Archive-Why Choose CEC?

Few U.S. universities can brag that their engineering programs were built to directly assist with official national security and defense priorities. At Mason, the motivation to grow our extensive applied information technology and engineering degree offerings was in direct response to a request from the U.S. Government. Thirty years ago, we were one of the first to offer specialized information security and assurance programs, and we hold the honor of having the first U.S.-recognized civilian center of excellence in this field. 

Building on our reputation of spearheading new efforts in information technology, our engineering programs have expanded to apply what we've learned about advanced computing to more traditional engineering disciplines. Your friends at other schools may build a combustion engine in their Mechanical Engineering lab, but at Mason, you'll be building sensors that detect faults in performance, and help the machine run more efficiently.

Our faculty is an elite group of professionals with experience and connections in the industry. Many have come to the classroom after years of applying their knowledge in the field. Mason Engineering professors are internationally recognized for groundbreaking achievements in technology and engineering.

They're also passionate about giving students the tools to advance engineering to new levels. Our faculty members are excited about the new directions and pathways information technology is making across the traditional engineering landscape. You'll hear about these advances in lectures, special presentations and informal gatherings throughout the academic year.

Mason is within one of the healthiest job markets in the country, which means that many of our engineering graduates build rewarding careers here in the national capital region. We welcome our alumni's input when it comes to current trends and demands in the tech industry. We value the knowledge they share, building it into our curriculum to prepare our students for the best possible future.

There might be great engineering programs at other universities and colleges, but few are  within technology hot-spots such as the Northern Virginia Technology Corridor.  

CSC, Northrup-Grumman, Lockheed, Google, Amazon, Orbital, SAIC, CACI and many others have major offices a short drive from Mason's campus. Government agencies such as the CIA, NRO, the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Defense, and the National Institutes of Health – all located in the D.C. region  – set the pace for the newest technology applications.

At other schools, you might need to catch a plane to an interview at the closest tech company.

Not at Mason –​ our location makes access to a hot job market easy. With our faculty, business, and government contacts, we're connected to local enterprise leaders, and our programs are built to respond to current industry demands.