Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering
Only on Campus. Only at GW.
Pursue Your Graduate Degree or Certificate in GW's Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering
Within GW’s Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Department, you will help develop technologies vital to human life, from computer models used to plan surgical treatment of pediatric heart defects to addressing the security challenges of autonomous aircraft.
GW Engineering has the infrastructure and expertise to empower the field’s future leaders: Here, you can take advantage of all GW Engineering’s invaluable opportunities in DC and beyond, from unparalleled hands-on learning experiences within nationally recognized research centers and labs to working side-by-side with internationally renowned faculty mentors within a proudly diverse campus community (In fact, women enrolled at GW Engineering nearly double the national average).
Whether you’re engaged in collecting data in the hospital, developing frameworks for technology regulation in the law school, exploring scientific frontiers with government agencies, or creating global solutions with international NGOs (among immersive knowledge building), at GW Engineering you will be prepared to conduct interdisciplinary research and introduce yourself to new careers and subjects while developing job-ready skills.
As you prepare to assume your role as a problem-solving leader in a rapidly evolving global society — whether in engineering, research and medicine or law, policy, regulatory expertise and more — you will soon discover: There is no place quite like GW Engineering.
Rev Up Your STEM Skills
Take advantage of abundant opportunities at GW Engineering to engage in skill-building STEM work that will set you apart. Our NIST-affiliated Professional Research Experience Program (GW-PREP) as well as our Consortium on Naval Enterprise Pathways (CoNEP) are just two examples of GW’s student training and innovation programs specifically designed to help you develop job-ready expertise and serve as a direct pipeline to rewarding careers.
Work on Leading Research
From addressing the security challenges of autonomous aircraft in high-density urban airspaces to pushing the AI revolution forward at GW’s Co-Design of Trustworthy AI Systems (DTAIS) program, GW Engineering provides you with you unparalleled opportunities to conduct cutting-edge, interdisciplinary STEM research side-by-side with internationally renowned faculty. Plus, you will gain direct access to many of the world’s most influential science and technology organizations in D.C. and beyond.
Join a Global Network
Upon arrival, you’ll immediately tap into a professional network of leading alumni in many of the world’s most influential companies, from Dell and ABS to Siemens, Zoox and SAIC — just to name a few. This, along with numerous opportunities to gain internships and apprenticeships throughout both the federal government (such as NASA and NIH) and private sector alike gives you a head start in advancing your career.
35% Tuition Discount for Displaced Federal Workers and Contractors
GW Engineering is committed to supporting federal employees and contractors affected by workforce reductions. To help those affected, GW Engineering will offer a 35% tuition discount to those eligible who enroll in an on-campus master's degree or graduate certificate during the upcoming academic year. Qualified applicants must complete an application by December 1st for the Spring 2026 term or by August 1st for the Fall 2026 term.
Pursuing your GW Engineering graduate degree or certificate on campus opens a wide range of career options across a variety of sectors. Find the graduate program that is right for your career interests:
- M.S. in Mechanical Engineering
The Master of Science in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering prepares students to become leaders in their field across a wide variety of technical industries. From fluid mechanics to ultrasound imaging, students open themselves to being taught by world-class faculty and professional and research opportunities found only in the nation's capital.
- Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering
The Ph.D. in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering prepares rising scholars and researchers to contribute positively to the mechanical and aerospace engineering fields.
Students work closely with a faculty advisor to explore ideas in areas such as mobile robots, defense and environmental monitoring, smart materials, plasma-based methods for reinforcing industrial plastics in transportation vehicles and beyond.
- Graduate Certificate in Computer Integrated Design
Offered through the Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, the graduate certificate in Computer-Integrated Design in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering equips professional engineers with hands-on training in design methodologies and software to meet today's demand for information technology used in producing sophisticated and highly miniaturized mechanical devices. Emphasis is placed on applied engineering through the latest industry-standard computer design and analysis programs.
All courses are held in-person on GW's main campus in the Foggy Bottom neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Courses are typically held in the late afternoon or early evening.
- Certificate in Energy Engineering & Management
Offered jointly through the Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering and the Department of Engineering Management and Systems Engineering, the graduate certificate in Energy Engineering and Management enables students to analyze energy consumption patterns and perform energy audits; manage energy generation projects, energy utilization and its economic impacts; and analyze energy options to achieve optimal energy efficiency.
All courses are held in-person on GW's main campus in the Foggy Bottom neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Courses are typically held in the late afternoon or early evening to accommodate working professionals.
RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT: PROFESSOR SANIYA LEBLANC
WHEN WASTE BECOMES FUEL FOR THOUGHT
Professor Saniya LeBlanc and her lab focus on engineering materials and manufacturing devices that can capture waste heat and transform it into usable electricity. She uses additive manufacturing techniques — more commonly known as 3D printing — to make devices that could operate in tandem with existing energy conversion processes such as a car engine. The devices would then improve efficiency of the whole system and generate electricity on location rather than at a faraway power plant.
“When you have all of this heat that’s generated, you have to think about either how to get rid of it or use it. That’s the bigger picture here,” she said. “If we have these technologies that allow us to think about using what is usually wasted, and turn that into electricity, that overall can make us more efficient in how we use our energy resources.”
WHERE GW ENGINEERING’S CAMPUS MOST OFTEN LEADS TO? SUCCESS.
From our campus, GW Engineering produces leaders in STEM fields in practically every country around the world. By applying your array of foundational knowledge, hands-on experience and a rapidly expanding professional network, you will soon find yourself in high demand.
In fact, 86% of GW Engineering alumni reported significant career advancement within five years post-graduation — often at top private corporations, government agencies, and national labs including Amazon, Boeing, Raytheon, Dell, Microsoft, Deloitte, the National Science Foundation (NSF), NASA, NIST and more.
Learn More Today
If anything, you’ll soon discover that there’s nothing quite like pursuing your master's degree or graduate certificate right here on campus at GW Engineering. Fill out your contact information to attend an info session and get your questions answered by our faculty and admissions team.