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Complete a degree in mechanical engineering or nuclear engineering with one of the nation's top programs.

  • What is it? The MSnt is a course-based master’s degree with flexibility to support part-time and full-time students. Under the guidance of a faculty advisor, students build their own elective-based curriculum using graduate-level online courses. The degree culminates in a final project, but there is no publication requirement. This is a great option for working professionals interested in project work on proprietary data or processes.

  • Who is it for? The MSnt is geared toward working professionals, but anyone interested in expanding their engineering knowledge can apply. Applicants should have a bachelor’s degree in engineering or basic science with a strong fundamental knowledge in advanced mathematical concepts such as differential equations, statics/dynamics, strength of materials, and basic thermodynamics.

  • Degree details: 

    • 30 credit hours

      • 3 credits graduate-level math/statistics

      • 3-6 credits final project and report

      • 9 credits of ME or NE technical courses

      • 12-18 credits of engineering or engineering-related courses

    • Diversity and Inclusion requirement

    • Ethics Requirement 

  • What is it? The MEng is a professional master’s degree culminating in a final project and report. The final project tends to focus on a problem in industry as opposed to a novel research idea, and the written report may be published.

  • Who is it for? The MEng is geared toward working professionals, and especially engineers with a degree outside of the nuclear sciences that work in the nuclear industry. However, anyone interested in expanding their nuclear engineering knowledge can apply. Applicants should have a bachelor’s degree in engineering or basic science with a strong understanding of trigonometry, exponentials, natural logarithms, derivatives, the chain rule for derivatives, integrals, vector operations, and some ordinary differential equations. 

  • Degree details:

    • 30 credit hours

      • 12 credit hours of core coursework

        • NSEG 5124 Nuclear Reactor Analysis

        • NSEG 5204 Nuclear Fuel Cycle

        • NSEG 5424 Reactor Thermal Hydraulics or MSE 5384G Advanced Nuclear Materials

        • NSEG 5604 Radiation Detection and Shielding

      • 3 credit hours of graduate level math/statistics

      • 3-6 credits of project and report

      • 9-12 credit hours of elective courses

    • Diversity and Inclusion requirement

    • Ethics Requirement 

  • What is it? The nuclear engineering graduate certificate is a three course exploration of the field of nuclear engineering. The certificate provides a solid foundation in nuclear reactor physics, with additional specialization in nuclear fuel cycle, radiation measurements, reactor thermal hydraulics, nuclear materials, or nuclear power plant operations. The credit hours earned in this certificate may be applied to a graduate degree in mechanical or nuclear engineering.

  • Who is it for? The nuclear engineering graduate certificate provides experience to students who do not have a nuclear engineering degree but are seeking engineering positions in the nuclear industry. Currently enrolled graduate students can take the certificate to enhance their degree, and it is also offered as a standalone program for non-degree students. The certificate serves as a pipeline into the nuclear engineering graduate programs at VT. 

  • Certificate details:

    • 9 credit hours of nuclear engineering courses

      • 3 credit hours NSEG 5114 Nuclear Engineering Fundamentals

      • 6 credit hours of elective NSEG courses

How to apply

Visit the Graduate School website for instructions on how to complete the online application. ME online programs follow the Graduate School deadlines for applications: August 1 for Fall and January 1 for Spring. We do not accept students for summer-start at this time.

Applicants that are not currently enrolled at VT may apply on the Graduate School website. Please use this form to create your proposed plan of study, and visit the "how to apply" page on the Graduate School website for instructions on how to complete the online application. ME online programs follow the Graduate School deadlines for applications: August 1 for Fall and January 1 for Spring. We do not accept students for summer-start at this time.

 

Current VT students may submit this application for the certificate to negrad@vt.edu.

 

Requirements:

Recommended:

  • B.S. degree in an engineering or science-related discipline

  • 3.2 or higher GPA on the most recent 60 course credit hours

  • Understanding of the following mathematical concepts: trigonometry, exponentials, natural logarithms, derivatives, the chain rule for derivatives, integrals, vector operations, and some ordinary differential equations

 

No GRE test scores or recommendation letters are required for the certificate application.