Engineering mechanics is the home of aerospace engineering at UW-Madison. 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.
The following curriculum applies to students who entered the College of Engineering beginning in Fall 2023.
SUMMARY OF REQUIREMENTS
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Mathematics and Statistics 1 | 22 | |
| Science 1 | 10 | |
| Engineering Science | 27 | |
| Engineering Mechanics/Aerospace Engineering Core | 40 | |
| Technical Electives | 5 | |
| Communication Skills | 8 | |
| Liberal Studies | 16 | |
| 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 |
| or MATH 217 | Calculus with Algebra and Trigonometry II | |
| or MATH 275 | ||
| MATH 222 | Calculus and Analytic Geometry 2 | 4 |
| or MATH 276 | ||
| MATH 234 | Calculus--Functions of Several Variables | 4 |
| MATH 320 | Linear Algebra and Differential Equations | 3 |
| MATH 321 | Applied Mathematical Analysis | 3 |
| STAT 324 | Introductory Applied Statistics for Engineers | 3 |
| Total Credits | 22 | |
Science
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select one of the following: | 5-9 | |
| Advanced General Chemistry | ||
| General Chemistry I and General Chemistry II | ||
| PHYSICS 202 | General Physics | 5 |
| Total Credits | 10-14 | |
Engineering Science
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| M E 201 | Introduction to Mechanical Engineering | 3 |
| M E 231 | Geometric Modeling for Design and Manufacturing | 3 |
| E P 271 | Engineering Problem Solving I | 3 |
| or COMP SCI 200 | Programming I | |
| or COMP SCI 220 | Data Science Programming I | |
| 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 | |
| M E 364 | Elementary Heat Transfer | 3 |
| E C E 332 | Feedback Control Systems | 3 |
| or M E 346 | Introduction to Feedback Control for Mechanical Engineers | |
| or M E 446 | Automatic Controls | |
| Computing Elective (select one) | 3 | |
| Programming II | ||
| Introduction to Numerical Methods | ||
| Intermediate Problem Solving for Engineers | ||
| Introduction to Scientific Computing for Engineering Physics | ||
| Total Credits | 27 | |
Engineering Mechanics/Aerospace Engineering Core
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| E M A 201 | Statics (with a grade of C or better) | 3 |
| E M A 202 | Dynamics | 3 |
| or M E 240 | Dynamics | |
| E M A 303 | Mechanics of Materials | 3 |
| or M E 306 | Mechanics of Materials | |
| E M A/M E 307 | Mechanics of Materials Lab | 1 |
| E M A 405 | Practicum in Finite Elements | 3 |
| E M A 469 | Design Problems in Engineering | 3 |
| E M A 506 | Advanced Mechanics of Materials I | 3 |
| Experimental Mechanics Elective (select one) | 3 | |
| Experimental Vibration and Dynamic System Analysis | ||
| Experimental Mechanics | ||
| Advanced Mechanical Testing of Materials | ||
| Aerodynamics Lab | ||
| E M A 521 | Aerodynamics | 3 |
| or M E 563 | Intermediate Fluid Dynamics | |
| E M A 542 | Advanced Dynamics | 3 |
| E M A 545 | Mechanical Vibrations | 3 |
| E M A 569 | Senior Design Project | 3 |
| Spacecraft & Structural Dynamics Elective (select one) | 3 | |
| Astrodynamics | ||
| Structural Finite Element Model Validation | ||
| Satellite Dynamics | ||
| Aerospace Fluid Mechanics Elective (select one) | 3 | |
| Flight Dynamics and Control | ||
| Rocket Propulsion | ||
| Total Credits | 40 | |
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 | ||
Up to 3 credits of independent study such as E M A 599; independent study from other engineering subjects may be approved on an individual basis | ||
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 also propose any class that they feel will benefit their education path with pre-requisite of two physics or calculus classes. For these courses the advisor will review the request and if approved, recommend a DARS substitution. | ||
| Total Credits | 5 | |
Communication Skills
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENGL 100 | Introduction to College Composition | 3 |
| or COM ARTS 100 | Introduction to Speech Composition | |
| or LSC 100 | Science and Storytelling | |
| or ESL 118 | Academic Writing II | |
| E P D 275 | Technical Presentations | 2 |
| INTEREGR 397 | Engineering Communication | 3 |
| Total Credits | 8 | |
Liberal Studies
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| College of Engineering Liberal Studies Requirements | ||
| Complete Requirements 1 | 16 | |
| Total Credits | 16 | |
- 1
Students must take 16 credits that carry H, S, L, or Z breadth designators. These credits must fulfill the following subrequirements:
- A minimum of two courses from the same subject area (the description before the course number). At least one of these two courses must be designated as above the elementary level (I, A, or D) in the course listing.
- A minimum of 6 credits designated as humanities (H, L, or Z in the course listing), and an additional minimum of 3 credits designated as social science (S or Z in the course listing). Foreign language courses count as H credits. Retroactive credits for language courses may not be used to meet the Liberal Studies credit requirement (they can be used for subrequirement 1 above).
- At least 3 credits in courses designated as ethnic studies (lower case “e” in the course listing). These courses may help satisfy subrequirements 1 and 2 above, but they count only once toward the total required. Note: Some courses may have “e” designation but not H, S, L, or Z designation; these courses do not count toward the Liberal Studies requirement.
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
Qualified undergraduates may earn an Honors in Research designation on their transcript and diploma by completing 8 credits of undergraduate honors research, including a senior thesis. Further information is available in the department office.
Example Four Year Plan
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| CHEM 1091 | 5 | E M A 2013 | 3 |
| MATH 221 | 5 | MATH 222 | 4 |
| Commucations A | 3 | M E 231 | 3 |
| M E 2012 | 3 | Liberal Studies Elective or | 3 |
or Liberal Studies Elective | M E 2012 | 3 | |
| Liberal Studies Elective | 3 | ||
| 16 | 19 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| MATH 234 | 4 | MATH 320 | 3 |
| PHYSICS 202 | 5 | Technical Elective | 3 |
| E M A 2024 | 3 | M E 361 | 3 |
| E P 271 | 3 | E M A 3034 | 3 |
| E P D 275 or COM ARTS 105 | 2 | E M A/M E 3074 | 1 |
| Liberal Studies Elective | 3 | ||
| 17 | 16 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| E M A 506 | 3 | E M A 545 | 3 |
| E M A 405 | 3 | INTEREGR 397 | 3 |
| E M A 542 | 3 | M E 364 | 3 |
| M E 363 or CIV ENGR 310 | 3 | STAT 324 | 3 |
| MATH 321 | 3 | Computing Elective | 3 |
| Experimental Mechanics Course5 | 3 | ||
| 15 | 18 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| E M A 469 | 3 | E M A 569 | 3 |
| E M A 5216 | 3 | E M A 523 or 5247 | 3 |
| E C E 376 or PHYSICS 321 | 3 | E M A/ASTRON 550, 610, or 642 | 3 |
| E C E 332, M E 346, or M E 446 | 3 | Tech Elective | 2 |
| Liberal Studies Elective | 4 | Liberal Studies Elective | 3 |
| 16 | 14 | ||
| Total Credits 131 | |||
- 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
M E 201 Introduction to Mechanical Engineering can be taken in first or second semester
- 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/M E 570 Experimental Mechanics or E M A 522 Aerodynamics Lab. Note that E M A/M E 540 Experimental Vibration and Dynamic System Analysis and E M A/M E 570 Experimental Mechanics are typically offered in the fall. E M A 611 Advanced Mechanical Testing of Materials and E M A 522 Aerodynamics Lab are typically offered in the spring.
- 6
M E 563 Intermediate Fluid Dynamics may be substituted for E M A 521 Aerodynamics. Note that M E 563 Intermediate Fluid Dynamics is offered in the spring semester only.
- 7
E M A 523 Flight Dynamics and Control is offered in the Spring semester only. E M A 524 Rocket Propulsion is offered in the Fall semester only.