Ph.D MAE Department 2015-12016

Ph.D. in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE)

School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS)2015-2016

Intro Contact Academics Forms Resources Quiz

Full-time faculty: 27

Undergraduate students: 165

Graduate students: 121

Annual research expenditures: $2.1 million

Quick Facts

Where to Find Us800 22nd Street, N.W., Suite 3000

George Washington University

Washington, DC 20052

202-994-6749

[email protected]

When We Are ThereFall and Spring Semester Office Hours

Mon-Friday 9:00 am- 5:00 pm

Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE)


Prof. Michael W. Plesniak Chairman

mailto:[email protected]


Science and Engineering Hall800 22nd St NWSuite 2888Washington, DC 20052

(202) 994-1802

Email: [email protected]

Graduate Student Services Office


Who Should I Contact About…?

Your Academic Advisor:• All academic advising• Research interests• Selection of courses• Signature for paper registrations and ISO forms• Transfer credits • OPT and CPT letters

2nd Floor Graduate Student Services

• Paperwork (process Transfer of Credits)•Graduation Clearance•Directing to correct office for questions about Registration and RTF Forms• Any enrollment issue

Field of Study: Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE)

Areas of Focus: •Aerospace Engineering•Design of Mechanical Engineering Systems•Robotics•Fluid Mechanics, Thermal Sciences and Energy•Industrial Engineering (MS degree only)•Solid Mechanics and Materials Science and Bio-Nano-Materials Engineering•Structures and Dynamics•Robotics-Mechatronics and Controls

Fields of Study & Areas of Focus


You must be registered for each semester (fall and spring) until the semester you graduate. Office of the Registrar

For research or dissertation courses:

You must complete a paper Registration Transaction Form(RTF) & a Research Registration Form

Register early to ensure you get the classes you want each semester

The Schedule of Classes has a listing of which courses are being offered.

What you’ll need •Your GWid number (Ex: G123456789)•Course Reference Numbers (CRN)

Use the current Schedule of Classes (Spring, Summer, Fall) to select your courses as the numbers change each semester.

Registration for Classes


http://registrar.gwu.edu/

http://www.gwu.edu/~schedule/

http://www.gwu.edu/~schedule/


For Direct Ph.D. Degree students: should complete a minimum of 36 credit hours of coursework and 18 credit hours of dissertation research

For post-Master’s Ph.D. students: should complete a minimum of 12 credit hours of coursework and 18 credit hours of dissertation research.

For Ph.D. Students: MAE Specific Information


There are three distinct phases in all programs of doctoral study in the School of Engineering and Applied Science. These are (i) the period of preparation for the qualifying examination, (ii) the qualifying examination, and (iii) the period after admission to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree during which the student performs research leading to the doctoral dissertation.



Coursework consists of core courses and electives that are specific to the major area of research. The qualifying exam will be given twice each year, once during the first two weeks of the Fall semester and once during the first two weeks of the Spring semester. All students should take the exam as early as possible after they complete at least 6 credits of core courses and 6 credits of electives and maintain an average GPA at least 3.4



It is recommended that the exam should be taken no later than the beginning of their 3rd semester. In case a student does not fulfill the above requirement(s) then he/she should develop a plan of action with the academic advisor, which needs to be approved by the Department Chair. The student should be advised of any additional coursework to be undertaken, or any additional preparation.



Doctoral Qualifying Examination

All Ph.D. students are required to take the Doctoral Qualifying Examination (DQE) held in the first two weeks of each semester. They must submit the DQE Notification form provided by the MAE department by the end of the preceding semester. The exam will be distributed electronically. A written proposal and an oral presentation of the chosen problem are required.



Doctoral Qualifying Examination

The goals of the exam include the following:

i. To determine the student’s aptitude and ability to do original and independent research at the doctoral level.

ii. To assess the student’s ability to review previous work from the literature.

iii. To determine the student’s ability to understand and apply fundamental concepts in his/her technical area.



The notation of I (Incomplete) may be recorded if a student, for reasons beyond his or her control, is unable to complete the work of the course AND if the instructor approves the reason before grades must be reported.

The I may be used only if the student's prior performance and class attendance in the course have been satisfactory.

Failure to complete the work of a course that is not satisfactorily explained to the instructor before the date when grades must be turned in will be graded F.

To Request an Incomplete, You Must

1. Complete a Request for Incomplete Grade form

2. Obtain the instructor’s approval

3. Return the form to 2nd floor Graduate Student Services Office

Academic Policies: Incompletes


The I may remain on the record for a maximum of one year, but the instructor should set a shorter period when the uncompleted work must be made up.

An incomplete that is not removed within one calendar year or at the time of graduation of the student (whichever occurs first) is automatically changed to an IF.

The I cannot be removed by the student’s reregistering for the course here or taking its equivalent elsewhere.

When the I is changed to a letter grade, the I followed by the letter grade (e.g., IB) will appear on the student’s record.

Academic Policies: Incompletes


Please visit SEAS Graduate Admissions & Student Services Office, Suite 2885.You may also call (202) 994-1802 or e-mail at [email protected]

• CEE Graduate Program Committee - Recommendation for Admissions of Graduate Students

• Change Advisor• Continuous Enrollment/Leave of Absence Form• Doctoral Final Examination Committee Approval Form• Dissertation/Thesis/Project Completion Certificate• Dissertation Journal Publication Certification• Doctoral Qualifying Examination Application• Doctoral Dissertation Research Advisor Selection Form

Forms:



Please visit SEAS Graduate Admissions & Student Services Office, Suite 2885.You may also call (202) 994-1802 or e-mail at [email protected]

• ECE 390 Colloquium Attendance Form• Electronic Theses/Dissertation (ETD) Access/Approval Form• Form 4 - Notification for Qualifying Examination• Form 5 – Ph.D. Dissertation Form • Late Withdrawal Form• Master's Thesis/Professional Project Form• Major/Advisor/Curriculum Year Update• Ph.D. Final Examination Committee Approval Form • Ph.D. Conversion Form • Prior Permission for SEAS Student to Register Courses Outside of GW, Consortium

Universities• Proposal Defense Report• Petition for Exception to Stated Academic Policies• Request for an Incomplete Grade• Research Course Request Form• Transfer Credit Form

Forms:



School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS)

The Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Graduate Student Bulletin

Academic Affairs

Online Course Evaluations

Office of the Registrar (Course Registration)

Schedule of Classes

Gelman Library (GW's main university library)

University Calendar

Colonial Central (all students services)

Resources for Students


http://www.seas.gwu.edu/

http://www.seas.gwu.edu/

http://www.mae.gwu.edu/

http://bulletin.gwu.edu/

http://provost.gwu.edu/

http://provost.gwu.edu/

http://my.gwu.edu/?tab=2

http://my.gwu.edu/?tab=2

http://registrar.gwu.edu/

http://my.gwu.edu/mod/pws/

http://my.gwu.edu/mod/pws/

http://library.gwu.edu/




http://calendar.gwu.edu/

http://colonialcentral.gwu.edu/




Education

Ph.D MAE Department 2015-12016