Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering Department
Take an active role in shaping the future of your world by joining the Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering. Work alongside some of the brightest minds in the industry to collaborate on meaningful projects that prepare you for a successful career.
Our expertise spans the areas of:
- Materials science
- Mechanics
- Nuclear engineering
- Thermal-fluid systems
By making groundbreaking advances in these fields, our research can make a significant impact in adjacent areas like medicine, energy and even aerospace design.
We want you to reach your full potential, so our faculty bring the same passion and expertise for research into the classroom. Many will take a hands-on approach to your education, serving as mentors who guide your development.
Whether you’re drawn to the vast world of mechanical engineering – designing anything from complex machinery to consumer products – or captivated by the marvels of nuclear engineering – with applications in energy production and medical treatment – the Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering has a program to fuel your passion.
Mechanical engineering is one of the broadest engineering disciplines. It applies the principles of engineering, material science, physics and mathematics to design, analyze and manufacture mechanical systems like vehicles, biomedical devices, consumer products, internal combustion engines and robotic systems.
Nuclear engineering harnesses the power of atomic nuclei to transform our world. From generating clean energy that powers our homes to developing cutting-edge medical treatments, nuclear engineers play a vital role in shaping our future. They apply their deep understanding of nuclear properties and reactions to advance cancer therapies, pioneer innovative diagnostic techniques and drive economic growth. With a keen focus on radiation measurement and safeguards, nuclear engineers work tirelessly to ensure their work benefits society while minimizing the risks of nuclear technology.
Why VCU Nuclear Engineering?
- VCU offers the nation's only combined doctorate in Mechanical & Nuclear Engineering
- VCU's location is at the hub of the heaviest concentration of nuclear engineering enterprises in the nation
- VCU offers a full range of undergraduate nuclear engineering courses
- VCU is a key source of new nuclear engineers for the region's many nuclear engineering enterprises
History of the department
The Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering enrolled its first class of undergraduate students in the fall of 1996 and moved into what is now Engineering West Hall in 1998. Two years later, in May 2000, M.S. and Ph.D. graduate degree programs in Engineering were established and the first graduate students joined the department.
VCU responded to the demand for qualified nuclear professionals in Virginia. In 2007, the department launched a new M.S. degree program in Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering and in 2009 began offering an undergraduate major concentration in Nuclear Engineering. In 2012, the department launched the nation’s first hybrid Ph.D. in Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering. The mechanical engineering department relocated to Engineering East Hall in January 2008 and in the fall of 2010 officially changed its name to the Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering.
Timeline
1996 – First class of students enrolls at the VCU School of Engineering
1996 – Initiation of Mechanical Engineering Program
2000 – ABET Accreditation of B.S. in Mechanical Engineering
2000 – Establishment of M.S. and Ph.D. in Engineering
2007 – Initiation of M.S. Track in Nuclear Engineering
2008 – Establishment of M.S. in Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering (including online option)
2009 – Initiation of B.S. Major Concentration in Nuclear Engineering
2010 – Department name changed to Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering
2012 – ABET Accreditation of B.S. Major Concentration in Nuclear Engineering
2012 – Establishment of Ph.D. in Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering