DEGREE Mechanical Engineering, BS

Major in mechanical engineering

As a mechanical engineering major, you’ll learn about manufacturing processes, energy generation and use, and how to design mechanical equipment and systems. But you’ll also have the opportunity to specialize in areas as wide-ranging as robotics, biomedical engineering, product design, computational mechanics, and many other areas. And the great thing about your education is that you’ll be able to apply it in virtually any field.

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At a glance

Mechanical engineering department

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average annual research funding

undergraduate ranking among public universities

graduate ranking among public universities

Facts & stats

Program and Degree Information

Determine what kind of student you will be and learn more about what information you need to apply.

Freshman A freshman includes anyone who is currently a student in high school or who has not taken college coursework since graduating from high school.

Transfer Student A transfer student is anyone who has attended another college or university after graduating from high school and wishes to enroll in an undergraduate degree program at UW–Madison.

Cross-campus Student Cross-campus transfer students are students who are currently enrolled in another school or college at UW-Madison who wish to transfer into the College of Engineering.

Reentry Student Students who previously attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison as an undergraduate and would like to complete their first undergraduate degree will need to apply for reentry admission. Reentry students are those who have not been enrolled in courses for a semester or more.

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

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The College of Engineering is committed to recognizing the potential and accomplishments of incoming and enrolled students by supporting their education through a variety of scholarships at the college and departmental level.

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Educational Objectives
We recognize that our graduates will choose to use the knowledge and skills that they have acquired during their undergraduate years to pursue a wide variety of career and life goals, and we encourage this diversity of paths. Whatever path our graduates may choose, we expect them to be meeting the following objectives at least three to five years after graduation.

They will exhibit a fundamental understanding of broader engineering disciplines with strong skills in mechanical engineering, problem solving, leadership, teamwork, and communication.
They will use these skills to contribute to their organizations and communities.
They will make thoughtful, well-informed decisions in their career and life.
They will demonstrate a continuing commitment to and interest in their own and other’s education.

Learning Outcomes

an ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics
an ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors
an ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences
an ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts
an ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives
an ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
an ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

Degrees

Conferred, 2021-22
Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering: 183
Enrolled, 2022 (Fall)
Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering: 1,458

Our Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET

All info about undergraduate research opportunities is available to current students on the intranet.

Research Positions

Looking to get involved in undergraduate research? Check out Handshake! ME Faculty will post to Handshake with opportunities to work (hourly rate and/or independent-study credit) in a research lab. More directions on how to sign-up for Handshake can be found at the bottom of the page here.

Fellowships

Undergraduate Students may also be eligible for the campus-wide Hilldale Undergraduate/Faculty Research Fellowship competition.
F austin-Prinz Research Fellowship

Biomechanics Specialization within the BSME Program

The biomechanics specialization guides the selection of elective classes for mechanical engineering undergraduate students interested in biomechanics, medical devices and/or a health-related professional career.

Biomechanics Track: Students in the biomechanics specialization select a set of biology and biomechanics courses to fulfill their math/science elective and technical elective within the BSME degree program. They enroll in targeted senior design (ME 351/352) sections in which the projects involve biomechanical systems or medical devices. There is also an option to simultaneously complete the Biology in Engineering Certificate (BEC) program, which is offered to encourage engineering students in traditional disciplines to prepare themselves to understand engineering problems in biology and medicine. A student successfully fulfilling the BEC requirements will have the notation “Biology in Engineering Certificate” added to their transcript.

View the Undergraduate Guide for information on requirements, four-year plans and more.

View the Guide

Recent mechanical engineering undergraduate news

Our students and department alumni are making impressive impacts and collaborations across Wisconsin and the world. These stories highlight a few of the many achievements made by Mechanical Engineering undergraduate students.

All mechanical engineering blog posts