This is the preliminary (or launch) version of the 2025-2026 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.
Mechanical engineering is one of the oldest and broadest engineering disciplines. Mechanical engineers design and analyze machines of all types, including automobiles, airplanes, rockets, submarines, power generation systems, biomedical instrumentation, robots, manufacturing systems, household appliances and many, many more.
In addition, mechanical engineers design and analyze the energy sources that provide power to machines, fluids that interact with machines and the materials from which machines are constructed. Mechanical engineers also work in cutting-edge fields such as nanotechnology, alternative energy sources and environmentally friendly "green" manufacturing processes. Another important application of mechanical engineering is in medicine, where artificial organs, surgical tools and drug-delivery systems are vital to human well-being.
Mechanical engineers are in continuous demand by virtually all industries and are also employed by state and federal governments and enjoy one of the highest starting salaries of all college majors. Mechanical engineering graduates can, if they wish, continue their studies and obtain advanced degrees in fields such as business, law, medicine and engineering.
The VCU Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering is the largest in the College of Engineering and offers an accredited B.S. degree in mechanical engineering, including the option of obtaining a major concentration nuclear engineering. The curriculum for the freshman year is the same with or without the nuclear concentration.
As part of the B.S. degree in mechanical engineering, all students complete an approved internship or cooperative education experience.
Student learning outcomes
Upon completing this program, students will demonstrate:
- An ability to identify, formulate and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science and mathematics
- An ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental and economic factors
- An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences
- An ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental and societal contexts
- An ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks and meet objectives
- An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
- An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies
Special requirements
Students must earn a minimum grade of C in all required engineering courses; in all courses used to satisfy nuclear engineering elective requirements; and in the following:
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MATH 200 | Calculus with Analytic Geometry I | 4 |
| MATH 201 | Calculus with Analytic Geometry II | 4 |
| MATH 301 | Differential Equations | 3 |
| MATH 307 | Multivariate Calculus | 4 |
| PHYS 207 | University Physics I | 5 |
Students must maintain a minimum major GPA of 2.0.
Degree requirements for Mechanical Engineering, Bachelor of Science (B.S.) with a concentration in nuclear engineering
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General education | ||
| Select 30 credits of general education courses in consultation with an adviser. | 30 | |
| Major requirements | ||
| • Major core requirements | ||
| EGMN 102 | Engineering Statics | 3 |
| EGMN 110 | Engineering Visualization | 2 |
| EGMN 190 | Introduction to Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering | 1 |
| EGMN 201 | Dynamics and Kinematics | 3 |
| EGMN 202 | Mechanics of Deformables | 3 |
| EGMN 203 | Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering Practicum | 1 |
| EGMN 204 | Thermodynamics | 3 |
| EGMN 210 | Computational Methods | 2 |
| EGMN 300 | Mechanical Systems Design | 3 |
| EGMN 301 | Fluid Mechanics | 3 |
| EGMN 302 | Heat Transfer | 3 |
| EGMN 303 | Thermal Systems Design | 3 |
| EGMN 309 | Material Science for Engineers | 3 |
| EGMN 311 | Solid Mechanics Lab | 1.5 |
| EGMN 312 | Thermal Sciences Lab | 1.5 |
| EGMN 315 | Process and Systems Dynamics | 3 |
| EGMN 321 | Numerical Methods | 3 |
| EGMN 402 | Senior Design Studio (Laboratory/Project Time) | 2 |
| EGMN 403 | Senior Design Studio (Laboratory/Project Time) | 2 |
| EGMN 420 | CAE Design | 3 |
| EGRE 206 | Electric Circuits | 4 |
| ENGR 395 | Professional Development | 1 |
| ENGR 402 | Senior Design Studio (Seminar) | 1 |
| ENGR 403 | Senior Design Studio (Seminar) | 1 |
| • Concentration requirements | ||
| EGMN 351 | Nuclear Engineering Fundamentals | 3 |
| EGMN 352 | Nuclear Reactor Theory | 3 |
| EGMN 355 | Radiation Safety and Shielding | 3 |
| EGMN 359 | Nuclear Power Plants | 3 |
| EGMN 456 | Reactor Design and Systems | 3 |
| EGMN 530 | System Analysis of the Nuclear Fuel Cycle | 3 |
| • Additional major requirements | ||
| Approved internship or cooperative education experience | 0 | |
| Part-time Internship Experience | ||
or ENGR 396 | Internship Experience | |
or ENGR 398 | Cooperative Education Experience | |
| Review of internship or cooperative education experience | 0 | |
| Internship Review | ||
or ENGR 498 | Review of Cooperative Education Experience | |
| • Major electives | ||
| Select nuclear engineering electives as described below. | 6 | |
| Ancillary requirements | ||
| CHEM 101 | General Chemistry I (satisfies general education BOK for natural sciences and AOI for scientific and logical reasoning) | 3 |
| CHEZ 101 | General Chemistry Laboratory I | 1 |
| MATH 200 | Calculus with Analytic Geometry I (satisfies general education quantitative foundations) | 4 |
| ECON 205 | The Economics of Product Development and Markets (satisfies general education BOK for social/behavorial sciences and AOI for global perspectives) | 3 |
| MATH 201 | Calculus with Analytic Geometry II | 4 |
| MATH 301 | Differential Equations | 3 |
| MATH 307 | Multivariate Calculus | 4 |
| MGMT 310 | Managing People in Organizations | 3 |
| or SCMA 350 | Introduction to Project Management | |
| PHYS 207 | University Physics I (satisfies general education BOK for natural sciences and AOI for scientific and logical reasoning) | 5 |
| PHYS 208 | University Physics II | 5 |
| Total Hours | 130 | |
The minimum number of credit hours required for this degree is 130.
Nuclear engineering electives
Mechanical engineering students completing the nuclear engineering concentration will choose two nuclear engineering elective courses from the following list. A special topic, independent study or other course may be used as a nuclear engineering elective with prior written approval of the department chair.
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| EGMN 510 | Probabilistic Risk Assessment | 3 |
| EGMN 545 | Energy Conversion Systems | 3 |
| EGMN 550 | Energy and Sustainability | 3 |
| EGMN 560 | Monte Carlo Simulations | 3 |
| EGMN 574 | Nuclear Safeguards, Security and Nonproliferation | 3 |
| EGMN 575 | Fast Breeder Reactors | 3 |
All courses used to satisfy nuclear engineering elective requirements must be completed with a minimum grade of C.
Courses taken at other institutions
Students enrolled in degree programs at VCU must receive prior approval to take courses at other institutions to ensure credits earned concurrently at another institution are accepted for transfer at VCU. After enrolling in the VCU undergraduate mechanical engineering program, a student must receive prior approval to complete any course at another institution, and the following policies apply.
- A student will not be approved to take an EGMN-equivalent course at another institution in a semester when the VCU course is offered. The department chair may approve an exception to this policy in extraordinary circumstances.
- A total of no more than two EGMN-equivalent courses can be taken at another institution after enrolling in the VCU mechanical engineering program. The department chair may approve additional courses in exceptional circumstances.
- A student may not transfer an EGMN-equivalent course from another institution for an EGMN course in which the student has a VCU honor code violation. The department chair may approve an exception to this policy in extraordinary circumstances.
- Courses other than EGMN-equivalent courses (EGRE, MATH, PHYS, etc.) may be approved to be taken outside of VCU if the student receives prior approval for each course using the appropriate VCU form.
What follows is a sample plan that meets the prescribed requirements within a four-year course of study at VCU. Please contact your adviser before beginning course work toward a degree.
| Freshman year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall semester | Hours | |
| CHEM 101 | General Chemistry I (satisfies general education BOK for natural sciences and AOI for scientific and logical reasoning) | 3 |
| CHEZ 101 | General Chemistry Laboratory I | 1 |
| EGMN 110 | Engineering Visualization | 2 |
| EGMN 190 | Introduction to Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering | 1 |
| MATH 200 | Calculus with Analytic Geometry I (satisfies general education quantitative foundations) | 4 |
UNIV 111  Play course video for Introduction to Focused Inquiry: Investigation and Communication | Introduction to Focused Inquiry: Investigation and Communication (satisfies general education UNIV foundations) | 3 |
| General education course | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 17 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| EGMN 102 | Engineering Statics | 3 |
| EGMN 203 | Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering Practicum | 1 |
| MATH 201 | Calculus with Analytic Geometry II | 4 |
| PHYS 207 | University Physics I (satisfies general education BOK for natural sciences and AOI for scientific and logical reasoning) | 5 |
| UNIV 112 Play course video for Focused Inquiry II | Focused Inquiry II (satisfies general education UNIV foundations) | 3 |
| Term Hours: | 16 | |
| Sophomore year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| EGMN 201 | Dynamics and Kinematics | 3 |
| EGMN 202 | Mechanics of Deformables | 3 |
| EGMN 351 | Nuclear Engineering Fundamentals | 3 |
| ENGR 395 | Professional Development | 1 |
| MATH 301 | Differential Equations | 3 |
| PHYS 208 | University Physics II | 5 |
| Term Hours: | 18 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| EGMN 204 | Thermodynamics | 3 |
| EGMN 210 | Computational Methods | 2 |
| EGMN 359 | Nuclear Power Plants | 3 |
| EGRE 206 | Electric Circuits | 4 |
| MATH 307 | Multivariate Calculus | 4 |
| Term Hours: | 16 | |
| Junior year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| EGMN 300 | Mechanical Systems Design | 3 |
| EGMN 301 | Fluid Mechanics | 3 |
| EGMN 311 | Solid Mechanics Lab | 1.5 |
| EGMN 321 | Numerical Methods | 3 |
| EGMN 355 | Radiation Safety and Shielding | 3 |
| UNIV 200 | Advanced Focused Inquiry: Literacies, Research and Communication (satisfies general education UNIV foundations) | 3 |
| Term Hours: | 16.5 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| EGMN 302 | Heat Transfer | 3 |
| EGMN 303 | Thermal Systems Design | 3 |
| EGMN 312 | Thermal Sciences Lab | 1.5 |
| EGMN 352 | Nuclear Reactor Theory | 3 |
| EGMN 420 | CAE Design | 3 |
| Nuclear engineering elective | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 16.5 | |
| Summer semester | ||
| ENGR 396 | Internship Experience | 0 |
| Term Hours: | 0 | |
| Senior year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| ECON 205 | The Economics of Product Development and Markets (satisfies general education BOK for social/behavorial sciences and AOI for global perspectives) | 3 |
| EGMN 309 | Material Science for Engineers | 3 |
| EGMN 402 | Senior Design Studio (Laboratory/Project Time) | 2 |
| EGMN 456 | Reactor Design and Systems | 3 |
| ENGR 402 | Senior Design Studio (Seminar) | 1 |
| ENGR 496 | Internship Review | 0 |
| General education course (select AOI for diversities in the human experience or AOI for creativity, innovation and aesthetic inquiry; select a course that also satisfies BOK for humanities/fine arts if not already satisfied by another course) | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| EGMN 315 | Process and Systems Dynamics | 3 |
| EGMN 403 | Senior Design Studio (Laboratory/Project Time) | 2 |
| EGMN 530 | System Analysis of the Nuclear Fuel Cycle | 3 |
| ENGR 403 | Senior Design Studio (Seminar) | 1 |
| MGMT 310 or SCMA 350 | Managing People in Organizations or Introduction to Project Management | 3 |
| Nuclear engineering elective | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Total Hours: | 130 | |
The minimum number of credit hours required for this degree is 130.
Accelerated B.S. and M.S.
The accelerated B.S. and M.S. program allows qualified students to earn both the B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and M.S. in Biomedical Engineering (either thesis or non-thesis option) in a minimum of five years by completing approved graduate courses during the senior year of their undergraduate program. Students may count up to 12 hours of graduate courses toward both the B.S. and M.S. degrees. Thus, the two degrees may be earned with a minimum of 148 credits rather than the 160 credits necessary if the two degrees are pursued separately.
Students holding these degrees will have a head start for pursuing careers in industry or continuing in academia. The M.S. degree with a thesis option provides formal research experience and both options can lead to expanded job opportunities, greater potential for job advancement and higher starting salaries.
Entrance to the accelerated program
Interested undergraduate students should consult with their adviser as early as possible to receive specific information about the accelerated program, determine academic eligibility and submit (no later than two semesters prior to graduating with a baccalaureate degree, that is, before the end of the spring semester of their junior year) an Accelerated Program Declaration Form to be approved by the graduate program director. Limited spaces may be available in the accelerated program. Academically qualified students may not receive approval if capacity has been reached.
Minimum qualifications for entrance to this accelerated program include completion of 95 undergraduate credits, including the prerequisite courses for the capstone project and a minimum of 11 courses from the major requirements; an overall minimum GPA of 3.0; and a minimum GPA of 3.2 in major course work. Students who are interested in the accelerated program should consult with the graduate director before they have completed 95 undergraduate credits.
Once enrolled in the accelerated program, students must meet the standards of performance applicable to graduate students as described in the “Satisfactory academic progress” section of the Graduate Bulletin, including maintaining a 3.0 GPA. Guidance to students admitted to the accelerated program is provided by both the MNE undergraduate program director and the BME graduate program director.
Admission to the graduate program
Entrance to the accelerated program enables the student to take the approved shared courses that will apply to the undergraduate and graduate degrees. However, entry into an accelerated program via an approved Accelerated Program Declaration Form does not constitute application or admission into the graduate program. Admission to the graduate program requires a separate step that occurs through a formal application to the master’s program, which is submitted through Graduate Admissions no later than a semester prior to graduation with the baccalaureate degree, that is, before the end of the fall semester of the senior year. In order to continue pursuing the master’s degree after the baccalaureate degree is conferred, accelerated students must follow the admission to graduate study requirements outlined in the VCU Bulletin. The GRE is waived for the admission to the M.S.
Degree requirements
The Bachelor of Science in a Mechanical Engineering degree will be awarded upon completion of a minimum of 130 credits and the satisfactory completion of all undergraduate degree requirements as stated in the Undergraduate Bulletin.
A maximum of 12 graduate credits of 500-level graduate courses may be taken prior to completion of the baccalaureate degree. These graduate credits will be utilized to fulfill engineering electives course requirements for the undergraduate degree. These courses are shared credits with the graduate program, meaning that they will be applied to both undergraduate and graduate degree requirements.
The graduate courses that may be taken as an undergraduate, once a student is admitted to the program, must be approved by the adviser or graduate program director and include 500-level courses from the following subject areas: EGMN, EGRM, ENGR, EGRN, EGRB, EGRE, CLSE, CMSC, PHYS, MATH, NANO, CHEM, BIOL, GRAD, LFSC, INNO and OVPR.
Recommended plan of study for thesis master’s
What follows is the recommended plan of study for students interested in the accelerated program beginning in the fall of the senior year prior to admission to the accelerated program in the senior year.
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Senior year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| EGMN 402 | Senior Design Studio (Laboratory/Project Time) | 2 |
| EGMN 416 | Mechatronics | 3 |
| ENGR 402 | Senior Design Studio (Seminar) | 1 |
| ENGR 496 | Internship Review | 0 |
| Technical elective (consider BME course for accelerated pathway) | 6 | |
| General education course (select AOI for diversities in the human experience; recommended to select a course that also satisfies BOK for humanities/fine arts if not already satisfied) | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| EGMN 403 | Senior Design Studio (Laboratory/Project Time) | 2 |
| ENGR 403 | Senior Design Studio (Seminar) | 1 |
| MGMT 310 | Managing People in Organizations | 3 |
| Technical elective (consider BME course for accelerated pathway) | 6 | |
| General education course or open elective (select general education BOK for humanities/fine arts; if all general education requirements are already satisfied, select an open elective) | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Fifth year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| EGRB 601 | Numerical Methods and Modeling in Biomedical Engineering | 4 |
| EGRB 697 | Directed Research in Biomedical Engineering | 4 |
| Open elective (EGRB, EGMN, ENGR, PHYS, MATH, CMSC, BIOL, PHIS, or BIOC at 500-level or above) | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 11 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| EGRB 602 | Biomedical Engineering Systems Physiology | 4 |
| EGRB 690 | Biomedical Engineering Research Seminar | 1 |
| EGRB 697 | Directed Research in Biomedical Engineering | 4 |
| Term Hours: | 9 | |
Recommended plan of study for non-thesis master’s
What follows is the recommended plan of study for students interested in the accelerated program beginning in the fall of the senior year prior to admission to the accelerated program in the senior year.
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Senior year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| EGMN 402 | Senior Design Studio (Laboratory/Project Time) | 2 |
| EGMN 416 | Mechatronics | 3 |
| ENGR 402 | Senior Design Studio (Seminar) | 1 |
| ENGR 496 | Internship Review | 0 |
| Technical elective (consider BME course for accelerated pathway) | 6 | |
| General education course (select AOI for diversities in the human experience; recommended to select a course that also satisfies BOK for humanities/fine arts if not already satisfied) | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| EGMN 403 | Senior Design Studio (Laboratory/Project Time) | 2 |
| ENGR 403 | Senior Design Studio (Seminar) | 1 |
| MGMT 310 | Managing People in Organizations | 3 |
| Technical elective (consider BME course for accelerated pathway) | 6 | |
| General education course or open elective (select general education BOK for humanities/fine arts; if all general education requirements are already satisfied, select an open elective) | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Fifth year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| EGRB 601 | Numerical Methods and Modeling in Biomedical Engineering | 4 |
| EGRB technical electives (500-level or above) | 3 | |
| Open elective (EGRB, EGMN, ENGR, PHYS, MATH, CMSC, BIOL, PHIS, or BIOC at 500-level or above) | 6 | |
| Term Hours: | 13 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| EGRB 602 | Biomedical Engineering Systems Physiology | 4 |
| EGRB 690 | Biomedical Engineering Research Seminar | 1 |
| Open elective (EGRB, EGMN, ENGR, PHYS, MATH, CMSC, BIOL, PHIS, or BIOC at 500-level or above) | 6 | |
| Term Hours: | 11 | |
Accelerated B.S. and M.S.
The accelerated B.S. and M.S. program allows qualified students to earn both the B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and M.S. in Computer Science in a minimum of five years by completing approved graduate courses during the senior year of their undergraduate program. Students may count up to 12 hours of graduate courses toward both the B.S. and M.S. degrees. Thus, the two degrees may be earned with a minimum of 148 credits rather than the 160 credits necessary if the two degrees are pursued separately.
Students holding these degrees can qualify for more advanced professional positions in industry and enhance knowledge of specific areas.
Entrance to the accelerated program
Interested undergraduate students should consult with their adviser as early as possible to receive specific information about the accelerated program, determine academic eligibility and submit (no later than two semesters prior to graduating with a baccalaureate degree, that is, before the end of the spring semester of their junior year) an Accelerated Program Declaration Form to be approved by the graduate program director. Limited spaces may be available in the accelerated program. Academically qualified students may not receive approval if capacity has been reached.
Minimum qualifications for entrance to this accelerated program include an overall GPA of 3.0. For acceptance into this accelerated pathway, students must have completed CMSC 257, CMSC 311, CMSC 355, and CMSC 401 courses with a GPA of at least 3.4.
Once enrolled in the accelerated program, students must meet the standards of performance applicable to graduate students as described in the “Satisfactory academic progress” section of the Graduate Bulletin, including maintaining a 3.0 GPA. Guidance to students in an accelerated program is provided by both the undergraduate mechanical engineering adviser and the graduate program director for the master’s degree in computer science.
Admission to the graduate program
Entrance to the accelerated program enables the student to take the approved shared courses that will apply to the undergraduate and graduate degrees. However, entry into an accelerated program via an approved Accelerated Program Declaration Form does not constitute application or admission into the graduate program. Admission to the graduate program requires a separate step that occurs through a formal application to the master’s program, which is submitted through Graduate Admissions no later than a semester prior to graduation with the baccalaureate degree, that is, before the end of the fall semester of the senior year. In order to continue pursuing the master’s degree after the baccalaureate degree is conferred, accelerated students must follow the admission to graduate study requirements outlined in the VCU Bulletin. The GRE is waived for the admission to the M.S.
Degree requirements
The Bachelor of Science in a Mechanical Engineering degree will be awarded upon completion of a minimum of 130 credits and the satisfactory completion of all undergraduate degree requirements as stated in the Undergraduate Bulletin.
A maximum of 12 graduate credits may be taken prior to completion of the baccalaureate degree. These graduate credits will be utilized to fulfill technical electives requirements for the undergraduate degree. These courses are shared credits with the graduate program, meaning that they will be applied to both undergraduate and graduate degree requirements.
The graduate courses that may be taken as an undergraduate, once a student is admitted to the program, must be approved by the adviser or graduate program director and include 500-level courses from the following subject areas: EGMN, EGRM, ENGR, EGRN, EGRB, EGRE, CLSE, CMSC, PHYS, MATH, NANO, CHEM, BIOL, GRAD, LFSC and OVPR.
Recommended course sequence/plan of study for students pursuing a thesis master’s
What follows is the recommended plan of study for students interested in the accelerated program beginning in the fall of the junior year prior to admission to the accelerated program in the senior year.
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Senior year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| EGMN 402 | Senior Design Studio (Laboratory/Project Time) | 2 |
| EGMN 416 | Mechatronics | 3 |
| ENGR 402 | Senior Design Studio (Seminar) | 1 |
| ENGR 496 | Internship Review | 0 |
| Technical elective (consider CS course for accelerated pathway) | 6 | |
| General education course (select AOI for diversities in the human experience; recommended to select a course that also satisfies BOK for humanities/fine arts if not already satisfied) | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| EGMN 403 | Senior Design Studio (Laboratory/Project Time) | 2 |
| ENGR 403 | Senior Design Studio (Seminar) | 1 |
| MGMT 310 | Managing People in Organizations | 3 |
| Technical elective (consider CS course for accelerated pathway) | 6 | |
| General education course or open elective (select general education BOK for humanities/fine arts; if all general education requirements are already satisfied, select an open elective) | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Fifth year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| CMSC 697 | Directed Research | 3 |
| M.S. foundational area courses (theory and systems) 1 | 6 | |
| Term Hours: | 9 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| CMSC 697 | Directed Research | 6 |
| M.S. foundational area course (applied) | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 9 | |
select 500-level courses from EGMN, EGRM, ENGR, EGRN, EGRB, EGRE, CLSE, CMSC, PHYS, MATH, NANO, CHEM, BIOL, GRAD, LFSC and OVPR.
See the Graduate Bulletin for the list of theory, systems and applied foundational courses.
Recommended course sequence/plan of study for students pursuing a non-thesis master’s
What follows is the recommended plan of study for students interested in the accelerated program beginning in the fall of the junior year prior to admission to the accelerated program in the senior year.
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Senior year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| EGMN 402 | Senior Design Studio (Laboratory/Project Time) | 2 |
| EGMN 416 | Mechatronics | 3 |
| ENGR 402 | Senior Design Studio (Seminar) | 1 |
| ENGR 496 | Internship Review | 0 |
| Technical elective (consider CS course for accelerated pathway) | 6 | |
| General education course (select AOI for diversities in the human experience; recommended to select a course that also satisfies BOK for humanities/fine arts if not already satisfied) | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| EGMN 403 | Senior Design Studio (Laboratory/Project Time) | 2 |
| ENGR 403 | Senior Design Studio (Seminar) | 1 |
| MGMT 310 | Managing People in Organizations | 3 |
| Technical elective (consider CS course for accelerated pathway) | 6 | |
| General education course or open elective (select general education BOK for humanities/fine arts; if all general education requirements are already satisfied, select an open elective) | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Fifth year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| M.S. foundational area courses (theory and systems) 1 | 9 | |
| Term Hours: | 9 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| Graduate didactic course work | 9 | |
| Term Hours: | 9 | |
See the Graduate Bulletin for the list of theory, systems and applied foundational courses.
Accelerated B.S. and M.S.
The accelerated B.S.-to-M.S. program allows qualified students to earn both the B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and the M.S. in Engineering, concentration in aerospace engineering; chemical and life science engineering; electrical and computer engineering; engineering management; environmental and sustainable engineering; rehabilitation engineering; systems engineering; or tissue engineering and regenerative medicine in a minimum of five years by completing approved graduate courses during the senior year of their undergraduate program. Students in the program may count up to twelve hours of graduate courses toward both the B.S. and M.S. degrees.
Students holding these degrees will have a head start for pursuing careers in industry or continuing in academia. The M.S. degree provides formal research experience and can lead to expanded job opportunities, greater potential for job advancement and higher starting salaries.
Entrance to the accelerated program
Interested undergraduate students should consult with their adviser as early as possible to receive specific information about the accelerated program, determine academic eligibility and submit (no later than two semesters prior to graduating with a baccalaureate degree, that is, before the end of the spring semester of their junior year) an Accelerated Program Declaration Form to be approved by the graduate program director. Limited spaces may be available in the accelerated program. Academically qualified students may not receive approval if capacity has been reached.
Minimum qualifications for entrance to any accelerated program include completion of 95 undergraduate credit hours and a minimum overall GPA of 3.0. Students who are interested in the accelerated program should consult with the faculty adviser to the graduate program before they have completed 95 credits. Successful applicants would enter the program in the following semester after graduation with the bachelor's degree.
Once enrolled in the accelerated program, students must meet the standards of performance applicable to graduate students as described in the “Satisfactory academic progress” section of the Graduate Bulletin, including maintaining a 3.0 GPA. Guidance to students admitted to the accelerated program is provided by both the undergraduate graduate program adviser and the graduate program director.
Admission to the graduate program
Entrance to the accelerated program enables the student to take the approved shared courses that will apply to the undergraduate and graduate degrees. However, entry into an accelerated program via an approved Accelerated Program Declaration Form does not constitute application or admission into the graduate program. Admission to the graduate program requires a separate step that occurs through a formal application to the master’s program, which is submitted through Graduate Admissions no later than a semester prior to graduation with the baccalaureate degree, that is before the end of the fall semester of the senior year. In order to continue pursuing the master’s degree after the baccalaureate degree is conferred, accelerated students must follow the admission to graduate study requirements outlined in the VCU Bulletin. The GRE and application fee is waived for admission to the program for all students. Additionally, for students pursuing the thesis option of the master’s program, a letter of endorsement from a prospective thesis adviser from a faculty member in the relevant department may accompany the application.
Degree requirements
The Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering degree will be awarded upon completion of all undergraduate degree requirements as stated in the Undergraduate Bulletin.
For students entering the non-thesis option, a maximum of 12 graduate credits may be taken prior to the completion of the baccalaureate degree. For students entering the thesis option, a maximum of 12 graduate credits may be taken. These graduate credits will count as open or technical elective credits for the undergraduate degree. These courses are shared credits with the graduate program, meaning that they will be applied to both undergraduate and graduate degree requirements.
The graduate courses that may be taken as an undergraduate, once a student is admitted to the program, must be approved by the adviser or graduate program director and include 500-level courses from the following subject areas: EGMN, EGRM, ENGR, EGRN, EGRB, EGRE, CLSE, CMSC, PHYS, MATH, NANO, CHEM, BIOL, GRAD, LFSC, INNO and OVPR.
Curriculum requirements
Concentration in aerospace engineering
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 | ||
| EGMN 604 | Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering Materials | 3 |
| EGMN 605 | Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering Analysis | 3 |
| EGMN 606 | Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering Continuum Mechanics | 3 |
| EGMN 607 | Heat and Mass Transfer Theory and Applications | 3 |
| Directed research component | ||
| This component emphasizes research directed toward completion of degree requirements under the direction of an adviser and advisory committee. | ||
| EGMN 697 | Directed Research in Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering | 6 |
| Total Hours | 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 | ||
| EGMN 604 | Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering Materials | 3 |
| EGMN 605 | Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering Analysis | 3 |
| EGMN 606 | Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering Continuum Mechanics | 3 |
| EGMN 607 | Heat and Mass Transfer Theory and Applications | 3 |
| EGMN 661 | Computational Fluid Dynamics | 3 |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
Concentration in chemical and life science engineering
Thesis option
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required graduate-level coursework | ||
| Engineering or other relevant graduate course work (including a minimum of 6 credit hours from 500-level or higher courses in EGRE, ENGR, EGRB, EGMN, CMSC, CLSE, PESC) 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. | 9 | |
| Concentration component - CLSE course work | ||
| CLSE 650 | Quantitative Analysis in Chemical and Life Science Engineering | 3 |
| CLSE 654 | Equilibrium Analysis in Chemical and Biological Systems | 3 |
| CLSE 655 | Nonequilibrium Analysis in Chemical and Life Science Engineering | 3 |
| CLSE 656 | Advanced Chemical Reaction Engineering | 3 |
| Choose additional CLSE course work at the 500 level or higher | 3 | |
| Directed research | ||
| Select six credit hours from the following: | 6 | |
| Research Seminar in Chemical and Life Science Engineering | ||
| Directed Research in Chemical and Life Science Engineering | ||
| Total Hours | 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, PESC) approved by the adviser: This component allows the student to take courses in either engineering or science with approval of the student’s adviser. | 12 | |
| Concentration component - CLSE course work | ||
| CLSE 650 | Quantitative Analysis in Chemical and Life Science Engineering | 3 |
| CLSE 654 | Equilibrium Analysis in Chemical and Biological Systems | 3 |
| CLSE 655 | Nonequilibrium Analysis in Chemical and Life Science Engineering | 3 |
| CLSE 656 | Advanced Chemical Reaction Engineering | 3 |
| Choose additional CLSE course work at the 500 level or higher | 6 | |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
Concentration in electrical and computer engineering
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 | |
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 | |
Concentration in engineering management
| 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 advisor. This component allows the student to take courses in either engineering or science with approval of the student’s adviser. | 18 | |
| Concentration component | ||
| EGMN 507 | Law and Engineering | 3 |
| ENGR 601 | Engineering Project Management | 3 |
| ENGR 602 | Engineering Contracts and Effective Negotiations | 3 |
| ENGR 696 | Engineering Products and Economic Considerations | 3 |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
Concentration in environmental and sustainable engineering
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 | ||
| CLSE 545 | Water Essentials | 3 |
| CLSE 580 | Sustainable Chemical Engineering | 3 |
| CLSE 650 | Quantitative Analysis in Chemical and Life Science Engineering | 3 |
| CLSE 655 | Nonequilibrium Analysis in Chemical and Life Science Engineering | 3 |
| Directed research component | ||
| This component emphasizes research directed toward completion of degree requirements under the direction of an adviser and advisory committee. | ||
| CLSE 697 | Directed Research in Chemical and Life Science Engineering | 6 |
| Total Hours | 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. | 18 | |
| Concentration component | ||
| CLSE 545 | Water Essentials | 3 |
| CLSE 580 | Sustainable Chemical Engineering | 3 |
| CLSE 650 | Quantitative Analysis in Chemical and Life Science Engineering | 3 |
| CLSE 655 | Nonequilibrium Analysis in Chemical and Life Science Engineering | 3 |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
Concentration in rehabilitation engineering
Thesis option
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required graduate-level coursework | ||
| Engineering or other relevant graduate course work (including a minimum of 6 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. | 8 | |
| Concentration component | ||
| EGRB 520 | Assistive Technology | 3 |
| EGRB 521 | Human Factors Engineering | 3 |
| EGRB 523 | Rehabilitation Engineering and Prostheses | 3 |
| EGRB 603 | Biomedical Signal Processing | 3 |
| ANAT 610 | Systems Neuroscience | 4 |
| Directed research | ||
| EGRB 697 | Directed Research in Biomedical Engineering | 6 |
| Total Hours | 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. | 14 | |
| Concentration component | ||
| EGRB 520 | Assistive Technology | 3 |
| EGRB 521 | Human Factors Engineering | 3 |
| EGRB 523 | Rehabilitation Engineering and Prostheses | 3 |
| EGRB 603 | Biomedical Signal Processing | 3 |
| ANAT 610 | Systems Neuroscience | 4 |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
Concentration in systems engineering
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 510 | Introduction to Internet of Things | 3 |
| EGRE 512 | Intelligent Autonomous Systems | 3 |
| EGRE 513 | Fundamentals of Modern Systems Engineering | 3 |
| EGRE 615 | Systems Modeling | 3 |
| 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 | |
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. | 18 | |
| Concentration component | ||
| EGRE 510 | Introduction to Internet of Things | 3 |
| EGRE 512 | Intelligent Autonomous Systems | 3 |
| EGRE 513 | Fundamentals of Modern Systems Engineering | 3 |
| EGRE 615 | Systems Modeling | 3 |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
Concentration in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine
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 - TERM course work | ||
| EGRB 512 | Regenerative Engineering and Medicine | 3 |
| EGRB 613 | Biomaterials | 3 |
| EGRB 614 | Tissue Engineering | 3 |
| EGRB 616 | Cell Engineering | 3 |
| Directed research | ||
| EGRB 697 | Directed Research in Biomedical Engineering | 6 |
| Total Hours | 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 - TERM course work | ||
| EGRB 512 | Regenerative Engineering and Medicine | 3 |
| EGRB 613 | Biomaterials | 3 |
| EGRB 614 | Tissue Engineering | 3 |
| EGRB 616 | Cell Engineering | 3 |
| Choose additional course work at the 500 level or higher | 3 | |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
Recommended course sequence/plan of study
What follows is the recommended plan of study for students interested in the accelerated program beginning in the fall of the junior/senior year prior to admission to the accelerated program in the senior year.
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Junior year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| EGMN 300 | Mechanical Systems Design | 3 |
| EGMN 301 | Fluid Mechanics | 3 |
| EGMN 311 | Solid Mechanics Lab | 1.5 |
| EGMN 321 | Numerical Methods | 3 |
| EGMN 420 | CAE Design | 3 |
| STAT 441 | Applied Statistics for Engineers and Scientists | 3 |
| Term Hours: | 16.5 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| ECON 205 | The Economics of Product Development and Markets | 3 |
| EGMN 302 | Heat Transfer | 3 |
| EGMN 303 | Thermal Systems Design | 3 |
| EGMN 312 | Thermal Sciences Lab | 1.5 |
| EGMN 315 | Process and Systems Dynamics | 3 |
| EGMN 421 | CAE Analysis | 3 |
| Term Hours: | 16.5 | |
| Summer semester | ||
| ENGR 396 | Internship Experience | 0 |
| Term Hours: | 0 | |
| Senior year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| EGMN 402 | Senior Design Studio (Laboratory/Project Time) | 2 |
| EGMN 416 | Mechatronics | 3 |
| ENGR 402 | Senior Design Studio (Seminar) | 1 |
| ENGR 496 | Internship Review | 0 |
| Engineering elective (Shared 500-level course) 1 | 3 | |
| Engineering or professional elective (Shared 500-level course) 1 | 3 | |
| General education course (select AOI for diversities in the human experience; recommended to select a course that also satisfies BOK for humanities/fine arts if not already satisfied) | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| EGMN 403 | Senior Design Studio (Laboratory/Project Time) | 2 |
| ENGR 403 | Senior Design Studio (Seminar) | 1 |
| MGMT 310 | Managing People in Organizations | 3 |
| Engineering elective (Shared; select 500-level course) 1 | 3 | |
| Engineering or professional elective (Shared; select 500-level course) 1 | 3 | |
| General education course (select AOI for diversities in the human experience; recommended to select a course that also satisfies BOK for humanities/fine arts if not already satisfied) | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
EGMN, EGRM, ENGR, EGRN, EGRB, EGRE, CLSE, CMSC, PHYS, MATH, NANO, CHEM, BIOL, GRAD, LFSC and OVPR at 500-level or above
Concentration in aerospace engineering
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Fifth year | ||
| Thesis option | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| Required graduate-level courses 1 | 3 | |
| Concentration specific courses | 6 | |
| Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering Materials | ||
| Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering Analysis | ||
| Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering Continuum Mechanics | ||
| Heat and Mass Transfer Theory and Applications | ||
| Directed research 2 | 3 | |
| Directed Research in Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering | ||
| Term Hours: | 12 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| Required graduate-level courses 1 | 3 | |
| Concentration specific courses | 6 | |
| Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering Materials | ||
| Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering Analysis | ||
| Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering Continuum Mechanics | ||
| Heat and Mass Transfer Theory and Applications | ||
| Directed research 2 | 3 | |
| Directed Research in Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering | ||
| Term Hours: | 12 | |
| Non-thesis option | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| Required graduate-level courses 1 | 3 | |
| Concentration specific courses | 6 | |
| Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering Materials | ||
| Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering Analysis | ||
| Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering Continuum Mechanics | ||
| Heat and Mass Transfer Theory and Applications | ||
| Computational Fluid Dynamics | ||
| Term Hours: | 9 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| Required graduate-level courses 1 | 3 | |
| Concentration specific courses | 6 | |
| Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering Materials | ||
| Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering Analysis | ||
| Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering Continuum Mechanics | ||
| Heat and Mass Transfer Theory and Applications | ||
| Computational Fluid Dynamics | ||
| Term Hours: | 9 | |
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.
This component emphasizes research directed toward completion of degree requirements under the direction of an adviser and advisory committee.
Concentration in chemical and life science engineering
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Fifth year | ||
| Thesis option | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| Required graduate-level courses 1 | 3 | |
| Concentration specific courses | 6 | |
| Quantitative Analysis in Chemical and Life Science Engineering | ||
| Equilibrium Analysis in Chemical and Biological Systems | ||
| Nonequilibrium Analysis in Chemical and Life Science Engineering | ||
| Advanced Chemical Reaction Engineering | ||
| Directed research 2 | 3 | |
| Research Seminar in Chemical and Life Science Engineering | ||
| Directed Research in Chemical and Life Science Engineering | ||
| Term Hours: | 12 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| Required graduate-level courses 1 | 3 | |
| Concentration specific courses | 6 | |
| Quantitative Analysis in Chemical and Life Science Engineering | ||
| Equilibrium Analysis in Chemical and Biological Systems | ||
| Nonequilibrium Analysis in Chemical and Life Science Engineering | ||
| Advanced Chemical Reaction Engineering | ||
Choose additional CLSE course work at the 500 level or higher | ||
| Directed research 2 | 3 | |
| Research Seminar in Chemical and Life Science Engineering | ||
| Directed Research in Chemical and Life Science Engineering | ||
| Term Hours: | 12 | |
| Non-thesis option | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| Required graduate-level courses 1 | 3 | |
| Concentration specific courses | 6 | |
| Quantitative Analysis in Chemical and Life Science Engineering | ||
| Equilibrium Analysis in Chemical and Biological Systems | ||
| Nonequilibrium Analysis in Chemical and Life Science Engineering | ||
| Advanced Chemical Reaction Engineering | ||
| Term Hours: | 9 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| Required graduate-level courses 1 | 3 | |
| Concentration specific courses | 6 | |
| Quantitative Analysis in Chemical and Life Science Engineering | ||
| Equilibrium Analysis in Chemical and Biological Systems | ||
| Nonequilibrium Analysis in Chemical and Life Science Engineering | ||
| Advanced Chemical Reaction Engineering | ||
| Term Hours: | 9 | |
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.
This component emphasizes research directed toward completion of degree requirements under the direction of an adviser and advisory committee.
Concentration in electrical and computer engineering
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Fifth year | ||
| Thesis option | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| Required graduate-level courses 1 | 3 | |
| Concentration specifc courses 2 | 6 | |
| Directed research 3 | 3 | |
| Directed Research in Electrical and Computer Engineering | ||
| Term Hours: | 12 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| Required graduate-level courses 1 | 3 | |
| Concentration specific courses 2 | 6 | |
| Directed research 3 | 3 | |
| Directed Research in Electrical and Computer Engineering | ||
| Term Hours: | 12 | |
| Non-thesis option | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| Required graduate-level courses 1 | 3 | |
| Concentration specific courses 2 | 6 | |
| Term Hours: | 9 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| Required graduate-level courses 1 | 3 | |
| Concentration specific courses 2 | 6 | |
| Term Hours: | 9 | |
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.
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.
This component emphasizes research directed toward completion of degree requirements under the direction of an adviser and advisory committee.
Concentration in engineering management
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Fifth year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| Required graduate-level courses 1 | 3 | |
| Concentration specifc courses | 6 | |
| Law and Engineering | ||
| Engineering Project Management | ||
| Engineering Contracts and Effective Negotiations | ||
| Engineering Products and Economic Considerations | ||
| Term Hours: | 9 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| Required graduate-level courses | 3 | |
| Concentration specific courses | 6 | |
| Law and Engineering | ||
| Engineering Project Management | ||
| Engineering Contracts and Effective Negotiations | ||
| Engineering Products and Economic Considerations | ||
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.
Concentration in environmental and sustainable engineering
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Fifth year | ||
| Thesis option | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| Required graduate-level courses 1 | 3 | |
| Concentration specific | 6 | |
| Water Essentials | ||
| Sustainable Chemical Engineering | ||
| Quantitative Analysis in Chemical and Life Science Engineering | ||
| Nonequilibrium Analysis in Chemical and Life Science Engineering | ||
| Directed research 2 | 3 | |
| Directed Research in Chemical and Life Science Engineering | ||
| Term Hours: | 12 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| Required graduate-level courses 1 | 3 | |
| Concentration specific courses | 6 | |
| Water Essentials | ||
| Sustainable Chemical Engineering | ||
| Quantitative Analysis in Chemical and Life Science Engineering | ||
| Nonequilibrium Analysis in Chemical and Life Science Engineering | ||
| Directed research 2 | 3 | |
| Directed Research in Chemical and Life Science Engineering | ||
| Term Hours: | 12 | |
| Non-thesis option | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| Required graduate-level courses 1 | 3 | |
| Concentration specific courses | 6 | |
| Water Essentials | ||
| Sustainable Chemical Engineering | ||
| Quantitative Analysis in Chemical and Life Science Engineering | ||
| Nonequilibrium Analysis in Chemical and Life Science Engineering | ||
| Term Hours: | 9 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| Required graduate-level courses 1 | 3 | |
| Concentration specific courses | 6 | |
| Water Essentials | ||
| Sustainable Chemical Engineering | ||
| Quantitative Analysis in Chemical and Life Science Engineering | ||
| Nonequilibrium Analysis in Chemical and Life Science Engineering | ||
| Term Hours | 9 | |
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.
This component emphasizes research directed toward completion of degree requirements under the direction of an adviser and advisory committee.
Concentration in rehabilitation engineering
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Fifth year | ||
| Thesis option | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| Required graduate-level courses 1 | 3 | |
| Concentration specifc courses | 6 | |
| Assistive Technology | ||
| Human Factors Engineering | ||
| Rehabilitation Engineering and Prostheses | ||
| Biomedical Signal Processing | ||
| Systems Neuroscience | ||
| Directed research 2 | 3 | |
| Directed Research in Biomedical Engineering | ||
| Term Hours: | 12 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| Required graduate-level courses 1 | 3 | |
| Concentration specific courses | 6 | |
| Assistive Technology | ||
| Human Factors Engineering | ||
| Rehabilitation Engineering and Prostheses | ||
| Biomedical Signal Processing | ||
| Systems Neuroscience | ||
| Directed research 2 | 3 | |
| Directed Research in Biomedical Engineering | ||
| Term Hours: | 12 | |
| Non-thesis option | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| Required graduate-level courses 1 | 3 | |
| Concentration specific courses | 6 | |
| Assistive Technology | ||
| Human Factors Engineering | ||
| Rehabilitation Engineering and Prostheses | ||
| Biomedical Signal Processing | ||
| Systems Neuroscience | ||
| Term Hours: | 9 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| Required graduate-level courses 1 | 3 | |
| Concentration specific courses | 6 | |
| Assistive Technology | ||
| Human Factors Engineering | ||
| Rehabilitation Engineering and Prostheses | ||
| Biomedical Signal Processing | ||
| Systems Neuroscience | ||
| Term Hours: | 9 | |
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.
This component emphasizes research directed toward completion of degree requirements under the direction of an adviser and advisory committee.
Concentration in systems engineering
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Fifth year | ||
| Thesis option | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| Required graduate-level courses 1 | 3 | |
| Concentration specific courses | 6 | |
| Introduction to Internet of Things | ||
| Intelligent Autonomous Systems | ||
| Fundamentals of Modern Systems Engineering | ||
| Systems Modeling | ||
| Directed research | 3 | |
| Directed Research in Electrical and Computer Engineering | ||
| Term Hours: | 12 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| Required graduate-level courses 1 | 3 | |
| Concentration specific courses | 6 | |
| Introduction to Internet of Things | ||
| Intelligent Autonomous Systems | ||
| Fundamentals of Modern Systems Engineering | ||
| Systems Modeling | ||
| Directed research 2 | 3 | |
| Directed Research in Electrical and Computer Engineering | ||
| Term Hours: | 12 | |
| Non-thesis option | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| Required graduate-level courses 1 | 3 | |
| Concentration specific courses | 6 | |
| Introduction to Internet of Things | ||
| Intelligent Autonomous Systems | ||
| Fundamentals of Modern Systems Engineering | ||
| Systems Modeling | ||
| Term Hours: | 9 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| Required graduate-level courses 1 | 3 | |
| Concentration specific courses | 6 | |
| Introduction to Internet of Things | ||
| Intelligent Autonomous Systems | ||
| Fundamentals of Modern Systems Engineering | ||
| Systems Modeling | ||
| Term Hours | 9 | |
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.
This component emphasizes research directed toward completion of degree requirements under the direction of an adviser and advisory committee.
Concentration in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Fifth year | ||
| Thesis option | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| Required graduate-level courses 1 | 3 | |
| Concentration specific courses | 6 | |
| Regenerative Engineering and Medicine | ||
| Biomaterials | ||
| Tissue Engineering | ||
| Cell Engineering | ||
| Directed research 2 | 3 | |
| Directed Research in Biomedical Engineering | ||
| Term Hours: | 12 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| Required graduate-level courses 1 | 3 | |
| Concentration specific courses | 6 | |
| Regenerative Engineering and Medicine | ||
| Biomaterials | ||
| Tissue Engineering | ||
| Cell Engineering | ||
| Directed research 2 | 3 | |
| Directed Research in Biomedical Engineering | ||
| Term Hours: | 12 | |
| Non-thesis option | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| Required graduate-level courses | 3 | |
| Concentration specific courses | 6 | |
| Regenerative Engineering and Medicine | ||
| Biomaterials | ||
| Tissue Engineering | ||
| Cell Engineering | ||
| Term Hours: | 9 | |
| Required graduate-level courses | ||
| Concentration specific courses | ||
| Regenerative Engineering and Medicine | ||
| Biomaterials | ||
| Tissue Engineering | ||
| Cell Engineering | ||
| Term Hours: | 9 | |
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.
This component emphasizes research directed toward completion of degree requirements under the direction of an adviser and advisory committee.
Accelerated B.S. and M.S.
The accelerated B.S. and M.S. program allows qualified students to earn both the B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and M.S. in Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering (either thesis or non-thesis option) in a minimum of five years by completing approved graduate courses during the senior year of their undergraduate program. Students may count up to 12 hours of graduate courses toward both the B.S. and M.S. degrees. Thus, the two degrees may be earned with a minimum of 148 credits rather than the 160 credits necessary if the two degrees are pursued separately.
Students holding these degrees can qualify for more advanced professional positions in industry and enhance knowledge of specific areas.
Entrance to the accelerated program
Interested undergraduate students should consult with their adviser as early as possible to receive specific information about the accelerated program, determine academic eligibility and submit (no later than two semesters prior to graduating with a baccalaureate degree, that is, before the end of the spring semester of their junior year) an Accelerated Program Declaration Form to be approved by the graduate program director. Limited spaces may be available in the accelerated program. Academically qualified students may not receive approval if capacity has been reached.
Minimum qualifications for entrance to this accelerated program include completion of 90 or more credits including EGMN 300, EGMN 301, EGMN 302, EGMN 303, EGMN 315, EGMN 321,EGMN 420 and EGMN 421; an overall GPA of 3.0; and a GPA of 3.0 in mechanical engineering course work.
Once admitted into the accelerated program, students must meet the standards of performance applicable to graduate students as described in the “Satisfactory academic progress” section of the Graduate Bulletin, including maintaining a 3.0 GPA. Guidance to students admitted to the accelerated program is provided by both the undergraduate mechanical engineering adviser and the graduate program director for the master’s degree.
Admission to the graduate program
Entrance to the accelerated program enables the student to take the approved shared courses that will apply to the undergraduate and graduate degrees. However, entry into an accelerated program via an approved Accelerated Program Declaration Form does not constitute application or admission into the graduate program. Admission to the graduate program requires a separate step that occurs through a formal application. In order to continue pursuing the master’s degree after the baccalaureate degree is conferred, accelerated students must follow the admission to graduate study requirements outlined in the VCU Bulletin.
Degree requirements
The Bachelor of Science in a Mechanical Engineering degree will be awarded upon completion of a minimum of 130 credits and the satisfactory completion of all undergraduate degree requirements as stated in the Undergraduate Bulletin.
A maximum of 12 graduate credits of 500-level graduate courses may be taken prior to completion of the baccalaureate degree. These graduate credits will be utilized to fulfill engineering electives course requirements for the undergraduate degree. These courses are shared credits with the graduate program, meaning that they will be applied to both undergraduate and graduate degree requirements.
Once a student is admitted to the program, with the approval of their adviser, they may choose any 500-level course from the following subject areas: EGMN, EGRM, ENGR, EGRN, EGRB, EGRE, CLSE, CMSC, PHYS, MATH, NANO, CHEM, BIOL, GRAD, LFSC and OVPR,
Recommended course sequence/plan of study
What follows is the recommended plan of study for students interested in the accelerated program beginning in the fall of the junior year prior to admission to the accelerated program in the senior year.
For students pursuing the non-thesis option
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Junior year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| EGMN 300 | Mechanical Systems Design | 3 |
| EGMN 301 | Fluid Mechanics | 3 |
| EGMN 311 | Solid Mechanics Lab | 1.5 |
| EGMN 321 | Numerical Methods | 3 |
| EGMN 420 | CAE Design | 3 |
| STAT 441 | Applied Statistics for Engineers and Scientists | 3 |
| Term Hours: | 16.5 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| ECON 205 | The Economics of Product Development and Markets | 3 |
| EGMN 302 | Heat Transfer | 3 |
| EGMN 303 | Thermal Systems Design | 3 |
| EGMN 312 | Thermal Sciences Lab | 1.5 |
| EGMN 315 | Process and Systems Dynamics | 3 |
| EGMN 421 | CAE Analysis | 3 |
| Term Hours: | 16.5 | |
| Summer semester | ||
| ENGR 396 | Internship Experience | 0 |
| Term Hours: | 0 | |
| Senior year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| EGMN 402 | Senior Design Studio (Laboratory/Project Time) | 2 |
| EGMN 416 | Mechatronics | 3 |
| ENGR 402 | Senior Design Studio (Seminar) | 1 |
| ENGR 496 | Internship Review | 0 |
| Engineering elective (Shared; select 500-level courses from: EGMN, EGRM, ENGR, EGRN, EGRB, EGRE, CLSE, CMSC, PHYS, MATH, NANO, CHEM, BIOL, GRAD, LFSC and OVPR.) | 3 | |
| Engineering or professional elective (Shared; select 500-level courses from: EGMN, EGRM, ENGR, EGRN, EGRB, EGRE, CLSE, CMSC, PHYS, MATH, NANO, CHEM, BIOL, GRAD, LFSC and OVPR.) | 3 | |
| General education course (select AOI for diversities in the human experience; recommended to select a course that also satisfies BOK for humanities/fine arts if not already satisfied) | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| EGMN 403 | Senior Design Studio (Laboratory/Project Time) | 2 |
| ENGR 403 | Senior Design Studio (Seminar) | 1 |
| MGMT 310 | Managing People in Organizations | 3 |
| Engineering elective (Shared; select 500-level courses from: EGMN, EGRM, ENGR, EGRN, EGRB, EGRE, CLSE, CMSC, PHYS, MATH, NANO, CHEM, BIOL, GRAD, LFSC and OVPR.) | 3 | |
| Engineering or professional elective (Shared; select 500-level courses from: EGMN, EGRM, ENGR, EGRN, EGRB, EGRE, CLSE, CMSC, PHYS, MATH, NANO, CHEM, BIOL, GRAD, LFSC and OVPR.) | 3 | |
| General education course or open elective (select general education BOK for humanities/fine arts; if all general education requirements are already satisfied, select an open elective) | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Fifth year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| EGMN 605 | Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering Analysis | 3 |
| EGMN 606 | Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering Continuum Mechanics | 3 |
| EGMN 610 | Topics in Nuclear Engineering | 3 |
| Term Hours: | 9 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| Technical electives (Select 600-level courses from: EGMN, EGRM, ENGR, EGRN, EGRB, EGRE, CLSE, CMSC, PHYS, MATH, NANO, CHEM, BIOL, GRAD, LFSC and OVPR.) | 6 | |
| Technical elective (Select 500- or 600-level course from: EGMN, EGRM, ENGR, EGRN, EGRB, EGRE, CLSE, CMSC, PHYS, MATH, NANO, CHEM, BIOL, GRAD, LFSC and OVPR.) | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 9 | |
For students pursuing the thesis option
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Junior year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| EGMN 300 | Mechanical Systems Design | 3 |
| EGMN 301 | Fluid Mechanics | 3 |
| EGMN 311 | Solid Mechanics Lab | 1.5 |
| EGMN 321 | Numerical Methods | 3 |
| EGMN 420 | CAE Design | 3 |
| STAT 441 | Applied Statistics for Engineers and Scientists | 3 |
| Term Hours: | 16.5 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| ECON 205 | The Economics of Product Development and Markets | 3 |
| EGMN 302 | Heat Transfer | 3 |
| EGMN 303 | Thermal Systems Design | 3 |
| EGMN 312 | Thermal Sciences Lab | 1.5 |
| EGMN 315 | Process and Systems Dynamics | 3 |
| EGMN 421 | CAE Analysis | 3 |
| Term Hours: | 16.5 | |
| Summer semester | ||
| ENGR 396 | Internship Experience | 0 |
| Term Hours: | 0 | |
| Senior year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| EGMN 402 | Senior Design Studio (Laboratory/Project Time) | 2 |
| EGMN 416 | Mechatronics | 3 |
| ENGR 402 | Senior Design Studio (Seminar) | 1 |
| ENGR 496 | Internship Review | 0 |
| Engineering elective (Shared; select 500-level courses from: EGMN, EGRM, ENGR, EGRN, EGRB, EGRE, CLSE, CMSC, PHYS, MATH, NANO, CHEM, BIOL, GRAD, LFSC and OVPR.) | 3 | |
| Engineering or professional elective (Shared; select 500-level courses from: EGMN, EGRM, ENGR, EGRN, EGRB, EGRE, CLSE, CMSC, PHYS, MATH, NANO, CHEM, BIOL, GRAD, LFSC and OVPR.) | 3 | |
| General education course (select AOI for diversities in the human experience; recommended to select a course that also satisfies BOK for humanities/fine arts if not already satisfied) | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| EGMN 403 | Senior Design Studio (Laboratory/Project Time) | 2 |
| ENGR 403 | Senior Design Studio (Seminar) | 1 |
| MGMT 310 | Managing People in Organizations | 3 |
| Engineering elective (Shared; select 500-level courses from: EGMN, EGRM, ENGR, EGRN, EGRB, EGRE, CLSE, CMSC, PHYS, MATH, NANO, CHEM, BIOL, GRAD, LFSC and OVPR.) | 3 | |
| Engineering or professional elective (Shared; select 500-level courses from: EGMN, EGRM, ENGR, EGRN, EGRB, EGRE, CLSE, CMSC, PHYS, MATH, NANO, CHEM, BIOL, GRAD, LFSC and OVPR.) | 3 | |
| General education course or open elective (select general education BOK for humanities/fine arts; if all general education requirements are already satisfied, select an open elective) | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Fifth year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| EGMN 605 | Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering Analysis | 3 |
| EGMN 606 | Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering Continuum Mechanics | 3 |
| EGMN 610 | Topics in Nuclear Engineering | 3 |
| Term Hours: | 9 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| EGMN 697 | Directed Research in Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering | 6 |
| Technical elective (Select 600-level courses from: EGMN, EGRM, ENGR, EGRN, EGRB, EGRE, CLSE, CMSC, PHYS, MATH, NANO, CHEM, BIOL, GRAD, LFSC and OVPR.) | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 9 | |