
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 | 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 2022, Summer 2022, and Fall 2022 terms. |
The Graduate School sets minimum requirements for admissions. Academic program admission requirements are often more rigorous than those set by the Graduate School. Please check the program website for details and admissions deadlines.
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
Offers of financial support from the Department, College, and University are in the form of research assistantships (RAs), teaching assistantships (TAs), project assistantships (PAs), and partial or full fellowships. Prospective PhD students that receive such offers will have a minimum five-year guarantee of support. The funding for RAs comes from faculty research grants. Each professor decides on his or her own RA offers, and a portion of the top domestic applicants is invited to visit Madison in order to meet faculty members and tour the department facilities. International applicants must secure an RA, TA, PA, fellowship, or independent funding before admission is final. Funded students are expected to maintain full-time enrollment. See the program website for additional information.
Minimum Graduate School Requirements
Review the Graduate School minimum academic progress and degree requirements, in addition to the program requirements listed below.
Major Requirements
MODE OF INSTRUCTION
Face to Face | Evening/Weekend | Online | Hybrid | Accelerated |
---|---|---|---|---|
Yes | No | No | No | No |
Mode of Instruction Definitions
Accelerated: Accelerated programs are offered at a fast pace that condenses the time to completion. Students are able to complete a program with minimal disruptions to careers and other commitments. 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 | 60 credits |
Minimum Residence Credit Requirement | 32 credits |
Minimum Graduate Coursework Requirement | 30 of the required 60 credits must be in graduate-level coursework; courses with the Graduate Level Coursework attribute are identified and searchable in the university's Course Guide (https://registrar.wisc.edu/course-guide/). In addition, at least 18 of the non-research credits must be in classes having the graduate-level designation. |
Overall Graduate GPA Requirement | 3.00 GPA required. |
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 | Ph.D. qualifying examination is required of all students. After acceptance of the student’s doctoral plan of study, the student must take an oral preliminary examination. Final oral examination is required at the end of the thesis work. |
Language Requirements | No language requirements. |
Doctoral Minor/Breadth Requirements | There are two minor options available: Minor Option A Students minor in a single department and satisfy the minor requirements of that department. Minor Option B (Distributed Minor) This option requires a minimum of 9 credits in two or more departments outside the major, in related courses selected for their relevance to a particular area of concentration. The following rules apply: 1. Courses typically included on or within the scope of the E M A Qualifying Exam shall not be considered acceptable for the Ph.D. Minor Option B. 2. At least 6 credits must be taken in courses listed in the UW-Madison Guide as "Grad 50%" courses. |
Required COURSES
At least 36 of the required 60 credits must be in classes satisfying the following general requirements and mathematics, breadth and depth requirements.
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
General | ||
All courses must be at the 500-level or above. At least 21 credits must be 600-level and above OR from the following list: | 21 | |
Composite Materials | ||
Fracture Mechanics | ||
Aerodynamics Lab | ||
Flight Dynamics and Control | ||
Experimental Vibration and Dynamic System Analysis | ||
Heterogeneous and Multiphase Materials | ||
Engineering Analysis I | ||
Engineering Analysis II | ||
Experimental Mechanics | ||
Mathematics Requirements | 6 | |
At least 6 credits (2 courses) must be in applied mathematics from the following list: | ||
Engineering Analysis I | ||
Engineering Analysis II | ||
Ordinary Differential Equations | ||
Analysis I | ||
Analysis II | ||
Linear Algebra II | ||
Analysis of Partial Differential Equations | ||
Complex Analysis | ||
Methods of Applied Mathematics 1 | ||
Methods of Applied Mathematics-2 | ||
Methods of Computational Mathematics I | ||
Methods of Computational Mathematics II | ||
Breadth Requirement | ||
As part of their M.S. or Ph.D., students must have taken courses from at least 2 of the 3 areas defined below. For each of the 2 areas, the student must have taken at least 2 courses. The courses must be at a similar level to those listed below. | ||
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 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 | 12 | |
At least 4 courses (12 credits) must be 700-level or above in mechanics, applied mathematics, or computer science. At least 2 of the courses (6 credits) must be from List 1 (below), and the remaining 2 courses (6 credits) may be from List 1 or List 2. | ||
List 1 | 6-12 | |
E M A 601 Special Topics courses may only be counted as 700-level if designated as such by the instructor. | ||
Microhydrodynamics, Brownian Motion, and Complex Fluids | ||
Engineering Properties of Soils | ||
Soil Dynamics | ||
Mathematical Fluid Dynamics | ||
Advanced Vibrations | ||
Dynamics of Controlled Systems | ||
Advanced Computer Control of Machines and Processes | ||
Optimum Design of Mechanical Elements and Systems | ||
Advanced Computational Dynamics | ||
Friction, Lubrication and Wear | ||
Combustion Processes | ||
Advanced Experimental Instrumentation | ||
Chem Kinetics of Combust Systems | ||
Turbulent Heat and Momentum Transfer | ||
List 2 | 0-6 | |
Methods of Computational Mathematics I | ||
Methods of Computational Mathematics II | ||
Computational Methods for Large Sparse Systems | ||
Machine Learning | ||
Linear Systems | ||
Optimal Systems | ||
Mathematical Foundations of Machine Learning | ||
Nonlinear Dynamics, Bifurcations and Chaos | ||
Theoretical Foundations of Machine Learning | ||
Methods of Applied Mathematics 1 | ||
Methods of Applied Mathematics-2 | ||
Advanced Materials Processing and Manufacturing | ||
Modeling and Simulation in Polymer Processing | ||
Advanced Robotics | ||
Solid Modeling | ||
Topics in Thermodynamics | ||
Advanced Heat Transfer I-Conduction | ||
Structural Analysis of Materials | ||
Imperfections and Mechanical Properties | ||
Molecular Dynamics and Monte Carlo Simulations in Materials Science | ||
Theoretical Physics-Dynamics | ||
Statistical Mechanics | ||
Theoretical Physics-Electrodynamics | ||
Quantum Mechanics | ||
Quantum Mechanics | ||
Advanced Solid State Physics | ||
Special Topics in Theoretical Physics (when taught as Nanostructures in Science and Technology) |
It is acceptable for students who earned an M.S. degree in Engineering Mechanics at UW-Madison to use coursework completed while in the M.S. degree program to meet the requirements above.
Graduate School Policies
The Graduate School’s Academic Policies and Procedures provide essential information regarding general university policies. Program authority to set degree policies beyond the minimum required by the Graduate School lies with the degree program faculty. Policies set by the academic degree program can be found below.
Major-Specific Policies
Prior Coursework
Graduate Work from Other Institutions
With permission from their faculty advisor and the department chair, students may use up to 6 credits of graduate work taken at another institution if they meet departmental MS requirements. Coursework earned ten or more years prior to admission to the PhD program is not allowed to satisfy requirements.
Graduate Coursework from Previous MS1
With advisor and EP Graduate Studies Committee approval, students may use up to 15 credits of prior MS coursework toward the PhD, provided that all of the following are met: (1) The student has completed an MS degree in a relevant field. (2) The coursework proposed by the student is at the graduate level and was taken as part of the student’s completed MS program. (3) The student’s faculty advisor agrees that the prior coursework proposed by the student satisfies the Engineering Mechanics PhD program requirements in terms of subject area and rigor. (4) A member of the EP Graduate Studies Committee who is familiar with the EM PhD program confirms the advisor’s recommendation.
1 | All credits earned toward the EM MS degree at the University of Wisconsin-Madison count toward the EM PhD program. This policy applies to students who have not completed a previous MS degree in a relevant field. |
UW–Madison Undergraduate
With faculty approval, students who have received their undergraduate degree from UW–Madison may apply up to 7 credits numbered 400 or above toward the minimum graduate degree credit requirement. This work would not be allowed to count toward the 50% graduate coursework minimum unless taken at the 700 level or above. No credits can be counted toward the minimum graduate residence credit requirement. Coursework earned ten years or more prior to admission to a PhD program is not allowed to satisfy requirements.
With faculty approval, students who have received an ABET-accredited undergraduate degree (not including UW–Madison) may be eligible to apply up to 7 credits of their undergraduate coursework toward the Minimum Graduate Degree Credit Requirement. No credits can be counted toward the Minimum Graduate Residence Credit Requirement, nor the Minimum Graduate Coursework (50%) Requirement. Coursework earned five or more years prior to admission to a master's degree is not allowed to satisfy requirements.
UW–Madison University Special
With program approval, students are allowed to count up to 15 credits of coursework numbered 400 or above taken as a UW–Madison Special student toward the minimum graduate residence credit requirement, and the minimum graduate degree credit requirement. UW–Madison coursework taken as a University Special student would not be allowed to count toward the 50% graduate coursework minimum unless taken at the 700 level or above. Coursework earned ten years or more prior to admission to a doctoral degree is not allowed to satisfy requirements.
Probation
A semester GPA below 3.0 will result in the student being placed on academic probation. If a semester GPA of 3.0 is not attained during the subsequent semester of full time enrollment (or 12 credits of enrollment if enrolled part-time) the student may be dismissed from the program or allowed to continue for one additional semester based on advisor appeal to the Graduate School.
ADVISOR / COMMITTEE
Each student is required to meet with their advisor prior to registration every semester.
CREDITS PER TERM ALLOWED
15 credits
Time Constraints
The Ph.D. qualifying examination should be first taken no later than completion of the M.S. requirements, or the beginning of the fifth semester of graduate study, whichever comes first. Students entering the program with a master’s degree in EMA, EP or NE from another institution, and taking the qualifying exam in that same major, must take the exam by the beginning of their third semester.
Students must submit the doctoral plan of study one month before the end of the semester following the one in which the qualifying exam is passed.
Candidates are expected to pass the Ph.D. preliminary examination no later than the end of the third year of graduate study, or by the end of the second regular semester following the one in which the Ph.D. qualifying examination was passed, whichever is later. A candidate who fails to take the preliminary examination within four years of passing the qualifying examination must retake the qualifying examination.
An oral examination on the findings of the Ph.D. research is required at the end of the thesis work. The candidate must apply for a warrant from the Graduate School through the student services office at least three weeks prior to the exam. The final oral examination must be taken within five years of passing the preliminary examination.
Grievances and Appeals
These resources may be helpful in addressing your concerns:
- Bias or Hate Reporting
- Graduate Assistantship Policies and Procedures
- Hostile and Intimidating Behavior Policies and Procedures
- Dean of Students Office (for all students to seek grievance assistance and support)
- Employee Assistance (for personal counseling and workplace consultation around communication and conflict involving graduate assistants and other employees, post-doctoral students, faculty and staff)
- Employee Disability Resource Office (for qualified employees or applicants with disabilities to have equal employment opportunities)
- Graduate School (for informal advice at any level of review and for official appeals of program/departmental or school/college grievance decisions)
- Office of Compliance (for class harassment and discrimination, including sexual harassment and sexual violence)
- Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards (for conflicts involving students)
- Ombuds Office for Faculty and Staff (for employed graduate students and post-docs, as well as faculty and staff)
- Title IX (for concerns about discrimination)
Engineering Mechanics Grievance Procedures
Students who feel that they have been treated unfairly have the right to a prompt hearing of their grievance. Such complaints may involve course grades, classroom treatment, advising, various forms of harassment, or other issues. Any student or potential student may use these procedures.
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The student should speak first with the person toward whom the grievance is directed. In most cases, grievances can be resolved at this level.
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Should a satisfactory resolution not be achieved, the student should contact the program’s Grievance Advisor to discuss the grievance. The Graduate Student Coordinator can provide students with the name of this faculty member, who facilitates problem resolution through informal channels. The Grievance Advisor is responsible for facilitating any complaints or issues of students. The Grievance Advisor first attempts 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 concerns can be found on the UW Office of Equity and Diversity website.
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If the issue is not resolved to the student’s satisfaction, the student can submit the grievance to the Grievance Advisor in writing, within 60 calendar days of the alleged unfair treatment.
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On receipt of a written complaint, a faculty committee will be convened by the Grievance Advisor to manage the grievance. The program faculty committee will obtain a written response from the person toward whom the complaint is directed. The response will be shared with the person filing the grievance.
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The faculty committee will determine a decision regarding the grievance. The Grievance Advisor 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.
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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 College of Engineering.
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.
The Graduate School has procedures for students wishing to appeal a grievance decision made at the college level. These policies are described in the Academic Policies and Procedures at https://grad.wisc.edu/academic-policies/.
OTHER
n/a
Graduate School Resources
Take advantage of the Graduate School's professional development resources to build skills, thrive academically, and launch your career.
- Demonstrate an extraordinary, deep understanding of mathematical, scientific, and engineering principles in the field.
- Demonstrate an ability to formulate, analyze, and independently solve advanced engineering problems.
- Apply the relevant scientific and technological advancements, techniques, and engineering tools to address these problems.
- Recognize and apply principles of ethical and professional conduct.
- Demonstrate an ability to synthesize knowledge from a subset of the biological, physical, and/or social sciences to help frame problems critical to the future of their discipline.
- Demonstrate an ability to conduct original research and communicate it to their peers.
FACULTY
PROFESSORS
Paul Wilson (Chair)
Riccardo Bonazza
Curt A. Bronkhorst
Wendy Crone
Chris Hegna
Douglass Henderson
Roderic Lakes
Oliver Schmitz
Carl Sovinec
Kumar Sridharan
Fabian Waleffe
ASSOCIATE PROFESSORS
Adrien Couet
ASSISTANT PROFESSORS
Jennifer Choy
Stephanie Diem
Jennifer Franck
Benedikt Geiger
Benjamin Lindley
Jacob Notbohm
Ramathasan Thevamaran
Yongfeng Zhang
See also Engineering Physics Faculty Directory.