Major map compass icon
2024-2025

Mechanical Engineering, Bachelor of Science

VCU

Community college:
AA&S or AS in Engineering (Virginia Community College System)
Virginia Community College System
Associate degree

Associate of Science in Engineering or Associate of Arts and Sciences in Engineering

Completing the associate degree will waive VCU's general education requirements.

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
  • Completion of associate degree (A.A.&.S. or A.S. in Engineering)
  • 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
Highest level of math required
  • MATH 307
  • STAT 212
Science required
  • 5+ additional science courses
Foreign language requirements
  • No
Additional tuition/fees
  • Yes
GPA requirements (to progress/graduate in the major)
  • 2.0+ cumulative GPA, 2.0+ major GPA

Transfer major map
Visit majormaps.vcu.edu for the online version with links.
Sponsored by the Office of the Provost
Major map compass icon
2024-2025

Mechanical Engineering, Bachelor of Science

Virginia Community College System (AA&S or AS in 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
  • Schedule an appointment with your community college advisor to map out your associate degree course plan.
  • Complete your english and start your math requirements in your first year.
  • Be prepared for academic challenges and utilize tutoring resources to get ahead.
  • Explore community college financial aid resources and submit the FAFSA on time.
  • Enroll in the SDV student success course.
  • Identify a mentor in a diversity organization.
  • Attend diversity-focused events on your community college campus and in your community (e.g., international festival).
  • Make friends with people with diverse perspectives and join a cultural or identity-related student organization.
  • Practice independent living skills such as money and time management, self-care, and personal responsibility.
  • Create a weekly and monthly budget.
  • Prepare for a career after college by creating a brand for yourself.
  • Develop personal and career goals and create SMART steps for 2-3 "dream jobs."
Experience Year 2
  • Apply to VCU.
  • Visit the VCU campus and attend a transfer admission session.
  • Research housing options for next year.
  • Attend a talk or other event sponsored by the VCU mechanical engineering department, consider joining a VCU club, or meeting with VCU students to make professional and personal connections.
  • Learn about short-term, semester and year-long study abroad options.
  • Check out the VCU Office of Multicultural Student Affairs (OMSA) and follow @vcuomsa.
  • Attend VCU cultural events, including the monthly Global Café, VCU Diversity Scholars in Research week, or VCU mechanical engineering department-related events.
  • Consider learning a foreign language to open doors to international organizations and future study.
  • Find out about VCU REAL and learn about VCU's REAL graduation requirement.
  • Attend Career & Internship Fairs throughout the year.
  • Acquire career related experience (e.g., job, internship, organization involvement).
  • If your GPA is 3.5 or higher, consider applying for the VCU Honors College.
  • Using LinkedIn, connect to at least 10 people. Check out the VCU alumni page in My Network.
  • Conduct informational interviews or shadow someone in a field of career interest.
  • Use the cost calculator to estimate your tuition/fees as an upperclassman at VCU.
  • Explore the types of aid available at VCU.
  • Consider who you would like to have serve as professional and academic references for future letters of recommendation.

Explore
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
  • Schedule an appointment with your community college advisor to map out your associate degree course plan.
  • Complete your english and start your math requirements in your first year.
  • Be prepared for academic challenges and utilize tutoring resources to get ahead.
  • Explore community college financial aid resources and submit the FAFSA on time.
  • Enroll in the SDV student success course.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
  • Identify a mentor in a diversity organization.
  • Attend diversity-focused events on your community college campus and in your community (e.g., international festival).
  • Make friends with people with diverse perspectives and join a cultural or identity-related student organization.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Practice independent living skills such as money and time management, self-care, and personal responsibility.
  • Create a weekly and monthly budget.
  • Prepare for a career after college by creating a brand for yourself.
  • Develop personal and career goals and create SMART steps for 2-3 "dream jobs."

Experience
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
  • Apply to VCU.
  • Visit the VCU campus and attend a transfer admission session.
  • Research housing options for next year.
  • Attend a talk or other event sponsored by the VCU mechanical engineering department, consider joining a VCU club, or meeting with VCU students to make professional and personal connections.
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
  • Learn about short-term, semester and year-long study abroad options.
  • Check out the VCU Office of Multicultural Student Affairs (OMSA) and follow @vcuomsa.
  • Attend VCU cultural events, including the monthly Global Café, VCU Diversity Scholars in Research week, or VCU mechanical engineering department-related events.
  • Consider learning a foreign language to open doors to international organizations and future study.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
  • Find out about VCU REAL and learn about VCU's REAL graduation requirement.
  • Attend Career & Internship Fairs throughout the year.
  • Acquire career related experience (e.g., job, internship, organization involvement).
  • If your GPA is 3.5 or higher, consider applying for the VCU Honors College.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Using LinkedIn, connect to at least 10 people. Check out the VCU alumni page in My Network.
  • Conduct informational interviews or shadow someone in a field of career interest.
  • Use the cost calculator to estimate your tuition/fees as an upperclassman at VCU.
  • Explore the types of aid available at VCU.
  • Consider who you would like to have serve as professional and academic references for future letters of recommendation.

Recommended courses
Major map compass icon
2024-2025

Mechanical Engineering, Bachelor of Science

Virginia Community College System (AA&S or AS in Engineering)

Virginia Community College System courses
Course Title Equivalent course Credits Requirements
SDV 100 or 101 College Success Skills UNIV 101 1 Elective
ENG 111 College Composition I Note: students with credit for AP English Language and Composition will only receive credit for UNIV 111 at VCU and should take ENG 112 to fulfill the VCU composition requirement. UNIV 111-112 3 General education
ENG 112 College Composition II UNIV 200 3 General education
Humanities/Fine Arts Select one of the following (UCGS Block II): ART 100, ART 101, ART 102, CST 130, CST 151, MUS 121, MUS 221, MUS 222, MUS 226, HUM 201, HUM 202, HUM 210, HUM 216, HUM 220, HUM 256, HUM 259, PHI 100, PHI 111, PHI 220, REL 100, REL 230, REL 237, REL 240. VCU equivalent 3 General education
Humanities/Fine Arts/Literature Select one of the following (UCGS Block II): ART 100, ART 101, ART 102, CST 130, CST 151, MUS 121, MUS 221, MUS 222, MUS 226, HUM 201, HUM 202, HUM 210, HUM 216, HUM 220, HUM 256, HUM 259, PHI 100, PHI 111, PHI 220, REL 100, REL 230, REL 237, REL 240, ENG 225, ENG 245, ENG 246, ENG 250, ENG 255, ENG 258, ENG 275 (the course must come from a different group than the previous requirement). VCU equivalent 3 General education
History Select one of the following (UCGS Block VI): HIS 101, HIS 102, HIS 111, HIS 112, HIS 121, HIS 122. HIST 3 General education
ECO 202 Principles of Microeconomics (substitutes for the ECON 205 requirement) ECON 201 3 Major (Ancillary)
MTH 263 Calculus I (earn minimum grade of "B") MATH 200 4 Major (Ancillary)
MTH 264 Calculus II (earn minimum grade of "B") MATH 201 4 Major (Ancillary)
MTH 265 Calculus III (earn minimum grade of "B") MATH 307 4 Major (Ancillary)
MTH 267 Differential Equations (earn minimum grade of "B") MATH 301 3 Major (Ancillary)
PHY 241 University Physics I (earn minimum grade of "B") PHYS 207 4 Major (Ancillary)
PHY 242 University Physics II (earn minimum grade of "B") PHYS 208 4 Major (Ancillary)
CHM 111 General Chemistry I (earn minimum grade of "B") CHEM/Z 101 4 Major (Ancillary)
EGR 121 + EGR 122 Foundations of Engineering + Engineering Design (both must be completed to receive credit for VCU equivalents) (earn minimum grade of "B") EGMN 110 + EGMN 190 + EGMN 210 5 Major
EGR 271 Electric Circuits I (earn minimum grade of "B") EGRE 206 4 Major
EGR 240 Solid Mechanics (Statics) (earn minimum grade of "B") EGMN 102 3 Major
EGR 245 Engineering Mechanics-Dynamics (earn minimum grade of "B") EGMN 201 3 Major
EGR 246 Mechanics of Materials (earn minimum grade of "B") EGMN 202 3 Major
EGR 248 Thermodynamics for Engineering (earn minimum grade of "B") EGMN 204 3 Major
Community college credits transferred to VCU 67
VCU courses
Course Title Credits Requirements
EGMN 203 Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering Practicum II 1 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 Sciences 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 420 CAE Design 3 Major
ENGR 395 Professional Development 1 Major
ENGR 402 Senior Design Studio (Seminar) 1 Major
ENGR 403 Senior Design Studio (Seminar) 1 Major
EGMN 416 Mechatronics 3 Major
EGMN 421 CAE Analysis 3 Major
Approved internship or cooperative education experience 0 Major
Review of internship or cooperative education experience 0 Major
Engineering electives 6 Major
Engineering or professional electives 6 Major
MGMT 310 or SCMA 350 Managing People in Organizations or Introduction to Project Management 3 Major (Ancillary)
STAT 441 Applied Statistics for Engineers and Scientists 3 Major (Ancillary)
Open electives 5 Elective
REAL The REAL requirement may be satisfied by successfully completing a 300-level (or higher) course that has received a REAL attribute of Level 2, 3 or 4 or through an approved “REAL” co-curricular experience that has received a REAL attribute of Level 3 or 4. See VCU advisor for options. 0 Major
Credits completed at VCU 64
Minimum credits required for bachelor's degree 130
The accelerated B.S. and M.S. program allows qualified students to earn both the B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and M.S. in Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering (either thesis or non-thesis option) in a minimum of five years by completing approved graduate courses during the senior year of their undergraduate program. Minimum qualifications for entrance to this accelerated program include completion of 90 or more credits including EGMN 300, EGMN 301, EGMN 302, EGMN 303, EGMN 315, EGMN 321,EGMN 420 and EGMN 421; an overall GPA of 3.0; and a GPA of 3.0 in mechanical engineering course work.