VCU College of Engineering
 VCU Engineering West Hall, Monroe Park campus. | |
| Type | Public engineering college |
|---|---|
| Established | 1996 |
Parent institution | Virginia Commonwealth University |
| Dean | Azim Eskandarian[1] |
Academic staff | 64 |
| Students | Nearly 2,000 undergraduate and approximately 300 graduate students[2] |
| Location | , , 37°32′44″N 77°26′58″W / 37.5456°N 77.4495°W |
| Website | egr |
 | |
The VCU College of Engineering is the engineering college Virginia Commonwealth University, a public research university in Richmond, Virginia, United States. If offers undergraduate and graduate degrees.[3] Established as the "School of Engineering" in 1996, its name and status was officially changed to the College of Engineering in April 2018. The college's former dean, Barbara D. Boyan, cited doubled faculty numbers and an increase in funding as reasoning for the switch from school to college.[4]
Upon its founding, initial courses at the VCU school were offered in mechanical, electrical and chemical engineering. The school added a new undergraduate major in biomedical engineering in the fall of 1998. The undergraduate biomedical engineering program is unique in the Commonwealth, established as a response to the growing presence of biomedical companies in Virginia. VCU's long-standing degree programs in computer science joined the school in fall 2001. In May 2000, a graduate degree program in engineering was created and added to the historic graduate programs of biomedical engineering.[5]
Academics
[edit]The college offers undergraduate degrees in five engineering departments, including a Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science introduced in fall 2024.[6] The college also offers Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees across all departments.
Facilities
[edit]The first two of the School of Engineering's planned facilities opened in the fall of 1998 the main classroom building and the Virginia Microelectronics Research Center. Together, they total 147,000 square feet (13,700 m2) at a cost of $42 million. To foster growth in enrollment and faculty number, the school embarked on an ambitious campaign to expand facilities, fund endowed scholarships, chairs, and academic programs. The campaign raised more than $67 million to meet these needs.[5]
Facilities of the college include:
- 147,000 square feet (13,700 m2) West Hall [7]
- 131,000 square feet (12,200 m2) East Hall
- 28,000 square feet (2,600 m2) Microelectronics Lab
- 25,000 square feet (2,300 m2) Health & Life Science Engineering Lab
- 92,000 square feet (8,500 m2) Institute for Engineering and Medicine [8]
- 133,000 square feet (12,400 m2) Engineering Research Building [9]
The Engineering Research Building, officially opened in February 2021, is a four-story, 133,000-square-foot (12,400 m2) facility that significantly expands the college's laboratory capacity for advanced research. The $93 million building features interdisciplinary research laboratories, a 9,000-square-foot Innovation Maker Facility, career services center, and a Collaboration Hub and Innovation Courtyard designed to connect the college's facilities.[10]
In January 2008, the school opened East Hall, a 120,000-square-foot (11,000 m2) facility housing 48 research labs, 50 faculty offices, six classrooms, and other student spaces allowing for future growth of the college.[5]
Departments
[edit]- Biomedical Engineering[11]
- Chemical and Life Science Engineering[12]
- Electrical and Computer Engineering[13]
- Computer Science[14]
- Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering[15]
Convergence Lab Initiative
[edit]The Convergence Lab Initiative (CLI) is a cross-disciplinary research institute established with $17.8 million in funding from the Department of Defense. The initiative focuses on research in quantum and photonic devices, microelectronics, artificial intelligence, neuromorphic computing, arts and biomedical science.[16]
Statistics
[edit]Alumni: 2,936 [17]
Career Outcomes
[edit]95% of students are enrolled in graduate school or employed within 6 months of graduation, with 77% employed and 17% continuing their education in graduate school.[18]
Top Employers of Alumni: Mitsubishi nuclear energy, Thomas & Betts Power, Altria, MWV, TRANE, and Infilco Degremont.[citation needed]
Rankings and Recognition
[edit]VCU's nuclear engineering graduate program is ranked 18th nationally by U.S. News & World Report.[19] The college's online Master's in Engineering program is ranked 22nd nationally.[20]
Notable Partnerships
[edit]The college maintains strong industry partnerships, including the Technical Graduate Program with Newport News Shipbuilding, which has enabled more than 75 engineers to earn their Master of Science degrees, with 86 currently enrolled.[21]
The college also participates in the Virginia Alliance for Semiconductor Technology (VAST), a $3.3 million statewide initiative collaborating with other Virginia universities to advance semiconductor research and education.
References
[edit]- ^ "Deans Welcome". VCU College of Engineering. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
- ^ "College of Engineering". VCU Bulletin. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
- ^ "Departments; VCU College of Engineering". Virginia Commonwealth University. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
- ^ Kendra Gerlach (27 April 2018). "VCU's engineering school becomes the VCU College of Engineering". VCU News. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
- ^ a b c History - VCU Engineering Archived July 20, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "VCU College of Engineering to offer new B.A. degree in computer science in fall 2024". VCU News. 21 May 2024. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
- ^ Created by VCU University Relations (2012-06-19). "Facilities | VCU School of Engineering". Egr.vcu.edu. Retrieved 2013-04-09.
- ^ "The VCU Institute for Engineering and Medicine". iem.vcu.edu. Retrieved 2021-02-19.
- ^ "Engineering Research Building". egr.vcu.edu. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
- ^ "Inside VCU Engineering's new research building". VCU News. 3 February 2021. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
- ^ [1] Archived October 12, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Created by VCU University Relations (2012-06-28). "Department of Chemical and Life Science Engineering | VCU School of Engineering". Egr.vcu.edu. Archived from the original on August 29, 2012. Retrieved 2013-04-09.
- ^ "VCU School of Engineering | Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering". Egr.vcu.edu. 2012-06-18. Archived from the original on April 30, 2012. Retrieved 2013-04-09.
- ^ "Department of Computer Science | VCU School of Engineering". Egr.vcu.edu. 2012-06-14. Archived from the original on July 29, 2012. Retrieved 2013-04-09.
- ^ Created by VCU University Relations (2012-06-18). "VCU School of Engineering | Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering". Egr.vcu.edu. Archived from the original on May 29, 2012. Retrieved 2013-04-09.
- ^ "Department of Defense completes $17.8 million award to Convergence Lab Initiative for collaborative research and Specialized STEM development". VCU College of Engineering News. 16 April 2025. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
- ^ "Facts and Figures - VCU Engineering". Archived from the original on June 9, 2010. Retrieved September 26, 2011.
- ^ "Engineering Career Services". VCU College of Engineering. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
- ^ "VCU's nuclear engineering graduate program ranked No. 18 in U.S. News and World Report rankings". VCU News. 20 June 2024. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
- ^ "U.S. News and World Report ranks VCU Engineering online graduate program among best in nation". VCU College of Engineering News. 26 March 2024. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
- ^ "Partnership for Progress: VCU's Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering Program Fuels Career Growth at Newport News Shipbuilding". VCU College of Engineering News. 25 April 2025. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
External links
[edit]| Academics |
| ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Athletics |
| ||||||||||
| Student life |
| ||||||||||
