The School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS) at the George Washington University in Washington, D.C., is a technical school which specializes in engineering, technology, communications, and transportation. The school is located on the main campus of the George Washington University and offers both undergraduate and graduate programs.
History In May 2011, site preparation began for construction of the $300 million project. The building consists of six below-grade stories used for lab space, parking, and mechanical systems, as well as eight above-grade stories. The design of the Science and Engineering Hall combines flexible, reconfigurable spaces within common areas on each floor to promote collaborative thinking and to integrate lectures and laboratories with hands-on projects. Other key features of the building include: a vibration and particulate-free nanotechnology facility, a three-story high-bay including a strong wall and floor with easy access to a street level loading dock, and a multi-use auditorium and media center for science and engineering symposia and conferences.
The building was designed by architecture firm Ballinger and conceptualized to meet the growing research needs of engineering disciplines. After four years of construction, which included demolishing the campus' largest parking deck, the building was completed in November 2014.
Since January 2015, the School of Engineering and Applied Science has occupied the Science and Engineering Hall on George Washington University's main campus in Foggy Bottom. Previously, the engineering school was housed in Tompkins Hall. Tompkins Hall is still used as office space for faculty as well as the computing facility.
The Science and Engineering Hall is the largest academic building dedicated to these fields in Washington, D.C. The facility is 500,000 square feet and eight floors tall. It houses 140 faculty members and classrooms used by four schools: the School of Engineering and Applied Science, Columbian College of Arts & Sciences, the School of Medicine and Health Sciences, and the Milken Institute School of Public Health. The building is designed with sustainability in mind.
Departments
Biomedical Engineering The Department of Biomedical Engineering offers Bachelor of Science, Master of Science, and Doctor of Philosophy degree programs in biomedical engineering. Until 2015, these programs were administered through the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
Undergraduate students may choose from a number of options with the bachelor of science degree. Graduate students may select focus areas of concentration in medical imaging or medical instrumentation. Faculty and students conduct research programs across a wide array of topics, leveraging the proximity of the GW Schools of Medicine and Public Health, Children's National Medical Center, and federal agencies to do so. The department has 6 full-time faculty, 9 affiliated faculty, 228 undergraduate students, and 49 graduate students. Its annual research expenditure is around $1.2 million.
Civil and Environmental Engineering The department offers a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering; a five-year bachelor's/master's degree; master's, doctoral, and professional degree programs in civil engineering; and several graduate certificate programs. The department has 12 full-time faculty, 83 undergraduate students, and 49 graduate students. It has an annual research expenditure of around $551,000.
Computer Science The Department of Computer Science offers both Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts degree programs in computer science, as well as a Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy in computer science and a Master of Science in Cybersecurity in Computer Science. The department also offers a graduate certificate in computer security and information assurance.
The department is one of the largest at SEAS, both in terms of faculty and students. The department has 18 full-time faculty members, 187 undergraduate students, and 445 graduate students. It has an annual research expenditure of $3.7 million.
Electrical and Computer Engineering The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) offers Bachelor of Science degree programs in computer engineering and electrical engineering. Students may also choose from a number of options with each degree. Graduate students may pursue Master of Science or Doctor of Philosophy degrees in computer engineering or electrical engineering. The department also offers a Master of Science degree program in telecommunications engineering, as well as professional degree programs and graduate certificate programs.
The department has 23 full-time faculty members, 87 undergraduate students, and 245 graduate students. It has an annual research expenditure of $2.65 million.
Engineering Management and Systems Engineering The Department of Engineering Management and Systems Engineering offers Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Arts, Master of Science, and Doctor of Philosophy degree programs in engineering management and systems engineering. They also offer an online Doctor of Engineering in engineering management. The department has 15 full-time faculty, 119 undergraduate students, and 879 graduate students. It has an annual research expenditure of $1.1 million.
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering The Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering offers a Bachelor of Science degree program in mechanical engineering, a Master of Science, or Doctor of Philosophy degrees in mechanical and aerospace engineering. The department also offers professional degree programs and graduate certificate programs. It has 27 full-time faculty, 249 undergraduate students, and 152 graduate students. It has an annual research expenditure of $4.3 million.
Research laboratories SEAS has research laboratories dedicated to high-performance computing, nanotechnology, robotics, transportation engineering, among other fields, including:
Biomedical engineering research Biomedical engineering research at the George Washington University includes biofluid dynamics, medical imaging, cardiac electrophysiology, plasma medicine, therapeutic ultrasound, nanomedicine and tissue engineering.
Cybersecurity research Cybersecurity research is spread across six laboratories at the George Washington University including Dr. Zhang's laboratory which focuses on data security, the Cyber Security Policy and Research Institute, and Dr. Monteleoni's laboratory in Machine Learning.
Undergraduate programs With approximately 780 students enrolled, SEAS has a variety of undergraduate programs.
Applied Science and Technology (B.S.)
Biomedical Engineering (B.S.) The Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering is an ABET-accredited program located in the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering
Civil Engineering (B.S.) The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) at SEAS has eleven full-time teaching and/or research faculty . The following programs are currently offered by the department as B.S. options (note that all BS degrees are degrees in civil engineering, not the concentration): Civil Engineering – This option is the most general of the options and has a bias toward structural engineering studies. Civil Engineering with Medical Preparation Option – This is the same degree, but with more emphasis in medical school preparation. Some changes include more requirements in chemistry and organic chemistry, and introduction to circuit theory. Environmental Engineering Option in Civil Engineering Transportation Option in Civil Engineering Sustainability option in Civil Engineering 5-year Bachelor's/Master's programs – The department recently enacted three options for both general CE and EE option students to complete a Master of Science degree in one additional year. A letter of intent is necessary, along with a 3.0 GPA, but application to the graduate school and GREs are not necessary. There are currently three options available: B.S./M.S. in Civil Engineering with Structural Engineering Focus B.S./M.S. in Civil Engineering with Environmental Engineering Focus B.S./M.S. in Civil Engineering with Transportation Engineering Focus
Computer Engineering (B.S.) Offered through the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, the computer engineering program combines the best of both worlds: electronic system hardware design with computer software design. Students in the program are prepared in the theory and application of hardware and software design, computer networks, embedded systems, and very large scale integrated (VLSI) circuit design and applications. Students can take electives in advanced topics, such as optical networks, broadband wireless networks, and technologies for the next generation of information systems.
Students work on projects in modern, well-equipped VLSI and computer engineering laboratories. The capstone design sequence involves students in the design and fabrication of a large-scale digital system based on their area of interest.
This program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET.
Computer Science (B.S.) Technical Tracks: Computer Security and Information Assurance – for students interested in the design and implementation of secure computing infrastructures. Artificial Intelligence (AI) – for students interested in artificial intelligence and its applications. Computational Mathematics and Sciences Computer Graphics and Digital Media – for students interested in computer graphics, visualization, animation and digital media. Data Science Foundations and Theory – for students interested in exploring theory or developing strong foundations, perhaps in preparation for graduate work in Computer Science. Software engineering and Application Development – for students interested in the software engineering concepts and techniques required for the design and implementation of large software systems and applications. Systems – for students interested in the software engineering concepts and techniques required for the design and implementation of large software systems and applications. Individually designed technical track: This track will comprise at least three courses, not necessarily with CSci designations, but the content must meet a broad technical requirement that it be closely related to the disciplines of computing.
Computer Science (B.A.) Medical Preparation option – For those interested in combining a Computer Science major with preparation for admission to a school of medicine, the Medical Preparation options in the B.A. and B.S. programs add additional natural science material to the course requirements. Bioinformatics option – The emerging field of Bioinformatics combines the disciplines of Computer Science and Biochemistry, and focuses on the use of computers to characterize the molecular components of living things. Students choosing this option in either the B.S. or the B.A. program will study a number of subjects in Biology and Chemistry, including molecular biology and genetics, and take specific coursework in Bioinformatics. Both options also meet the requirements for medical school admission, and the B.A. option in bioinformatics meets the requirements for a second major in biology. Digital Media option – Digital Media encompasses audio, video, the World Wide Web and other technologies that can be used to create and distribute digital content. Graphics is the use of computers to create virtual worlds from which visuals can be generated. Students can choose between two degree options. The Bachelor of Science (BS) concentrates on the technology. The Bachelor of Arts (BA) explores the use of digital media and computer graphics in the arts, sciences, engineering, business, medicine, and other disciplines. The expanded breadth is made available through the opportunity to take related courses from other departments.