This is a named option within the Mechanical Engineering MS.

The Department of Mechanical Engineering offers a Master of Science (MS) degree in Mechanical Engineering with a named option in Accelerated Program. Graduate students may take coursework in the six Department of Mechanical Engineering emphasis areas: Advanced Manufacturing, Biomechanics, Computational Engineering and Design, Energy Systems, Fluid and Solid Mechanics, and Robotics, Controls and Sensing. The Accelerated Program takes approximately 16 months to complete. The Accelerated Program only includes coursework. Each student will be assigned an academic advisor, based on emphasis area, from the Department of Mechanical Engineering.

Admissions

Please consult the table below for key information about this degree program’s admissions requirements. The program may have more detailed admissions requirements, which can be found below the table or on the program’s website.

Graduate admissions is a two-step process between academic programs and the Graduate School. Applicants must meet the minimum requirements of the Graduate School as well as the program(s). Once you have researched the graduate program(s) you are interested in, apply online.

Fall Deadline December 15
Spring Deadline September 1
Summer Deadline This program does not admit in the summer.
GRE (Graduate Record Examinations) Not Required.*
English Proficiency Test Refer to the Graduate School: Minimum Requirements for Admission policy: https://policy.wisc.edu/library/UW-1241.
Other Test(s) (e.g., GMAT, MCAT) n/a
Letters of Recommendation Required 3**
*

Submitted scores will not be used in admission decisions.

**

Applicants earning a BS degree from UW-Madison are not required to obtain any letters of recommendation. Within the Graduate School application, in the letters of recommendation section, applicants must enter three contacts to submit the application. However, these contacts do not need to submit letters.

Applicant Considerations

Applicants to our program should have the following:

  1. Degree
    1. ​Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering OR Bachelor of Science in any other engineering or physics and natural science discipline.
    2. International applicants must have a degree comparable to a regionally accredited US bachelor's degree. Review the Graduate School webpage to learn more about comparable degrees by country. 
  2. GPA
    1. ​The Department of Mechanical Engineering prefers a 3.2/4.0 GPA.
    2. The minimum GPA to be reviewed by the admission committee is 3.0.

Application Materials

In addition to the items listed in the table above, a complete application includes the following uploaded to the online application. The submitted application and all application items are due by the deadline above. 

  1. Unofficial Transcripts (PDF)
    1. ​Most up-to-date unofficial transcript(s) from all previous higher education institutions, regardless of whether a degree was earned. Official transcripts are only requested of recommended applicants.
    2. International academic records must be in the original language accompanied by an official English translation. Review the minimum requirements link above to learn more. 
  2. Statement of Purpose
    1. ​In this document, applicants should explain why they want to pursue further education in Mechanical Engineering and specifically this program.
    2. The Department of Mechanical Engineering graduate program does not have a required font, word limit, etc. However, we do recommend (not require) a maximum of 2 pages.
    3. See the Graduate School for more advice on how to structure a personal statement.
  3. Resume​
  4. Three Letters of Recommendation
    1. ​These letters are required from people who can accurately reflect on the applicant's academics and/or work performance. 
    2. Letters of recommendation are submitted electronically through the online application.
    3. See the Graduate School FAQs regarding letters of recommendation. 
    4. See exception above for UW-Madison undergraduate students. 
  5. Application Fee
    1. ​Application submission must be accompanied by the application fee. See the Graduate School FAQs regarding fees. 
    2. Fee grants are available through the conditions outlined here by the Graduate School.

Reentry Admissions

Review the Graduate School requirements for previously enrolled students. Contact the Department of Mechanical Engineering Graduate Student Services (see Contact Box for link) with questions. 

Currently Enrolled Graduate Student Admissions

Students currently enrolled as graduate students at UW-Madison wishing to apply to this degree programs should contact the Department of Mechanical Engineering Graduate Student Services (see Contact Box for link) to inquire about the process and deadlines. 

Questions

Contact the Department of Mechanical Engineering Graduate Student Services (see Contact Box for link).

Funding

Graduate School Resources

The Bursar’s Office provides information about tuition and fees associated with being a graduate student. Resources to help you afford graduate study might include assistantships, fellowships, traineeships, and financial aid. Further funding information is available from the Graduate School. Be sure to check with your program for individual policies and restrictions related to funding.

Program Resources

Students enrolled in this program are not eligible to receive tuition remission from graduate assistantship appointments at this institution.

Additional Resources

Office of Student Financial Aid

For information regarding student financial aid, scholarships, and more, visit the Office of Student Financial Aid website. 

International Student Services Funding and Scholarships

For information regarding international student funding and scholarships, visit the International Student Services website.

On This Page

Minimum Graduate School Requirements

Review the Graduate School minimum degree requirements and policies, in addition to the program requirements listed below.

Named Option Requirements  

Face to Face Evening/Weekend Online Hybrid Accelerated
Yes No No No Yes

Mode of Instruction Definitions

Accelerated: Accelerated programs are offered at a fast pace that condenses the time to completion. Students typically take enough credits aimed at completing the program in a year or two.

Evening/Weekend: ​Courses meet on the UW–Madison campus only in evenings and/or on weekends to accommodate typical business schedules.  Students have the advantages of face-to-face courses with the flexibility to keep work and other life commitments.

Face-to-Face: Courses typically meet during weekdays on the UW-Madison Campus.

Hybrid: These programs combine face-to-face and online learning formats.  Contact the program for more specific information.

Online: These programs are offered 100% online.  Some programs may require an on-campus orientation or residency experience, but the courses will be facilitated in an online format.

Curricular Requirements

Minimum Credit Requirement 30 credits
Minimum Residence Credit Requirement 16 credits
Minimum Graduate Coursework Requirement 15 credits must be graduate-level coursework. Refer to the Graduate School: Minimum Graduate Coursework (50%) Requirement policy: https://policy.wisc.edu/library/UW-1244.
Overall Graduate GPA Requirement 3.00 GPA required. Refer to the Graduate School: Grade Point Average (GPA) Requirement policy: https://policy.wisc.edu/library/UW-1203.
Other Grade Requirements Students must earn a C or above in all required coursework.

Students may not have any more than two incompletes on their record at any one time.
Assessments and Examinations None.
Language Requirements No language requirements.

Required Courses

All courses for the Mechanical Engineering graduate program must be numbered 400 and above. Exception: Up to two courses (6 credits) numbered 300-399 in engineering, math, or the sciences taken at UW-Madison can also be used towards the formal course credit requirement. These courses can be from Mechanical Engineering (M E) and/or Engineering Mechanics (E M A) only if approved by the student's advisor and the Mechanical Engineering graduate committee.  No thesis/research credits are permitted. 

Graduate Seminar
Two semesters of seminar, successfully completed, are required. These should be taken during the first two semesters (Fall and Spring).
M E 903Graduate Seminar (taken twice)0
Formal Credits Requirement 1
Complete the following requirements (requirements may overlap)24
Minimum 24 formal course credits
Minimum 15 formal credits in Mechanical Engineering (M E) courses taken at UW-Madison 2
Remaining Courses
Minimum 6 credits from Formal Course Requirement (above) or following courses:6
M E 699
Advanced Independent Study
M E 702
Graduate Cooperative Education Program
Seminar Credits 3
Total Credits30
1

Formal credits/courses are any course offering that is not a seminar course, thesis/research course, independent study, co-op/internship, etc. 

2

For a list of mechanical engineering courses numbered 400 and above, review Mechanical Engineering (M E) offerings.

3

Maximum 3 credits of seminar coursework permitted within program/degree. 

Advisor Approval of Study Plan

The faculty advisor must always approve the courses a student takes in the MS program. Students should schedule an appointment with their advisor when selecting their courses. During the final semester, the faculty advisor will review the courses taken again and if approved, sign the warrant request form.

Other Policy

Students in this program may not take courses outside the prescribed curriculum without faculty advisor and program director approval. Students in this program cannot enroll concurrently in other undergraduate or graduate degree programs.

Graduate School Policies

The Graduate School’s Academic Policies and Procedures serve as the official document of record for Graduate School academic and administrative policies and procedures and are updated continuously. Note some policies redirect to entries in the official UW-Madison Policy Library. Programs may set more stringent policies than the Graduate School. Policies set by the academic degree program can be found below.

Named Option-Specific Policies

Prior Coursework

Graduate Credits Earned at Other Institutions

With faculty advisor approval, students may transfer up to 12 credits of graduate coursework from other institutions toward the minimum credit requirement and the minimum graduate coursework (50%) requirement. No credits from other institutions can be counted toward the minimum graduate residence credit requirement. Coursework earned ten or more years prior to admission is not allowed to satisfy requirements.

Undergraduate Credits Earned at Other Institutions or UW-Madison

With faculty advisor approval, students may transfer a maximum of 7 credits from a UW-Madison undergraduate degree or an ABET-accredited undergraduate degree (from another institution). Only coursework that is applicable to the degree curriculum is eligible (based on UW-Madison course/course equivalency number). These credits will not be allowed to satisfy the minimum graduate coursework (50%) requirement unless taken in courses numbered 700 or above (UW-Madison course equivalent). No credits can be applied toward the minimum graduate residence credit requirement. Coursework earned ten or more years prior to admission is not allowed to satisfy requirements.

Credits Earned as a Professional Student at UW-Madison (Law, Medicine, Pharmacy, and Veterinary careers)

Refer to the Graduate School: Transfer Credits for Prior Coursework policy.

Credits Earned as a University Special student at UW–Madison

With faculty advisor approval, students may transfer up to 15 credits of coursework taken as a UW–Madison University Special student toward the minimum credit requirement. Only coursework that is applicable to the degree curriculum is eligible. UW–Madison coursework taken as a University Special student would not be allowed to count toward the minimum graduate coursework (50%) requirement unless taken in courses numbered 700 or above or are taken to meet the requirements of a capstone certificate and has the “Grad 50%” designation. Coursework earned ten or more years prior to admission is not allowed to satisfy requirements.

Probation

The Department of Mechanical Engineering graduate programs satisfactory academic progress policy may be reviewed in the Graduate Handbook (see Contact box for link). 

Advisor / Committee

All students will be assigned a mechanical engineering faculty advisor, based on emphasis area, who assists them in planning a course sequence that meets degrees requirements and who will discuss career objectives with the students.

Credits Per Term Allowed

15 credit maximum. Refer to the Graduate School: Maximum Credit Loads and Overload Requests policy.

Time Limits

Students are expected to complete the Mechanical Engineering MS - Accelerated Program degree program in 16 months (i.e. Fall, Spring, Fall terms). Additional time may be granted with advisor approval.  

Refer to the Graduate School: Time Limits policy.

Grievances and Appeals

These resources may be helpful in addressing your concerns:

Mechanical Engineering Grievance Procedures

If a student feels unfairly treated or aggrieved by faculty, staff, or another student, the University offers several avenues to resolve the grievance. Students’ concerns about unfair treatment are best handled directly with the person responsible for the objectionable action. If the student is uncomfortable making direct contact with the individual(s) involved, they should contact the advisor or the person in charge of the unit where the action occurred (program or department chair, section chair, lab manager, etc.). Many departments and schools/colleges have established specific procedures for handling such situations; check their web pages and published handbooks for information. If such procedures exist at the local level, these should be investigated first. For more information see the Graduate School Academic Policies & Procedures: https://grad.wisc.edu/acadpolicy/?policy=grievancesandappeals. The Assistant Dean for Graduate Affairs (engr-dean-graduateaffairs@engr.wisc.edu) provides overall leadership for graduate education in the College of Engineering (CoE), and is a point of contact for graduate students who have concerns about education, mentoring, research, or other difficulties.

  1. The student is encouraged to speak first with the person toward whom the grievance is directed to see if a situation can be resolved at this level.

  2. Should a satisfactory resolution not be achieved, the student should contact the Associate Chair for Graduate Studies or the John Bollinger Chair of Mechanical Engineering to discuss the grievance. The Associate Chair for Graduate Studies or Department Chair will facilitate problem resolution through informal channels and facilitate any complaints or issues of students. The first attempt is to help students informally address the grievance prior to any formal complaint. Students are also encouraged to talk with their faculty advisors regarding concerns or difficulties if necessary. University resources for sexual harassment, discrimination, disability accommodations, and other related concerns can be found on the UW Office of Compliance website. Other campus resources can be found above. 

  3. If the issue is not resolved to the student’s satisfaction the student can submit the grievance to the Associate Chair for Graduate Studies in writing, within 60 calendar days of the alleged unfair treatment.

  4. On receipt of a written complaint, a faculty committee will be convened by the Associate Chair for Graduate Studies to manage the grievance. The faculty committee will obtain a written response from the person toward whom the complaint is directed. This response will be shared with the person filing the grievance.

  5. The faculty committee will determine a decision regarding the grievance. The Associate Chair for Graduate Studies will report on the action taken by the committee in writing to both the student and the party toward whom the complaint was directed within 15 working days from the date the complaint was received.

  6. At this point, if either party (the student or the person toward whom the grievance is directed) is unsatisfied with the decision of the faculty committee, the party may file a written appeal. Either party has 10 working days to file a written appeal to the School/College.

  7. Documentation of the grievance will be stored for at least 7 years. Significant grievances that set a precedent will be stored indefinitely.

The Graduate School has procedures for students wishing to appeal a grievance decision made at the school/college level. These policies are described in the Graduate School’s Academic Policies & Procedures: https://grad.wisc.edu/acadpolicy/?policy=grievancesandappeals.

Other

Students are strongly discouraged to pursue positions as Project Assistants, Teaching Assistants or Research Assistants during their time in this program, as the rigor and accelerated nature of this program may not accommodate those work time commitments. Students in this program will not receive the tuition remission that is typically part of the compensation package for a graduate assistantship.

Professional Development

Graduate School Resources

Take advantage of the Graduate School's professional development resources to build skills, thrive academically, and launch your career.