College of Engineering

Detailed Information

The College of Engineering comprises eleven degree-granting departments, which are authorized to award the Master of Science, the Master of Engineering in a designated field, and the Doctor of Philosophy. Programs of graduate study leading to the M.S. and Ph.D. are aerospace engineering, biological and agricultural engineering, biomedical engineering (jointly with School of Medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill), chemical engineering, civil engineering, computer science, electrical and computer engineering, industrial and systems engineering, materials science and engineering, mechanical engineering, and nuclear engineering; textile engineering offers the M.S. degree. Nonthesis master’s degrees are also offered in most of the discipline areas and in the interdisciplinary program of integrated manufacturing systems engineering. Most nonthesis degrees require project or research work and a written technical report. The M.S. and Ph.D. degrees as well as the nonthesis master’s degree are offered in the interdisciplinary program of operations research. Master’s degrees are offered via distance learning through Engineering Online in aerospace engineering, chemical engineering, civil engineering, computer engineering, computer science, electrical engineering, materials science and engineering, mechanical engineering, and nuclear engineering, and the Master of Engineering degree can be earned via distance education, as well.

In most departments, the Master of Science degree is awarded for completing 30 credits of work, including a thesis. The Master of Engineering in a designated field is awarded for completing 30–36 course credits. A Ph.D. degree is awarded for completing a program of work, passing the oral preliminary examination, completing a research dissertation, and passing a final examination on the dissertation.

Special research facilities and equipment include RAMAN and FIIR facilities; transmission electron microscopes; computerized SEM with full X-ray and image analysis capabilities; electron beam–induced current and cathodoluminescence microscopy equipment; a scanning laser microscope; laser MBE and pulsed laser depositions systems with full diagnostics; field emission electron beam lithography equipment; an imaging ion microscope for SIMS and 3-D ion imaging; a scanning Auger microprobe; an electron microprobe; complete X-ray analysis facilities including equipment for diffraction, topography, and radiography; a photoluminescence laboratory; MBE systems with in situ surface analysis; focused ion beam micromachinery; atomic resolution scanning tunneling microscopes; a precision engineering laboratory including diamond turning, ductile regime grinding, and surface metrology capabilities; a nuclear reactor with radiographic and neutron activation analysis; an applied energy laboratory; a plasma studies laboratory; a Freon simulator of a PWR fission reactor; a synthesis laboratory for III-V semiconductor materials; an organometallic chemical vapor deposition system; a semiconductor device fabrication laboratory, a deep UV mask aligner, and oxidation diffusion furnaces; a plasma and chemical etching and vapor deposition facility; computer systems for research in communications and signal processing and in microelectronics; a commercial computer design system for large integrated circuits; an EPA automated pollution and combustion gas facility; anechoic and reverberation chambers; a computer-controlled gas chromatograph–mass spectrometer; a robotics and automation laboratory; state-of-the-art multimedia, voice I/O, and software engineering labs; UNIX, Linux, and Windows workstations linked through Ethernet; a large structures-testing system; pavement wheel-track testing; superpave asphalt testing; a shake table; geotechnical test pits; plasmas for fusion; plasma propulsion; and laser-ablated plasmas for thin-film deposition. An engineering graduate research center features more than 120,000 square feet of dedicated laboratory facilities, including a class-10 clean room for processing.

Approximately half of the engineering graduate students are provided assistantships with full support for studies, including tuition and health insurance.

Tuition and fees for full-time study in 2009–10 are $3042 per semester for North Carolina residents and $9066 per semester for nonresidents. Students taking fewer than 9 credits pay reduced amounts. Most students appointed as teaching or research assistants qualify for tuition and health insurance support.

On-campus dormitory facilities are provided for unmarried graduate students. In 2008–09, the rent for double rooms started at $2075 per semester. Accommodations in the newest residence hall for graduate students cost $2395 per semester. Apartments for married students in King Village rented for $530 per month for a studio, $560 for a one-bedroom apartment, and $650 for a two-bedroom apartment.

The College of Engineering had an enrollment of 6,000 undergraduate students and 2,306 graduate students in 2008–09. Most graduate students find full- or part-time support through fellowships, assistantships, and special duties with research organizations in the area. During the 2008–09 academic year, the College conferred 114 doctoral degrees, 501 master’s degrees, and 1,049 Bachelor of Science degrees.

Raleigh, the state capital, has a metropolitan population of over 500,000. Nearby is Research Triangle Park, one of the largest and fastest-growing research institutions of its type in the country. Sports and recreational facilities are also available.

North Carolina State University is the principal technological institution of the University of North Carolina System. Its largest schools are the Colleges of Engineering, Agriculture & Life Sciences, Physical & Mathematical Sciences, and Humanities & Social Sciences. Total enrollment is more than 32,000. A cooperative relationship with Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill contributes to a rich academic and research atmosphere, as does the University’s association with the Research Triangle Park and the Oak Ridge National Lab. The College has 300 faculty members with professorial rank.

Applications may be submitted at any time. Although the GRE General Test is not always required, it is helpful in making decisions concerning financial aid. An applicant desiring to visit the campus may request information concerning travel allowances by writing to the graduate administrator of the preferred program of study. Students may apply for fellowships or assistantships in their application for admission. Applications for all students are only accepted online at http://www2.acs.ncsu.edu/grad/applygrad.htm.

• BIOLOGICAL AND AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING. R. Evans, Department Head. Faculty: D. Beasley, F. Birgand, M. Boyette, M. Burchell, L. Cartee, J. Cheng, G. Chescheir, M. Chinn, J. Classen, C. Daubert, B. Farkas, G. Grabow, S. Hale, R. Huffman, W. Hunt, G. Jennings, P. Kolar, T. Losordo, P. Mente, G. Roberson, S. Roe, K. Sandeep, S. Shah, R. Sharma, R. Skaggs, O. Simmons, J. Spooner, L. Stikeleather, K. Swartzel, M. Veal, L. Wang, P. Westerman, T. Whitaker, D. Willits, M. Youssef. Research areas: Bioinstrumentation, bioprocessing, materials handling, energy conservation and alternative fuels, environmental control, machine systems, microprocessor applications, water and waste management, hydrology, ecological and environmental engineering.
• BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING. H. Troy Nagle, Department Head. Faculty: A. Banes, L. Cartee, P. Dayton, R. Dennis, O. Favorov, C. Finley, C. Gallippi, M. Gamcsik, M. Giddings, R. Goldberg, S. Gomez, E. Grant, H. Hsiao, S. Knisley, D. Lalush, W. Lin, E. Loboa, J. Macdonald, T. Magnuson, G. McCarty, M. McCord, P. Mente, R. Narayan, H. Ozturk, H. Pillsbury, E. Pisano, S. Quint, J. Ramsey, B. Steele, M. Tommerdahl, G. Walker, P. Weinhold, B. Whitsel. Affiliated Faculty: N. Allen, D. Bitzer, M. Bourham, J. Brickley Jr., G. Buckner, J. Cavanagh, E. Chaney, M. Chow, L. Clarke, S. Cooper, D. Cormier, D. Feldheim, G. Forest, E. Frey, H. Fuchs, R. Gardner, R. Gorga, R. Grossfeld, M. Haider, A. Hale, O. Harrysson, A. Hickey, W. Holton, Q. Jie, T. Johnson, E. Juliano, C. Kleinstreuer, K. Kocis, H. Krim, A. Kuznetsov, G. Lazzi, S. Lubkin, N. Monteiro-Riviere, J. Muth, B. Oberhardt, T. O’Connell, M. Olufsen, D. Padua, S. Pizer, B. Pourdeyhimi, A. Rabiei, M. Ramasubramanian, L. Reid, S. Roe, S. Seelecke, C. Smith, W. Snyder, L. Stikeleather, A. Stomp, M. Stoskopf, R. Superfine, J. Thompson, D. Thrall, A. Tonelli, A. Tropsha, B. Tsui, B. Vaughn, A. Veleva, M. Vouk, S. Washburn, D. Woodward, J. Wooten, B. Yu. Research areas: Bioinformatics and functional genomics; biomechanics and biofluids; imaging and biophotonics; biosystems engineering; medical devices and rehabilitation; molecular, cellular, and tissue engineering; biomaterials and medical textiles.
• CHEMICAL AND BIOMOLECULAR ENGINEERING. P. Fedkiw, Department Head. Faculty: R. Carbonell, J. DeSimone, M. Dickey, R. Felder, J. Genzer, C. Grant, K. Gubbins, C. Hall, J. Haugh, W. Henderson, H. Hopfenberg, R. Kelly, S. Khan, H. Lamb, P. Lim, D. Ollis, G. Parsons, S. Peretti, B. Rao, G. Roberts, R. Spontak, O. Velev. Research areas: Biomolecular engineering, biotechnology, catalysis, electrochemical and reaction engineering, electronic materials, green chemistry and engineering, molecular simulations, nanotechnology and interfacial science, polymers and colloids, supercritical fluids.
• CIVIL ENGINEERING. George F. List, Department Head. V. Matzen, Director of Graduate Programs. Faculty: S. Arumugam, M. Barlaz, J. Baugh, C. Bobko, R. C. Borden, R. H. Borden, E. Downey Brill Jr., J. DeCarolis, F. de los Reyes, J. Ducoste, M. Evans, C. Frey, M. Gabr, M. Guddati, A. Gupta, T. Hassan, J. Hummer, D. Johnston, N. Khosla, Y. Kim, D. Knappe, M. Kowalsky, M. Leming, G. List, M. Liu, G. Mahinthakumar, V. Matzen, J. Nau, M. Overton, S. Rahman, S. Ranjithan, W. Rasdorf, S. Rizkalla, N. Rouphail, R. Seracino, J. Stone, E. Sumner, A. Tayebali, B. Williams, J. Yu. Research areas: Civil engineering systems; computer-aided engineering; construction engineering and management; construction materials; energy modeling; environmental engineering; geotechnical engineering; transportation systems and materials; solid mechanics; structural engineering; water resources and coastal engineering.
• COMPUTER SCIENCE. M. Vouk, Department Head. Faculty: A. Anton, L. Anyanwu, D. Bahler, D. Bitzer, F. Brglez, R. Chirkova, J. Doyle, R. Dutta, R. Fornaro, V. Freeh, E. Gehringer, X. Gu, K. Harfoush, C. Healey, S. Heber, S. Heckman, T. Honeycutt, S. Iyer, X. Jiang, J. Lester, X. Ma, F. Mueller, P. Ning, H. Perros, D. Reeves, I. Rhee, R. Rodman, G. Rouskas, N. Samatova, R. St. Amant, C. Savage, M. Singh, M. Stallmann, W. Stewart, A. Tharp, D. Thuente, B. Watson, L. Williams, T. Xie, R. Young, T. Yu. Research areas: Theory (algorithms, theory of computation), systems (computer architectures and operating systems, embedded and real-time systems, parallel and distributed systems, scientific and high performance computing), artificial intelligence (intelligent agents; data-mining, information and knowledge discovery, engineering and management; ecommerce technologies; information visualization, graphics and human-computer interaction), networks (networking and performance evaluation), security (software and network systems security, information assurance, privacy), software engineering (requirements, formal methods, reliability engineering, process and methods, programming languages), and computer-based education.
• ELECTRICAL AND COMPUTER ENGINEERING. R. Kolbas, Department Head. Faculty: T. Alexander, W. Alexander, J. Baliga, M. Baran, D. Barlage, S. Bedair, S. Bhattacharya, G. Bilbro, J. Brickley, G. Byrd, J. Chang, M. Chow, H. Dai, R. Davis, A. Dean, M. Devetsikiotis, A. Duel-Hallen, W. Edmonson, M. Escuti, D. Eun, P. Franzon, K. Gard, E. Gehringer, J. Grainger, E. Grant, B. Greene, W. Holton, A. Huang, B. Hughes, K. Kim, H. Krim, G. Lazzi, X. Liu, S. Lukic, L. Lunardi, N. Masnari, T. Miller, V. Misra, T. Mitchell, J. Muth, T. Nagle, A. Nilsson, H. Ozturk, M. Ozturk, D. Reeves, E. Rotenberg, S. Sair, J. Schetzina, D. Schurig, M. Sichitiu, W. Snyder, Y. Solihin, M. Steer, C. Townsend, K. Townsend, R. Trew, J. Trussell, I. Viniotis, S. Walsh, W. Wang, M. White, C. Williams, G. Yu, J. Zavada. Research areas: Applied electromagnetics, microwaves/optics; communications systems; digital systems and computer architecture; microelectronics; power systems; power electronics; signal and image processing; software engineering; solid-state devices and circuits; VLSI design; parallel and distributed computing; mechatronics; bioelectronics; electronics and photonics materials processing; embedded systems; robotics; fluidic systems and optoelectronics; quantum computing; quantum optoelectronics; nanostructures and devices; microarchitecture and compilers; microwave and digital circuits; systems biology.
• INDUSTRIAL AND SYSTEMS ENGINEERING. P. Cohen, Department Head. Faculty: M. Ayoub, R. Bernhard, D. Cormier, T. Culbreth, B. Denton, J. Dong, S. Elmaghraby, S.-C. Fang, Y. Fathi, O. Harrysson, T. Hodgson, S. Hsiang, J. Ivy, D. Kaber, M. Kay, R. King, Y.-S. Lee, S. Roberts, E. Sanii, R. Uzsoy, J. Wilson, R. Young. Research areas: Medical device manufacturing; health systems; investment science; ergonomics; occupational safety; facilities design; production planning, scheduling, and control; logistics systems; supply chain design and management; material handling; concurrent engineering; manufacturing processes; rapid prototyping; optimization; soft computing; stochastic processes and simulation.
• INTEGRATED MANUFACTURING SYSTEMS ENGINEERING. T. J. Hodgson, Director. S. D. Jackson, Associate Director. Associate Faculty: D. R. Bahler, P. Banks-Lee, R. L. Barker, L. E. Bernold, M. D. Boyette, G. D. Buckner, S. Chapman, Y. A. Chen, T. Clapp, D. R. Cormier, T. Culbreth, M. Devetsikiotis, Y. Fathi, T. K. Ghosh, R. Handfield, O. L. A. Harrysson, G. L. Hodge, W. J. Jasper, M. G. Kay, R. E. King, J. P. Lavelle, J. W. Leach, Y.-S. Lee, R. L. Lemaster, T. J. Little, W. L. Meier, G. A. Mirka, K. Mitchell, M. Montoya-Weiss, M. K. Ramasubramanian, W. J. Rasdorf, P. Ro, S. Roberts, R. Rodman, J. P. Rust, E. T. Sanii, A. M. Seyam, L. M. Silverberg, E. Sumner, J. C. Sutton, K. A. Thoney, J. R. Wilson, R. E. Young, C. F. Zorowski. Adjunct Faculty: J. A. Janet, J. Taheri, J. Trevino. The Integrated Manufacturing Systems Engineering (IMSE) Institute was established in 1984. IMSE provides multidisciplinary graduate-level education and practical training opportunities in the theory and practice of integrated manufacturing systems engineering at the master’s level. IMSE focuses on providing a manufacturing presence and a program environment in the College of Engineering where faculty, graduate students, and industry can engage cooperatively in multidisciplinary graduate education, basic and applied research, and technology transfer in areas of common interest related to modern manufacturing systems technology. The objective of the IMSE program is to offer students with traditional discipline backgrounds in engineering and the physical sciences an opportunity to broaden their understanding of the multidisciplinary area of manufacturing systems. Core areas of concentration are offered in manufacturing systems, logistics, mechatronics, and biomanufacturing. Research areas: Automation, CAD, CAM, CIM and advanced information technology, logistics, manufacturing system simulations, material handling, mechatronics, part fabrication, quality assurance and testing, process and facilities planning, product assembly, product design, robotics, scheduling and operations management, supply chain management.
• MATERIALS SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING. J. Michael Rigsbee, Department Head. Faculty: C. M. Balik, D. Brenner, J. Cuomo, K. Dawes, N. El-Masry, D. Irving, M. Johnson, J. Kasichainula, C. Koch, T. Luo, J. P. Maria, A. Melechko, K. L. Murty, J. Narayan, T. Rawanowicz, C. L. Reynolds, G. Rozgonyi, R. Scattergood, Z. Sitar, R. Spontak, J. Tracy, Y. Yingling, Y. Zhu. Emeritus Faculty: K. Bachman, R. Benson Jr., C. Chiklis, H. Conrad, R. F. Davis, A. Fahmy, J. Hren, H. Palmour III, H. Stadelmaier. Research areas: Atomic resolution electronic microscopy and analytical techniques, advanced materials and processing methods, composite materials, computer simulation techniques, electronic materials, electrical and mechanical properties, metals, nanostructured materials, nonequilibrium processing, nuclear materials, polymers, biomaterials, structure-property relations, surface phenomena, thin-film processing and characterization.
• MECHANICAL AND AEROSPACE ENGINEERING. R. Gould, Department Head. Faculty: M. Boles, G. Buckner, F. DeJarnette, T. Dow, T. Echekki, H. Eckerlin, J. Edwards Jr., J. Eischen, T. Fang, S. Ferguson, A. Gopalarathnam, C. Hall Jr., H. Hassan, R. Keltie, E. Klang, C. Kleinstreuer, A. Kuznetsov, J. Leach, H. Luo, K. Lyons, A. Mazzoleni, R. Nagel, K. Peters, A. Rabiei, M. Ramasubramanian, P. Ro, W. Roberts, A. Saveliev, S. Seelecke, L. Silverberg, J. Strenkowski, R. Tolson, J. Tu, T. Ward, F. Wu, F. Yuan, M. Zikry, Y. Zhu. Research areas: Aerothermodynamics, autoadaptive systems, biofluid dynamics, biomechanics, combustion, composite structures, computational fluid dynamics, control systems, electromechanics, energy conversion, environmental engineering, flight dynamics and aircraft design, fluid/aero dynamics, fluid mechanics and two-phase flow, fracture mechanics, heat transfer, hypersonics, manufacturing, materials processing, mechanical and random vibrations, mechatronics, nano thermosystems, precision engineering, probabilistic mechanics, propulsion, risk and reliability, robotics, solid mechanics, space systems and dynamics, structural health monitoring, thermal management, theoretical and structural acoustics.
• NUCLEAR ENGINEERING. Y. Y. Azmy, Department Head. Faculty: H. S. Abdel-Khalik, D. Anistratov, M. A. Bourham, J. M. Doster, J. Eapen, R. P. Gardner, J. G. Gilligan, A. I. Hawari, K. L. Murty, S. C. Shannon, P. J. Turinsky, M.-S. Yim. Research areas: Computational reactor physics; fuel management; plasma engineering; radiation effects in nuclear materials; nuclear power systems modeling; plasma-surface interactions; radiation transport; reactor dynamics, control, and safety; computational thermal hydraulics; nuclear waste management; radiological engineering; industrial radiation applications; medical radiation physics; plasmas for fusion; plasma propulsion; laser-ablated plasmas for thin-film deposition; nuclear environmental risk analysis; radiation measurements; neutron scattering and imaging; advanced nuclear fuel cycles; multiscale and multiphysics modeling.
• OPERATIONS RESEARCH. Y. Fathi, Co-Director. N. Medhin, Co-Director. Faculty: J. Baugh, R. Bernhard, B. Bhattacharyya, J. Bishir, E. Brill Jr., R. Buche, S. Campbell, R. Chirkova, W. Chou, B. Denton, M. Devetsikiotis, J. Dunn, S. Elmaghraby, S. Fang, Y. Fathi, R. Funderlic, S. Ghosal, R. Handfield, R. Hartwig, T. Hodgson, D. Holthausen, T. Honeycutt, I. Ipsen, K. Ito, J. Ivy, J. Joines, M. Kay, C. Kelley, R. King, J. Lavery, Z. Li, G. List, D. McAllister, C. Meyer Jr., A. Nilsson, H. Nuttle, T. Pang, H. Perros, S. Ranjithan, M. Rappa, T. Reiland, S. Roberts, J. Roise, G. Rouskas, C. Savage, M. Singh, C. Smith, R. Smith, M. Stallmann, W. Stewart, M. Suh, J. Taheri, K. Thoney, H. Tran, R. Uzsoy, I. Viniotis, M. Vouk, W. Wang, D. Warsing, J. Wilson, F. Wu, T. Yu, Z. Zeng, D. Zenkov. Research areas: Mathematical programming, fuzzy optimization and decision making, networks, queuing, production planning, scheduling, project management, routing, simulation, stochastic processes and modeling, systems theory and optimal control, facilities layout and planning, logistics, inventory theory, supply chain management, financial engineering.
• TEXTILE ENGINEERING. K. Beck, Department Head. H. Hamouda, Program Director. Faculty: R. Barker, T. Clapp, R. Gorga, B. Gupta, J. Hinestroza, W. Jasper, J. Joines, W. Krause, M. McCord, G. Mock, J. Rust. Research areas: Electromechanical design, real-time monitoring and control, studies in thermal and fluid sciences, polymer and fiber science, biomedical application of textiles, design and fabrication, process optimization, product/machine/system design, nanocomposites, nanolayer electrostatic self-assemblies, mathematical modeling of transport phenomena, rheology, polyelectrolytes, semi-crystalline polymers, carbon nanotube composite extrusion for enhanced mechanical/thermal/electrical properties, barrier fabrics, biopolymers, structure-property relationships.

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