Degree Requirements

General | Master of Science | Master of Engineering | Doctor of Philosophy

The University of Virginia School of Engineering and Applied Science offers programs leading to the degree of Master of Science and Master of Engineering, as well as Master degrees in several areas of applied science, and the Doctor of Philosophy degree.

The School's 9 curricula are:

Biomedical Engineering	Computer Engineering	Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Chemical Engineering	Electrical Engineering	Systems Engineering
Civil Engineering	Engineering Physics
Computer Science	Materials Science and Engineering

The range of studies available within the school is designed to satisfy a variety of objectives. Specific courses leading to a degree are not prescribed; instead, each student prepares an individual program, with the help of a faculty advisor, tailored to particular needs and goals.

Two types of master's degrees are available. Strong emphasis is placed on research for the Master of Science (M.S.) degree. The focal point of the M.S. is a thesis describing research accomplished in close cooperation with the student's faculty advisor. The degrees of Master of Engineering and Master of Applied Science do not require a thesis and are professionally oriented.

The Doctor of Philosophy degree is regarded by many as a symbol that its bearer has achieved an in-depth understanding of a segment of human knowledge and has contributed significantly to that knowledge. The Ph.D. requires a program of advanced study in courses and research, satisfactory completion of comprehensive examinations, and submission of a dissertation based on independent, original research.

General Requirements
Grades
To obtain a graduate degree in the School of Engineering and Applied Science, a graduate student must have a minimum average grade of B on all graded graduate course work taken at the University of Virginia while a graduate student. No grade lower than a C will be acceptable toward meeting the requirements for a graduate degree. If a course is repeated, both grades will be used in computing the overall grade average. Undergraduate courses and courses taken on a Credit/No Credit basis may not be used to meet requirements for a graduate degree and will not be used in computing the grade point average. A 200-day grace period past the end of the semester (end of the examination period) is automatically allowed to remove an incomplete. After the grace period, incompletes are automatically converted to F.

Quality of Work
Graduate degrees are not conferred merely upon the basis of the number of courses passed, nor the length of time spent in residence or in research, but primarily upon the basis of the quality and scope of the candidate's knowledge and power of investigation in a chosen field of study. Unsatisfactory work during any semester or an overall grade average less than B may be considered to be sufficient reason for withdrawal of financial assistance or for enforced withdrawal from the graduate program. A graduate student will be considered to be on probation if his or her cumulative GPA for graduate work is less than 3.0 and will be notified of this by the Dean's Office. A graduate student will be subject to dismissal if the cumulative GPA is not raised to 3.0 within one semester.
.
Research
All graduate students doing research will be registered for the appropriate research course. Credits will be assigned to this course in such a way that the total number of hours for which the student is registered will reflect the fraction of time devoted to progress toward a degree. Students must register for a minimum of six credits of research for the Master of Science (thesis) degree and 24 credits of research for the Ph.D. degree. In many cases research in excess of these minimum requirements, particularly for the Ph.D. degree, will be desirable. Project research for the Master of Engineering or Master of Applied Science (non-thesis) degree is encouraged and, in some curricula, required.

Time Limit
Students must complete all the requirements for a Master of Science degree within five years after admission to the graduate program and must complete all the requirements for a Master of Engineering degree within seven years after admission to the graduate program. All requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy degree must be completed within seven years after admission to the doctoral program. Expired credits may be revalidated, upon approval of the advisor, the department Graduate Studies Committee, and the Office of the Associate Dean for Graduate Programs.

The time to degree can be extended beyond its ordinary term for SEAS graduate students for: (1) maternity or family parenting, (2) serious personal or family illness upon notification to and approval of the appropriate department or program and the Office of the Associate Dean for Graduate Programs. The “clock-stopping” will be for a period of up to one year. Utilization of this policy should be invoked as soon as the need for additional time becomes known.

Transfer Credit
Transfer credit, as described below, will be considered for acceptance toward a degree in the Graduate School of Engineering and Applied Science.

Master of Science and PhD candidates may include a maximum of six credits of graduate course transfer credit. These graduate courses must have been completed at another school of recognized standing, and cannot have been used to satisfy requirements for another degree. Only courses with a grade of B or better may be transferred. All requests for the inclusion of transfer credit are subject to the approval of the candidates' academic department, the academic department of the equivalent UVa course, and the Office of the Associate Dean for Graduate Programs

Master of Engineering Candidates may include a maximum of 12 graduate course transfer credits. These graduate courses must have been completed at another school of recognized standing, and cannot have been used to satisfy requirements for another degree. Only courses with a grade of B or better may be transferred. All requests for transfer credit are subject to the approval of the candidates' academic department, the academic department of the equivalent UVa course, and the Office of the Office of the Associate Dean for Graduate Programs.

Part-Time Graduate Students
Those students who wish to pursue a graduate degree in the School of Engineering and Applied Science on a part-time basis must be approved for admission to the degree program by the department or program offering the degree, and they must meet all admission requirements for full-time degree students. Part-time students taking on-Grounds courses for degree credit, including those participating in the Commonwealth Graduate Engineering Program, must register through the School of Engineering and Applied Science, not through the School of Continuing and Professional Studies. A maximum of six credits of graduate course work taken on-Grounds through School of Continuing and Professional Studies prior to admission to a graduate degree program may be accepted as credit toward degree requirements.

Residency M.S. and Ph.D. degree programs require a period of residency. A full-time graduate student in residence at the University, whether taking courses or doing research, is expected to be fully engaged in the academic community, to participate in planned and impromptu discussions with faculty, graduate students and undergraduate students, and to actively contribute to intellectual discourse within the School. During the period of residency, a student should have no major conflicts of commitment. Substantial employment obligations, for example, would generally be in conflict with the residency requirement.

Right to Petition In certain cases there may be extenuating circumstances that cause a deviation from the requirements for the master’s or doctoral degrees. A student has the right to petition the Graduate Studies Committee requesting such a deviation from the normal requirements. This petition should be in writing and endorsed by both the student’s advisor and department chair, and submitted to the Office of the Associate Dean for Graduate Programs.

Outcome Assessment
A set of student learning outcomes and associated assessment forms has been defined for each graduate program. The level of achievement of each outcome will be evaluated for every student as the student proceeds through the program. Many of the graduate forms have assessment forms associated with them. When a student submits the Ph.D. Examination Report, Dissertation Proposal Report, or a Report on Final Examination, the associated assessment form must be attached.

Master of Engineering and Master of Applied Science programs each have established learning outcomes and each outcome has its own specific assessment form.

The outcomes for the non-thesis Master’s programs include:

• Engineering Design
• Engineering Analysis
• Technical Writing
• Oral Communication
• Plan of Study

It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that each of the required assessments are performed and that the required forms are submitted. If a program requires a project with a written or oral presentation, the appropriate forms can be completed at that time. If a program requires only course-work, then it is the responsibility of the student to submit samples of work for assessment to their advisor or course instructor. The entire set of required assessment forms must be completed for each student before graduation.

Outcome assessment for Master of Science and Ph.D. programs is associated with the Ph.D (qualifying, preliminary or comprehensive) examinations, proposal defense and admission to candidacy (PhD only), and the final defense examination. Since the Ph.D. examination formats vary among programs, there is a set of program-specific qualifying exam assessment forms.

Master of Science Degree Requirements
The Master of Science degree is a graduate research degree that introduces students to research at the graduate level. A full-time student may be able to complete the program in one and one-half calendar years. The School of Engineering and Applied Science offers instruction leading to the degree of Master of Science in the following fields: biomedical engineering, chemical engineering, civil engineering, computer science, computer engineering, electrical engineering, engineering physics, materials science and engineering, mechanical and aerospace engineering, and systems engineering.

The program director will appoint an advisor to each graduate student for consultation in planning a program of study. In collaboration with the advisor, each student should develop a program of study including all courses required for the degree as well as additional courses to prepare the student for research in his/her chosen topic. Approval of a program of study does not obligate the University to offer the courses listed, as all graduate courses are offered subject to sufficient enrollment. Candidates who complete the degree requirements and are approved by the faculty will be presented for degrees at the first scheduled graduation exercise of the University following completion of the requirements.

Click here for a listing of all graduate forms and the corresponding assessment forms!

A candidate for the Master of Science degree must:

1. complete a minimum of 24 credits of graduate level credits. This program of study may contain no more than a total of nine credits of 5000-level courses, and no more than six credits of those credits may be taken within the department(s) conferring the degree. Departmental requirements may be more restrictive. The program may include a maximum of six transfer credits for graduate courses completed at another school of recognized standing; however, those courses must be equivalent to a UVa graduate course. Only courses with a grade of B or better may be transferred;
2. complete an acceptable research project, accomplished under the close direction of a faculty advisor. The research is documented in a written thesis.
3. perform satisfactorily in a final examination of the thesis conducted by an examining committee appointed by the Office of the Associate Dean for Graduate Programs. A student who does not perform satisfactorily on the examination may, upon the recommendation of two-thirds majority of the examining committee, be granted a further examination after being given adequate time to prepare;
4. submit the approved final thesis to Libra, the online archinve of University of Virginia Scholarship, by the date specified in the academic calendar;
5. apply for degree in SIS and also submit an Application for Graduate Degree, by the date specified in the academic calendar;
6. complete at least one semester in residence at the University of Virginia as a full-time student; and
7. complete a comprehensive examination (if required by the student's department).

Master of Engineering Degree Requirements
The Master of Engineering degree is a graduate professional degree. It enhances the professional instruction of the bachelor's program in engineering or applied science, providing the student with greater knowledge and deeper understanding in a specific field. A full-time student should be able to complete the degree program in one calendar year. The School of Engineering and Applied Science offers instruction leading to the degree of Master of Engineering in the following fields: biomedical engineering, chemical engineering, civil engineering, computer engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical and aerospace engineering, and systems engineering.

The degrees of Master of Computer Science, Master of Engineering Physics, and Master of Materials Science and Engineering are also offered.

The program director will appoint an advisor to each graduate student.

A candidate for the Master of Engineering degree, or for the degrees of Master of Applied Mathematics, Master of Computer Science, Master of Engineering Physics, or Master of Materials Science and Engineering, must:

1. complete an program of study that includes a minimum of 30 credits of graduate-level course work, with at least 18 credits taken in the area of major study. This program may contain no more than a total of nine credits of 5000-level courses; no more than six of those credits may be taken within the departments conferring the degree. Program requirements may be more restrictive. The program may include a maximum of 12 transfer credits for graduate courses completed at another school of recognized standing; however, those courses must be part of the approved program of study at the University. Only courses with a grade of B or better may be transferred;
2. apply for degree in SIS by the date specified in the academic calendar;
3. complete and present a project (if required by the program); and
4. submit completed assessment forms as required by the program. Each program requires at least three assessment forms.

Doctor of Philosophy Degree Requirements
The School of Engineering and Applied Science offers instruction leading to the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Engineering Physics, Materials Science and Engineering, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, and Systems Engineering.

An advisory committee for each doctoral student is appointed by the Office of the Associate Dean for Graduate Programs upon recommendation of the program director. At least one member of the advisory committee is a UVa faculty member from outside the student's department and major curriculum study area. The committee meets with the student as soon as possible to assist in planning a detailed program of studies and research. The committee recommends a program of formal courses, discusses research objectives and research plans with the student, and advises the student on the areas in which he/she must take Ph.D. examinations. The committee meets with the student as needed to review progress and if necessary to assist the student in revising the program of studies.

The degree of Doctor of Philosophy is conferred by the School of Engineering and Applied Science primarily in recognition of breadth of scholarship, depth of research, and ability to investigate problems independently. A candidate for the Doctor of Philosophy degree must:

1. complete at least three sessions (or equivalent) of graduate study after the baccalaureate degree, or two sessions (or equivalent) after the master's degree. At least one session beyond the master's degree must be in full residence at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. For the purpose of satisfying these requirements, two regular semesters (not including summer sessions) will be considered as one session;
2. satisfactorily complete a program of study tailored to the individual student in accordance with departmental requirements as approved by the School of Engineering and Applied Science faculty. The program must include a combined minimum of 72 credits of research and graduate level course work beyond the baccalaureate. The program must also include a minimum of 24 credits of formal course work, with no more than nine of those credits from 5000-level courses. No more than six credits at the 5000-level may be earned within the department(s) granting the degree. Classes at the 4000-level or below do not count toward the Ph.D. degree. Program requirements may be more restrictive. Transfer of course credit from other schools of recognized standing may be included in the program of study; however, only courses with a grade of B or better may be transferred.
3. perform satisfactorily on the program Ph.D. examination and the associated assessment form. The objective of the examination is to determine whether the student has assimilated and is able to integrate a body of advanced knowledge;
4. submit of a dissertation based upon independent, original research which makes a significant contribution to the student's field of study. In preparation for conducting research and writing the dissertation, a student must prepare a written dissertation proposal. This proposal describes the current state of the art with bibliography, outlines the proposed method of investigation, and discusses the anticipated results. The student then makes a public, oral presentation of the proposal and its associated assessment form to the advisory committee, with all members of the faculty invited to attend;
5. be admitted to candidacy for the degree: A student must have satisfactorily completed the Ph.D. examination and received approval for the dissertation proposal before being admitted to candidacy. Admission to candidacy must be completed at least one semester before the degree is awarded.
6. satisfactorily present and defend the dissertation in a public forum. The dissertation defense is conducted orally and publicly by a committee appointed by the Office of the Associate Dean for Graduate Programs; this committee must include the candidate's advisory committee. The examination is held after the candidate has submitted the dissertation and it is designed to test the student's knowledge of a field of research. Candidates who are accepted by the examining committee and approved by the faculty will be presented for degrees at the first scheduled graduation exercises of the University following completion of the requirements;
7. apply for degree in SIS and also submit an Application for Graduate Degree, by the date specified in the academic calendar;
8. submit the approved final dissertation to Libra, the online archive of University of Virginia Scholarship, by the date specified in the academic calendar.

For more information regarding graduate studies at U.Va., please see the U.Va. Graduate Record / catalog