School of Graduate Engineering and Applied Science: Academic Rules, Regulations, and Information

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Admission Requirements

The School of Engineering and Applied Science offers an exceptional educational opportunity for qualified students who seek an environment where graduate study is characterized by integrated learning experiences with highly qualified, experienced, and dedicated faculty. Graduate admissions committees are seeking well-rounded individuals who bring exceptional intellectual capabilities along with a passion for their chosen field. The admissions process looks for evidence of competitive academic performance, work and life experiences, and qualities of character such as motivation, maturity, tenacity, integrity, ability to work with others, self-reliance, and leadership. All applicants are considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, disability, age, sexual orientation, or veteran status. The Engineering School welcomes applications from individuals from other countries whose diverse perspectives broaden the range of educational experience for all members of the academic community.

An applicant must have a baccalaureate degree from a recognized college or university. While this degree will normally be in the field of engineering or applied science, degrees in other fields may be acceptable. Undergraduate courses that may be required to remedy deficiencies must be taken without credit toward the graduate degree. An applicant should have at least a B average for admission into graduate studies.

Each candidate must complete the online application for admission. The application requires an essay, complete transcripts of all academic work and three letters of recommendation. On-line recommendations are strongly encouraged. A non-refundable application fee must accompany the application; an application will not be considered if the fee has not been paid. A fee waiver may be granted in certain cases. For eligibility see https://graddiversity.virginia.edu/application-fee-waiver. Most applicants are required to take the Graduate Records Exam (GRE) general exam. International students must have an excellent command of the English language in order to enroll at the University. The TOEFL exam is required of all applicants if the language first learned and spoken in the home is not English. Most students admitted score 90 or better on the Internet-based test. Scores from the International English Language Test (IELTS) may be submitted in lieu of the TOEFL. Most successful applicants score in the 7.0 band or better on the IELTS. Some students may be required to complete the Summer English for Academic Purposes Program (http://caelc.virginia.edu/summer-eap) prior to admission if scores are lower. Official transcripts are not required for review purposes, but are required if the student matriculates. Transcripts should be sent to ATTN: Graduate School of Engineering and Applied Science, Room 209B, 1001 North Emmet Street, Charlottesville, VA 22903 or PO Box 401103, Charlottesville, VA 22904. 

All students who wish to be considered for assistantships and fellowships should indicate so in the financial aid section on the completed application and submit by January 15 for fall admission (except for BME and CS, which have a deadline of December 15, SIE which has a deadline of January 1, and CEE and CPE which have a deadline of January 5). For U.S. citizens and permanent residents not requesting aid, deadlines for complete applications for admission in certain programs are: December 1 for spring admission, May 1 for summer admission, and August 1 for fall admission. International students on visas (other than permanent residents) must apply at least five months prior to the term for which admission is sought to allow time for the International Student Office to review and process necessary paperwork. To enroll at the University, each foreign national student must be lawfully present in the United States based on U.S. federal immigration law, and any visa status held must not prohibit the desired University enrollment. Also, all international students (other than permanent residents) must provide evidence of financial capability for the duration of their studies, unless receiving departmental aid.

Financial Assistance

The School of Engineering and Applied Science offers financial aid to graduate students through fellowships and assistantships ordinarily consisting of a stipend and payment of all tuition and fees including health insurance. Students must be nominated by their department to be considered for a fellowship or assistantship. Most PhD students can expect to receive aid of some kind for up to five years, though support will vary by department and funding source.

Students receiving financial assistance from the School of Engineering and Applied Science must be registered as full-time students, defined as at least 12 credits of lecture-laboratory courses and/or research during the academic year, must maintain a grade point average of 3.0 and must also maintain satisfactory progress toward a degree. Graduate research assistants must register for a minimum of 6 credits of research during the summer term. Students receiving School or graduate program funding are not permitted to have other employment without approval of the Office of Graduate Programs. Students are awarded financial assistance to enable them to devote maximum effort to graduate studies.

Assistantships

Graduate Research Assistantships Graduate Research Assistants are assigned to work with a faculty member on a specific research project which should culminate in a project report, thesis, or dissertation. Full-time graduate research assistants may not carry a load of more than 9 credits of lecture-laboratory courses but must register each semester for enough additional credits of teaching/research to maintain full-time student status.

Graduate Teaching Assistantships Graduate Teaching Assistants are assigned to assist a faculty member teaching a specific lecture/laboratory course. The assigned duties will depend on the course and instructor. Graduate teaching assistants may not carry a load of more than 9 credits of lecture-laboratory courses but must register each semester for enough teaching/research credit to maintain full-time student status.

Fellowships

Fellowships are intended to allow graduate students to devote their time to learning opportunities in the classroom and laboratory. No work duties, in a pay for service sense, are required, but good academic progress, including research for the thesis or dissertation, is essential. Some programs may require students with fellowship support to include research and teaching duties as part of the usual academic requirements for the degree. UVA Engineering has a large number of graduate fellowships and other funding sources for both incoming and current PhD students, based on a variety of metrics, including academic merit, research potential/success, and contribution to diversity and engagement.  Fellowships for incoming students typically cover the recipient’s stipend, tuition and fees, and health insurance for the specified period of time.  Fellowships for current graduate students typically provide additional stipend support or discretionary funds for the specified period of time.  Students are made aware of these fellowships through the recruitment process, or by email announcements throughout the academic year.

Degree Programs

The University of Virginia School of Engineering and Applied Science offers programs leading to the degree of Doctor of Philosophy degree, Master of Science and Master of Engineering, as well as Master degrees in several areas of applied science. The School’s 10 graduate degree programs are: biomedical engineering; chemical engineering; civil engineering; computer engineering; computer science; electrical engineering; engineering physics; materials science and engineering; mechanical and aerospace engineering; and systems engineering.

The range of studies available within the school is designed to satisfy a variety of objectives. A full list of specific courses leading to a degree is not prescribed; instead, each student prepares an individual program, with the help of a faculty advisor, tailored to particular needs and goals and then submits it for faculty approval. The program of studies must meet the requirements of the program in which the student is enrolled.

The Doctor of Philosophy degree is regarded by many as a symbol that its bearer has achieved an in-depth understanding of a segment of human knowledge and has contributed significantly to that knowledge. The Ph.D. requires a program of advanced study in courses and research, satisfactory completion of Ph.D. examinations, and submission of a dissertation based on independent, original research.

Two types of master’s degrees are available. Strong emphasis is placed on research for the Master of Science (M.S.) degree. The focal point of the M.S. is a thesis describing research accomplished in close cooperation with the student’s faculty advisor. The degrees of Master of Engineering (M.E.) and Master of Applied Science are professionally oriented, course-based, and do not require a thesis.

Doctor of Philosophy

The School of Engineering and Applied Science offers instruction leading to the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Biomedical Engineering; Chemical Engineering; Civil Engineering; Computer Engineering; Computer Science; Electrical Engineering; Engineering Physics; Materials Science and Engineering; Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering; and Systems Engineering.

Students work in conjunction with their advisors using departmental guidelines to determine a program of formal courses which fulfill academic requirements and support research goals. Students and their advisor choose proposal and final defense committees which are then reviewed for approval by the Office of Graduate Programs.

A complete listing of all graduate forms and corresponding assessment forms can be found online.

Degree Requirements The degree of Doctor of Philosophy is conferred by the School of Engineering and Applied Science primarily in recognition of breadth of scholarship, depth of research, and ability to investigate problems independently. A candidate for the Doctor of Philosophy degree must:

1. enroll for at least six regular semesters (spring and fall) of graduate study after the baccalaureate degree, or four regular semesters after the master’s degree. At least two regular semesters beyond the master’s degree must be in full residence at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. For students who enter a Ph.D. program without a master’s degree, at least 3 regular semesters must be spent in full residence at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville;
2. satisfactorily complete an approved program of study. Each program is tailored to the individual student in accordance with the departmental requirements approved by SEAS faculty. The program must include a combined minimum of 72 credits of research and graduate level course work beyond the baccalaureate. The program must also include a minimum of 24 credits of formal course work. Classes at the 4000-level or below do not count toward the graduate degree requirements. Program requirements may be more restrictive. Transfer of course credit from other schools of recognized standing may be included in the program of study; however, only courses with a grade of B or better may be transferred. The student and advisor will work on a course plan for approval by the department graduate director;
3. choose a  Ph.D. advisory committee. The advisor recommends a program of formal courses, advises the student on areas in which he or she must take Ph.D. examinations, discusses research objectives and plans with the student, and  approves the student’s dissertation proposal. The Ph.D. Advisory Committee must include a minimum of 3 SEAS faculty, one additional UVA faculty member from outside the student’s home department, and a minimum of 4 total members. All faculty with a primary appointment in Biomedical Engineering are considered SEAS faculty for this purpose. For Ph.D. candidates in Biomedical Engineering, one faculty member from the School of Medicine may substitute for one SEAS faculty. For Ph.D. candidates in Engineering Physics, at least one member must be from the Physics Department and no more than two of the required four members may be from Physics. For Ph.D. candidates in Computer Engineering at least one member must be from the ECE department and at least one member must be from the CS department. Further, the “home department” of computer engineering students is defined to be the advisor’s department; an “outside” member thus resides in a department that is different from the advisor’s department. The purpose of the member from outside of the student’s home department is to ensure consistency across the University, to help ensure fairness to the student and to prevent conflict inside the department. The outside member must be UVA faculty and must have zero (0%) appointment in the student’s home program/department.  Courtesy appointments do not count toward this 0% restriction. The Advisory Committee should be appointed early in the student’s Ph.D. program and actively participate in advising and directing the student.
4. perform satisfactorily on the departmental Ph.D. examination. The objective of the examination is to determine whether the student has assimilated and is able to integrate a body of advanced knowledge;
5. prepare a written dissertation proposal, in preparation for conducting research and writing the dissertation. This proposal: describes research to date on their topic, with a detailed engineering or applied science  question for further inquiry, along with bibliography; outlines the proposed method of investigation; and discusses the anticipated results. The student then makes a public, oral presentation of the proposal to the advisory committee, with all members of the faculty invited to attend;
6. be admitted to candidacy for the degree. A student must have satisfactorily completed the Ph.D. examination and acceptably defended dissertation proposal to their advisory committee before being admitted to candidacy. Admission to candidacy must be completed at least one semester before the degree is awarded;
7. submit a The Final Dissertation Examining Committee which must include a minimum of 3 SEAS faculty, a minimum of 4 UVA faculty, and a minimum of 5 total members. One of the UVA faculty members must be from outside the student’s home department and must have zero (0%) appointment in the student’s home program/department.  Courtesy appointments do not count toward this 0% restriction. For Ph.D. candidates in Biomedical Engineering, one faculty member from the School of Medicine may substitute for one SEAS faculty. All faculty with a primary appointment in Biomedical Engineering are considered SEAS faculty for this purpose. For Ph.D. candidates in Engineering Physics, at least one member must be from the Physics Department and no more than three of the required five members may be from Physics. For Ph.D. candidates in Computer Engineering at least two members must be from the ECE department and at least two members must be from the CS department. For computer engineering students the outside member must come from a department that is different from the advisor’s department. The purpose of the member from outside of the student’s home department is to ensure consistency across the University, to help ensure fairness to the student and to prevent conflict inside the department. The outside member must be UVA faculty. Request for Appointment of Examining Committee must be submitted to the Office of Graduate Programs at least 2 weeks prior to the examination date.
8. present and satisfactorily defend a dissertation based on independent, original research that makes a significant contribution to the student’s field of study. The dissertation defense is conducted orally and publicly by a committee approved by the Office of the Graduate Programs. This committee must include the candidate’s advisory committee. The defense is held after the candidate has submitted the dissertation to the committee, and it is designed to test the student’s knowledge of a field of research. Candidates who are accepted by the examining committee and approved by the faculty are presented for degrees at the first scheduled graduation exercises of the University following completion of the requirements;
9. apply for a degree in SIS by the date specified in the academic calendar, see Graduation Procedure (MS and PhD Candidates);
10. submit the approved final dissertation to Libra, the online archive of University of Virginia by the date specified in the academic calendar;
11. complete the Survey of Earned Doctorates and submit the receipt to the school Registrar.

Master of Science Degree

The Graduate Program Director appoints an advisor to each graduate student for consultation in planning a program of study. In collaboration with the advisor, each student should develop a program of study including all courses required for the degree as well as additional courses to prepare the student for research in his/her chosen topic. Candidates who complete the degree requirements and are approved by the faculty are presented for degrees at the University’s first scheduled graduation exercise following completion of the requirements.

A complete listing of all graduate forms and corresponding assessment forms can be found online.

Degree Requirements A candidate for the Master of Science degree must:

1. choose an approved program of study that includes a minimum of 24 graduate-level credits, with at least 12 credits taken in the area of major study. Classes at the 4000-level or below do not count toward the Master’s degree. Departmental requirements may be more restrictive. The program may include a maximum of six transfer credits for graduate courses completed at another school of recognized standing; however, those courses must be part of the approved program of study at the University. Only courses with a grade of B or better may be transferred;
2. attend at least one semester in residence at the University of Virginia as a full-time student;
3. complete an acceptable research project, accomplished under the close direction of a faculty advisor. The research is documented in a written thesis.
4. select an M.S. examining committee. Committees must consist of at least 3 UVA faculty members, at least 2 of whom must be SEAS faculty. All faculty with a primary appointment in Biomedical Engineering are considered SEAS faculty for this purpose. For M.S. candidates in Biomedical Engineering, one faculty member from the School of Medicine may substitute for one SEAS faculty. For M.S. candidates in Engineering Physics, at least one and no more than two of the required three members must be from the Physics Department. For M.S. candidates in Computer Engineering, at least one member must be from the ECE department and at least one member must be from the CS department. One research professional from outside UVA or faculty member from outside SEAS may be a fourth voting member, provided that his/her qualifications are commensurate with that of a research faculty or equivalent rank. Request for Appointment of Examining Committee must be submitted to the Office of Graduate Programs at least 2 weeks prior to the examination date.
5. perform satisfactorily in a final defense of the thesis conducted by an thesis committee approved by the Office of Graduate Programs. A student who does not perform satisfactorily in the defense may, with the recommendation of two-thirds majority of the examining committee, be granted a further thesis defense after being given adequate time to prepare;
6. apply for the degree in SIS by the date specified on the academic calendar;
7. submit the approved final thesis to Libra, the online archive of the University of Virginia, by the date specified in the academic calendar, see Graduation Procedure (MS and PhD Candidates).

General Academic Rules for Ph.D. and M.S. degrees

Advisory and Examining Committees Students and their advisor choose proposal and final defense committees which are then reviewed for approval by the Office of Graduate Programs.  Departments may establish additional requirements and restrictions. The committee chair must hold a faculty appointment in SEAS. All faculty with a primary appointment in Biomedical Engineering are considered SEAS faculty for this purpose. All committee members must have qualifications commensurate with that of a research faculty or equivalent rank. A current C.V. or biography must be submitted for members who are not UVA faculty. The C.V. or biography should include the highest degree attained, the year and institution, and any relevant experience or research which would provide expertise needed for sitting on the committee.

Research All graduate students conducting research must register for the appropriate research course. Credits are assigned to this course in such a way that the total number of credits for which the student is registered reflects the fraction of time devoted to progress toward a degree. Students must register for a minimum of six credits of research for the Master of Science (thesis) degree and 24 credits of research for the Ph.D. degree. In many cases, research in excess of these minimum requirements, particularly for the Ph.D. degree, is desirable.

Residency M.S. and Ph.D. degree programs require a period of residency as detailed in the Degree Requirements sections. A full-time graduate student in residence at the University, whether taking courses or doing research, is expected to be fully engaged in the academic community, to participate in planned and impromptu discussions with faculty, graduate students and undergraduate students, and to actively contribute to intellectual discourse within the School. During the period of residency, a student should have no major conflicts of commitment. Substantial employment obligations, for example, would generally be in conflict with the residency requirement.

Right to Petition In certain cases there may be extenuating circumstances that cause an alteration from the requirements for the master’s or doctoral degrees. A student has the right to petition the Graduate Studies Committee requesting such a deviancy from the normal requirements. This petition should be in writing and endorsed by both the student’s advisor and department chair and submitted to the Office of Graduate Programs.

Time Limit For Graduate Degrees The student must complete all the requirements for a Master of Science degree within five years after admission to the graduate program, and must complete all requirements for a Master of Engineering degree within seven years after admission to the graduate program. All requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy degree must be completed within seven years after admission to the doctoral program. Expired credits may be revalidated with approval from the advisor, the appropriate department graduate committee or department chair, graduate studies committee, and the Office of Graduate Programs.

The time to degree can be extended beyond its ordinary term for SEAS graduate students for (1) maternity or family parenting or (2) serious personal or family illness upon notification to and approval of the appropriate department or program and the Director of Graduate Education. The “clock-stopping” will be for a period of up to one year. Utilization of this policy should be invoked as soon as the need for additional time becomes known.

Master of Engineering Degree

The Master of Engineering degree is a graduate professional degree. It enhances the professional instruction of the bachelor’s program in engineering or applied science, providing greater knowledge and deeper understanding in a specific field. A student can complete the degree program in as little as  one year. The School of Engineering and Applied Science offers instruction leading to the degree of Master of Engineering in biomedical engineering; chemical engineering; civil engineering; computer engineering, electrical engineering; mechanical and aerospace engineering; and systems engineering.

The degrees of Master of Computer Science, Master of Engineering Physics, and Master of Materials Science and Engineering are also offered. Project research for the Master of Engineering or Master of Applied Science (non-thesis) degrees is encouraged and, in some curricula, required.

The Graduate Program Director will appoint an advisor to each graduate student for consultation in preparing a program of study.

Degree Requirements: A candidate for the Master of Engineering degree, or for the degrees of Master of Computer Science, Master of Engineering Physics, or Master of Materials Science and Engineering must:

1. complete an approved program that includes a minimum of 30 graduate-level credits, with at least 18 credits taken in the area of major study. Classes at the 4000-level or below do not count toward the Master’s degree. Program requirements may be more restrictive. VEO students should use information in their section below. The program may include a maximum of 12 transfer credits for graduate courses completed at another school of recognized standing; however, those courses must be part of the approved program of study at the University. Only courses with a grade of B or better may be transferred;
2. apply for the degree in SIS by the date specified in the academic calendar; and
3. submit completed assessment forms as required by the program. Each program requires at least three assessment forms.

Accelerated Master’s Degree in Systems Engineering (AMP)

The Accelerated Master’s Degree Program in Systems Engineering (AMP) enables working professionals to earn a Master of Engineering degree in one year without interrupting their careers through a unique blend of formal education integrated with personal work experience. The practice-oriented degree has a focus on systems thinking, data analytics, and evidence-based decision making, broadly applicable skills which are in strong demand. Class meetings on Grounds give AMP students the advantage of interacting face-to-face with full-time faculty and cohort of talented classmates in a focused learning environment.

The program year runs from late May through April. A new cohort begins each May. The accelerated schedule includes one week in residence in late May, twenty alternate weekends (all day Fridays and Saturdays) over the next ten months, and a final week in residence the following April. Comprehensive tuition includes courses and fees, books, software, and meals and lodging while the cohort is on grounds for classes. Financial aid is available in the form of education loans.

The curriculum introduces and explores systems methodologies through real-world case studies. It is firmly focused on problem-solving, using both analytical and theoretical modeling approaches throughout. The program of study has four core courses: Introduction to Systems Engineering (SYS 6001), Systems Integration (SYS 6002), Applied Optimization (SYS 6043) and Applied Probabilistic Modeling (SYS 6045). Six additional courses may include risk analysis and modeling, statistics, applied human factors engineering, and decision analysis among others. The curriculum is augmented by business topics taught by faculty from the Darden Graduate School of Business. Students attend seminars on Friday evenings earning credit for three semesters of Systems Engineering Colloquium.

Admissions requirements include a bachelor’s degree from a college or university of recognized standing and proficiency in mathematics, typically demonstrated by academic performance in the following courses: calculus (2 semesters), probability and statistics (calculus-based), linear algebra (or equivalent), and computer programming. Three letters of recommendation are required. Applicants must take the GRE revised General Test.

The Accelerated Master’s Program in Systems Engineering (AMP) uses a rolling admissions procedure. Applications are reviewed and admissions decisions are made as the applications are received. Class size is limited. Prospective students are encouraged to submit their applications early in the cycle. The program will continue to accept well-qualified candidates for admission until all slots are filled or the next cohort begins.

AMP students place a high value on the cohort learning experience at UVA. Working together in small groups and sharing the perspectives of a diverse cohort of experienced engineers leads to long-lasting friendships and a strong professional network among members of the cohort and AMP alumni.

Virginia Engineering Online (VEO)

The UVA School of Engineering and Applied Science offers six online professional master degrees in Engineering. These graduate level degrees are in chemical engineering, civil engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical and aerospace engineering, systems engineering, and materials science and engineering.  Through Virginia Engineering Online (VEO), UVA engineering students benefit from the long-standing partnership between the State Council on Higher Education in Virginia (SCHEV) and five other Virginia schools. This higher education partnership is know as the Commonwealth Graduate Engineering Program (CGEP). Students in VEO and CGEP advance their education without leaving their jobs, by taking advantage of a flexible and interactive learning environment.

Virginia Engineering Online courses are delivered live stream to students with reliable internet access, wherever those students are located. Most courses are taught simultaneously to students in the physical classroom at UVA and those participating online.  Our specially equipped classrooms have advanced technology to allow VEO students to fully participate and engage during class time with their instructors and classmates.  Students also benefit from class recordings, to view or review the material covered in each class session.

Students may apply to take classes individually, or may apply to one of our degree programs. Classes taken before being admitted to one of our degree programs can count towards the student’s degree requirements, if the student choses later to pursue a degree.  Moreover, the GRE - required of all graduate engineering school applicants - can be waived in some of these cases. The GRE waiver terms are described on the VEO website.

Each of the six departments in this program has an appointed advisor who consults with students on curriculum and any special circumstances that might arise with participating working professionals. Students’ planned courses, or programs of study, are created with their advisor and submitted for final approval to their department chair and the Office of Graduate Programs.

Degree requirements are the same as mentioned in the previous Master of Engineering section, with an extra allowance for transfer credits: UVA VEO students are allowed an additional three pre-approved transfer credits (15 total transfer credits) to count towards the program of study.  Graduate courses from other schools with grades of C or better may be transferred toward meeting the requirement of the Master of Engineering degree.  All courses taken at other institutions must be pre-approved.

All graduate course grades taken for degree credit through Virginia Engineering Online, including transfer courses from the participating institutions, are calculated in the student’s grade point average. Students are expected to maintain a B (3.0) grade point average.

M.E.-M.B.A. Dual Degree Program

The objective of the joint M.E.-M.B.A. degree program is the development of leaders with business administration skills and solid technical expertise. The M.E. degree provides a foundation in engineering or applied science well above the normal undergraduate level. The M.B.A. develops the functional areas of business by teaching the essential behavioral and quantitative sciences that apply to management, as well as the techniques of management decision making. The combined degrees provide the knowledge required for a wide range of business applications.

A student must apply and be admitted to both degree programs and satisfy nearly all of the requirements for both degrees. Typically, the overall program length is reduced by one semester compared to the total time for attaining both degrees separately.

In order to obtain this reduction in the number of credits, the student cannot stop after one degree but must finish both degrees. If the student decides to drop out of the joint degree program, the full requirements of one of the degree programs must be met.

Students in the M.E.-M.B.A. Joint Degree Program are required to complete 24 credits for the Master of Engineering degree in SEAS and 69 credits for the Master of Business Administration degree in the Darden Graduate School of Business Administration. Of the 24 credits in SEAS, 21 credits will be normal course work and 3 credits will be a project course taken in an appropriately numbered course. A minimum of 12 credits of course work must be taken in the major department. None of the 24 credits may include a course taken in the Darden School. The project must have one advisor from SEAS and another from the Darden School.

Part-time Master of Engineering Graduate Students

Those students who wish to pursue a graduate degree in the School of Engineering and Applied Science on a part-time basis must be approved for admission to the degree program by the department or program offering the degree, and they must meet all admission requirements for full-time degree students. Part-time students taking on-Grounds courses for degree credit, except those taking courses through Virginia Engineering Online (VEO), must register through the School of Engineering and Applied Science, not through the School of Continuing and Professional Studies. A maximum of six credits of graduate course work taken on-Grounds through continuing and professional studies prior to admission to a graduate degree program may be accepted as credit toward degree requirements.

General Academic Requirements

Grades The letter grade symbols used for grading graduate students in the School of Engineering and Applied Science are: A+, A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D+, D, D-, F. To obtain a graduate degree in the School of Engineering and Applied Science, an individual must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.00 on all graded graduate course work taken at the University of Virginia while a graduate student, and graduate courses taken as an undergraduate at the University of Virginia if the courses are listed on a program of studies and are used to satisfy requirements for a graduate degree. No grade lower than a C is acceptable toward meeting the requirements for a graduate degree. Undergraduate courses and courses taken on a Credit/No Credit basis may not be used to meet requirements for a graduate degree and are not used in computing the grade point average. A 200-day period past the end of the semester (end of the examination period) is automatically allowed to remove an Incomplete. At the end of this period an Incomplete automatically converts to an F.

Grade Appeals University faculty members and instructors are entrusted with all grading decisions, to be made fairly and in a manner consistent with their best professional judgment and the expectations/norms of the discipline.  Students involved in grading disputes should first attempt to resolve the concern informally with the instructor or individual responsible for the grading decision. 

If the grading decision cannot be resolved through informal channels with the instructor, the student may petition the Graduate Studies Committee.

Request to Transition to a New Program Effective Spring 2019, newly matriculated graduate students cannot transition to a new program within the School until after the census date/drop deadline. This will allow time for the student to pre-register in courses incorpoarting the new program’s academic requirements.

Transfer Credit

The Graduate School of Engineering and Applied Science grants transfer credit based on an analysis of the content, level and comparability of the course taken, the applicability of the courses to the student’s intended degree program, the quality of the student’s performance in the course, and the institution at which the work was completed. Transfer credit, as described below, will be considered for acceptance toward a degree in the School of Engineering and Applied Science.

Master of Engineering Candidates may include a maximum of 12 credits of graduate course transfer credit in their program of study at the University of Virginia (maximum of 15 credits allowable for VEO students). These graduate courses must have been completed at another school of recognized standing, and cannot have been used to satisfy requirements for another degree, and only courses with a grade of B or better may be transferred. All requests for the inclusion of transfer credit in the University of Virginia program of study are subject to the approval of the candidate’s academic department and the Office of Graduate Programs.  Students in the VEO program should refer to guidelines outlined in the VEO section.

Master of Science and Ph.D. Candidates may include a maximum of six credits of graduate course transfer credit on their program of study at the University of Virginia. These graduate courses must have been completed at another school of recognized standing, and cannot have been used to satisfy requirements for another degree. Only courses with a grade of B or better may be transferred. All requests for the inclusion of transfer credit in the University of Virginia program of study are subject to the approval of the candidate’s academic department and the Office of Graduate Programs.

Ph.D. candidates who have earned a Master’s degree in a STEM field will receive an automatic bulk transfer of 24 course credits to satisfy the School of Engineering’s graded course credit requirement.  Ph.D. candidates who have earned a Master’s degree in a NON-STEM field will receive an automatic bulk transfer of 12 course credits to satisfy half of the School of Engineering’s graded course credit requirement.  Ph.D. candidates who earn a Master’s degree at the School of Engineering at the University of Virginia will receive an automatic bulk transfer of up to 24 course credits to augment the course credits earned as a Master’s student to satisfy the School of Engineering’s graded course requirement.  The student’s department may, however, require additional courses of their Ph.D. candidates to satisfy their specific academic requirements beyond the course credits received in the bulk transfer of credit. 

Quality of Work Graduate degrees are not conferred merely upon the basis of the number of courses passed, nor the length of time spent in residence or in research, but primarily on the basis of the quality and scope of the candidate’s knowledge and power of investigation in a chosen field of study. Unsatisfactory work during any semester or an overall grade average of less than B may be considered sufficient reason for withdrawal of financial assistance, or for enforced withdrawal from the graduate program. Graduate students are considered to be on probation if their cumulative grade point average for graduate work is less than 3.0 and they are notified of this by the Office of Graduate Programs. Graduate students are subject to dismissal if their cumulative grade point average is not raised to 3.0 within one semester, except that VEO students are given 2 semesters.

Air Force and Army ROTC Graduate students in the School of Engineering and Applied Science are eligible to participate in the Air Force and Army ROTC programs. Inquiries concerning enrollment in the Air Force ROTC should be addressed to the Unit Admissions Officer in the Astronomy Building (434-924-7101). Inquiries concerning enrollment in the Army ROTC should be addressed to the Professor of Military Science, Room B-030, New Cabell Hall. Air and Military Science courses are described in the Undergraduate Record.

Affiliated Agencies

The National Institute of Aerospace (NIA) is a research and graduate education institute initiated by NASA Langley Research Center to ensure a national capability to support NASA’s mission by expanding collaboration with academia and leveraging expertise inside and outside NASA. The institute is a non-profit corporation formed by a consortium that now includes Georgia Tech, North Carolina A&T State University, North Carolina State University, the University of Maryland, the University of Virginia, Virginia Tech, Hampton University, Old Dominion University, the College of William & Mary, and the AIAA Foundation.

NIA conducts basic, formative, and leading edge research and develops revolutionary new technologies in all areas of interest to NASA through partnerships with the Nation’s universities, industry and other government agencies. NIA performs research in a broad range of disciplines relevant to NASA Aeronautics, Space Exploration, Science and Space Operations missions. Current research focus areas include Adaptive Aircraft Technologies, Rotorcraft Aeromechanics, Aviation Safety, Air Traffic Management, Flight Systems, Cooperative Control Systems, Multifunctional Materials, Nano-materials, Sensor Technology, Systems Engineering and Analysis, Space Exploration Technologies, Planetary Science and Engineering, and Atmospheric Science.

Through NIA’s graduate education program, NIA’s member universities offer M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in fields of engineering and the sciences relevant to NASA. Student research is conducted on-site at Langley Research Center in Hampton, VA. NIA also conducts continuing education, public outreach, and technology transfer programs supported by NASA and other sponsoring organizations.

The Virginia Microelectronics Consortium (VMEC), a group of colleges and universities including George Mason University, Norfolk state University, Old Dominion University, Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia Military Institute, the University of Virginia, Virginia Tech, and the College of William and Mary that offer a world-class program in microelectronics education and research. VMEC was created in 1997 to serve the microelectronics industry in the Commonwealth and to exploit our diverse industry and educational microelectronics resources to our mutual benefit. Member companies include Micron and BAE Systems.

The Virginia Transportation Research Council is sponsored by the Virginia Department of Transportation in cooperation with the University, and its offices and laboratories are located in the Shelburne Building about one-half mile west of Thornton Hall. The council has two primary objectives: providing training in the fundamentals of transportation engineering; and carrying out research programs to improve the economic design, construction, maintenance, and operation of highways. The council operates laboratories that study problems of highway aggregates, geological engineering, concrete, bituminous materials, soils, bridge structures, and traffic and safety.

The Virginia Transportation Research Council also provides financial assistance for graduate students whose thesis or dissertation research is in an area of interest to the council.

Research Centers and Institutes

The UVA Engineering School’s research centers, consortia and laboratories are on the leading edge of technology. We place a high priority on collaboration, technology transfer and opportunities that allow our faculty and graduate students to create solutions to the problems and challenges facing the world today.

Some of the finest engineering research centers, consortia and laboratories are located on the Grounds of the University of Virginia. Detailed information about all research centers and individual laboratories can be found at the following website. Selected locations are detailed below. https://engineering.virginia.edu/research/centers

Center for Advanced Biomanufacturing

Center for Applied Biomechanics

Center for Electrochemical Science and Engineering (CESE)

Center for Transportation Studies

The Commonwealth Center for Advanced Logistics Systems (CCALS)

The Commonwealth Center for Advanced Manufacturing (CCAM)

The Commonwealth Center for Aerospace Propulsion Systems (CCAPS)

Institute for Nanoscale and Quantum Scientific and Technological Advanced Research (NanoSTAR)

The Rolls-Royce University Technology Center (UTC)

The U.Va. Center for Wireless Health