The Aerospace Engineering named option in the Engineering Mechanics, BS no longer admits new students after Summer 2027. If you have any questions, please contact the department.
Prospective students should consider our new Aerospace Engineering, BS.
Some of the most exciting innovations in air and space travel require understanding of the engineering mechanics principles at the heart of this major. Whether there are humans in the cockpit or remote-controlled drones, the interaction of an aircraft with its surroundings results in deformation, vibration, and dynamic motions that are all explained by engineering mechanics. Even without the atmosphere experienced by aircraft, spacecraft, and vehicles that explore distant planets must also withstand a variety of forces and be reliable in environments where repair may not be possible. In both cases, there is a premium on reducing weight and expanding capabilities. This makes aerospace engineering a natural extension of engineering mechanics. Following the same fundamental courses as our engineering mechanics major, students in the aerospace engineering option will apply their education in structural analysis, material science, advanced dynamics, and vibrations to specific courses on aerodynamics, flight dynamics, orbital mechanics, and propulsion. A highlight of this program is the aerodynamics laboratory where students conduct field experiments on the UW–Madison wind tunnel. Talk to your academic advisor about declaring this option.
Requirements
The following curriculum applies to students admitted to the engineering mechanics degree program and declare the aerospace option.
Summary of Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Mathematics and Statistics 1 | 22 | |
| Science 1 | 10 | |
| Engineering Science | 28 | |
| Engineering Mechanics/Aerospace Engineering Core | 40 | |
| Technical Electives | 5 | |
| Communication Skills | 8 | |
| Liberal Studies Electives | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 128 | |
- 1
If the Mathematics and Statistics and the Science requirements are fulfilled with fewer than 30 credits combined, additional math/science credits will be needed to meet the math/science auxiliary credit condition.
Mathematics and Statistics
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MATH 221 | Calculus and Analytic Geometry 1 | 5 |
| MATH 222 | Calculus and Analytic Geometry 2 | 4 |
| MATH 234 | Calculus--Functions of Several Variables | 4 |
| MATH 320 | Linear Algebra and Differential Equations | 3 |
| MATH 321 | Applied Mathematical Analysis 1: Vector and Complex Calculus | 3 |
| STAT 324 | Introduction to Statistics for Science and Engineering | 3 |
| Total Credits | 22 | |
Science
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select one of the following: | 5-9 | |
| Advanced General Chemistry 1 | ||
| General Chemistry I and General Chemistry II | ||
| PHYSICS 202 | General Physics | 5 |
| Total Credits | 10-14 | |
- 1
It is recommended that students take CHEM 109 Advanced General Chemistry (5 cr). However, depending on their high school chemistry experience, students may substitute CHEM 103 General Chemistry I and CHEM 104 General Chemistry II for a total of 9 credits.
Engineering Science
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| E M A 200 | Introduction to Aerospace Engineering | 3 |
| or M E 201 | Introduction to Mechanical Engineering | |
| M E 231 | Geometric Modeling for Design and Manufacturing | 3 |
| COMP SCI 220 | Data Science Programming I 1 | 4 |
| M E 361 | Thermodynamics | 3 |
| M E 363 | Fluid Dynamics | 3 |
| or CIV ENGR 310 | Fluid Mechanics | |
| E C E 376 | Electrical and Electronic Circuits | 3 |
| or PHYSICS 321 | Electric Circuits and Electronics | |
| or E C E 230 | Circuit Analysis | |
| M E 364 | Elementary Heat Transfer | 3 |
| M E 446 | Introduction to Feedback Control | 3 |
| or E C E 332 | Feedback Control Systems | |
| Computing Elective (select one) | 3 | |
| Intermediate Problem Solving for Engineers (preferred, only offered in the Spring) | ||
or COMP SCI 412 | Introduction to Numerical Methods | |
or M E 459 | Computing Concepts for Applications in Engineering | |
or COMP SCI 320 | Data Science Programming II | |
or E P 476 | Introduction to Scientific Computing for Engineering Physics | |
| Total Credits | 28 | |
- 1
COMP SCI 220 Data Science Programming I is the preferred required computer science course. If a student needs to take COMP SCI 300 Programming II to satisfy requirements for another major or certificate, COMP SCI 300 Programming II can count for this computer science requirement.
Engineering Mechanics/Aerospace Engineering Core
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| E M A 201 | Statics (with a grade of C or better) 1 | 3 |
| E M A 202 | Dynamics | 3 |
| E M A 303 | Mechanics of Materials | 3 |
| E M A/M E 307 | Mechanics of Materials Lab | 1 |
| E M A 405 | Practicum in Finite Elements | 3 |
| E M A 351 | Aerospace Design I | 3 |
| E M A 406 | Aerospace Structures | 3 |
| Experimental Mechanics Elective (select one) | 3 | |
| Aerodynamics Laboratory | ||
| Experimental Vibration and Dynamic System Analysis | ||
| Advanced Mechanical Testing of Materials | ||
| E M A 421 | Aerodynamics | 3 |
| or M E 563 | Intermediate Fluid Dynamics | |
| E M A 442 | Advanced Dynamics | 3 |
| E M A 352 | Aerospace Design II | 3 |
| E M A/M E 440 | Mechanical Vibrations | 3 |
| Spacecraft & Structural Dynamics Elective (select one) | 3 | |
| Orbital Mechanics | ||
| Structural Finite Element Model Validation | ||
| Satellite Dynamics | ||
| Aerospace Fluid Mechanics Elective (select one) | 3 | |
| Flight Dynamics and Control | ||
| Aerospace Propulsion | ||
| Total Credits | 40 | |
- 1
Students may substitute PHYSICS 201 General Physics (5 cr) for E M A 201 Statics (3 cr), with the approval of their advisor.
Technical Electives
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Choose five credits from: | 5 | |
| Cooperative Education Program (no more than 3 credits) | ||
Courses numbered 300+ in the CoE except for E P D/INTEREGR | ||
Courses numbered 300+ MATH, PHYSICS, COMP SCI, STAT (except STAT 301), ASTRON, MED PHYS, and CHEM departments | ||
| Modern Physics for Engineers | ||
or PHYSICS 241 | Introduction to Modern Physics | |
Students may propose a course to their academic advisor that they feel will benefit their education path. To be a strong candidate, the proposed courses should have pre-requisites of two physics or calculus courses. For these courses, the ME curriculum committee will review the request and, if approved, recommend a DARS substitution. | ||
| Total Credits | 5 | |
Communication Skills
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Engr Comm 1 | ||
| INTEREGR 156 | Introduction to Writing, Speaking, and Ethics for Engineers | 3 |
| or ENGL 100 | Introduction to College Composition | |
| or COM ARTS 100 | Introduction to Speech Composition | |
| or LSC 100 | Science and Storytelling | |
| or ESL 118 | Academic Writing II | |
| Technical Presentations | ||
| INTEREGR 275 | Technical Presentations | 2 |
| Engr Comm 2 | ||
| INTEREGR 397 | Engineering Communication | 3 |
| Total Credits | 8 | |
Liberal Studies Electives
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| The Engineering Mechanics curriculum requires 15 credits of liberal studies electives courses. See College of Engineering Liberal Studies Electives Requirements for details. | ||
| Complete Requirements | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 15 | |
For information on credit load, adding or dropping courses, course substitutions, pass/fail, auditing courses, dean's honor list, repeating courses, probation, and graduation, see the College of Engineering Official Regulations.
Honors in Undergraduate Research Program
The Department of Mechanical Engineering’s Undergraduate Honors in Research Program offers students the opportunity to contribute to the creation of new knowledge and experience the research process. Participants work closely with a faculty advisor and complete a senior thesis based on their research.
Admission Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Complete at least 2 semesters on the UW-Madison campus | ||
| Have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.5 | ||
| Have completed progression in Engineering Mechanics | ||
| Obtain approval from a faculty member who agrees to serve as the thesis advisor | ||
Enrollment Process
To enroll in the Honors in Research program
- Identify and confirm a faculty member who is willing to serve as your research advisor.
- Ask your faculty advisor to send an email to ema-enrollment@engr.wisc.edu, with you copied (cc'd), confirming they will serve as your advisor for the Honors in Research project.
- Once confirmation is received, you will be granted permission to enroll in E M A 488 Honors in Research I.
Completion Requirements
Students who fulfill the following criteria will receive the "Honors in Research" designation on their transcript and diploma:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Satisfy all requirements for the BS in Engineering Mechanics | ||
| Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.3 or higher | ||
| E M A 488 | Honors in Research I | 3 |
| or E M A 599 | Independent Study | |
| or M E 488 | Honors in Research I | |
| or M E 491 | Mechanical Engineering Projects I | |
| E M A 489 | Honors in Research II (with grade of B or better) | 3 |
| Complete and submit a senior thesis | ||
| (Optional) Present the thesis formally, at the discretion of the faculty advisor | ||
Four-Year Plan
Example Four-Year Plan
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| CHEM 1091 | 5 | E M A 2013 | 3 |
| MATH 221 | 5 | MATH 222 | 4 |
| Communications A | 3 | M E 231 | 3 |
| E M A 200 or M E 2012 | 3 | M E 2012 | 3 |
or Liberal Studies Elective | or Liberal Studies Elective | ||
| Liberal Studies Elective | 3 | ||
| 16 | 16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| MATH 234 | 4 | MATH 320 | 3 |
| PHYSICS 202 | 5 | STAT 324 | 3 |
| E M A 2024 | 3 | M E 361 | 3 |
| COMP SCI 220 | 4 | E M A 3034 | 3 |
| INTEREGR 275 | 2 | E M A/M E 3074 | 1 |
| Liberal Studies Elective | 3 | ||
| 18 | 16 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| E M A 406 | 3 | INTEREGR 397 | 3 |
| E M A 405 | 3 | E M A/M E 440 | 3 |
| E M A 442 | 3 | E M A 4216 | 3 |
| M E 363 or CIV ENGR 310 | 3 | E C E 376, PHYSICS 321, or E C E 230 | 3 |
| MATH 321 | 3 | E M A/E P 471 | 3 |
| Technical Elective | 3 | ||
| 18 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| E M A 351 | 3 | E M A 352 | 3 |
| M E 364 | 3 | E M A 423 or 4267 | 3 |
| M E 446 or E C E 332 | 3 | E M A 450, 610, or 642 | 3 |
| Experimental Mechanics Course5 | 3 | Tech Elective | 2 |
| Liberal Studies Elective | 3 | Liberal Studies Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 14 | ||
| Total Credits 128 | |||
- 1
It is recommended that students take CHEM 109 Advanced General Chemistry for 5 credits. However, depending on their high school chemistry experience, students may substitute CHEM 103 General Chemistry I and CHEM 104 General Chemistry II for a total of 9 credits.
- 2
E M A 200or M E 201 are preferred introduction to engineering options. E M A 200 is offered in the fall only. M E 201 can be taken in the first or second semester. If a student begins in another engineering major, other introduction to engineering courses can count for the introduction to engineering requirement.
- 3
Students may substitute PHYSICS 201 General Physics, 5 credits, for E M A 201 Statics, 3 credits, with the approval of their advisor.
- 4
After completing E M A 201 Statics, students may take E M A 202 Dynamics and E M A 303 Mechanics of Materials/E M A/M E 307 Mechanics of Materials Lab in either order or concurrently.
- 5
E M A 611 Advanced Mechanical Testing of Materials or E M A/M E 540 Experimental Vibration and Dynamic System Analysis or E M A 422 Aerodynamics Laboratory. Note that E M A/M E 540 Experimental Vibration and Dynamic System Analysis is typically offered in the fall. E M A 611 Advanced Mechanical Testing of Materials and E M A 422 Aerodynamics Laboratory are typically offered in the spring.
- 6
M E 563 Intermediate Fluid Dynamics may be substituted for E M A 421 Aerodynamics. Note that E M A 421 Aerodynamics is typically offered in the Spring M E 563 Intermediate Fluid Dynamics is typically offered in the Fall.
- 7
E M A 423 Flight Dynamics and Control is typically offered in the Spring semester only. E M A 426 Aerospace Propulsion is typically offered in the Fall semester only.