
Visit the academic regulations section for additional information on academic regulations for graduate students.
Degree candidacy requirements
A graduate student admitted to a program or concentration requiring a final research project, work of art, thesis or dissertation, must qualify for continuing master’s or doctoral status according to the degree candidacy requirements of the student’s graduate program. Admission to degree candidacy, if applicable, is a formal statement by the graduate student’s faculty regarding the student’s academic achievements and the student’s readiness to proceed to the final research phase of the degree program.
Graduate students and program directors should refer to the following degree candidacy policy as published in the VCU Graduate Bulletin for complete information and instructions.
Visit the academic regulations section for additional information on degree candidacy requirements.
Graduation requirements
As graduate students approach the end of their academic programs and the final semester of matriculation, they must make formal application to graduate. No degrees will be conferred until the application to graduate has been finalized.
Graduate students and program directors should refer to the following graduation requirements as published in the Graduate Bulletin for a complete list of instructions and a graduation checklist.
Visit the academic regulations section for additional information on graduation requirements.
Other information
Student handbook is available on the College of Engineering website.
Admission requirements
| Degree: | Semester(s) of entry: | Deadline dates: | Test requirements: |
|---|---|---|---|
| M.S. | Fall (preferred) | Jun 1 (Jan 15 for financial assistance) | TOEFL or IELTS is required for international students |
| Spring | Nov 15 |
Note: Students may begin a course of study in either the fall or spring semesters for the engineering programs, although a start in the fall semester is preferred.
In addition to the general admission requirements of the VCU Graduate School and the College of Engineering, applicants to the electrical and computer engineering option must have a B.S. degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering or a closely related discipline.
Students in the VCU's electrical engineering B.S. and computer engineering B.S. programs can apply to this M.S. program at the end of their junior year, if they have a minimum major GPA of 3.2 and minimum overall GPA of 3.0. These students are not required to complete the GRE-general exam and should be admitted to the M.S. program for the next term immediately following their last semester of undergraduate study. For admission to the M.S. program, these students must:
- Fulfill all requirements for the B.S. degree in electrical engineering or computer engineering at VCU
- Maintain a minimum major GPA of 3.2 and minimum overall GPA of 3.0
- Complete a minimum of six credits of graduate course work in their senior year. Up to six credits of graduate course work which counted as technical electives toward requirements for the B.S. degree in electrical engineering or computer engineering can be counted toward the M.S. program.
Degree requirements
In addition to the VCU Graduate School graduation requirements, students must meet the following requirements.
Thesis option
Students seeking the M.S. degree are required to take a minimum of 30 credit hours of approved graduate courses (including research). Each student must complete 12 credit hours in concentration course work, 12 credit hours in concentration electives course work and six credit hours in thesis research. The student’s adviser must review and approve all course work and thesis research credit hours. The total of all credit hours must be at least 30. No elective courses may be used for both M.S. and Ph.D. degrees. At least half of the didactic credit hours required in the student’s program must be those designated as exclusively for graduate students, that is, those at the 600 level or above. Students may not present courses receiving grades lower than B for fulfilling degree requirements. More than six credits of C grades or lower in the student’s transcript will be considered unsatisfactory performance and may result in termination from the program.
Each student must conduct an original investigation under the supervision of the permanent adviser and prepare a thesis reporting the results of this research and analyzing its significance in relation to existing scientific knowledge. This study is reported in a thesis prepared in acceptable form and style. Upon approval of the thesis by the adviser, the student submits a copy to each member of the advisory committee. The student’s advisory committee members examine the thesis and decide upon its acceptability. Each committee member reports to the student’s adviser when the thesis is acceptable for defense. The thesis is approved for defense only if accepted unanimously. Upon approval of the thesis, the student appears for a final oral examination administered by the student’s advisory committee. This examination of an M.S. candidate includes the subject matter of course work as well as the thesis.
Non-thesis option
Students seeking the non-thesis M.S. degree are required to take a minimum of 30 credit hours of approved graduate courses. Each student must complete 15 credit hours in concentration course work and 15 credit hours in option electives course work.
Each non-thesis student must have a plan of study by the end of the first semester or prior to completing nine credit hours. This plan of study (and all revisions) must be approved by the student’s adviser and the assistant dean for graduate affairs of the College of Engineering. The student’s adviser must review/approve all course work in advance of enrollment. At least half the didactic credit hours required in the student’s program must be designated as 600 level or above. Students may not present courses receiving grades lower than B for fulfilling degree requirements. More than six credits of C grades or lower in the student’s transcript will be considered unsatisfactory performance and may result in termination from the program.
Curriculum requirements
Thesis option
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required graduate-level coursework | ||
| Engineering or other relevant graduate course work (including a minimum of 9 credit hours from 500-level or higher courses in EGRE, ENGR, EGRB, EGMN, CMSC, CLSE) approved by the advisory committee: This component allows the student to take courses in either engineering or science with approval of the student’s adviser. | 12 | |
| Concentration component | ||
| EGRE course work (EGRE 500-level or higher or courses approved by the advisory committee): This component allows the student to pursue a series of courses that focus on a specific field of engineering and serve as the student’s primary engineering discipline. | 12 | |
| Directed research component | ||
| This component emphasizes research directed toward completion of degree requirements under the direction of an adviser and advisory committee. | ||
| EGRE 697 | Directed Research in Electrical and Computer Engineering | 6 |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
The option can be tailored to meet the individual student’s academic goals and research interests. Students seeking to take course work and conduct their research in the electrical and computer engineering concentration should contact the graduate program coordinator or department chair of electrical and computer engineering for detailed information about that concentration.
The minimum number of graduate credit hours required for this degree is 30.
Non-thesis option
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required graduate-level coursework | ||
| Engineering or other relevant graduate course work (including a minimum of 9 credit hours from 500-level or higher courses in EGRE, ENGR, EGRB, EGMN, CMSC, CLSE) approved by the adviser: This component allows the student to take courses in either engineering or science with approval of the student’s adviser. | 15 | |
| Concentration component | ||
| EGRE course work (EGRE 500-level or higher or courses approved by the adviser): This component allows the student to pursue a series of courses that focus on a specific field of engineering and serve as the student’s primary engineering discipline. | 15 | |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
The option can be tailored to meet the individual student’s academic goals and research interests. Students seeking to take course work and conduct their research in the electrical and computer engineering concentration should contact the graduate program coordinator or department chair of electrical and computer engineering for detailed information about that concentration.
The minimum number of graduate credit hours required for this degree is 30.
Students who complete the requirements for this degree will receive a Master of Science in Engineering.
Accelerated opportunities
The department offers opportunities for qualified undergraduate students to earn both an undergraduate and graduate degree in a minimum of five years by completing approved graduate courses during the senior year of their undergraduate program. See the individual program pages in the Undergraduate Bulletin for details.
Contact
Zhifang Wang, Ph.D.
Associate professor and graduate program director
zfwang@vcu.edu
(804) 828-5330
Additional contact
Erdem Topsakal, Ph.D.
Professor and chair, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
etopsakal@vcu.edu
(804) 828-1313
Program website: electrical-and-computer.egr.vcu.edu/graduate