DEGREE Engineering Mechanics: Research, MS

Master’s degree in engineering mechanics

As a master’s student in our traditional engineering mechanics major, you’ll gain additional understanding of several areas within the mechanics of materials and astronautics—among them, continuum mechanics, computational mechanics, dynamics and vibration, fluid mechanics, nanomechanics, solid mechanics, and biomechanics.

View department Graduate handbook

At a glance

Engineering physics department

of the nation’s few remaining research and teaching nuclear reactors

undergraduate ranking among public universities in nuclear engineering

graduate ranking among public universities in nuclear engineering

Facts & stats

Learn more about what information you need to apply.

Graduate 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.

Graduate Admissions Requirements
Requirements	Detail
Fall Deadline	December 15
Spring Deadline	October 1
Summer Deadline	December 15
GRE (Graduate Record Examinations)	Required.*
English Proficiency Test	Every applicant whose native language is not English or whose undergraduate instruction was not in English must provide an English proficiency test score and meet the Graduate School minimum requirements (https://grad.wisc.edu/apply/requirements/#english-proficiency).
Other Test(s) (e.g., GMAT, MCAT)	n/a
Letters of Recommendation Required	3

*

a) Current UW-Madison NE/EP/EMA undergraduate students are not required to submit GRE scores.

b) Due to COVID-19, GRE scores are not required for all applications to Engineering Mechanics graduate programs for the Spring 2023, Summer 2023, and Fall 2023 terms.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS and PROCESS

Degree: For admission to graduate study in Engineering Mechanics, an applicant must have a bachelor’s degree in engineering, mathematics, or physical science, and an undergraduate record that indicates an ability to successfully pursue graduate study. International applicants must have a degree comparable to a regionally accredited U.S. bachelor’s degree.

It is highly recommended that students take courses that cover the same material as these UW-Madison courses before entering the program:

Course and Semester Credits Typical Courses

Advanced Mathematics, 3 cr MATH 319 or MATH 320 and MATH 321

Linear Algebra and Matrices, 3 cr MATH 320 or MATH 340

Mechanics of Materials, 3 cr E M A 303

Dynamics, 3 cr E M A 202 or PHYSICS 311

Descriptions of course content can be accessed through The Guide. Students may enter without having taken these courses. However, in such cases the students must inform their advisors, who will help them plan courses of study that will provide adequate background for our department’s graduate curriculum. Provisions for admission on probation, or as an applicant for more than one master’s degree (e.g., simultaneous MS degrees in two departments) are given in the Graduate School website.

All applicants must satisfy requirements that are set forth by the Graduate School.

GPA: The Graduate School requires a minimum undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 basis on the equivalent of the last 60 semester hours from the most recent bachelor’s degree. In special cases, students with grade point averages lower than 3.0 who meet all the general requirements of the Graduate School may be considered for admission on probation.

GRE: As a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the GRE requirement is waived for applications to the Spring 2023, Summer 2023, and Fall 2023 terms, and submission of GRE scores is optional.

MS-thesis track advisor selection process: MS applicants who intend to complete a thesis are encouraged to identify potential faculty advisors and seek a confirmation. Please review the department Research and People websites and contact those whose research interests align with yours. Only faculty members listed with the titles of Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, or Professor, can serve as graduate advisors. Do not contact Emeritus faculty, Lecturers, Research Scientists, or Faculty Associates. You are also encouraged to inquire about possible funding opportunities. If a faculty member agrees to be your advisor, ask the person to email an acknowledgment to emgradadmission@engr.wisc.edu.

Each application must include the following:

Graduate School Application
Academic transcripts
Statement of purpose
Resume/CV
Three letters of recommendation
GRE Scores (waived in response to the COVID-19 pandemic)
English Proficiency Score (if required)
Application Fee

DEADLINES

To apply to the EM program, complete applications, including supportive materials, must be submitted as described below and received by the following deadline dates:

Fall Semester—December 15
Spring Semester—October 1
Summer Session—December 15

ACADEMIC TRANSCRIPT

Electronically submit one copy of your transcript of all undergraduate and previous graduate work along with your online application to the Graduate School. Unofficial copies of transcripts will be accepted for review, but official copies are required for admitted students. Please do not send transcripts or any other application materials to the Graduate School or the Department of Engineering Physics unless requested. Please review the requirements set by the Graduate School for additional information about degrees/transcripts.

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

In this document, applicants should explain why they want to pursue further education in Engineering Mechanics and discuss which UW faculty members they would be interested in doing research with during their graduate study (see the Graduate School for more advice on how to structure a personal statement).

RESUME

Upload your resume in your application.

THREE LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION

These letters are required from people who can accurately judge the applicant’s academic and/or research performance. It is highly recommended these letters be from faculty familiar with the applicant. Letters of recommendation are submitted electronically to graduate programs through the online application. See the Graduate School for FAQs regarding letters of recommendation.

GRE SCORES

As a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the GRE requirement is waived for applications to the Spring 2023, Summer 2023, and Fall 2023 terms. Any scores submitted will be accessible by the Admissions Faculty.

Applicants who select to submit GRE scores: Scores should be submitted directly from Educational Testing Services (ETS) using institution code 1846. We do not require a department code, but entering a code is acceptable and will not negatively impact the receipt of your scores.

ENGLISH PROFICIENCY SCORE

Every applicant whose native language is not English, or whose undergraduate instruction was not in English, must provide an English proficiency test score. The UW-Madison Graduate School accepts TOEFL or IETLS scores. Your score will not be accepted if it is more than two years old from the start of your admission term. Country of citizenship does not exempt applicants from this requirement. Language of instruction at the college or university level and how recent the language instruction was taken are the determining factors in meeting this requirement.

For more information regarding minimum score requirements and exemption policy, please see the Graduate School Requirements for Admission.

APPLICATION FEE

Application submission must be accompanied by the one-time application fee. It is non-refundable and can be paid by credit card (Master Card or Visa) or debit/ATM. Additional information about the application fee may be found here (scroll to the ‘Frequently asked questions).

Fee grants are available through the conditions outlined here by the Graduate School.

QUESTIONS:

If you have questions, please contact emgradadmission@engr.wisc.edu.

REENTRY ADMISSIONS

If you were previously enrolled as a graduate student in the Engineering Mechanics program, have not earned your degree, but have had a break in enrollment for a minimum of a fall or spring term, you will need to re-apply to resume your studies. Please review the Graduate School requirements for previously enrolled students. Your previous faculty advisor (or another EM faculty advisor) must be willing to supply advising support and should e-mail the EM Graduate Student Services Coordinator regarding next steps in the process.

If you were previously enrolled in a UW-Madison graduate degree, completed that degree, have had a break in enrollment since earning the degree and would now like to apply for another UW-Madison program; you are required to submit a new student application through the UW-Madison Graduate School online application. For EM graduate programs, you must follow the entire application process as described above.

CURRENTLY ENROLLED GRADUATE STUDENT ADMISSIONS

Students currently enrolled as a graduate student at UW-Madison, whether in EM or a non-EM graduate program, wishing to apply to this degree program should contact the EM Graduate Admissions Team to inquire about the process and deadlines several months in advance of the anticipated enrollment term. Current students may apply to change or add programs for any term (fall, spring, or summer).

QUESTIONS:

If you have questions, please contact emgradadmission@engr.wisc.edu.

Tuition

Tuition and segregated fee rates are always listed per semester (not for Fall and Spring combined).

View tuition rates

Graduate School Resources

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

Admission and funding are separate decisions. Not all admitted students are offered support. International applicants must secure a research assistantship, teaching assistantship, fellowship, or independent funding before admission is final. The funding for RAs comes from faculty research grants. Each professor decides on his or her own RA offers. Funded students are expected to maintain full-time enrollment.

In the Department of Engineering Physics, we strive to design and deploy unique world-class experimental and computational capabilities to translate novel discoveries into transformative technologies. Having a broad range of laboratory facilities and collaborative centers at the right scale for energy and mechanics research is a hallmark of the department. The technologies we develop can solve challenges in energy, health, space, security and many other areas.

View our research

Minimum graduate school requirements

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

University General Education Requirements
Requirements	Detail
Minimum Credit Requirement	30 credits
Minimum Residence Credit Requirement	16 credits
Minimum Graduate Coursework Requirement	15 credits must be graduate-level coursework. Details can be found in the Graduate School’s Minimum Graduate Coursework (50%) policy (https://policy.wisc.edu/library/UW-1244).
Overall Graduate GPA Requirement	3.00 GPA required. This program follows the Graduate School’s GPA Requirement policy (https://policy.wisc.edu/library/UW-1203).
Other Grade Requirements	Courses in which grades of BC, C, or below are received cannot be counted toward the degree except as follows: 1) Credits of C will be allowed provided they are balanced by twice as many credits of A or by four times as many credits of AB, 2) Credits of BC will be allowed provided they are balanced by twice as many credits of AB or by an equal number of credits of A.
Assessments and Examinations	A thesis is not required for a Master’s degree in Engineering Mechanics. Credit for Master’s research (E M A 790) will be granted toward meeting the M.S. requirements only when a formal M.S. thesis is submitted and approved by the thesis committee. If submitting a M.S. thesis, a thesis Oral Defense is required. Candidates must pass an oral exam administered by a three-member committee, selected by the student’s advisor. At least two of the committee members must be members of the UW-Madison Graduate Faculty. (For more information, see https://grad.wisc.edu/documents/committees/.) Typically, the student presents an overview of their thesis/research, and then the examiners ask questions in closed session. See the Graduate School’s information https://grad.wisc.edu/current-students/masters-guide/ and note the requirement for an advisor approval page; the form that appears in Appendix C of the Handbook may be used.
Language Requirements	No language requirements.

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
General
The program requires 30 credits of technical coursework approved by the student’s advisor.
All courses must be at the 500-level or above. At least 15 credits must be 600-level and above OR from the following list:		15
E M A/CIV ENGR/M E 508	Composite Materials
E M A 519	Fracture Mechanics
E M A 522	Aerodynamics Lab
E M A 523	Flight Dynamics and Control
E M A/M E 540	Experimental Vibration and Dynamic System Analysis
E M A/M S & E 541	Heterogeneous and Multiphase Materials
E M A/E P 547	Engineering Analysis I
E M A/E P 548	Engineering Analysis II
E M A/M E 570	Experimental Mechanics
Mathematics Requirements		3
Students must take at least 3 credits (1 course) from the following list:
E M A/E P 547	Engineering Analysis I
E M A/E P 548	Engineering Analysis II
MATH 519	Ordinary Differential Equations
MATH 521	Analysis I
MATH 522	Analysis II
MATH 540	Linear Algebra II
MATH 619	Analysis of Partial Differential Equations
MATH 623	Complex Analysis
MATH 703	Methods of Applied Mathematics 1
MATH 704	Methods of Applied Mathematics-2
MATH/COMP SCI 714	Methods of Computational Mathematics I
MATH/COMP SCI 715	Methods of Computational Mathematics II
Breadth Requirement
Students must take at least 5 courses from the list below. At least 3 must be identified by a *. The courses must span at least 2 of the 3 areas defined below. For each of the 2 areas, the student must take at least 2 courses.
Solid Mechanics
E M A 506	Advanced Mechanics of Materials I ^*	3
E M A/CIV ENGR/M E 508	Composite Materials	3
E M A 519	Fracture Mechanics ^*	3
E M A/M S & E 541	Heterogeneous and Multiphase Materials ^*	3
E M A/M E 570	Experimental Mechanics	3
E M A 605	Introduction to Finite Elements ^*	3
E M A 611	Advanced Mechanical Testing of Materials ^*	3
E M A/E P 615	Micro- and Nanoscale Mechanics ^*	3
E M A 622	Mechanics of Continua ^*	3
E M A 630	Viscoelastic Solids ^*	3
E M A 700	Theory of Elasticity ^*	3
E M A/M E 703	Plasticity Theory and Physics	3
E M A 705	Advanced Topics in Finite Elements ^*	3
E M A/M E 706	Plates, Shells and Pressure Vessels	3
E M A/M E 708	Advanced Composite Materials	3
E M A/M E 722	Introduction to Polymer Rheology	3
M E/B M E 603	Topics in Bio-Medical Engineering (Topic: FE for Biomechanics)	1-3
M E 753	Friction, Lubrication and Wear	3
Fluid Mechanics
E M A 521	Aerodynamics ^*	3
E M A 524	Rocket Propulsion ^*	3
E M A 622	Mechanics of Continua ^*	3
M E 563	Intermediate Fluid Dynamics ^*	3
M E 572	Intermediate Gas Dynamics ^*	3
M E 573	Computational Fluid Dynamics ^*	3
M E 769	Combustion Processes	3
M E 770	Advanced Experimental Instrumentation	3
M E 774	Chem Kinetics of Combust Systems	3
M E/CIV ENGR/E M A 775	Turbulent Heat and Momentum Transfer	3
MATH 705	Mathematical Fluid Dynamics	3
Dynamics
E M A 523	Flight Dynamics and Control ^*	3
E M A/M E 540	Experimental Vibration and Dynamic System Analysis ^*	3
E M A 542	Advanced Dynamics ^*	3
E M A 545	Mechanical Vibrations ^*	3
E M A/ASTRON 550	Astrodynamics	3
E M A 610	Structural Finite Element Model Validation ^*	3
E M A 642	Satellite Dynamics ^*	3
E M A 742	Theory and Applications in Advanced Dynamics ^*	3
E M A 745	Advanced Methods in Structural Dynamics ^*	3
E M A 747	Nonlinear and Random Mechanical Vibrations ^*	3
M E/E C E 577	Automatic Controls Laboratory	4
M E 740	Advanced Vibrations	3
M E 747	Advanced Computer Control of Machines and Processes	3
M E 748	Optimum Design of Mechanical Elements and Systems	3
Depth Requirement		6
At least 2 courses (6 credits) must be 700-level or above in mechanics, from the following list:
Any E M A course except E M A 790, E M A 890, or E M A 990.
E M A 601 Special Topics courses may only be counted as 700-level if designated as such by the instructor.
CBE 720	Microhydrodynamics, Brownian Motion, and Complex Fluids
CIV ENGR/G L E 730	Engineering Properties of Soils
CIV ENGR/G L E 735	Soil Dynamics
MATH 705	Mathematical Fluid Dynamics
M E 740	Advanced Vibrations
M E 746	Dynamics of Controlled Systems
M E 747	Advanced Computer Control of Machines and Processes
M E 748	Optimum Design of Mechanical Elements and Systems
M E 751	Advanced Computational Dynamics
M E 753	Friction, Lubrication and Wear
M E 769	Combustion Processes
M E 770	Advanced Experimental Instrumentation
M E 774	Chem Kinetics of Combust Systems
M E/CIV ENGR/E M A 775	Turbulent Heat and Momentum Transfer
Independent Study/Research Credits
All students must take a minimum of 3 credits of E M A 599. A maximum of 6 credits of E M A 599 may be used toward the 30-credit minimum. Students in the thesis track may use a maximum of 12 credits of E M A 599 and E M A 790, combined, toward the 30-credit minimum. Credit for E M A 790 will be granted toward meeting the M.S. requirements only when a formal M.S. thesis is submitted and approved by the thesis committee.
Thesis pathway¹: minimum of 3 credits of E M A 599 and a minimum of 6 credits of E M A 790
Independent study pathway¹: minimum of 3 credits of E M A 599
¹These pathways are internal to the program and represent different curricular paths a student can follow to earn this degree. Pathway names do not appear in the Graduate School admissions application, and they will not appear on the transcript.
^Optional Seminar Credits
Up to 3 credits of Mechanics Seminar may be used to count toward the 30-credit minimum.

Graduate Student Services
emgradadmission@engr.wisc.edu
3182 Mechanical Engineering
1513 University Ave., Madison, WI 53706

Carl Sovinec, Director of Graduate Studies
csovinec@wisc.edu

View the Graduate Guide for program-specific information on policies, rules and regulations.

More information

Engineering physics news

In our department, our research spans areas that include aerospace, materials, fusion energy, nuclear systems and more—and we are a community that brings them all together for the benefit of our world.

All department news

8/30/2022

Become a Badger Engineer

Start your application

Schedule a visit

DEGREE Engineering Mechanics: Research, MS

Master’s degree in engineering mechanics

At a glance

Engineering physics department

Learn more about what information you need to apply.

Tuition

Graduate School Resources

Program Resources

Minimum graduate school requirements

Engineering physics news

Focus on new faculty: Juliana Pacheco Duarte, enhancing the safety of nuclear reactors

Signal boost: Advance enables hyper-sensitive sensors

Cell mechanics offers new clue in genetic heart disease

Become a Badger Engineer

DEGREE Engineering Mechanics: Research, MS

Master’s degree in engineering mechanics

At a glance

Engineering physics department

Learn more about what information you need to apply.

How to apply

Tuition and funding

Tuition

Graduate School Resources

Program Resources

Research

Curricular requirements

Minimum graduate school requirements

Required courses

Contact

Engineering physics news

Focus on new faculty: Juliana Pacheco Duarte, enhancing the safety of nuclear reactors

Signal boost: Advance enables hyper-sensitive sensors

Cell mechanics offers new clue in genetic heart disease

Become a Badger Engineer