Engineering Mechanics

The Foundation of Mechanical Sciences

One Program, Many Applications

BEAM's engineering mechanics program is strongly rooted in physics and mathematics, the basis of all mechanical sciences, and provides unique, interdisciplinary opportunities for research on design projects with far-reaching impact. We work closely with other colleges and departments, including: 

• Mechanical engineering
• Aerospace engineering
• Civil engineering
• Materials science and engineering
• Mathematics
• Physics and more!

We offer a Master's of Science (M.S.) in engineering mechanics: a thesis option and a non-thesis option.  We also offer a Ph.D in engineering mechanics. The department supports extensive and robust research programs in a number of distinct areas.

Engineering Mechanics graduate students can be advised by any member of the BEAM Teaching and Research Faculty or any member of the many Engineering Mechanics Affiliate Faculty.

The four core research areas of our program are biomechanics, dynamics and control, fluid mechanics, and solid mechanics.

Graduate Engineering Mechanics Society (GEMS)

The Graduate Engineering Mechanics Society (GEMS) aims to better the experience of engineering mechanics graduate students through three main areas: professional development, social interaction, and community outreach.

GEMS’ professional development branch provides networking events and programming seminars for free, among other professional opportunities. The society’s social branch puts on events such as game nights and happy hours at local bars and restaurants. The outreach branch focuses on community education and undergraduate relations. GEMS is student led and welcomes new members at any time. 

Please visit the GEMS website for more information.

Note: The EM graduate manual guide is intended to supplement, not to replace, the Graduate School Catalog and the Graduate Manual published by the Virginia Tech Graduate School.

Our alumni are working in every branch of engineering — as faculty members at top schools, technical staff at government labs, and senior engineers and managers in industry.