The Master of Science (MS) in Mechanical Engineering requires students to complete a minimum of 30 semester hours of technical graduate course study beyond the baccalaureate, and complete a research thesis. MS students must submit a proposed Plan of Study to the ME Graduate Coordinator & Academic Advisor before completing the first semester registered as an MS student. An official final plan of study is due by the end of the second semester. The graduate programs in the ME Department at Virginia Tech provide quality mechanical engineering education through innovative research, faculty expertise, and practices that further expand and enhance students abilities in communication and problem solving, service and leadership within their profession, industry, and higher education. The Department of Mechanical Engineering offers advanced study and research opportunities leading to PhD, MS, and MENG degrees. Each student, in cooperation with his or her advisory committee, develops a plan of study including research and course selection appropriate to the student's individual interests and research needs. Courses include (but are not limited to) topics on: acoustics, active materials/smart structures, automatic controls, biomedical topics, combustion, finite elements in machine design, fluid dynamics, fuel cell systems, heat transfer, nanotechnology, nuclear engineering, propulsion, rotor dynamics, thermodynamics, turbomachinery and vibrations. Students often take courses from outside the department in mathematics, statistics, and many other disciplines. <br>The Mechanical Engineering Department also has international collaborations with the Technische Universitt Darmstadt, as well as Thapar institute of Engineering and Technology in India. VT undergraduates with high GPAs can also apply for the Accelerated Undergraduate/Graduate degree program. A Nuclear Engineering Graduate Certificate is available for students to pursue, in conjunction with their graduate degree program.