Major map compass icon
2019-2020

Bachelor of Science: Mechanical Engineering

VCU

Community college:
Associate of Science: Engineering (Brightpoint Community College (program-specific pathway))
Brightpoint Community College
Program description

Mechanical engineering is one of the oldest and broadest engineering disciplines. Mechanical engineers design and analyze machines of all types including automobiles, airplanes, rockets, submarines, power generation systems, biomedical instrumentation, robots, manufacturing systems, household appliances and many, many more. In addition to well-known areas such as nuclear energy, nuclear propulsion and nuclear medicine, nuclear engineers are involved in many other applications of nuclear science and technology in fields as diverse as agriculture, industry, homeland security, forensics, environmental protection and even art.  Current areas of research within the department include but are not limited to energy conversion systems, smart materials, corrosion, medical devices, aerosol science, sensors, radiation detection and measurement, nuclear reactor design, robotics, fluid mechanics, nanotechnology, and biomechanics.

Career opportunities

Mechanical engineers research, design, develop, manufacture, and test tools, engines, machines, and other mechanical devices. Mechanical engineering is one of the broadest engineering disciplines. Engineers in this discipline work on power-producing machines such as electric generators, internal combustion engines, and steam and gas turbines. They also work on power-using machines such as refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment, machine tools, material-handling systems, elevators and escalators, industrial production equipment, and robots used in manufacturing. Some mechanical engineers design tools that other engineers need for their work.The key characteristics of the profession are its breadth, flexibility, and individuality. The career paths of mechanical engineers are largely determined by individual choices, a decided advantage in a changing world.

Bachelor-level job titles
  • Automation Engineer
  • Automotive Engineer
  • Design Engineer
  • Maintenance Engineer
  • Manufacturing Engineer
  • Mechanical Engineer
  • Nuclear Engineer
  • Product Development Engineer
  • Robotics Engineer
  • Sales Engineer
Graduate and professional level job titles
  • College Professor
  • Lead Research Scientist
  • Project Lead Engineer
  • Research & Development Engineer
  • Research Engineer
  • Simulation & Modeling Engineer
Contact information


VCU Transfer Center

Telephone: (804) 827-1349

Email: transferinfo@vcu.edu

Transfer Advising Request

VCCS Transfer Planning Checklist


Office of Admissions

Telephone: (804) 828-1222 or (800) 841-3638

Email: ugrad@vcu.edu
Apply Here.

Guaranteed transfer admission requirements

Review requirements of Engineering Admission Agreement
Completion of associate degree (A.S. in Engineering or A.S. in Science)
Minimum GPA of 3.0
All courses must be completed with a grade of "C" or better
Earn a minimum grade of "B" in all your math, science and engineering classes

Degree requirements in Bulletin
Plan of study in Bulletin
Highest level of math required
  • MATH 201 or higher
Science required
  • 5+ additional science courses
Foreign language requirements
  • No
Additional tuition/fees
  • Yes
GPA requirements (to progress/graduate in the major)
  • 2.0

Transfer major map
Visit majormaps.vcu.edu for the online version with links.
Sponsored by the Office of the Provost
Major map compass icon
2019-2020

Bachelor of Science: Mechanical Engineering

Brightpoint Community College (program-specific pathway) (Associate of Science: Engineering)

MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
Explore Year 1
  • Attend Tyler orientation
  • Log into Navigate and view its features to help you on your pathway
  • Understand how you will fund your education
  • Register for SDV 100
  • Be prepared for academic challenges in your ENG, CHM, EGR, and MTH classes. Visit the Academic Resource Center on either campus.
  • Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor each semester and cultivate relationships with your professors.
  • Attend diversity-focused events on campus or in your community.
  • Identify a mentor in a diversity organization.
  • Create Linkedln profile.
  • Get involved with a student or professional organization.
  • Explore the community college’s iGrad Job Genius Search Engine to look into building a career and financial future.
  • Visit career services to begin cultivating your own virtual brand across all social media profiles.
  • Browse careers related to mechanical engineering through the career coach.
  • Take a career assessment through the career coach.
  • Assess your preparation for a career by completing a Gap Analysis.
  • Use SDV 100 to create a weekly and monthly budget.
  • Develop personal and career goals and create SMART steps for 2-3 "dream jobs."
  • Create, upload and update your resume to the College Central Network.
Experience Year 2
  • Learn about short-term, semester and year-long study abroad options.
  • Consider learning a foreign language to open doors to international organizations and future study.
  • Attend diversity-focused events on campus and in your community (i.e. international festival).
  • Continue to partner with diversity leader/ facilitator/ mentor to move towards cultural competence.
  • Get involved with service-learning opportunities
  • Attend Career & Internship Fairs throughout the year.
  • Acquire career related experience (e.g., job, internship, organization involvement).
  • Run for leadership in your student organization.
  • If your GPA is 3.5 or higher, consider applying for the VCU Honors College.

Explore
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
  • Attend Tyler orientation
  • Log into Navigate and view its features to help you on your pathway
  • Understand how you will fund your education
  • Register for SDV 100
  • Be prepared for academic challenges in your ENG, CHM, EGR, and MTH classes. Visit the Academic Resource Center on either campus.
  • Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor each semester and cultivate relationships with your professors.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
  • Attend diversity-focused events on campus or in your community.
  • Identify a mentor in a diversity organization.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
  • Create Linkedln profile.
  • Get involved with a student or professional organization.
  • Explore the community college’s iGrad Job Genius Search Engine to look into building a career and financial future.
  • Visit career services to begin cultivating your own virtual brand across all social media profiles.
  • Browse careers related to mechanical engineering through the career coach.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Take a career assessment through the career coach.
  • Assess your preparation for a career by completing a Gap Analysis.
  • Use SDV 100 to create a weekly and monthly budget.
  • Develop personal and career goals and create SMART steps for 2-3 "dream jobs."
  • Create, upload and update your resume to the College Central Network.

Experience
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
  • Learn about short-term, semester and year-long study abroad options.
  • Consider learning a foreign language to open doors to international organizations and future study.
  • Attend diversity-focused events on campus and in your community (i.e. international festival).
  • Continue to partner with diversity leader/ facilitator/ mentor to move towards cultural competence.
  • Get involved with service-learning opportunities
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
  • Attend Career & Internship Fairs throughout the year.
  • Acquire career related experience (e.g., job, internship, organization involvement).
  • Run for leadership in your student organization.
  • If your GPA is 3.5 or higher, consider applying for the VCU Honors College.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE

Recommended courses
Major map compass icon
2019-2020

Bachelor of Science: Mechanical Engineering

Brightpoint Community College (program-specific pathway) (Associate of Science: Engineering)

Brightpoint Community College (program-specific pathway) courses
Course Title Equivalent course Credits Requirements
SDV 100 or 101 College Success Skills/Orientation to Discipline UNIV 101 1 Elective
CHM 111 General Chemistry I (earn minimum grade of "B") CHEM/Z 101 4 Major
ENG 111 College Composition I UNIV 111-112 3 General education
MTH 263 Calculus I (earn minimum grade of "B") MATH 200 4 Major
EGR 120 Introduction to Engineering (earn minimum grade of "B") EGMN 190 2 Major
EGR 126 Computer Programming for Engineers (earn minimum grade of "B") ENGR 1XX 3 Elective
ENG 112 College Composition  II UNIV 200 3 General education
MTH 264 Calculus II (earn minimum grade of "B") MATH 201 4 Major
Engineering elective EGR 124 Introduction to Engineering and Engineering Methods (earn minimum grade of "B") EGRE 101 + EGMN 103 3 Major
Social-behavioral science Social-behavioral science (select 1): ECO 201, ECO 202, PSY 200, SOC 200 VCU equivalent 3 General education
Humanities/Fine Arts Humanities/Fine Arts (select 1): ART 101, ART 102, CST 100, ENG 252, PHI 111 VCU equivalent 3 General education
MTH 265 Calculus III (earn minimum grade of "B") MATH 307 4 Major
Engineering elective EGR 140 Engineering Mechanics-Statics (earn minimum grade of "B") EGMN 102 3 Major
Engineering elective EGR 245 Engineering Mechanics-Dynamics (earn minimum grade of "B") EGMN 201 3 Major
PHY 241 University Physics I (earn minimum grade of "B") PHYS 207 4 Major
MTH 267 Differential Equations (earn minimum grade of "B") MATH 301 3 Major
Engineering elective EGR 246 Mechanics of Materials (earn minimum grade of "B") EGMN 202 3 Major
Engineering elective EGR 248 Thermodynamics for Engineers (earn minimum grade of "B") EGMN 204 3 Major
PHYS 242 University Physics II (earn minimum grade of "B") PHYS 208 4 Major
Social-behavioral science Social-behavioral science (select 1): PSY 200, SOC 200, SOC 210, PLS 135 VCU equivalent 3 General education
Humanities/Fine Arts Humanities/Fine Arts (select 1): ART 101, ART 102, CST 100, ENG 252, PHI 111 VCU equivalent 3 General education
John Tyler Courses Transferred to VCU 66
VCU courses
Course Title Credits Requirements
MGMT 310 Managing People in Organizations 3 Major
ECON 205 The Economics of Product Development and Markets 3 Major
PHIL 201 Critical Thinking About Moral Problems 3 Major
STAT 441 Applied Statistics for Engineers and Scientists 3 Major
EGRE 206 Electric Circuits 4 Major
EGMN 203 Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering Practicum II 1 Major
EGMN 215 Engineering Visualization and Computation 3 Major
EGMN 300 Mechanical Systems Design 3 Major
EGMN 301 Fluid Mechanics 3 Major
EGMN 302 Heat Transfer 3 Major
EGMN 303 Thermal Systems Design 3 Major
EGMN 309 Material Science for Engineers 3 Major
EGMN 311 Solid Mechanics Lab 1.5 Major
EGMN 312 Thermal Science Lab 1.5 Major
EGMN 315 Process and Systems Dynamics 3 Major
EGMN 321 Numerical Methods 3 Major
EGMN 402 Senior Design Studio (Laboratory/Project Time) 2 Major
EGMN 403 Senior Design Studio (Laboratory/Project Time) 2 Major
EGMN 416 Mechatronics 3 Major
EGMN 420 CAE Design 3 Major
EGMN 421 CAE Analytics 3 Major
ENGR 395 Professional Development 1 Major
ENGR 402 Senior Design Studio (seminar) 1 Major
ENGR 403 Senior Design Studio (seminar) 1 Major
Approved internship or cooperative education experience (select 1): ENGR 296, ENGR 396, ENGR 398 0 Major
Review of approved internship or cooperative education experience (select 1): ENGR 496, ENGR 498 0 Major
Approved engineering electives (see advisor) 6 Major
Approved engineering or professional electives (see advisor) 6 Major
Credits Completed at VCU 72
Bachelor's degree total 138