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James Madison University - Virginia Tech Collaborative Partnership

Master of Engineering (MEng) in Computer Engineering (CPE)

The Virginia Tech College of Engineering is partnering with James Madison University to help position students for mid-level and advanced positions in industries related to computing technology. By establishing an accelerated pathway of foundational courses at partner universities, currently enrolled students can be prepared for early admission to Virginia Tech’s MEng degree in computer engineering as early as spring of their junior year.  Once accepted these students during their fourth year can begin taking up to 12 credits from an approved set of courses that can be applied beyond the 127 required credit hours required for James Madison University undergraduate degree towards their MEng degree from an approved set of courses that can be applied towards their MEng degree (JMU course level approved: 4XX (max. 6 credits) & 5XX from approved course list).

By outlining a clear pathway and course equivalencies, both the engineering and liberal arts student are able to participate in Virginia’s Tech Talent Pipeline. Many students will find that they can complete their MEng degree with just one extra year. 

How to apply

The accelerated undergraduate/graduate program application is based on your intended graduation date.

The deadline for applications is May 1st each spring semester and December 1st each fall semester.
Students should apply in the semester one year before they will complete the BS. For example, a student intending to graduate from the BS program in May 2024 should apply in the semester ending in May 2023. If accepted into the program, this will allow participation in double-counted courses for the final two semesters of your undergraduate degree.

If you are unable to apply one year before completing your BS, you can still apply during your final year, in your second-to-final semester. If you apply at that time and are accepted, you will only be able to double-count courses taken in your final undergraduate semester, but are still permitted the same maximum of 12 credits of double-counted courses.

Third-year James Madison University students can apply to the MEng in computer engineering in their second semester. They can also apply for a fee waiver and are not required to submit GRE scores.

  • Students must complete one of the approved pathways below:

Pathways

Pathway for James Madison University ENG Major students to the JMU/VT Accelerated UG/G CPE MEng

James Madison University engineering undergraduate majors naturally meet the basic course requirements to apply for the JMU/VT Accelerated UG/G CPE MEng. 

To be successful for admission, James Madison University engineering majors should complete the following course by the second semester of their junior year with a grade of B or better. 

JMU Course VT Equivalent
Math 236
Calculus II
CS1226
Calculus of a Single Variable II

Pathway for James Madison University Computer Science major students to the JMU/VT Accelerated UG/G CPE MEng

James Madison University non-engineering majors may also be eligible to apply in their Junior year and be accepted into the JMU/VT Accelerated UG/G CPE MEng program by completing a set of introductory computer science courses. To be eligible for admission, James Madison University and Virginia Tech recommend that James Madison University Computer Science major undergraduate students complete the following course by the second semester of their junior year and maintain an overall minimum GPA of 3.3

JMU Course VT Equivalent
Math 236
Calculus II
MATH 1226
Calculus of a Single Variable II

AS SOON AS YOU SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION PLEASE READ AND DO THE FOLLOWING:

You should immediately complete and submit the Collaborative UG/G Degree and Course Designation Form. You will indicate on this form the courses that you intend to take during the Collaborative UG/G period. This form will be reviewed and signed by the Virginia Tech computer science and applications department graduate program director and an appropriate authority at James Madison University. The signed Collaborative UG/G Status and Course Designation form will be sent to the Virginia Tech Graduate School for processing. This completed form and the CPE department admission recommendation with review from an appropriate authority at James Madison University are required before an admission decision can be finalized by the Virginia Tech Graduate School.

Once accepted, the student should take up to 12 credit hours of graduate coursework during the last academic year (senior status equivalent) and earn a “B” from the following list of eligible courses for transfer to the MEng computer engineering degree program. Note that a maximum of 6 credit hours can be taken at the 4xx level. The Virginia Tech approved courses are noted below.  

JMU Course VT Equivalent
ENGR445
Embedded System Design
ECE4XXX
Generic Elective
ENGR440
Mechatronics
ECE4XXX
Generic Elective
CS432
Compiler Construction
CS4304
Compiler Design and Implementation
CS452
Design and Analysis of Algorithms
CS4104
Data and Algorithm Analysis
CS470
Parallel and Distributed Computing
CS4234
Parallel Computation
CS444
Artificial Intelligence
CS4804
Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
CS445
Machine Learning
CS4824
Machine Learning
CS457
Information Security
CS4264
Principles of Computer Security
CS458
Cyber Defense
CS4XXX
Generic Elective
CS488
Computer Application
CS4204
Computer Graphics
CS456
Computer Architecture
CS4XXX
Generic Elective

For questions or more information regarding the Virginia Tech MEng degree program, contact Virginia Tech computer engineering admissions. For questions or more information regarding what courses to take at James Madison University to be prepared for admission into the Virginia Tech MEng degree program, please contact the James Madison University engineering advisor and outreach coordinator.

To learn more about the MEng computer engineering program, click here.