U.S. News and World report has again ranked the VCU College of Engineering’s online master’s in mechanical and nuclear engineering in the nation’s top 50% of online graduate programs. This comes just as the department added two new master’s concentrations in engineering management and aerospace engineering, both which can be completed online.

“If our students succeed, then so do we,” said Karla Mossi, Ph.D., professor and graduate program director for the Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering. “We want to take what we’ve learned with our online degree programs and apply them to new concentrations within our graduate programs.”

A growing number of working professionals are enrolling in mechanical and nuclear engineering programs at the College of Engineering, with evening classes available all year. Faculty and staff also make themselves available to students outside traditional business hours to answer questions on topics that can range from registration to course material.

Engagement, a professor’s ability to create a rewarding educational experience for students, and peer assessment are among the most important qualifiers that determine the U.S. News and World Report ranking. It also considers other factors like student GPA and faculty credentials.

The Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering provides undergraduate and graduate students with the opportunity to perform real-world research as soon as they enroll. From applying material science to additive manufacturing techniques to optimizing coolant systems for nuclear reactors and more, students gain understanding of many important engineering topics. Browse videos and recent news from the Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering to discover how the College of Engineering at Virginia Commonwealth University prepares the next generation of scientists and engineers for the challenges of the future.