Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, Master of Science (M.S.)
Mossi, Dr. Karli
Director of Graduate Studies, Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering
kmmossi@vcu.edu
(804) 827-5275
Admission requirements summary
Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, Master of Science (M.S.)
| |||
| Degree: M.S. |
Semester(s) of entry: Fall Spring |
Deadline dates: Jun 1 (Feb 1 for financial assistance) Nov 15 |
Test requirements: GRE |
The School of Engineering offers the Master of Science in Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering degree with either a thesis or non-thesis option. The program utilizes the faculty and research facilities of the Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering to expose students to advanced and emerging technologies in mechanical and nuclear engineering. Research thrusts in the department include but are not limited to smart materials, micro/nanotechnology, energy conversion systems, sensors, aerosol science, nuclear engineering, fluid mechanics, medical devices, robotics and biomechanics.
The M.S. degree program offers a thesis or non-thesis option and can be tailored to meet the individual student’s academic goals and research interests. Non-thesis and thesis students seeking to take course work or conduct their thesis/study research in one of the tracks should contact the director of graduate studies for more information. Eighteen to 24 months of study usually are necessary to complete the requirements for the thesis-option M.S. in Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering. The non-thesis option generally requires 12 months of full-time study or up to four years of part-time study. A time limit of five calendar years, beginning at the time of first registration, is placed on work to be credited toward the master’s degree. Generally, a maximum of six credits of approved graduate course work required for a master’s degree may be transferred from another program at VCU or outside institution and applied toward the degree.
Curriculum
The mechanical and nuclear engineering M.S. degree program contains three curricular components:
Core component. This component allows the student to pursue a series of courses that focus on a specific field of engineering and serves as the student’s primary engineering discipline. See below for specific course requirements.
Technical elective component. This component allows the student to take courses in either engineering, science or other areas with approval of the student’s adviser.
Directed research component. This component emphasizes research directed toward completion of M.S. degree requirements under the direction of an adviser and advisory committee.
Depending on the type of degree pursued, students will have to take courses from two or all three of the curricular components. Students can choose to pursue either a thesis or non-thesis degree. Students should select their concentration component courses based upon their concentration area. Selecting one concentration area over another does not preclude a student from choosing courses from other areas. In fact students will be encouraged to take courses from both EGRM and EGRN areas. Sample curricula follow.
Typical program of study – thesis option
Credits |
|
| Core component – EGRM 512* and EGRM/EGRN/ENGR course work depending on concentration | 15 |
| Technical electives – engineering, science or related course work | 9 |
| Directed research – EGRM 697 | 6 |
| Total (minimum) | 30 |
Typical program of study – non-thesis option
Credits |
|
| Core component – EGRM 512* and EGRM/EGRN/ENGR course work depending on concentration | 15 |
| Technical electives – engineering, science or related course work | 15 |
| Total (minimum) | 30 |
* All graduate students must take EGRM 512 Advanced Engineering Mathematics or transfer an equivalent course.
All full-time thesis master’s students must register for and attend EGRM 690 Mechanical Engineering Seminar each semester. Part-time and non-thesis students are not required to register for the seminar, but they are encouraged to attend. All thesis students are required to give a research presentation as part of the seminar series at least once prior to graduation; non-thesis students must give a project presentation prior to graduation, based on an extension of work completed in a project-based course (see degree requirements below), as part of the seminar series.
Core requirements
Students must complete (a) two core courses in their major area, (b) two courses from any core area and (c) EGRM 512 Advanced Engineering Mathematics.
- Core electives
| Core area | Courses |
| Dynamic systems and controls | EGRM 515 Vibrations |
| EGRM 525 Feedback Control | |
| Mechanics, materials and manufacturing | EGRM 510 Solid Mechanics and Materials Behavior |
| EGRM 609 Advanced Characterization of Materials | |
| ENGR 591 Special Topics in Engineering (manufacturing processes) | |
| Thermal fluid sciences | EGRM 561 Advanced Fluid Mechanics |
| EGRM 602 Convective Heat Transfer1 | |
| Nuclear engineering2 | EGRN 620 Reactor Theory |
| EGRN 630 Nuclear Power Plants | |
| EGRN 640 Nuclear Safety | |
| EGRN 650 Nuclear Radiation and Shielding | |
| 1 Advanced Fluid Mechanics is a prerequisite 2 Students without an undergraduate degree or minor in nuclear engineering must take EGRN 610 Topics in Nuclear Engineering as a prerequisite to the 600-level nuclear courses. |
|
Graduate mechanical and nuclear engineering students select their core and elective courses with the aid of their advisory committees, choosing from available VCU courses in engineering, science and related areas.
Degree requirements
The following are the minimum credit requirements for the proposed graduate degree programs.
M.S. (thesis option) – minimum 30 credit hours including 12 credit hours in concentration course work (EGRM or EGRN), 12 credit hours in technical electives (engineering, science or related areas) and six credit hours in directed research EGRM 697.
M.S. (non-thesis option) – minimum 30 credit hours including 15 credit hours in concentration course work (EGRM or EGRN) and 15 credit hours in technical electives (engineering, science or approved courses).
Admission requirements
In addition to the general requirements for admission to graduate programs in the Graduate School and the School of Engineering, applicants to the mechanical and nuclear engineering degree must have a B.S. degree in mechanical engineering, nuclear engineering or a closely related discipline.
Registration
Students may begin a course of study in either the fall or spring semesters for the mechanical and nuclear engineering program, although a start in the fall semester is preferred.