The document provides information about the School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS) at the George Washington University, including: - The SEAS has 27 full-time faculty, 165 undergraduate students, and 121 graduate students, with $2.1 million in annual research expenditures. - The Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) focuses on areas like aerospace engineering, robotics, and fluid mechanics. - The document outlines various academic policies for MAE graduate students, including registration requirements, qualifying exam procedures, and policies around incompletes. - Contact information and a list of relevant forms are provided for current MAE graduate students.

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

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Full-time faculty: 27
Undergraduate students: 165
Graduate students: 121
Annual research expenditures: $2.1 million
Quick Facts

3. Where to Find Us
800 22nd Street, N.W., Suite 3000
George Washington University
Washington, DC 20052
202-994-6749
maeng@gwu.edu
When We Are There
Fall and Spring Semester Office Hours
Mon-Friday 9:00 am- 5:00 pm
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace
Engineering (MAE)
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Prof. Michael W. Plesniak
Chairman

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Science and Engineering Hall
800 22nd St NW
Suite 2888
Washington, DC 20052
(202) 994-1802
Email: seasgrad@gwu.edu
Graduate Student Services Office

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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

6. 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
Intro Contact Academics Forms Resources Quiz

7. 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
Intro Contact Academics Forms Resources Quiz

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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

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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.
For Ph.D. Students: MAE Specific
Information

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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
For Ph.D. Students: MAE Specific
Information

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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.
For Ph.D. Students: MAE Specific
Information

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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.
For Ph.D. Students: MAE Specific
Information

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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.
For Ph.D. Students: MAE Specific
Information

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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

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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

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Please visit SEAS Graduate Admissions & Student Services Office, Suite
2885.You may also call (202) 994-1802 or e-mail at seasgrad@gwu.edu
• 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:

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Please visit SEAS Graduate Admissions & Student Services Office, Suite 2885.You may
also call (202) 994-1802 or e-mail at seasgrad@gwu.edu
• 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:

18. 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
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