In our Catholic University series, we explored the university itself and the D.C. advantage. Now we turn to the graduate STEM and engineering programs—a portfolio that ranges from the conventional to the genuinely unique, all housed in a school with deep research partnerships and a location that gives graduates an edge from day one.
Mark Cilloi, Vice President for Enrollment Management, walked us through what makes Catholic’s engineering and applied science programs worth serious consideration.
The Portfolio: Traditional Strength, Unexpected Depth
Catholic’s School of Engineering covers the full range of traditional disciplines:
- Electrical Engineering
- Civil Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Environmental Engineering
- Computer Science
- Artificial Intelligence
- Materials Science and Engineering
- Engineering Management
- Data Analytics
- Applied Physics and Nanotechnology
- Applied Space Weather
Mark’s overview:
Quite a few master’s programs—all of the traditional engineering fields. But also some unique programs: an MS in Artificial Intelligence, materials science, engineering management, applied space weather, and one of our most popular programs: data analytics.
Space Weather: The Most Unique Program You’ve Never Heard Of
If there’s one program that stops the conversation, it’s this one:
We’re probably the world’s leader in space weather research. We have a partnership with NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, and we have an applied space weather master’s degree program in science and research.
Why does space weather matter right now? Mark connects the dots:
You’ve got the titans of industry—Elon Musk talking about the need to move data centers to space. Space weather and the study of the sun is going to be really important for what we’re capable of in space. Folks coming out of this program are going to be first on the call list.
This isn’t a niche program for the sake of it—it’s a genuinely forward-looking field at the intersection of government research, private space ambition, and the infrastructure of the future.
Data Analytics: The Most Accessible Entry Point
For students looking for a clear path from graduate study to high-demand careers, data analytics is the standout:
Data analytics gives students a breadth and depth, but it’s not going to take an inordinate amount of time away from your professional career or your life. Thirty credit hours—ten courses. You are going to come out with an expertise that’s going to help you get jobs.
And it lives in the School of Engineering—not the business school. That’s a differentiator:
There is quite a bit of overlap, and we’ve got faculty that pull double duty and teach in both programs. One of the benefits of an integrated Catholic curriculum is that you get a lot of interdisciplinary study.
Materials Science: The Hidden Gem
Mark flags this one specifically as something students overlook:
Material science engineering is one I often point to as a unique program.
Materials science sits at the intersection of physics, chemistry, and engineering—underpinning everything from semiconductors and batteries to biomedical devices and aerospace components. With the global push toward clean energy, advanced manufacturing, and next-generation electronics, demand for materials scientists has never been higher.
Engineering Management: For the Next Step Up
Not every STEM student is starting their career—some are already in it and looking to grow:
Engineering management helps students who may have been in the engineering field for a while and want to take a step up in leadership in their particular company. It’s a well-designed program for that.
Research at the Highest Level—With Real Partners
Catholic’s research activity isn’t just an internal affair. The partnerships are direct, named, and consequential:
Partnerships with NASA, with the National Institute of Health, with Goddard Space Flight Center. They look to us for expertise, for innovation, and for the supply of smart students who want to do good work in a variety of fields. We are constantly developing research partnerships.
For graduate students, this means research opportunities aren’t theoretical—they’re with some of the most significant scientific institutions in the world, located minutes away.
The D.C. Multiplier Effect for STEM Students
The D.C. location does something specific for STEM students that can’t be replicated elsewhere:
Northern Virginia: the world’s largest concentration of data centers—immediate career entry points for data, cybersecurity, and systems engineers
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center: a direct research partner for engineering and space science programs
National Institutes of Health: research collaboration opportunities for biomedical and environmental programs
Defense contractors (Northrop Grumman, Palantir, Lockheed Martin, and others): recruiting on campus and partnering on curricula
Year-round internships: no summer-window competition—students gain experience continuously
Faculty Who Know You by Name
Mark returns often to what Catholic’s size makes possible:
You get high-powered expert faculty who care about teaching students. They’re looking for smaller classes. They’re looking for relationships with grad students and undergrads who can help them do their research. That means the faculty care about the students. They’re going to know who you are, know you by name, know your particular talents and what you need to work on.
In large research universities, graduate students can spend a year before getting meaningful access to faculty. At Catholic, that relationship begins on arrival.
Why STEM at Catholic Now?
Research Access: NASA and federal research partnerships create opportunities most universities can’t offer
D.C. Location: The world’s data center capital is across the Potomac—STEM skills translate directly to jobs
Forward-Looking Programs: From AI to space weather, the programs reflect where the economy is actually heading
Right-Sized University: Small enough for real faculty relationships; large enough for serious research infrastructure
Career Integration: Year-round access to internships and career opportunities across government, defense, and tech