Graduate degrees in mechanical engineering and aerospace engineering include the Master of Engineering, Master of Science, Doctor of Philosophy, and Doctor of Engineering degrees and are designed to prepare graduates for professional practice in teaching, research and development, design, and consulting. Graduates are prepared for challenging and rewarding employment in high-technology industries, research organizations, consulting firms and government agencies. These programs are also designed to serve both full-time and part-time graduate students. The department is closely associated with area industries, consulting firms, government agencies and research laboratories, which add relevance to the graduate engineering curricula, creating a stimulating environment for the pursuit of graduate studies. The students also benefit from the University’s affiliation with NASA Langley Research Center, the Jefferson National Laboratory, the National Institute of Aerospace, and the Virginia Modeling Analysis and Simulation Center. All degree programs offered by the department can be utilized as components within the linked Baccalaureate-Master’s and Baccalaureate-Doctoral degree programs offered through the Batten College of Engineering and Technology.