UW–Madison, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Mechanics Programs, Graduate
Student Handbook | Fall 2023
1
UW–Madison, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Mechanics Programs, Graduate Student
Handbook | Fall 2023
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Introduction and program overview ............ 4
Important addresses ................................ 5
i. Important websites ............................................... 7
ii. For assistance with health problems and
emergencies ............................................................ 7
New graduate student checklist:
What do I do now? ....................................... 8
i. Visit the Graduate Student Services Office .............. 8
ii. Activate your UW–Madison NetID ......................... 8
iii. Enroll in classes .................................................. 8
iv. Pay your tuition and fees ..................................... 8
v. Get your student ID card (Wiscard)........................ 8
vi. Locate your WiscMail account and “wisc.edu”
address ................................................................... 9
vii. Activate your CAE account .................................. 9
viii. Update your mailing address and phone number 9
ix. Pick up your free Madison Metro bus pass ............ 9
x. Complete the online sexual violence prevention
program .................................................................. 9
xi. Affecting some new students ............................. 10
General information for graduate
students .................................................... 12
i. Important dates .................................................. 12
ii. Forms ............................................................... 12
iii. Training Requirements ..................................... 12
Campus and college resources .............. 13
i. Campus and Visitor Relations Center ................... 13
ii. Steenbock Library .............................................. 13
iii. Writing Center .................................................. 13
iv. Engineering Career Services .............................. 13
v. McBurney Disability Resource Center ................. 13
vi. Makerspace ...................................................... 14
vii. TEAM LAB – Technical Education and
Manufacturing Lab ................................................ 14
Department services .............................. 15
i. Computer use ..................................................... 15
ii. Photocopying .................................................... 15
iii. Telephones ....................................................... 15
iv. Mailboxes ......................................................... 15
v. Parking permit ................................................... 16
vi. Health insurance ............................................... 16
vii. Desk assignment, keys, and building permits ..... 16
Graduate student experience ................ 17
i. Mechanical Engineering Graduate Student Advisory
Council (ME GSAC) ................................................. 17
ii. Graduate Women in Mechanical Engineering
(GWME) ................................................................. 17
iii. Wisconsin Involvement Network (WIN) .............. 17
iv. Hoofers Club ..................................................... 17
v. University activities............................................. 17
vi. Graduate Student Life......................................... 18
Funding and financial information ...... 19
i. Research assistantships ....................................... 19
ii. Teaching assistantships ...................................... 19
iii. Fellowships ....................................................... 20
iv. Remission of tuition ........................................... 20
v. Parental leave policy ........................................... 20
Expectations of graduate students and
faculty advisors ......................................... 21
i. Mutual expectations ............................................ 21
ii. Expectations of graduate students ....................... 21
iii. Expectations of faculty advisors .......................... 22
iv. Recourse if expectations are not being met .......... 23
v. Advisor selection ................................................ 24
vi. Changing advisors .............................................. 24
vii. Additional advising contacts .............................. 25
Graduate Student Seminar for MS-
Research and PhD students ........................ 26
Master of Science (MS) degree
requirements ............................................ 27
i. Course and grade requirements ............................ 27
ii. Credits taken as a University Special Student ........ 39
iii. Learning outcomes (learning goals) .................... 39
iv. Length of time to degree ..................................... 39
v. MS degree final checklist ..................................... 40
PhD degree requirements ..................... 41
i. Summary of steps toward a PhD in Engineering
Mechanics ............................................................. 41
ii. Course and grade requirements ........................... 41
iii. Credits taken as a University Special Student ....... 45
UW–Madison, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Mechanics Programs, Graduate Student
Handbook | Fall 2023
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iv. Learning outcomes (learning goals) ................... 46
v. Qualifying for the PhD program .......................... 46
vi. Proposed course program (doctoral plan of study)
............................................................................. 49
vii. Preliminary examination .................................. 49
viii. Dissertator status ............................................ 50
ix. PhD final oral examination (defense) guidelines . 50
x. Thesis ................................................................ 50
xi. Criteria for Satisfactory Progress ........................ 51
xii. Criteria for Satisfactory Progress in Research .... 51
xiii. Check-out procedure ....................................... 52
xiv. Length of time to degree .................................. 53
Doctoral minor in Engineering
Mechanics ................................................. 54
i. Requirements for external minor ......................... 54
Enrollment ........................................ 55
i. Minimum credit requirements ............................ 55
ii. Minimum full-time enrollment requirements ...... 55
iii. Research and independent study courses ........... 56
iv. Wait list ............................................................ 56
v. Credit overload .................................................. 57
Exit Interviews ................................... 58
Commencement .................................. 59
i. Degree completion letter ...................................... 59
ii. Duplicate or replacement diploma ....................... 59
Satisfactory progress: academic
expectations .............................................. 60
i. Probation ............................................................ 60
Satisfactory progress: conduct
expectations .............................................. 62
i. Professional conduct ........................................... 62
ii. Hostile and intimidating behavior ....................... 64
iii. Academic misconduct ........................................ 65
iv. Non-academic misconduct ................................. 66
v. Research misconduct .......................................... 67
Academic exception petition ........... 69
Disciplinary action and dismissal ....... 70
Grievance procedures and
reporting misconduct and crime ............... 72
i. Grievance procedures .......................................... 72
ii. Mechanical Engineering’s procedures for proper
accounting of student grievances ............................ 72
iii. Reporting misconduct and crime ........................ 73
Introduction and program overview
UW–Madison, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Mechanics Programs, Graduate
Student Handbook | Fall 2023
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Introduction and program overview
Welcome! We thank you for selecting this university, and especially our
department, to pursue your M.S. and/or Ph.D. degree program. We are delighted to
have you as part of our community and hope that you nd your studies at UW-
Madison to be intellectually stimulating and rewarding.
The purpose of this handbook is to provide you, as a graduate student in the
Department of Mechanical Engineering, with information to facilitate your
graduate studies.
Program authority to set degree requirements beyond the minimum required by the Graduate School
lies with the Engineering Mechanics program faculty. The policies described in this handbook have
been approved by the program faculty as a whole. The guide contains a number of items that are not
discussed in other University of Wisconsin–Madison publications. Degree and course requirements
may change over time. However, students must meet the degree and course requirements in eect
when they entered the program. In addition, administrative procedures and processes can change
over time. Students are required to follow the procedures and processes listed in the current
handbook. Thus, you are urged to read this booklet carefully, both now and as you progress through
your degree program. Students may also wish to consult the Graduate School’s website:
grad.wisc.edu
Please be aware that it is up to you and your advisor to put together a coherent sequence of courses
that satises all of the department and the Graduate School requirements.
If you have any questions concerning the information contained in this guide, please stop by the
Graduate Student Services Oce (3182 Mechanical Engineering Building). Please do not hesitate to
contact me if I can be of assistance.
On Wisconsin!
Prof. Darryl Thelen
John Bollinger Chair of Mechanical Engineering
This guide was prepared by the Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Please send comments or suggestions for improvements to de[email protected].edu.
Important addresses
UW–Madison, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Mechanics Programs, Graduate
Student Handbook | Fall 2023
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Important addresses
Mechanical Engineering Business Oce
2107 Mechanical Engineering Building
1513 University Avenue, Madison, WI 53706-1572
(608) 262-3543 | [email protected]
Department Chair
Professor Darryl Thelen
2107 Mechanical Engineering Building
(608) 262-1902
Department Associate Chair for Research
Professor Xiaoping Qian
2051 Mechanical Engineering Building
(608) 890-1925
Department Associate Chair for Graduate Studies
(also known as Chair of Graduate Committee,
Director of Graduate Studies)
Professor Frank Pfeerkorn
1031 Mechanical Engineering Building
(608) 263-2668
frank.pfeerkorn@wisc.edu
Department Associate Chair for Engineering
Mechanics
Professor Riccardo Bonazza
537 Engineering Research Building
(608) 265-2337
riccardo.bonazza@wisc.edu
Department Associate Chair for Undergraduate
Studies
Professor Michael Zinn
2254 Mechanical Engineering Building
(608) 263-2893
Department Administrator
Catherine Carter
2107 Mechanical Engineering Building
(608) 265-2155
Assistant Department Administrator
Barb Wipperfurth
2107 Mechanical Engineering Building
(608) 262-8455
barb.wipperfurth@wisc.edu
Research Administrator
Zach Smith
2001 Mechanical Engineering Building
(608) 890-1090
Research Administrator
Alex Delvoye
2001 Mechanical Engineering Building
(608)263-4975
Research Administrator
Catherine Shults
2001 Mechanical Engineering Building
(608) 890-3032
Accountant
Yan Xu
2107 Mechanical Engineering Building
(608)890-3699
Financial Specialist
Kathryn Rasmussen
2107 Mechanical Engineering Building
(608)263-5372
[email protected].wisc.edu
Financial Specialist
Steph Tomlinson
2107 Mechanical Engineering Building
(608)890-4541
[email protected].wisc.edu
Communications Specialist
Caitlin Scott
2207 Mechanical Engineering Building
(608) 262-7931
Important addresses
UW–Madison, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Mechanics Programs, Graduate
Student Handbook | Fall 2023
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Academic Program Specialist
Kassi Akers
2207 Mechanical Engineering Building
(608) 262-2763
Payroll & Benets
Meghan Opgenorth
2107 Mechanical Engineering Building
(608) 890-2562
Payroll & Benets
Caroline Hansen
2107 Mechanical Engineering Building
(608) 262-2554
Oce Manager
Hannah Douglas
2107 Mechanical Engineering Building
(608) 262-8223
Graduate Program Coordinator
Sara Hladilek
3182 Mechanical Engineering Building
(608) 262-8617
Important addresses
UW–Madison, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Mechanics Programs, Graduate
Student Handbook | Fall 2023
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i. Important websites
Graduate School
grad.wisc.edu
Mechanical Engineering
engineering.wisc.edu/departments/mechanical-engineering/
Engineering Mechanics forms (NetID required)
https://intranet.engineering.wisc.edu/mechanical-engineering/current-me-student-
resources/ema-major-resources/
Engineering Mechanics degree information
engineering.wisc.edu/departments/mechanical-engineering/degrees/
The Graduate Guide
guide.wisc.edu/graduate
UW’s Response to COVID-19
covid19.wisc.edu
COVID-19 Information for graduate students
https://covidresponse.wisc.edu/students/
ii. For assistance with health problems and emergencies
University Health Services, 333 East Campus Mall, 7th oor; Lakeshore Drop-in Clinic (Dejope Hall)
• 24-Hour Mental Health Crisis Line: 608-265-5600, then press 9
• Schedule an appointment, or speak with an aer-hours nurse, by calling 608-265-5600.
• Associate Counselor Michelle Bond focuses on Engineering students
Dean of Students Oce, 75 Bascom Hall, (608) 264-5700, 7:30 am–5:00 pm, Monday–Friday
Dane County Mental Health Center’s Emergency Lines, 24 hours daily, (608) 280-2600
Madison Police and Medical Emergency: 911, Non-Emergency number: (608) 266-4275
University Police Emergency: 911, Non-Emergency number: (608) 264-COPS (2677)
New graduate student checklist: What do I do now?
UW–Madison, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Mechanics Programs, Graduate
Student Handbook | Fall 2023
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New graduate student checklist: What do I do now?
Adapted from
grad.wisc.edu/new-students
i. Visit the Graduate Student Services Oce
Visit the Graduate Student Services Oce (3182 Mechanical Engineering Building) and meet your
graduate program coordinator. Although the Graduate Student Services Oce is there to assist you, it
is your responsibility to be aware of graduate policies and deadlines.
ii. Activate your UW–Madison NetID
Your NetID is your unique credential for accessing your online services at UW–Madison. You will need
your 10-digit campus ID number. Follow these instructions to activate your NetID:
kb.wisc.edu/iam/page.php?id=1140
You can change your password, and set recovery questions in case you forget your password.
mynetid.wisc.edu/modify
iii. Enroll in classes
Students enroll at my.wisc.edu. You will need your NetID and password to access the MyUW portal.
(See Activate your UW–Madison NetID for more information). You can enroll at any time aer your
Enrollment Appointment Time until each session’s class-add deadline. You can nd your enrollment
time in your Student Center at my.wisc.edu. To enroll aer the add period for a course, you will need
department and/or dean’s permission. You will not be able to obtain your student ID card (Wiscard)
until you enroll.
iv. Pay your tuition and fees
Check your student account invoice for amount due and payment deadlines. Pay your fees and tuition,
if applicable, at the Bursar’s Oce. If you do not receive an invoice, contact the Bursar’s Oce. Failure
to receive an invoice will not be accepted as a reason for failure to comply with payment deadlines.
333 East Campus Mall #10501, (608) 262-3611
bursar.wisc.edu
v. Get your student ID card (Wiscard)
Get your student ID card at the Wiscard Oce. You must be enrolled and have valid identication
(such as a valid driver’s license, passport, or state ID) to get your Wiscard. Prerequisite: You must be
enrolled.
Union South, 1308 W Dayton Street, room 149, (608) 262-3258, M-F 8:30 am – 5:00 pm
wiscard.wisc.edu
New graduate student checklist: What do I do now?
UW–Madison, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Mechanics Programs, Graduate
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vi. Locate your WiscMail account and “wisc.edu” address
When you have activated your NetID, log on to my.wisc.edu and open the “Email” tile. WiscMail is
UW–Madison’s centrally supported email service, providing a reliable service with built-in spam
ltering and other features. All campus units, including Mechanical Engineering, the Graduate
School, the Oce of the Registrar (your student records), and the Bursar’s Oce (tuition and fees)
will only send mail to your ocial wisc.edu address. Read your email oen.
WiscMail is based on a version of Microso Oce365/Outlook. You can set up an Outlook app on your
computer, and congure other email clients—including mobile devices—to read and send from your
wisc.edu account. Start with these instructions:
kb.wisc.edu/28350
vii. Activate your CAE account
CAE accounts are automatically established for all engineering students from their current
registration information, and they allow for a variety of services at no charge to the student. Your CAE
account will give you access to the many computing resources in the College of Engineering including
the CAE Windows and Linux workstations, and access to soware. Your CAE account is available as
long as you are enrolled in an engineering course, until your graduation. On the CAE site, clicking the
“Activate your CAE account” link or emailing the CAE Helpdesk at hel[email protected].
Prerequisite: You must have had your Wiscard for about a week.
cae.wisc.edu
viii. Update your mailing address and phone number
Your student record can include both a Home address (your current address while a student) and a
Mailing address (oen a student’s more permanent address, or that of a parent/family member).
Before you graduate, you can also add a Diploma address for receiving that mailed document. Update
these addresses and your current phone number through Student Center. To update your address
before you enroll for your rst semester, contact the Graduate Admissions Oce at (608) 262-2433.
kb.wisc.edu/4126
ix. Pick up your free Madison Metro bus pass
As a UW student, you can pick up a bus pass at no charge from the Student Activity Center at 333 East
Campus Mall at the beginning of the fall and spring semesters. Be sure to have your Wiscard with you.
Visit the Associated Students of Madison website for more information on their services. Prerequisite:
You must be enrolled.
kb.wisc.edu/84191
x. Complete the online sexual violence prevention program
This is required for all new graduate students. The course will be activated in late summer and
graduate students will be ocially notied of their responsibility to complete the training at that time.
uhs.wisc.edu/prevention/violence-prevention/grad-students
New graduate student checklist: What do I do now?
UW–Madison, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Mechanics Programs, Graduate
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xi. Aecting some new students
a. If you are an international student here on a visa
You must check in with International Student Services immediately upon arrival.
Pyle Center, 702 Langdon Street, suite 130
iss.wisc.edu
b. If you are an international student interested in a Social Security Number
Only F-1 and J-1 students employed on campus are eligible for a Social Security number. If you are
eligible, nd out how to sign up for a Social Security number and get answers to your tax questions
from the Oce of Human Resources Payroll and Benets Services:
ohr.wisc.edu
c. If you are required to take the ESLAT
(English as a Second Language Assessment Test)
There are multiple opportunities to take this test. For schedule and location information, visit the
English as a Second Language Program, (608) 263-3780. Students must bring their campus ID number
and a photo ID (such as passport or Wiscard). If you have questions, please contact the ESL Oce at
[email protected]sc.edu.
esl.wisc.edu
d. If you have been notied that you will receive nancial aid through the FAFSA
process (this is not referring to assistantship awards)
Your nancial aid award will automatically be applied to your student account to pay tuition and fees.
The Bursar’s Oce will send any remaining amount in the form of a check to your mailing address.
Make sure your mailing address is up-to-date. You can also have an ACH transaction deposited directly
to your bank account.
e. If you received a nancial award that included tuition remission
If you received a nancial award that included remission of tuition (unless the award was a
fellowship), you are still responsible to pay segregated fees by the tuition due date.
Bursar’s Oce, (608) 262-3611
bursar.wisc.edu
f. If you are a new graduate assistant:
Get information on your benets package from the Oce of Human Resources. Prior to your start
date, you must check in with the Mechanical Engineering Payroll & Benets Coordinator and submit
necessary documents.
hr.wisc.edu/benefits/new-employee-benefits-enrollment
New graduate student checklist: What do I do now?
UW–Madison, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Mechanics Programs, Graduate
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g. If you did not previously submit nal transcripts:
Bring the requested nal transcript(s) to the Graduate School located in Bascom Hall, 500 Lincoln
Drive, room 228. If you do not submit nal transcripts by the third week of classes, you will not be
able to register for future semesters until you do so. This is not required for students who completed
their undergraduate degree at UW–Madison.
If your previous institution uses an electronic transcript delivery method please have that institution
send your ocial transcripts to the UW–Madison Graduate School at transcripts@grad.wisc.edu.
General information for graduate students
UW–Madison, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Mechanics Programs, Graduate
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General information for graduate students
i. Important dates
Each semester, review the Academic Calendar and important enrollment deadlines posted by the
Oce of the Registrar. The Graduate Student Services Oce will email students at the beginning of
each semester to remind students of the deadlines. It is your responsibility to be aware of and meet all
deadlines.
secfac.wisc.edu/academic-calendar
registrar.wisc.edu/dates
ii. Forms
Department of Mechanical Engineering forms
intranet.engineering.wisc.edu/mechanical-engineering/current-me-student-resources/
General Graduate School forms
grad.wisc.edu/documents/forms
Graduate School academic policies
grad.wisc.edu/academic-policies
iii. Training Requirements
a. Safety
Whether working in a laboratory or other settings, safety is of paramount importance. To inform
students of proper procedures and reporting requirements, the department has a one-time safety
training requirement for all graduate students, regardless of whether a student works in a laboratory.
The safety training materials are available online at https://canvas.wisc.edu/courses/172200.
b. Research Ethics
The research enterprise and the development of new technology depend on scientists and engineers
working with the highest levels of integrity. In addition, there are areas of research that must consider
whether certain technological developments are in the public's interest. To raise awareness of these
and related issues, the College of Engineering has established an annual ethics training requirement
for graduate students. Seminars and other sessions that satisfy this requirement are announced to
students. Taking part in at least one session per academic year is required of all Engineering
Mechanics graduate students, regardless of whether a student conducts research.
Campus and college resources
UW–Madison, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Mechanics Programs, Graduate
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Campus and college resources
i. Campus and Visitor Relations Center
This center maintains lists of available o-campus housing and provides general information on
academic and non-academic topics that may be of interest to students.
Union South, Suite 329, 1308 W. Dayton St., (608) 263-2400.
info.wisc.edu
ii. Steenbock Library
A substantial collection of engineering materials is held at Steenbock Library, which also serves
Agricultural & Life Sciences and Veterinary Medicine. The engineering librarians help connect
students and researchers to high-quality information and user-centered services: books (both in print
and electronic), journals, standards, and government documents (e.g., patents). Services include
article and book delivery, citation management, and new publication alerts.
Steenbock Library, room 118, 550 Babcock Drive, (608) 262-0696, [email protected]c.edu
library.wisc.edu/steenbock
iii. Writing Center
The Writing Center provides free face-to-face and online consultations which focus on a number of
dierent writing scenarios (i.e., dras of course papers, resumes, reports, application essays, cover
letters, theses, etc.). Writing Center instructors will not edit or proofread papers. Instead, their goal is
to teach students to edit and proofread in order to become better, more condent writers.
6171 Helen C. White Hall, (608) 263-1992
writing.wisc.edu
iv. Engineering Career Services
Engineering Career Services provides lifetime tools for successful career development in a rapidly
changing world. ECS helps students in preparing for internships and co-ops, as well as, job searches
(resume & cover letter writing, listing of potential employers, etc.), practicing interviewing skills
(mock interviews, sample interview questions), and other important career information such as
negotiating job oers and salaries.
Julie Rae, Assistant Director for Graduate Student Career Services, 1150 Engineering Hall,
1415 Engineering Drive, (608) 262-3471, ecs@engr.wisc.edu
ecs.wisc.edu
v. McBurney Disability Resource Center
Students who have a documented disability, or suspect that they may have an undiagnosed disability,
are encouraged to contact the McBurney Disability Resource Center to inquire about obtaining
academic accommodations. The McBurney Center provides academic accommodations such as
adaptive/assistive technology access, assistive listening devices, document conversion, elevator keys,
Campus and college resources
UW–Madison, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Mechanics Programs, Graduate
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ASL interpreting, note taking support, testing accommodations, and reduced credit load
recommendations to name a few. Students must provide documentation and be registered with the
McBurney Center to receive a Veried Individualized Services & Accommodations (VISA) form needed
to receive accommodations.
Students with disabilities are encouraged to inform their faculty advisor and instructor of their need
for disability-related accommodations in a timely manner. Implementation of reasonable
accommodations is a shared faculty and student responsibility. Faculty, either directly or in
coordination with the McBurney Disability Resource Center, are expected to work with students to
identify and provide reasonable accommodations.
grad.wisc.edu/documents/disabilities
702 W. Johnson St., Suite 2104, Telephone: (608) 263-2741, Text: (608) 225-7956
mcburney.wisc.edu
vi. Makerspace
The UW Makerspace includes 12,000 square feet of shop and ex space with a wide range of rapid
prototyping equipment. The UW Makerspace is a place for students to collaborate, experiment, and
create prototypes. You may visit and tour the UW Makerspace for free. If you wish to use equipment,
there is a fee that must be paid once per semester.
Wendt Commons, 215 N. Randall Ave., (608) 571-7023, maker-contact@engr.wisc.edu
making.engr.wisc.edu
vii. TEAM LAB – Technical Education and Manufacturing Lab
The College of Engineering’s Technical Education and Manufacturing Lab (TEAM Lab) is a 14,000-
square-foot facility located in the lower level of the Engineering Centers Building (ECB). The
TEAM Lab provides students with the majority of the tools and equipment found in a modern machine
shop for manufacturing metal parts. The lab is equipped with both manual and CNC mills and lathes,
drill presses, grinders, belt sanders, band saws, and additional equipment. The lab also houses a full
wood lab, welding lab, and sheet metal lab. You may visit and tour the TEAM Lab for free. If you wish
to use equipment then there is a permitting/training process. Permits are valid for the duration of a
student’s studies. Use of the equipment in the TEAM Lab requires a fee that must be paid once per
semester.
Engineering Centers Building, room B1084, 1550 Engineering Drive, (608) 261-1112,
[email protected]sc.edu
teamlab.engr.wisc.edu
Department services
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Department services
i. Computer use
All enrolled engineering students may use the Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE) computer facilities
located in the CAE Center, 1410 Engineering Drive, across the street from Engineering Hall. CAE users
can access various computers at this location and at a number of CAE computer labs across the
engineering campus.
CAE HelpDesk, room 116, 1410 Engineering Drive, (608) 262-5349, helpde[email protected]
cae.wisc.edu/labs
ii. Photocopying
Photocopying on the department and student services copy machines is not permitted for personal
purposes, including for your enrolled courses. If photocopying is required for your research project,
see your advisor for an access code number. Teaching assistants will be given an access code for the
copier by the department administrator.
iii. Telephones
The majority of campus phone lines are based on VoIP (voice over internet). Student access to
university telephone services is limited to internal university and local calls. University-related
(research, teaching, extension) long-distance calls may be made on the telephone of your advisor with
their permission.
• Campus calls (or to any local government number that starts with 26x-xxxx): dial the 7-digit
number.
• Other local calls: 1, the 7-digit number
See other dialing patterns:
kb.wisc.edu/72677
iv. Mailboxes
You are assigned a shared mailbox for department notices and messages, campus mail, and U.S. mail.
The mailboxes are in the ground-oor hallway between the Mechanical Engineering Building and the
Engineering Research Building. There is one graduate-student mailbox for each letter of the alphabet,
sorted by last name.
Because of demands on space and sta time, please do not have personal mail sent to your
engineering mailbox. The sta will not distribute your personal mail. The correct address for your
mailbox is:
[your name]
Department of Mechanical Engineering
University of Wisconsin–Madison
1513 University Avenue
Madison, WI 53706-1572
Department services
UW–Madison, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Mechanics Programs, Graduate
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v. Parking permit
Limited car/truck parking is available for approved student commuters and students with special
needs on a space-available basis. Students may purchase university parking permits for Lots 34, 41, 46,
59, 76, and 83. There is frequent free campus bus service between these lots and the engineering
campus. The best advice to students regarding parking on campus is don’t bring a car. Most students
walk, bike, or take the bus (using their free Madison Metro bus pass).
Permits are also available for motorcycles and mopeds, which must always be parked in designated
stalls, not on sidewalks or unmarked areas.
transportation.wisc.edu/permits/student-parking
Students must rst get preapproval to conrm they t the criteria for a permit. Start the process by
completing a Student Parking Preapproval Application.
transportation.wisc.edu/permits/student-parking/student-parking-application
vi. Health insurance
Health care is available at the University Health Service (UHS) for all UW–Madison students. See their
website for details on the coverage oered. Hospitalization and emergency room services are not
included in UHS benets. Health insurance covering hospitalization and emergency services is
strongly recommended. Information concerning group health insurance, which is available to those
holding at least a 33.3% appointment as a graduate research assistant, grad Fellow, or teaching
assistant, may be obtained from the department payroll & benets coordinators. Unsupported
graduate students are not eligible for insurance oered to RAs and TAs. Unsupported students may
contact the Wisconsin Student Association for health insurance information.
uhs.wisc.edu
vii. Desk assignment, keys, and building permits
Research assistant and teaching assistant requests for a desk should be made to your advisor or
supervising professor.
Keys for oces or laboratories in the Mechanical Engineering Building can be obtained by submitting
a key request form. Once the request is approved by your advisor, you will receive an email notifying
you to come to the department oce (2107 Mechanical Engineering Building) with your Wiscard to
pick up your keys.
Wiscards serve as the key for the outside doors of all College of Engineering building. Access is
automatically granted to all enrolled students in the College of Engineering. Students located in the
Engineering Research Building (ERB) or Engineering Hall obtain key and building permit forms
through their faculty advisor.
Graduate student experience
UW–Madison, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Mechanics Programs, Graduate
Student Handbook | Fall 2023
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Graduate student experience
i. Mechanical Engineering Graduate Student Advisory Council (ME
GSAC)
The purpose of ME GSAC is to improve the graduate student experience in the Department of
Mechanical Engineering through social, professional development, cultural, and networking
opportunities. The association serves as a representative for the graduate student voice and works to
create connections between graduate students, faculty and sta in the ME department. ME GSAC is
open to any Mechanical Engineering or Engineering Mechanics graduate students (Ph.D. dissertators,
Ph.D. pre-dissertators, M.S. students, and accelerated M.S. students).
megsac.wiscweb.wisc.edu/
ii. Graduate Women in Mechanical Engineering (GWME)
Graduate Women+ in Mechanical Engineering (GWME) is a community of women and gender
minorities who are graduate students and postdocs aliated with the Mechanical Engineering (ME)
department. They aim to foster a supportive environment for women and gender minorities to
enhance their overall experience and provide leadership opportunities. They also aim to develop
leadership skills, facilitate professional development, and other activities such as recruitment,
mentoring, and networking events.
engineering.wisc.edu/departments/mechanical-engineering/about/graduate-women-in-me/
iii. Wisconsin Involvement Network (WIN)
Badgers work hard and play hard. Supplement your graduate education by joining one of the more
than 1,000 student organizations oered at UW-Madison. Whether you’re interested in professional
development opportunities, want to hone your engineering skills, or nd a group that fulllls your
passion, WIN is a great resource to build community outside of your engineering degree.
win.wisc.edu/
iv. Hoofers Club
The Wisconsin Hoofers is the premier outdoors club at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. With
nearly 2,000 members, Hoofers is one of the oldest and largest student organization on campus. From
sailing on Lake Mendota to climbing at Devil’s Lake, Hoofers is a place where people of all abilities can
learn outdoor skills and enjoy outdoor activities. Hoofers is proud to be part of the Wisconsin Union
Directorate, the student programming and leadership board for the Wisconsin Union. Get outside with
us and hoof on!
hoofers.org/
v. University activities
Many athletic and art events supported by the University have discounted student rates. There are also
hundreds of free lectures, performances, and social activities open to students every year.
today.wisc.edu
Graduate student experience
UW–Madison, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Mechanics Programs, Graduate
Student Handbook | Fall 2023
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vi. Graduate Student Life
A guide to the graduate student experience at UW-Madison.
Housing and Transportation
Living in Madison
Studying at UW
Being a Badger
Thriving in Grad School
International Students
Funding and financial information
UW–Madison, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Mechanics Programs, Graduate
Student Handbook | Fall 2023
19
Funding and nancial information
Graduate students earn a monthly stipend when they hold a research assistant (RA) or teaching
assistant (TA) appointment. In addition, there are various fellowships for which graduate students
may apply. Information regarding assistantship payroll and policies/procedures may be found here:
https://grad.wisc.edu/documents/assistantships/. Note that students in the MS Aersopace Engineering
named option are not eligible to receive tuition remission from graduate assistantship appointments at
this institution.
i. Research assistantships
Research assistant appointments are made by the department chair in consultation with individual
professors according to their needs and the availability of funding for their research projects. The
level of funding varies based on appointment percentage with the rate dependent on whether or not
the student has obtained dissertator status. New projects may start at any time of the year. Thus,
prospective students should contact the professors who have research related to their interests to
determine RA position availability.
Graduate students with RA appointments must check in with the department payroll & benets
coordinators prior to their start date and submit the necessary documents available online at
hr.wisc.edu/benets/new-employee-benets-enrollment.
Graduate Assistants along with all of us are now paid on the biweekly pay schedule. The schedule is
here: https://uwservice.wisconsin.edu/calendars-schedules/.
Arrangements for leave are made through faculty advisors. Some Graduate Assistants are eligible for
sick leave. Whether or not your appointment is eligibl for accrued sick leave will be found in your
oer letter. https://hr.wisc.edu/policies/gapp/#leave-benets
See section v. Parental leave policy for information related to parental leave. See section XIII.
Enrollment for information on enrollment requirements for RA appointments.
ii. Teaching assistantships
Teaching assistant appointments are made by the department chair. To apply for a TA position,
submit an application using the online form found on the Department of Mechanical Engineering
intranet website. Please be certain to describe any prior teaching experience and classes you would be
a good candidate to teach.
UW System policy requires non-native English speakers to demonstrate prociency in spoken English
before they are assigned classroom duties as a TA. Get information on spoken English requirements
and the SPEAK test from the English as a Second Language Program. There are enrollment minimums
for TAs (see Section XIII.ii).
esl.wisc.edu/ita-training/speak
The department has adopted the College of Engineering’s policy on the continuous improvement of
teaching assistants. New TAs are required to attend New Educator Orientation (NEO) training
organized by the College of Engineering held during the week before the rst semester they teach.
Funding and financial information
UW–Madison, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Mechanics Programs, Graduate
Student Handbook | Fall 2023
20
ceete.engr.wisc.edu/ta-training
If you have any questions about teaching assistantships, stop by the department oce for help.
iii. Fellowships
University fellowships are awarded to graduate students by the university and/or department from
funds controlled by the Graduate School, college, or department. Most fellowships are equivalent to an
RA, but some are less and may be used to supplement an RA stipend. Some, but not all, fellowships are
limited to U.S. students. Department fellowships are typically awarded in the spring semester for the
subsequent academic year. Graduate fellowships are also awarded by organizations outside the
university. Consult with your advisor about fellowship opportunities.
grad.wisc.edu/funding
iv. Remission of tuition
You must have a research assistant appointment, teaching assistant appointment, program assistant
appointment, or a combination thereof, equaling at least 33.3% for the length of the fall or spring
term, to be eligible for full tuition remission for that term. Please note: students who receive tuition
remission are still required to pay segregated fees by the tuition due date. If a student has had a
qualifying appointment in the spring semester, it automatically carries over for the summer session
but the student must be enrolled for 2 summer credits (3 credits if they are a dissertator).
Note that students in the MS Aerospace Engineering named option are not eligible to receive tuition
remission from graduate assistantship appointments at this institution.
v. Parental leave policy
The Department of Mechanical Engineering and the College of Engineering are fully committed to
providing a supportive climate for women and their partners who choose to have children during their
graduate studies. The parental leave policy reduces academic and nancial hardships for a) female
graduate students during the late stages of their pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum periods; and
b) any graduate student who is a new parent providing care for an infant.
sites.google.com/a/wisc.edu/graduate-parental-leave
Expectations of graduate students and faculty advisors
UW–Madison, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Mechanics Programs, Graduate
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Expectations of graduate students and
faculty advisors
i. Mutual expectations
• As professionals in a diverse and inclusive environment, graduate students and faculty members
will treat everyone in the department with equal respect and dignity.
• Faculty advisors and students will carry out their respective responsibilities with the aim of
performing research at the level of a world-class university in an honest and ethical manner.
• When a student joins their advisor’s research group, the student and advisor make a mutual
commitment to perform research together toward the aim of the student’s MS or PhD thesis and
the associated intellectual products (publications, patents, presentations, etc.).
• Advisors and students will be aware of department policies as laid out in this handbook.
• Both the student and the advisor will make their expectations clear to each other
1
. Both the
student and the advisor are expected to complete the Graduate On-Line Assessment &
Achievement Learning System (GOAALS) report each year. Both students and advisors will
inform each other of any signicant changes that may aect a student’s research or academic
progress.
ii. Expectations of graduate students
• You are expected to follow the academic traditions of your advisor. Since the advisor’s role and
expectations can vary, discuss roles and expectations with your advisor (or prospective advisors).
• You are expected to develop, over time, the professionalism that is critical for success in your
future careers. Working with high ethical standards is expected throughout the graduate
program.
• Although graduate mentors and academic sta provide guidance, you are responsible for your
own education, and for satisfying degree requirements of the Graduate School and of your
specic graduate program.
• You are expected to develop a work schedule that allows for a healthy work-life balance.
Research may require occasional periods of intense workload to meet important deadlines, but
this should not be routine. Some research may also require long experimental campaigns,
possibly requiring overnight supervision, but this responsibility will be shared.
• Graduate students on assistantships are expected to dutifully carry out their research/teaching in
addition to meeting coursework requirements which means:
• You should expect that your coursework and assistantship duties amount to a full-time
professional commitment.
• In consultation with your advisor(s), you should maintain a schedule to be in your oce/lab.
1
One mechanism that is available is the College of Engineering’s Graduate On-Line Assessment & Achievement Learning
System (GOAALS) that graduate students and their advisors must complete once per year.
Expectations of graduate students and faculty advisors
UW–Madison, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Mechanics Programs, Graduate
Student Handbook | Fall 2023
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• You should consult your faculty advisor(s) for guidance on course loads that are
commensurate with assistantship responsibilities.
• You should coordinate, in advance, workload adjustments to accommodate temporary
periods of intense coursework activity.
• You should communicate with your primary advisor regarding periods of absence such as
leave and vacation
2
.
• Thesis MS and PhD students are expected to engage in formal and informal professional
development activities, including performing research, documenting research, contributing to
team aspects of a research group, interacting with other experts and peers in their discipline,
reading relevant publications, and attending and presenting research at meetings and
conferences.
• You are expected to provide your advisor with timely updates on your research, academic
progress, concerns, and problems.
• You are expected to attend individual and group meetings held by your faculty advisor.
• You are expected to notify your advisor(s) if you become aware of any safety issues or concerns
with your work while on campus.
iii. Expectations of faculty advisors
• Faculty advisors will exercise the highest standards when working with all students.
• They will uphold the University’s statement on diversity and treat students fairly and without
bias in accordance with Graduate School policies.
diversity.wisc.edu
grad.wisc.edu/academic-policies
• They will not display hostile and intimidating behavior (HIB) when interacting with students.
hr.wisc.edu/hib
• They will participate in recurring training for HIB, bias, and professional ethics.
• Advisors will assist students in acquiring the highest level of knowledge and competence in the
eld that is possible and chair the committee that will determine whether the student has
performed acceptably at each of their degree milestones.
• Advisors will ensure an appropriate working environment for their graduate students.
• This includes physical safety and workload expectations that are fair and allow students to
balance research and academic requirements with a healthy lifestyle.
• This includes establishing a collegial and professional culture that is conducive to research
creativity, productivity, and graduate education within their research groups.
2
UW–Madison, Human resources, Graduate Assistantship Policies and Procedures, Benefits:
https://hr.wisc.edu/policies/gapp/#benefits
Expectations of graduate students and faculty advisors
UW–Madison, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Mechanics Programs, Graduate
Student Handbook | Fall 2023
23
• Advisors will respect Graduate School policy that research assistantships are for performing
work that is relevant to the student’s course of study with occasional other duties that are not
to exceed 5 hours per week.
grad.wisc.edu/documents/research-assistant
• Advisors will accommodate temporary periods of intense coursework activity, such as exam
periods.
• Advisors will communicate on a regular basis with students regarding the progress of their
research, including praise and constructive criticism as appropriate, always with the aim of
educating students to become leading independent researchers in their eld.
• Advisors will recognize students for their contributions to a research program. This recognition
comes in the form of authorship/co-authorship of journal publications and reports and
supporting students to present research ndings at professional meetings and conferences.
Advisors are expected to provide feedback to students’ written documents in a timely manner.
• Advisors will assist students with course selection and academic planning.
• Advisors will assist students to identify possible research mentors and committee members.
• Advisors will communicate on a regular basis with students regarding professional development
and enrichment activities and other opportunities. Advisors are expected to provide honest
letters of recommendation when requested.
• Each advisor will set written policies on their general expectations for student-advisor meetings
(frequency, duration,…), work hours, and vacation time. These policies will be reviewed at least
annually with students. Minimum vacation guidelines for research assistantships
3
are set by the
university and will be extended to all graduate students, regardless of source of support.
iv. Recourse if expectations are not being met
A set of expectations would be inconsequential if there were no recourse for not meeting them. When
faculty advisors nd that students are not meeting expectations, they will provide direct individual
feedback, and document the ndings in performance evaluations, if needed. Further recourse would
follow the Department’s policy on Satisfactory Progress in Research that is described in this
handbook.
If graduate students nd that their faculty advisor is not meeting expectations, they are encouraged to
bring the matter to the attention of their advisor. If they feel uncomfortable doing so or would like
another perspective, students should seek advice from the Dept. of Mechanical Engineering Associate
Chair for Graduate Studies, Mechanical Engineering Department Chair, or the College of Engineering
Assistant Dean of Graduate Studies. If the gravity of the situation warrants, students should follow the
Department and College grievance procedures.
engineering.wisc.edu/report-an-incident/academic-grievances-and-complaints/
3
UW–Madison, Human resources, Graduate Assistantship Policies and Procedures, Benefits:
https://hr.wisc.edu/policies/gapp/#benefits
Expectations of graduate students and faculty advisors
UW–Madison, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Mechanics Programs, Graduate
Student Handbook | Fall 2023
24
v. Advisor selection
Per Graduate School policy, you must have a faculty advisor who assists you in planning a course
sequence that meets degree requirements, and who will discuss career objectives with you. The
responsibility for nding an advisor is solely that of students in the MS Engineering Mechanics:
Research and PhD Engineering Mechanics programs.
Students enrolled in the accelerated MS – Aerosapce Engienering program will be automatically
assigned an advisor.
For MS Engineering Mechanics: Research and PhD Engineering Mechanics programs. — The advisor
should be a faculty member whose expertise and project/research interests match closely with those
that the student intends to acquire. Students are encouraged to view faculty proles on the department
website and view individual faculty websites when searching for potential advisors. They should also
visit with the professors in their interest area to discuss whether or not the faculty member would be
willing to serve as their advisor. While no faculty member is obligated to accept a student’s request to
serve as advisor, invitations are oen accepted except in cases where the faculty member judges that a
dierent advisor would serve the student’s needs better. Once you have secured an advisor, please
complete the “Advisor Notication” form and submit it to the ME Graduate Coordinator. All newly
admitted students will receive this form in their welcome email/packet.
directory.engr.wisc.edu/me/faculty
grad.wisc.edu/documents/advisor
Students may see their ocial advisor listed in MyUW. The ocial advisor is entered in the Student
Information System (SIS) by the graduate program coordinator.
vi. Changing advisors
A student who later decides that a dierent faculty advisor would be preferable should discuss this
with the current advisor and then feel free to seek the change. Selection of an advisor, or a change of
advisors, should be based on the faculty member’s ability to guide the student expertly into the chosen
area of interest/research. When a student has selected, or changed advisors, please complete the “Add
or Change Your Graduate Faculty Advisor” form and submit that to the Graduate Coordinator.
Any student considering changing their faculty research advisor is encouraged to seek advice from
their Faculty Advisor, the Associate Chair for Graduate Studies (Director of Graduate Studies), Chair of
the Department, or the Assistant Dean for Graduate Studies in the College of Engineering. There are
many reasons why a graduate student in an MS: Research or PhD degree program may wish to change
research advisor. Two reasons and their solutions are described below.
a. Changing research advisor due to change in research interest
The process by which a graduate student in an MS: Research or PhD degree program changes research
advisors due to a change in research interest is as follows:
• The student should initiate discussions with the proposed research advisor and obtain assurance
that the new research advisor is willing to accept the advising role and has a plan for nancially
supporting the student.
Expectations of graduate students and faculty advisors
UW–Madison, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Mechanics Programs, Graduate
Student Handbook | Fall 2023
25
• It is the student’s responsibility to inform their current advisor of their wish to move to a
dierent research program.
• The student should complete the “Add or Change Your Graduate Faculty Advisor” form and
submit the form to the Mechanical Engineering Graduate Coordinator.
b. Changing research advisor due to concerns about the research environment
Issues of misconduct (scholarly, ethical, harassment, bias, bullying, etc.) should be reported to one or
more of the following individuals: Department Chair, Associate Chair for Graduate Studies (Director of
Graduate Studies), or the Assistant Dean for Graduate Studies. Information communicated at the
department level will be brought to the attention of the Dean and the course of action determined.
The College of Engineering expects that the climate and culture is conducive to learning and research
scholarship, innovation, and entrepreneurship. Graduate students who nd themselves in a research
environment that does not meet those expectations, as substantiated through the course of an
appropriate college-level investigation
4
and as determined by the Dean, will be given the opportunity
to continue their studies under a dierent faculty research advisor. In this case, the department will
facilitate the transition by guaranteeing funding, as needed, to cover the student’s stipend as well as
the research expenses (tuition remission costs and funds needed to conduct the research
5
) for a period
of up to one year. The period of support can be extended beyond one year if necessary although the
intended outcome is for the student to be fully integrated into the program of their new faculty advisor
aer one year.
vii. Additional advising contacts
You should always reference the department’s website, this Handbook, the Graduate Guide, and the
Graduate School’s Academic Policies and Procedures for answers on various program-related
questions. However, when you need further clarication on any of these policies or procedures,
please contact the Mechanical Engineering Graduate Coordinator. The Graduate Coordinator can help
answer questions with issues including satisfactory academic progress, academic deadlines,
graduation completion, program-related forms, advising/course holds and permissions, and course
oerings.
guide.wisc.edu/graduate
grad.wisc.edu/academic-policies
4
Investigations will be conducted in accordance with FPP Ch. 9 by the Office of the Dean of the College of Engineering. The
written report of the investigation along with any recommendations for corrective intervention will be provided to the
Dean. The Dean in consultation with the assistant Dean for Human Resources and other engineering associate and assistant
Deans at UW–Madison, will determine if corrective action is warranted and sufficient or if the case should be referred to the
Office of the Provost for further investigation and possible disciplinary action up to and including dismissal; this process is
described in FPP Ch. 9.02 and 9.03. Repeated incidents by the same faculty member will result in the case being referred
immediately to the Office of the Provost for possible disciplinary action.
5
The resources needed to conduct the research will be determined by the Dean in consultation with the new faculty advisor
and the chair of the department.
Graduate Student Seminar for MS-Research and PhD students
UW–Madison, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Mechanics Programs, Graduate
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Graduate Student Seminar for MS-Research and
PhD students
Provided that students do not have a scheduling conflict, regular attendance of the Mechanics
Seminar Series (see https://mechanics.wisc.edu/) is a professional expectation of our graduate
students, regardless of formal enrollment in the seminar course (EMA 601).
All Engineering Mechanics MS Research and PhD graduate students are also expected to attend at
least one additional research seminar or research group meeting where they may present their own
research in a seminar format. First year graduate students are exempt from giving a presentation
(although they may volunteer to give one), but all non-first-year graduate students are expected to
present on an annual basis.
The goals of the presentation requirement include:
• Provide professional development opportunities for graduate students.
• Improve the oral presentation skills of graduate students.
• Improve the ability of graduate students to "think on their feet."
• Provide an opportunity for graduate students to further understand and explain the context of
their research.
• Provide a forum in which conference presentations can be practiced in front of a large technical
audience.
• Improve information exchange between research groups.
• Enhance the sense of community among students in the Engineering Mechanics graduate
programs.
Master of Science (MS) degree requirements
UW–Madison, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Mechanics Programs, Graduate
Student Handbook | Fall 2023
27
Master of Science (MS) degree requirements
The Department of Mechanical Engineering oers several dierent Master of Science degrees options.
These include the following named options:
• MS Engineering Mechanics: Research (2 tracks)
• Thesis
• Non-thesis
• MS Engineering Mechanics: Aerospace Engineering*
*This program is an accelerated MS program meant to be completed in 12 months (two terms for UW–
Madison College of Engineering undergraduates or three terms for all other students). Students in this
program do not have a research adviser. They will have an academic advisor assigned prior to
beginning the program.
i. Course and grade requirements
a. Research—Thesis track
Curriculum: Total of 30 credits required:
a.
Graduate Student Seminar: See section IX.
b.
At least 15 course credits must be 600-level or above or from the following list: EMA 508, 519, 522,
523, 540, 541, 547, 548, 570.
c.
Math Requirement: At least 3 credits (1 course) must be from a course in applied mathematics
from the following list: EMA 547, 548; MATH 519, 521, 522, 540, 619, 623, 703, 704, 714, 715.
d.
Breadth Requirement: Students must take at least 5 courses from the lists below. At least 3 must
be identied by an *. The courses must span at least 2 of the 3 areas dened below. For each of
the 2 areas, the student must take at least 2 courses.
i. Solid Mechanics: EMA 506*, 508, 519*, 541*, 570, 605*, 611*, 615*, 622*, 630*, 700*, 703, 705*,
706, 708, 722; ME 603 (FE for Biomechanics), 753
ii. Fluid Mechanics: EMA 521*, 622*; ME 563*, 572*, 573*, 769, 770, 773, 774, 775; MATH 705
iii. Dynamics: EMA 523*, 540*, 542*, 545*, 550, 610*, 642*, 742*, 745*, 747*; ME 577, 740, 747, 748
e.
Depth Requirement: At least 2 courses (6 credits) must be 700-level or above in mechanics,
dened as from EMA or from List 1 in the handbook (see Coursework Requirements for the PhD
degree).
i. EMA 601 Special Topics courses may only be counted as 700-level if designated as such by the
instructor.
ii. The following courses do not fulll the 700-level or above depth requirements: EMA 790, 890,
990, or 999.
Master of Science (MS) degree requirements
UW–Madison, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Mechanics Programs, Graduate
Student Handbook | Fall 2023
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f.
Independent Study/Research Credits: All MS-Research students must take at least 3 credits of
EMA 599 (Independent Study). A maximum of 6 credits of EMA 599 may be used toward the 30-
credit minimum for the degree. Students who conduct thesis research may use a combined total
of 12 credits of EMA 599 and EMA 790 (Master’s Research and Thesis) toward the 30-credit
minimium. Credit for EMA 790 will be granted toward meeting the MS requirements only when a
formal MS thesis is submitted and approved by the thesis committee.
i. Research and Thesis Credits: EMA 790 is for research that is expected to lead to an MS thesis.
EMA 890 is for PhD research where a student has not yet become a dissertator and the
research will not be used for an MS thesis. EMA 990 is for PhD dissertation research where
the student is a dissertator. Credits taken per semester are variable. Students should discuss
the appropriate number of credit for a specic semester with their advisors.
g.
[Optional] Seminar: Up to 3 credits of Mechanics Seminar may be used to count toward the 30-
credit degree minimum.
h.
Minimum Graduate Coursework (50%) Requirement:
i. At least 15 credits applied toward the program’s graduate degree credit requirement must be
courses designed for graduate work. Classes that satisfy this requirement are indicated as
having the attribute Minimum Graduate Coursework (50%) in the course guide:
http://guide.wisc.edu/.
i.
An oral examination on the thesis. Master’s Thesis Guidelines:
grad.wisc.edu/currentstudents/mastersthesis
Course Level and Type Information:
j.
Acceptable courses are those numbered 500 and above, except where specied.
k.
The schedule of active technical elective and graduate courses taught by Mechanical Engineering
faculty is provided here: Mechanical Engineering Technical Elective and Graduate Course Plan -
Google Drive. While the list is updated annually, it is subject to change. For information on cross-
listed courses taught and/or owned by other departments, please contact that department
directly.
Grade Policy:
l.
The Gradute School requires an average record of B or better in all 300-level or above courses
taken as a graduate student, regardless of whether a course counts for credit in the program. The
Graduate School reviews each student’s progress every semester and will usually refuse
continued enrolment aer two semesters of below B-average grades unless unusual or
extenuating circumstances have prevailed. The Graduate School requires a minimum 3.0/4.0 GPA
on the entire graduate record.
m.
The Engineering Mechanics program requires that courses in which grades of BC, C, or below are
received cannot be counted toward a graduate degree except as follows:
i. 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.
Master of Science (MS) degree requirements
UW–Madison, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Mechanics Programs, Graduate
Student Handbook | Fall 2023
29
ii. 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.
n.
Also, all courses counting toward degree requirements must be taken for credit (not audit), and
satisfactory grades are acceptable only for couses oered strictly on an S/U basis.
o.
Credits with a grade of “D” or “F” cannot be used to satisfy requirements.
Satisfying Requirements with Previous Coursework:
p.
With permission from their faculty advisors and the Associate Chair for Graduate Studies:
i. Students may use up to 6 credits of technical coursework taken as part of a graduate program
at another institution if they meet departmental MS requirements.
ii. Students with a BS degree in engineering from UW-Madison may use up to 7 credits of their
undergraduate work towards their MS degree.
iii. Student with a BS degree from an ABET accredited engineering discipline at another
institution may use up to 7 credits of undergraduate work in mechanics toward their MS
degree.
q.
Use and Restrictions:
i. In all situations, the Graduate School stipulates that only coursework earned within ve years
of acceptance to a UW-Madison master’s program may be considered.
ii. Previously earned credits may not be used to satisfy depth (including all 700+) requirements.
iii. For the breadth and math requirements of the EM MS – Research and PhD programs, students
may apply previously earned credit that has been taken as part of a graduate program.
Advisor Approval of Study Plan:
r.
The faculty advisor must always approve the courses a student takes in the MS program. Students
should schedule an appointment with their adviser when selecting their courses. During the nal
semester, the faculty advisor will review the courses taken again and if approved sign the warrant
request form.
Additional Policies:
s.
Term Enrollment Requirements:
i. Full-time student status requires a student to enroll for a minimum of 8 credits numbered
300 and above, including research credits, each semester until the student becomes a PhD
dissertator. The normal maximum number of credits is 15. Dissertators must enroll for
three credits during the fall and spring semesters. (See
https://grad.wisc.edu/documents/dissertatorstatus/)
ii. Holders of research assistantships, teaching assistantships, traineeships, or fellowships are
required to maintain full-time status each semester. Research assistants are expected to
register for at least two credits (3 credits for dissertators) during the summer session.
Teaching assistants with summer appointments need not normally be registered during the
Master of Science (MS) degree requirements
UW–Madison, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Mechanics Programs, Graduate
Student Handbook | Fall 2023
30
summer. Fellowship holders should consult the terms for their fellowship. A full-time
student is limited to 12 credits during the summer.
t.
Final term of enrollment: You must be enrolled for the semester in which you will graduate and
successfully complete the courses in which you are enrolled.
u.
Timeline for Completion: Students with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Mechanics or
equivalent are typically expected to complete the MS – Research degree in 3 semesters. Students
with non-EM backgrounds will typically be permitted 4 semesters to complete their master’s if
more than 27 credits are required.
THESIS and DEFENSE:
v.
Research Credits (EMA 790) will be granted toward meeting the MS requirements only when a
formal MS thesis is submitted and approved by the thesis committee.
w.
COMMITTEE:
• Candidates submitting an MS thesis must pass an oral defense administered by a three-
member committee, selected by the faculty 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/).
• Graduate faculty hold the title of professor, associate professor, or assistant professor as listed
in the UW–Madison directory:
wisc.edu/directories/
• To determine if a retired faculty member has emeritus status check the UW–Madison
directory; if the person is listed in the directory with the title emeritus, then they have
emeritus status.
• To have an academic sta member approved to serve on committees have them submit their
current curriculum vitae to the ME Graduate Coordinator or to the Associate Chair for
Graduate Studies (i.e., Director of Graduate Studies, Chair of the Graduate Committee) for
approval by the department executive committee.
• Committee members beyond the third member must conform to the list on the graduate
school’s website (https://grad.wisc.edu/acadpolicy/#committees), and must be approved by
the student’s advisor.
grad.wisc.edu/documents/committees
x.
Defense: Typically, the student presents an overview of their thesis/research, and then the
examiners ask questions in closed session.
y.
Students must submit the nal-dra copy of their thesis to the examination committee at least
one week prior to the exam.
z.
The nal version of your thesis must be submitted to Memorial Library via the email process
explained on the Graduate School Completing Your Master’s Degree webpage, before the degree
deadline. You should have an approval page (separate and prior to your title page) created for
your advisor’s signature and the date. Note that if you miss the deadline, you will be responsible
for tuition and fees for an additional semester. Please thoroughly review The Graduate School
Master of Science (MS) degree requirements
UW–Madison, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Mechanics Programs, Graduate
Student Handbook | Fall 2023
31
Completing Your Master’s Degree webpage for required document and submission specics:
https://grad.wisc.edu/current-students/masters-guide/.
b. Research—Non Thesis track
Curriculum: Total of 30 Credits required:
a.
Graduate Student Seminar: See section IX.
b.
At least 15 course credits must be 600-level or above or from the following list: EMA 508, 519, 522,
523, 540, 541, 547, 548, 570.
c.
Math Requirement: At least 3 credits (1 course) must be from a course in applied mathematics
from the following list: EMA 547, 548; MATH 519, 521, 522, 540, 619, 623, 703, 704, 714, 715.
d.
Breadth Requirement: Students must take at least 5 courses from the lists below. At least 3 must
be identied by an *. The courses must span at least 2 of the 3 areas dened below. For each of
the 2 areas, the student must take at least 2 courses.
i. Solid Mechanics: EMA 506*, 508, 519*, 541*, 570, 605*, 611*, 615*, 622*, 630*, 700*, 703, 705*,
706, 708, 722; ME 603 (FE for Biomechanics), 753
ii. Fluid Mechanics: EMA 521*, 622*; ME 563*, 572*, 573*, 769, 770, 773, 774, 775; MATH 705
iii. Dynamics: EMA 523*, 540*, 542*, 545*, 550, 610*, 642*, 742*, 745*, 747*; ME 577, 740, 747, 748
e.
Depth Requirement: At least 2 courses (6 credits) must be 700-level or above in mechanics,
dened as from EMA or from List 1 in the handbook (see Coursework Requirements for the PhD
degree).
i. EMA 601 Special Topics courses may only be counted as 700-level if designated as such by the
instructor.
ii. The following courses do not fulll the 700-level or above depth requirements: EMA 790, 890,
990, or 999.
f.
Independent Study: All MS-Research students must take at least 3 credits of EMA 599
(Independent Study). A maximum of 6 credits of EMA 599 may be used toward the 30-credit
minimum for the degree.
g.
Research and Thesis Credits: Research and thesis credits (such as EMA 790) will not be counted
toward the MS degree requirements in the non-thesis track of the MS – Research program.
h.
[Optional] Seminar: Up to 3 credits of Mechanics Seminar may be used to count toward the 30-
credit degree minimum.
i.
Minimum Graduate Coursework (50%) Requirement:
i. At least 15 credits applied toward the program’s graduate degree credit requirement must be
courses designed for graduate work. Classes that satisfy this requirement are indicated as
having the attribute Minimum Graduate Coursework (50%) in the course guide:
http://guide.wisc.edu/.
Master of Science (MS) degree requirements
UW–Madison, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Mechanics Programs, Graduate
Student Handbook | Fall 2023
32
Course Level and Type Information:
j.
Acceptable formal courses are those numbered 500 and above, except where specied.
k.
The schedule of active technical elective and graduate courses taught by Mechanical Engineering
faculty is provided here: Mechanical Engineering Technical Elective and Graduate Course Plan -
Google Drive. While the list is updated annually, it is subject to change. For information on cross-
listed courses taught and/or owned by other departments, please contact that department
directly.
Grade Policy:
l.
The Gradute School requires an average record of B or better in all 300-level or above courses
taken as a graduate student, regardless of whether a course counts for credit in the program. The
Graduate School reviews each student’s progress every semester and will usually refuse
continued enrolment aer two semesters of below B-average grades unless unusual or
extenuating circumstances have prevailed. The Graduate School requires a minimum 3.0/4.0 GPA
on the entire graduate record.
m.
The Engineering Mechanics program requires that courses in which grades of BC, C, or below are
received cannot be counted toward a gradute degree except as follows:
i. 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.
ii. 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.
n.
Also, all courses counting toward degree requirements must be taken for credit (not audit), and
satisfactory graes are acceptable only for couses oered strictly on an S/U basis.
o.
Credits with a grade of “D” or “F” cannot be used to satisfy requirements.
Satisfying Requirements with Previous Courswork:
p.
With permission from their faculty advisors and the Associate Chair for Graduate Studies:
i. Students may use up to 6 credits of technical coursework taken as part of a graduate program
at another institution if they meet departmental MS requirements.
ii. Students with a BS degree in engineering from UW-Madison may use up to 7 credits of their
undergraduate work towards their MS degree.
iii. Student with a BS degree from an ABET accredited engineering discipline at another
institution may use up to 7 credits of undergraduate work in mechanics toward their MS
degree.
q.
Use and Restrictions:
i. In all situations, the Graduate School stipulates that only coursework earned within ve years
of acceptance to a UW-Madison master’s program may be considered.
ii. Previously earned credits may not be used to satisfy depth (including all 700+) requirements.
Master of Science (MS) degree requirements
UW–Madison, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Mechanics Programs, Graduate
Student Handbook | Fall 2023
33
iii. For the breadth and math requirements of the EM MS – Research and PhD programs, students
may apply previously earned credit that has been taken as part of a graduate program.
Advisor Approval of Study Plan:
r.
The faculty advisor must always approve the courses a student takes in the MS program. Students
should schedule an appointment with their adviser when selecting their courses. During the nal
semester, the faculty advisor will review the courses taken again and if approved sign the warrant
request form.
Additional Policies:
s.
Term Enrollment Requirements:
i. Full-time student status requires a student to enroll for a minimum of 8 credits numbered 300
and above, including research credits, each semester until the student becomes a PhD
dissertator. The normal maximum number of credits is 15. Dissertators must enroll for three
credits during the fall and spring semesters. (See
https://grad.wisc.edu/documents/dissertatorstatus/)
ii. Holders of research assistantships, teaching assistantships, traineeships, or fellowships are
required to maintain full-time status each semester. Research assistants are expected to
register for at least two credits (3 credits for dissertators) during the summer session.
Teaching assistants with summer appointments need not normally be registered during the
summer. Fellowship holders should consult the terms for their fellowship. A full-time student
is limited to 12 credits during the summer.
t.
Final term of enrollment: You must be enrolled for the semester in which you will graduate and
successfully complete the courses in which you are enrolled.
u.
Timeline for Completion: Students with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Mechanics or
equivalent are typically expected to complete the MS – Research, non-thesis degree in 3
semesters. Students with non-EM backgrounds will typically be permitted 4 semesters to
complete their master’s if more than 27 credits are required.
Master of Science (MS) degree requirements
UW–Madison, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Mechanics Programs, Graduate
Student Handbook | Fall 2023
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c. Aerospace Engineering
Curriculum: Total of 30 credits required:
a.
Fall Semester: 13 credits
Required:
EP/EMA 547 3 cr Engr Analysis I
EMA 601 1 cr Mechanics Seminar
Select an additional 9 credits (see below)
b.
Spring Semester: 13 credits
Required:
EMA 601 1 cr Mechanics Seminar
Select an additional 12 credits (see below)
c.
Summer Semester: 4 credits
If needed, 4 additional credits.
d.
Additional Requirements
i. Students must take at least one class (3 credits) in EMA at the 700-level or above (any course
numbered 700 or greater). Seminar, research, and co-op courses (such as EMA 790 Master’s
Research and Thesis, EMA 890 Pre-Dissertator Research, EMA 990 Research and Thesis, and
EMA 702 Gradaute Cooperative Education Program) are not eligible to satisfy this
requirement.
ii. To establish sucient depth in aerospace sciences, the courses selected must involve
completion of at least two of the following ve topical areas. Check the future course
oering plans when choosing, since not all courses are oered every year. Thus, not all
topical areas can be completed each year. The schedule of active technical elective and
graduate courses taught by Mechanical Engineering faculty is provided here: Mechanical
Engineering Technical Elective and Graduate Course Plan.
iii. The additional courses required to meet the 30-credit minimum for completion of the degree
should be selected from among the courses listed below.
e.
Topical Areas
Fluid Mechanics
• Required:*
o EMA 521 Aerodynamics
• Select One:
o ME 563 Intermediate Fluid Dynamics
o EMA 524 Rocket Propulsion
o ME 572 Intermediate Gas Dynamics
o ME/CEE/EMA 775 Turbulent Heat and Momentum Transfer
Master of Science (MS) degree requirements
UW–Madison, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Mechanics Programs, Graduate
Student Handbook | Fall 2023
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Rigid Body Dynamics
• Required:*
o EMA 542 Advanced Dynamics
• Select One:
o EMA 523 Flight Dynamics and Control
o EMA/ASTRON 550 Astrodynamics
o EMA 642 Satellite Dynamics
o ME 451 Kinematics and Dynamics of Machine Systems
Structural Dynamics
• Select One:
o ME 440 Intermediate Vibrations
o EMA 545 Mechanical Vibrations
o ECE 717 Linear Systems
• Select One:
o ME/EMA 540 Experimental Vibrations and Dynamic System Analysis
o EMA 610 Structural Finite Element Model Validation
o EMA 747 Nonlinear and Random Mechanical Vibrations
Aerospace Mechanics and Materials
• Select Two Courses:
o EMA 506 Advanced Mechanics of Materials I
o EMA/MSE 541 Heterogeneous and Multiphase Materials
o EMA/CEE/ME 508 Composite Materials
o EMA 622 Mechanics of Continua
o EMA 630 Viscoelastic Solids
o EMA 700 Theory of Elasticity
o EMA/ME 703 Plasticity Theory and Physics
Computation
• Select One:*
o EMA 605 Introduction to Finite Elements
o ME 573 Computational Fluid Dynamics
• Select One:
o EMA 705 Advances Topics in Finite Elements
o ME 548 Introduction to Design Optimization
o ME 748 Optimum Design of Mechanical Elements and Systems
o ME/EMA/COMP SCI/ECE/EP 759 High Performance Computing for
Applications in Engineering
*Students who have completed an equivalent course as an undergraduate may take an
additional class from the list that follows.
f.
Thesis Coursework
i. Thesis research credits are not permitted.
Master of Science (MS) degree requirements
UW–Madison, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Mechanics Programs, Graduate
Student Handbook | Fall 2023
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g.
Minimum Graduate Coursework (50%) Requirement:
iv. At least 15 credits applied toward the program’s graduate degree credit requirement must be
courses designed for graduate work. Classes that satisfy this requirement are indicated as
having the attribute Minimum Graduate Coursework (50%) in the course guide:
http://guide.wisc.edu/.
Course Level and Type Information:
h.
Acceptable formal courses are those numbered 300 and above.
Grade Policy:
i.
The Graduate School requires an average record of B or better in all 300-level or above courses
taken as a graduate student, regardless of whether a course counts for credit in the program. The
Graduate School reviews each student’s progress every semester and will usually refuse
continued enrolment aer two semesters of below B-average grades unless unusual or
extenuating circumstances have prevailed. The Graduate School requires a minimum 3.0/4.0 GPA
on the entire graduate record.
j.
The Engineering Mechanics program requires that courses in which grades of BC, C, or below are
received cannot be counted toward a gradute degree except as follows:
i. 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.
ii. 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.
k.
Also, all courses counting toward degree requirements must be taken for credit (not audit), and
satisfactory graes are acceptable only for couses oered strictly on an S/U basis.
l.
Credits with a grade of “D” or “F” cannot be used to satisfy requirements.
Satisfying Requirements with Previous Courswork:
m.
With permission from their faculty advisors and the Associate Chair for Graduate Studies:
i. Students may use up to 6 credits of technical coursework taken as part of a graduate program
at another institution if they meet departmental MS requirements.
ii. Students with a BS degree in engineering from UW-Madison may use up to 7 credits of their
undergraduate work towards their MS degree.
iii. Student with a BS degree from an ABET accredited engineering discipline at another
institution may use up to 7 credits of undergraduate work in mechanics toward their MS
degree.
n.
Use and Restrictions:
i. In all situations, the Graduate School stipulates that only coursework earned within ve years
of acceptance to a UW-Madison master’s program may be considered.
ii. Previously earned credits may not be used to satisfy the 700-level course requirement.
Master of Science (MS) degree requirements
UW–Madison, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Mechanics Programs, Graduate
Student Handbook | Fall 2023
37
Advisor Assignment and Advisor Approval of Study Plan:
o.
Students admitted to the MS – Aerospace Engineering program will be assigned a faculty advisor
prior to enrollment.
p.
The faculty advisor must always approve the courses a student takes in the MS program. Students
should schedule an appointment with their adviser when selecting their courses. During the nal
semester, the faculty advisor will review the courses taken again and if approved sign the warrant
request form.
Funding Information:
q.
Students enrolled in the Master of Science in Engineering Mechanics, Aerospace Engineering
program are not eligible to receive tuition remission from graduate assistantship appointments at
this institution.
r.
Students are strongly discouraged to pursue positions as Project Assistants, Teaching Assistants,
or Research Assistants during their time in this program, as the rigor and accelerated nature of
this program may not accomdate those work time commitments.
Additional Policies:
s.
Full-time student status requires a student to enroll for a minimum of 8 credits of coursework
numbered 300 and above in Fall and Spring semesters. The normal maximum number of credits
is 15 credits. A full-time student is limited to 12 credits in the summer.
t.
You must be enrolled for the semester in which you will graduate and successfully complete the
courses in which you are enrolled.
u.
Students are expected to complete the Aerospace Engineering MS degree program in 2 – 3
semesters. One additional semester is permitted to complete the requirements, if needed.
Career Opportunites:
v.
Graduates of our Engineering Mechanics programs are sought by many industries and
government agencies. With the aerospace emphasis of the Aersopace Engineering MS, graduates
can capitalize upon the following career opportunities, to name a few:
Commercial spaceight continues to expand new employment opportunities. Space access is as
important as ever, and the industry is transitioning from one in which the government was the
key player to one that is driven commercially.
Hypersonic aircra have been the focal point for defense applications. The U.S. has increased its
funding in this area and will continue to do so to maintain parity with other nations.
Supersonic business jets are being developed by several companies that anticipate having
commercial products in the coming years. The FAA’s restrictions on supersonic ight over land
are expected to be relaxed, potentially leading to a resurgence in high-speed ight as a major
business area.
Master of Science (MS) degree requirements
UW–Madison, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Mechanics Programs, Graduate
Student Handbook | Fall 2023
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Numerical simulation has supplemented and replaced portions of traditional aerospace design
and development. Demand in this area will continue to grow as developments in computer
hardware and computational methods lead to ever more realistic simulation of aerospace
systems.
Master of Science (MS) degree requirements
UW–Madison, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Mechanics Programs, Graduate
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39
ii. Credits taken as a University Special Student
Applies to all options
Students are encouraged to enter a graduate program as early as possible and not to “try out” the
program as University Special students. Ocially entering the program allows the student to receive
appropriate advising and be fully integrated into the program structure. If University Special student
credits are accepted by a program to fulll program requirements, it is done on a case-by-case basis
and must be approved by the program. The number of credits that may transfer from a UW–
Madison University Special student career to a UW–Madison graduate career is limited to no more
than een credits numbered 400 or above.
iii. Learning outcomes (learning goals)
Learning outcomes are the anticipated knowledge, skills, and values expected to be acquired by all
students completing their master’s degree.
1.
Demonstrate a strong understanding of mathematical, scientic, and engineering principles in the
eld.
2.
Demonstrate an ability to formulate, analyze, and independently solve advanced engineering
problems.
3.
Apply the relevant scientic and technological advancements, techniques, and engineering tools
to address these problems.
4.
Recognize and apply principles of ethical and professional conduct.
iv. Length of time to degree
a. Research— both Thesis and Non-Thesis tracks
The majority of Engineering Mechanics MS students will complete their degree in 3 years or less.
6
Any
student unable to defend their thesis in this period will be reviewed by the Mechanical Engineering
Graduate Committee to determine why it is taking longer than expected to complete their degree. It is
recognized that there are many reasons why a graduate student may require more time to complete
their degree. Therefore, the Mechanical Engineering Graduate Committee will request the following
information from the student to review during their meeting:
• Date
• Name of student
• Name of advisor
• Accomplishments to date (300 words or less)
• Extenuating circumstances, if any
• Plans for degree completion (include predicted defense date)
6
Data on Time to Degree can be found at the following Graduate School website: grad.wisc.edu/data/degrees-awarded
Master of Science (MS) degree requirements
UW–Madison, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Mechanics Programs, Graduate
Student Handbook | Fall 2023
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b. Aerospace Engineering
Students are expected to complete the Aerospace Engineering MS degree program in 2 – 3 semesters.
One additional semester is permitted to complete the requirements, if needed. Any student unable to
complete their degree in this period will be reviewed by the Mechanical Engineering Graduate
Committee to determine why it is taking longer than expected to complete their degree. It is
recognized that there are many reasons why a graduate student may require more time to complete
their degree. Therefore, the Mechanical Engineering Graduate Committee will request the following
information from the student to review during their meeting:
• Date
• Name of student
• Accomplishments to date (300 words or less)
• Extenuating circumstances, if any
• Plans for degree completion (include predicted graduation date)
v. MS degree nal checklist
At least four weeks prior to the oral examination (MS Research—Thesis track students) or the degree
deadline (MS Research—Non-Thesis track, Aerospace Engineering), students must complete and
return the correct Warrant Request form. Warrant request forms:
intranet.engineering.wisc.edu/mechanical-engineering/current-me-student-resources/
The completed and signed warrant request form should be submitted to the Mechanical Engineering
Graduate Coordinator. The Graduate Coordinator will review your degree request and work with the
Graduate School to create a degree warrant. When the warrant is ready, students will be notied via
WiscMail. Students will then retrieve their degree warrant.
It is the student’s responsibility to obtain signatures and dates and return the completed warrant to the
ME Graduate Coordinator by the degree deadline in order to receive their degree. Degree deadlines:
grad.wisc.edu/deadlines
PhD degree requirements
UW–Madison, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Mechanics Programs, Graduate
Student Handbook | Fall 2023
41
PhD degree requirements
i. Summary of steps toward a PhD in Engineering Mechanics
Admission to the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Mechanics Graduate Program.
Sucient scores on the Engineering Mechanics qualifying examination.
Approval of “Doctoral Plan of Study” document by the Mechanical Engineering Graduate Committee.
Approval by the Preliminary Examination Committee.
Approval of dissertation and nal examination.
ii. Course and grade requirements
Curriculum: Total of 60 credits required:
a. Graduate Student Seminar: See section IX.
b.
At least 36 of the 60 credits must be technical coursework and satisfy the requirements below. All
coursework for the PhD is technical and must be 500-level or above. Individual courses may
satisfy more than one area. It is acceptable for students who earned an MS degree in Engineering
Mechanics at UW-Madison to use coursework completed while in the UW-Madison MS degree
program to meet the requirements below.
a. 50% Minimum Graduate Level Coursework: 50% of credits applied toward the
program’s graduate degree credit requirement must be courses designed for graduate
work (this includes, but is not limited to, graduate thesis/research, independent study,
and practicum/internship credits). Classes that satisfy this requirement are indicated as
having the attribute Minimum Graduate Coursework (50%) in the course guide.
b. 600+Level EMA courses: At least 21 credits must be level 600-level and above or from
the following list: EMA 508, 519, 522, 523, 540, 541, 547, 548, 570.
c. Mathematics Requirement: At least 6 credits (2 courses) must be from a course in
applied mathematics from the following list: EMA 547, 548; MATH 519, 521, 522, 540,
619, 623, 703, 704, 714, 715.
d. Breadth Requirement: AS part of their MS or PhD, students must have taken courses
from at least 2 of the 3 areas dened 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 in the
MS requirements above.
Solid Mechanics
Fluid Mechanics
Dynamics
e. Depth Requirement: At least 4 courses (12 credits) must be 700-level or above in
mechanics, applied mathematics, or computer science. At least 2 courses (6 credits)
PhD degree requirements
UW–Madison, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Mechanics Programs, Graduate
Student Handbook | Fall 2023
42
must be from EMA or List 1. The remaining 2 courses (6 credits) may be from EMA, List
1, or List 2.
EMA 601 Special Topics courses may only be counted as 700-level if designated as such
by the instructor.
The following courses do not fulll the depth requirement: EMA 790, 890, 990, or 999.
LIST 1: 700-level or above courses in mechanics
EMA All 700-level and higher, except EMA 790, 890, 990, and 999
CBE 720 Physiochemical Hydrodynanics
CEE 730 Engineering Properties of Soils
CEE 735 Soil Dynamics
CEE 740 Matrix Methods of Structural Analysis
MATH 705 Mathematical Fluid Dynamics
MSE/GLE 705 Advanced Rock Mechanics
ME 740 Advanced Vibrations
ME 746 Dynamics of Controlled Systems
ME 747 Advaced Computer Control of Machines and Processes
ME 748 Optimal Design of Mechanical Elements and Systems
ME 751 Advanced Computational Dynamics
ME 753 Friction, Lubrication and Wear
ME 769 Combustion Processes
ME 770 Advanced Experimental Instrumentation
ME 773 Boundary Layer Theory
ME 774 Chem Kinetics of Combustion Systems
ME 775 Turbulent Heat and Momentum Transfer
LIST 2: Other 700-level or above courses in physics, computer science, and math
CS 714 Methods of Computational Mathematics I
CS 715 Methods of Computational Mathematics II
CS 773 Computational Methods for Large Sparse Systems
CS 760 Machine Learning
CS/ECE 761 Mathematical Foundations of Machine Learning
CS/ECE/STAT 861 Theoretical Foundations of Machine Learning
ECE 717 Linear Systems
ECE 719 Optimal Systems
ECE 732 Advanced Digital Signal Processing
ECE 777 Nonlinear Dynamics, Bifurcations and Chaos
MATH 703 Methods of Applied Mathematics 1
MATH 704 Methods of Applied Mathematics 2
ME 714 Advanced Materials Processing and Manufacturing
ME 718 Modeling and Simulation in Polymer Processing
ME 739 Advanced Robotics
ME 758 Solid Modeling
ME 761 Topics in Thermodynamics
PhD degree requirements
UW–Madison, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Mechanics Programs, Graduate
Student Handbook | Fall 2023
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ME 764 Advanced Heat Transfer I-Conduction
MS&E 748 Structural Analysis of Materials
MS&E 750 Imperfections and Mechanical Properties
MS&E 760 Molecular Dynamics & Monte Carlo Simulations in Material Sci
MS&E 770 Methods of Surface and Interface Characterization
PHYSICS 711 Theoretical Physics - Dynamics
PHYSICS 715 Statistical Mechanics
PHYSICS 721 Theoretical Physics - Electrodynamics
PHYSICS 722 Advanced Classical Theory
PHYSICS 731 Quantum Mechanics I
PHYSICS 732 Quantum Mechanics II
PHYSICS 751 Advanced Solid State Physics
PHYSICS 801 Nanostructures in Science & Technology
c.
Research/Thesis Credits: The remaining credits are research thesis credits (EMA 890 and EMA
990) and are required with an overall grade of S. Thesis credits must be from the Department of
Mechanical Engineering, except in the case of an approved co-advisor; credit then can be
obtained through the co-advisor’s department. Pre-dissertators should enroll in EMA 890 and
dissertators in EMA 990.
d.
Technical Minor Requirement: The technical minor is a University Doctoral Minor and will
appear on the ocial transcript. The minor eld of study must be distinct from the student’s
major area, i.e., the primary research area. For example, students applying computation to
investigate crack propagation may choose Computer Science as a technical minor. However, the
same students may not use enrollment in the Mechanical Engineering sections of mechanics
courses to satisfy the minor requirement. The topic should be chosen in consultation with the
faculty advisor, and it must be approved by the ME Graduate Committee.
The Doctoral Minor Agreement Form must be on le with the ME Graduate Coordinator no later
than halfway through the minor program. EM forms are available on the ME Intranet webpage.
For Option A (see below), check with your minor department to determine if they have a form
you must complete.
intranet.engineering.wisc.edu/mechanical-engineering/current-me-student-resources/
Students must complete one minor option below:
grad.wisc.edu/academic-policies
policy.wisc.edu/library/UW-1200
• Minor Option A (external).—Requirements for external minor are dened by the
department of that minor. Not all courses in Option A may satisfy the Mechanical
Engineering Department Formal Credits requirement. Selection of this option requires
the approval of the minor by the minor department. To declare a department minor,
contact the minor department to learn their process. This should be done early in the
PhD career and may be required before beginning or completing any minor coursework.
PhD degree requirements
UW–Madison, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Mechanics Programs, Graduate
Student Handbook | Fall 2023
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• Minor Option B (distributed).—Requires a minimum of 9 course credits, total, from two
ore 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 EMA qualifying exam
shall not be considered acceptable for the PhD Minor Option B.
2. At least 6 credits must be taken in courses listed in the UW-Madison Guide as
“Grad 50%” courses.
To declare Option B, access the Add/Change Program form via MyUW and request to add the
Distributed Minor. This should be done early in the PhD career. Contact the ME Graduate
Coordinator with any questions.
The Engineering Mechanics PhD program does not allow use of a graduate/professional
certicate to satisfy this technical minor requirement.
Course Level and Course Information:
e.
Acceptable courses are those numbered 500 and above.
f.
The schedule of active technical elective and graduate courses taught by Mechanical Engineering
faculty is provided here: Mechanical Engineering Technical Elective and Graduate Course Plan -
Google Drive. While the list is updated annually, it is subject to change. For information on cross-
listed courses taught and/or owned by other departments, please contact that department
directly.
Grade Policy:
g.
The Gradute School requires an average record of B or better in all 300-level or above courses
taken as a graduate student, regardless of whether a course counts for credit in the program. The
Graduate School reviews each student’s progress every semester and will usually refuse
continued enrolment aer two semesters of below B-average grades unless unusual or
extenuating circumstances have prevailed. The Graduate School requires a minimum 3.0/4.0 GPA
on the entire graduate record.
h.
The Engineering Mechanics program requires that courses in which grades of BC, C, or below are
received cannot be counted toward a gradute degree except as follows:
i. 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.
ii. 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.
i.
Also, all courses counting toward degree requirements must be taken for credit (not audit), and
satisfactory graes are acceptable only for couses oered strictly on an S/U basis.
j.
Credits with a grade of “D” or “F” cannot be used to satisfy requirements.
PhD degree requirements
UW–Madison, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Mechanics Programs, Graduate
Student Handbook | Fall 2023
45
Satisfying Requirements with Previous Courswork:
k.
All credits earned toward the Engineering Mechanics MS degree at UW-Madison apply toward
the EM PhD, provided they satisfy the Graduate School’s time constraint. The following applies to
other situations where an MS degree was earned.
a. With advisor and ME Grad Committee approval, students may use up to 15 credits from
prior MS coursework toward the PhD, provided all of the following are met.
i. The student has completed an MS degree in a relevant eld.
ii. The coursework proposed by the student is at the graduate level and was
taken as part of the student’s completed MS program.
iii. The student’s faculty advisor agrees that the prior coursework proporsed by
the student satises the EM PhD program requirements in terms of subject
area and rigor.
iv. A member of the ME Graduate Committee who is familiar with the EM PhD
program conrms the advisor’s recommendation.
b.
Students who have not completed an MS in a relevant eld are eligible to apply for
credit for other previous coursework, according to the policies as outlined in the
Satisfying Requirements with Previous Coursework section of the MS – Research Thesis
track program.
l.
Use and Restrictions:
i. In all situations, the Graduate School stipulates that only coursework earned within ten
years of acceptance to a UW-Madison PhD program may be considered.
ii. Previously earned credits may not be used to satisfy depth (including all 700+)
requirements.
iii. Previously earned credits may not be used to satisfy any technical minor requirements.
iv. For the breadth and math requirements of the EM MS – Research and PhD programs,
students may apply previously earned credit that has been taken as part of a graduate
program.
Additional Policies:
m.
Full-time student status requires a student to enroll for a minimum of 8 credits of coursework
numbered 300 and above in Fall and Spring semesters. The normal maximum number of credits
is 15 credits. A full-time student is limited to 12 credits in the summer.
n.
You must be enrolled for the semester in which you will graduate and successfully complete the
courses in which you are enrolled.
iii. Credits taken as a University Special Student
Students are encouraged to enter a graduate program as early as possible and not to “try out” the
program as University Special students. Ocially entering the program allows the student to receive
PhD degree requirements
UW–Madison, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Mechanics Programs, Graduate
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appropriate advising and be fully integrated into the program structure. If University Special student
credits are accepted by a program to fulll program requirements, it is done on a case-by-case basis
and must be approved by the program. The number of credits that may transfer from a UW–
Madison University Special student career to a UW–Madison graduate career is limited to no more
than een credits numbered 400 or above.
iv. Learning outcomes (learning goals)
Learning outcomes are the anticipated knowledge, skills, and values expected to be acquired by all
students completing their PhD degree.
1.
Demonstrate an extraordinary, deep understanding of mathematical, scientic, and engineering
principles in the eld.
2.
Demonstrate an ability to formulate, analyze, and independently solve advanced engineering
problems.
3.
Apply the relevant scientic and technological advancements, techniques, and engineering tools
to address these problems.
4.
Recognize and apply principles of ethical and professional conduct.
5.
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.
6.
Demonstrate an ability to conduct original research and communicate it to their peers.
v. Qualifying for the PhD program
Students wanting to continue graduate study toward their PhD degree in the Department of
Mechanical Engineering must take the PhD qualifying examination. The written portion of the exam is
oered before the start of each spring and fall semester. You are allowed a maximum of two
opportunities to pass the qualifying examination. The objectives of this exam are to:
• Ensure a standard of excellence associated with the degree of PhD in Engineering Mechanics
from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
• Ensure that you have basic competency in the technical material related to your intended
research program.
• Oer a growth experience, i.e., an opportunity to synthesize knowledge across a broader range
than generally done in any class.
a. When to take the exam
The written portion of the qualifying exam is oered twice a year, once in August/September and once
in January, generally the week before classes start. The associated literature review presentation must
be completed within the timing limits detailed below.
PhD degree requirements
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1. If you enter the PhD program directly without an MS or equivalent degree, you will rst earn 30
graduate credits. Take your qualifying exam either the rst or second time that it is oered aer the
semester in which you earn those 30 credits.
2. If you earn a UW–Madison Engineering Mechanics MS and immediately enter the PhD program in
the following semester, take your qualifying exam either the rst or second time it is oered aer the
semester in which you earned your MS.
3. If you enter the PhD program with an MS degree either from another department or institution, or
are returning to UW–Madison with an MS degree aer an absence, take the exam at the start of your
third PhD semester.
In special cases, one additional semester may be allowed before the exam must be taken. To obtain
approval to delay the exam for one semester, the student must submit a written request (see section
XVIII. Academic exception petition) before the last week of class in the semester preceding the exam.
Extensions are granted only when it is clearly demonstrated that unusual circumstances warrant the
delay. Students without an approved extension who miss taking the exam at the required time will
forfeit one of their opportunities to take the exam.
Students may sign up for the August/September exam beginning Feb 15 of each year. Students may
sign up for the January exam beginning September 15 of each year. The sign-up form is at
https://go.wisc.edu/quals. Periodically, an email will be sent to Department of Mechanical
Engineering graduate students as a reminder to sign up for the exam and to provide additional
information.
b. The exam
The exam is composed of two 2-hour written subject-area exams and an oral literature review.
Each area exam is designed to test knowledge in a general and fundamental Engineering Mechanics
area. They are not intended to test each student in their specic research area. An area is considered
general and fundamental if it is commonly included in BS EM curricula at R1 institutions. We will only
oer area exams relevant to our department: on average, at least one student per semester should take
the exam. The area exams are intended to test students’ prociency at solving entry-level graduate
course problems. The scope of each area exam shall be explicitly delineated in terms of textbook
chapters and/or a list of specic topics. Practice exams are available at
https://intranet.engineering.wisc.edu/mechanical-engineering/current-me-student-resources/ under
PhD Qualifying Exams.
You must select two area exams from the following:
• Controls
• Kinematics/Dynamics
• Heat Transfer
• Dynamic Systems/Vibrations
• Fluid Mechanics
• Solid Mechanics
• Thermodynamics
PhD degree requirements
UW–Madison, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Mechanics Programs, Graduate
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• Materials Processing
• Computer Aided Engineering.
You must write the last 4 digits of your campus ID, rather than your name, at the top of each page to
facilitate anonymous grading. Students retaking area exams may choose dierent area exams than in
the initial attempt.
In addition to the two area exams, you must present a literature review to a committee of three
Mechanical Engineering professors composed of your advisor and two assisting members. Generally,
this committee will later form part of your PhD committee. In consultation with your advisor, you will
select the assisting members, determine professor availability, and schedule a room for the
presentation. The latest the presentation can be given is ve calendar days following the last day of the
corresponding area exams. The earliest the presentation can be given is September 15 (if area exams
are to be taken in January) or February 15 (if area exams are to be taken in August/September). Faculty
cannot be assisting members for more than three students in a given term.
The committee selects three papers for you to review, as follows. First the advisor selects ve papers
on a specic technical topic (not reviews of elds). Then, the assisting members select down to three
papers from the ve. The committee emails the references of the three papers to you, 13 to 15 days
before the presentation. Professors cannot provide advance insight into which papers are likely to
become exam papers. You prepare your presentation independently. You present a review of the
papers, which is at most 15 minutes long. A question-and-answer session follows, with assisting
members asking questions rst. Questions should be closely related to the specic technical topic
represented in the papers. The target duration for the entire exam is 30 to 45 minutes. Each professor
independently submits their grade immediately following the presentation. The professors are not
allowed to discuss the student, exam, or grades until all three grades have been submitted. The grades
are not to be based on the delivery or the polish of the presentation. The grading rubric for the
literature review is:
30%—Convey the relevance / signicance / main contribution(s) of each paper
20%—Describe commonalities among the papers
20%—Describe dierences between the papers
20%—Understand and address faculty questions
10%—Meet time constraints
Professors will consider this scoring scale when grading a (literature review or area) portion of the
exam:
100%—Outstanding
90%—Very good
80%—Good
70%—Capable enough to get by as a PhD
65%—Minimum cumulative percentage for passing
55%—Minimum individual exam percentage for passing
PhD degree requirements
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Your literature review score is computed as (your advisor’s score 0.5) + (rst assisting member score
0.25) + (second assisting member score 0.25).
To pass the PhD qualifying exam, you must receive scores of at least 55 on each of your literature
review and two area exams. You must also achieve a cumulative score of at least 65, computed as
(literature review score 0.4) + (rst area exam score 0.3) + (second area exam score 0.3).
If you do not pass in the rst attempt, your literature review score and each area exam score will be
provided to you. You can retake any or all component(s) at the next oering in attempt to pass
(retaining prior scores for any components not retaken). For components that are retaken, the new
score is used even if it is lower than the previous score for that component. In the event that one area
exam is taken in the second attempt, and it is a new area exam not taken in the rst attempt, the score
on this exam will replace the lower of the scores from the rst attempt. Students who do not pass the
exam aer a second attempt will fail the qualifying examination, and can no longer enroll in the
program in subsequent semesters.
All written examination materials become the property of the department and will not be returned to
you.
vi. Proposed course program (doctoral plan of study)
A proposed course program is to be submitted for approval by the Department before the end of the
semester following the semester in which the qualifying examination was passed. Do not wait until
you want to present your preliminary exam to submit your plan for approval. It can take six or more
weeks to have your plan approved because the Mechanical Engineering Graduate Committee only
meets once per month and not over the summer, so plan accordingly. For example, if you submit your
course plan in June it may not be approved until October. Any subsequent changes to the program
must be approved by the student’s advisor and the Graduate Committee. Forms:
intranet.engineering.wisc.edu/mechanical-engineering/current-me-student-resources/
vii. Preliminary examination
After acceptance of the student's doctoral plan of study, the student must take an oral preliminary
examination. Students are expected to pass the PhD preliminary examination no later than the end of
the third year of graduate studies, or by the end of the second regular semester following the one in
which the PhD qualifying examination was passed, whichever is later. They are required to take the
preliminary examination within four years of passing the PhD qualifying examination.
In preparation for this examination, the student shall submit a written thesis proposal containing a
discussion of the thesis problem, a survey of pertinent literature, an evaluation of the importance of
the problem, an outline of the proposed method of solving the problem, drawings of any equipment to
be constructed, a cost estimate, and any preliminary results obtained. The student will then defend
the thesis proposal in an oral preliminary examination. The examination committee will normally be
the same as selected for the final oral examination (see below). It will include members from at least
two UW-Madison Graduate School degree programs (see https://grad.wisc.edu/academic-programs/),
including the student's major degree program, and the chair or co-chair must be a member of the
student's major program. The committee membership will be selected in order to make a critical
PhD degree requirements
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evaluation of the proposed thesis.
Warrant: The candidate must apply for a warrant from the ME Graduate Coordinator. The form is
available on the ME Intranet webpage. The ME Graduate Coordinator needs a signed copy of the
department approved Doctoral Plan and the minor must be officially declared through the Graduate
School before a preliminary exam warrant can be requested.
Should the candidate not pass the preliminary examination, the student is granted a second
opportunity to be held within six months of the first examination.
viii. Dissertator status
Students are eligible to obtain Dissertator status, if they so choose, at the beginning of any semester
aer they have nished all coursework and have passed the preliminary examination. The process
typically occurs with the completion of the preliminary exam warrant process. The graduate school
conrms through an email letter when a student has achieved dissertator status. Dissertators must
enroll in exactly 3 credits to maintain their dissertator status during the Fall or Spring semesters.
Enrollment in 3 credits during the Summer session is required for graduate assistants, trainees, or
fellows. Unless the advisor directs otherwise, the 3 credits must be EMA 990.
Continuous Enrollment: Dissertators should register each semester until the PhD thesis is filed. If the
student fails to do so, a PhD Dissertation and Degree Completion Fee equal to 12 times the current
dissertator per-credit rate is required.
grad.wisc.edu/documents/dissertator-status
ix. PhD nal oral examination (defense) guidelines
An oral examination on the findings of the PhD research is required at the end of the thesis work. This
thesis defense is made before a committee of at least five members, who have had access to a copy of
the thesis for at least 10 days prior to the oral examination. It is advisable to choose this committee as
close to that of the preliminary examination committee as practical. At least 4 of the committee
members must be members of the UW-Madison Graduate Faculty. The committee must include
members from at least two of the UW-Madison Graduate School degree programs. The chair or co-
chair must be a member of the student's major degree program, and at least 3 of the committee
members must be members of the Department of Mechanical Engineering faculty. One of the
members of the committee may be from outside the UW-Madison, subject to approval by the
Mchanical Engineering Faculty. (Departmental requirements exceed the Graduate School minimum
requirements at https://grad.wisc.edu/documents/committees/.)
Warrant: The candidate must apply for a warrant from the ME Graduate Coordinator. The form is
available on the ME Intranet webpage. This examination shall be publicly announced at least one
week prior to the examination date. Faculty and students are invited to attend, and guests are also
welcome to attend the open session of the exam.
x. Thesis
The thesis must be the candidate's own work; it reports on the original research carried out by the
PhD degree requirements
UW–Madison, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Mechanics Programs, Graduate
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student for the PhD degree. It may be the result of research enterprises in which others have
collaborated, but in such cases the candidate is required to present a substantial portion which
represents the candidate's own contribution.
The total cost and preparation of the thesis is the responsibility of the student. Detailed instructions
for thesis preparation are available from the Graduate School Office in Bascom Hall, and on the
Graduate School webpage: https://grad.wisc.edu/current-students/doctoral-guide/.
ProQuest Copy: The submitted thesis must meet the specifications of the Graduate School. See the
above link for detailed information.
Industrial/Research Sponsor Copy: The faculty advisor will determine if additional copies are
needed. He/she will also advise the student as to the specifications of the copy.
xi. Criteria for Satisfactory Progress
It is important that graduate students make satisfactory progress in their program of study. One
measurement of the student's progress is his or her schedule for completing various requirements for
the PhD degree. The relevant deadlines are listed below. Students not meeting these deadlines are
considered to not be making satisfactory progress and may become ineligible for financial support
and/or may be dropped from the program.
1. The qualifying examination must be first taken no later than completion of the MS requirements,
or the beginning of the fifth semester of graduate study, whichever comes first. Students entering
the program with a master's degree in EM or ME, and taking the qualifying exam in that same
major, must take the exam by the beginning of their third semester.
2. The Graduate School PhD Minor Agreement Form must be on file with the Department of
Mechanical Engineering (via the ME Graduate Coordinator) halfway through the minor program.
3. Students are expected to submit the Doctoral Plan of Study one month before the end of the
semester following the one in which the qualifying exam is passed.
4. Students are expected to schedule and pass the PhD preliminary examination no later than the
end of the third year of graduate studies, or by the end of the second regular semester following
the one in which the PhD qualifying examination is passed, whichever is later. A candidate who
fails to take their preliminary exam within four years of passing their qualifying exam must
retake the qualifying exam unless there are extenuating circumstances (such as medical) and the
ME Graduate Committee approves a delay. Students in this situation should meet with their
advisor and develop a plan for taking the preliminary exam, subject to approval by the ME
Graduate Committee.
5. A candidate who fails to take the final oral examination and deposit the dissertation in the
Memorial Library within 5 years after passing the preliminary examination must take another
preliminary examination. See the Graduate School's policies on preliminary examinations and
time limits for additional information.
xii. Criteria for Satisfactory Progress in Research
Progress in research is evaluated by a graduate student’s faculty advisor and is officially recorded in
grading for research credits. The Engineering Mechanics program procedures for unsatisfactory
progress are as follows:
PhD degree requirements
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1. Upon first occurrence of a grade of U (unsatisfactory) in any of 790 (MS thesis), 890
(predissertator), and 990 (dissertator) research, the faculty advisor will notify the ME Graduate
Committee (MEGC) and submit a copy of each annual performance record for that student to
the MEGC. The MEGC will then meet with the faculty advisor to discuss the student's research
performance and what steps are planned to help the student achieve a satisfactory level of
progress in research. The faculty advisor will then meet with the student to communicate the
plan with the student.
2. Upon any subsequent occurrence of a grade of U in 790, 890, or 990 research, the faculty
advisor will again notify the MEGC and resubmit annual performance records. The MEGC will
meet with the faculty advisor to decide whether to end the student's PhD candidacy. The
faculty advisor will inform the student of the MEGC /advisor decision. The MEGC will
document its recommendations, including justifications and materials reviewed, and submit
the recommendations to the Department Chair. The student will also be provided with the
documented recommendations.
3. If the student disagrees with a decision to end PhD candidacy, within 10 days of being notified
of the decision, he or she may submit a written petition to the MEGC that clearly describes
specific efforts made to improve performance and how continuation of PhD candidacy will
lead to a satisfactory research outcome. The MEGC will then decide whether to 1) grant an
extended research-probation period under the same faculty advisor, 2) grant a research-
probation period under a new faculty advisor, or 3) retain the original decision. The MEGC
will notify the Department Chair of its recommendation.
4. If an extension period is granted, the current faculty advisor will conduct a performance
review with the student at the end of the period. The advisor will then meet with the MEGC,
which will decide to either reinstate the student to non-probationary PhD candidacy or end the
student's PhD candidacy. The MEGC will notify the Department Chair of its recommendation.
A PhD student whose candidacy has been ended due to unsatisfactory research progress may remain
eligible for an MS degree, but the student loses his or her guarantee of assistantship support.
xiii. Check-out procedure
1.
Keys must be returned to the Mechanical Engineering Department Oce (room 2107 Mechanical
Engineering Building) prior to leaving. Your degree may be delayed if you do not follow this
requirement. The purpose is to ensure that all department equipment is returned and that your
oce and desk are clean and ready to be used by another person. The checkout process should not
be done at the last minute. One week before leaving would be ideal.
2.
If you had an assistantship appointment in your last semester, contact the Mechanical Engineering
Payroll & Benets Coordinator to let them know when you upload your dissertation to ProQuest.
Ideally, please contact them before, or on the day, you complete the upload. At minmum, you
must do this before you leave campus. Any overpayment of payroll/benets due to failure to report
the termination of an appointment, may result in a repayment requirement.
3.
For Domestic students, your diploma will be sent to your mailing address. For International
students, your diploma will be sent to your diploma address. Please conrm this address is correct
PhD degree requirements
UW–Madison, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Mechanics Programs, Graduate
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in your Student Center. Diplomas are sent 12 to 14 weeks aer graduation to the mailing address or
diploma address, respectively.
registrar.wisc.edu/diploma
4.
An online survey will be emailed to all graduate students completing their degree. This survey is
extremely helpful to the department in tracking where students go aer graduation. We greatly
appreciate your cooperation in completing this survey.
5.
You can keep your wisc.edu email but you will only have access to Oce 365 email, calendar,
people/contacts and tasks. Students who graduate can also apply for a UW alumni email from the
Wisconsin Alumni Association.
Leaving the University Knowledge Base
uwalumni.com/resources-services/email/
6.
Feel free to contact the ME Gradute Coordinator if you have any questions or concerns in the
future, and please keep in touch!
xiv. Length of time to degree
The majority of Mechanical Engineering PhD students complete their degree in 6 years (or less)
7
. Any
student unable to defend their thesis in this period will be reviewed by the Mechanical Engineering
Graduate Committee to determine why it is taking longer than expected to complete their degree.
There are many reasons why a graduate student may require more time to complete their degree.
Therefore, the Mechanical Engineering Graduate Committee will request the following information
from you to review during their meeting:
• Date
• Name of student
• Name of advisor
• Accomplishments to date (300 words or less)
• Extenuating circumstances, if any
• Plans for degree completion (include predicted defense date)
• A list of publications published, in press, or submitted
7
Data on Time to Degree can be found at the following Graduate School website: grad.wisc.edu/data/degrees-awarded
Doctoral minor in Engineering Mechanics
UW–Madison, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Mechanics Programs, Graduate
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Doctoral minor in Engineering Mechanics
Students from outside the Engineering Mechanics graduate program can receive a doctoral minor in
Engineering Mechanics. The requirements for an external minor in Engineering Mechanics are listed
below. The minor must be approved by the Mechanical Engineering Department. Submit the form to
the ME Graduate Coordinator, for approval.
intranet.engineering.wisc.edu/mechanical-engineering/current-me-student-resources/
i. Requirements for external minor
1.
A student who has earned an MS degree in Engineering Mechanics will be considered to have
fullled the minor requirements.
2.
A minimum of 10 credits in EMA courses, including 3 credits in 700-level or above courses. In
addition,
a.
All courses used for the minor must be level 300 or above and taken aer the bachelor’s
degree.
b.
Ordinarily only one course (maximum of 3 credits) of independent study is allowed (599,
690, 799, 999).
c.
Research and thesis courses may not be used for the minor.
d.
No more than 5 credits completed 5 or more years prior to admission to the PhD major
may be used.
e.
Courses taken 10 or more years ago may not be used.
f.
Courses taken pass/fail or for audit may not be used.
g.
Courses with grades of “S” given in courses graded on a credit/no credit basis are
acceptable.
3.
A GPA of 3.0 or higher must be maintained for the minor.
4.
A maximum of 6 credits may be transferred from other institutions to satisfy the minor
requirements.
5.
The minor must be approved by the ME Associate Chair for Graduate Studies. The form is available
on the ME Intranet page.
6.
The EM Minor must be ocially declared before it can be earned. Begin the declaration process
early in your PhD career. To declare the EM minor, follow these steps:
i. Access the Graduate School Add/Change Program form in your MyUW. Request to “Add”
the EM doctoral minor.
ii. Contact the ME Graduate Coordinator to obtain the EM minor coursework approval form.
iii. Fill out the form as indicated and return it to the ME Graduate Coordinator.
iv. The ME Department will review your request and make a decision.
v. You will be notified via email of the decision and the following steps.
Contact the ME Graduate Coordinator with any questions on the minor and the declaration process.
Enrollment
UW–Madison, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Mechanics Programs, Graduate
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Enrollment
enroll.wisc.edu
i. Minimum credit requirements
During the fall and spring semesters, a full-time graduate student carries 8 to 15 credits, and during
the 8-week summer session, 4 to 12 credits. Continuing students who are not funded in the summer
are not required to enroll in courses to maintain their status as a graduate student. If you are funded in
the summer, a minimum of 2 enrolled credits is required.
Dissertators are always required to enroll for 3 credits during the fall and spring. Enrollment in
3 credits during the summer session is required for graduate assistants, trainees, and fellows.
grad.wisc.edu/documents/enrollment-requirements
Please note: pass/fail courses, audited courses, or courses numbered below 300 do not count towards
minimum or maximum requirements. They are in essence counted as zero credits.
ii. Minimum full-time enrollment requirements
Minimum enrollment for full-time status:
Categories
Fall or Spring
Summer (general 8-week DHH session)
Dissertator
Exactly 3 credits
directly related to
research
Not required; unless receiving summer degree or if graduate
assistant, trainee, or fellow, 3 credits required
RA, non-dissertator
8 credits
2 credits
TA/Lecturer (SA) 33%, non-
dissertator
8 credits
2 credits minimum
TA/Lecturer (SA) 50%, non-
dissertator
6 credits
2 credits minimum
PA 33%, non-dissertator
6 credits
Not required unless receiving summer degree, 2 credits
minimum
PA 50%, non-dissertator
4 credits
Not required unless receiving summer degree, 2 credits
minimum.
Fellow, non-dissertator
8 credits
2 credits for 12-month appointments. Not required for 9-
month appointments.
Trainee, non-dissertator
8 credits
2 credits
International student (F-1/J-1 visa),
non-dissertator, if no other category
in this list
8 credits
4 credits when summer is admit semester (2 credits when
summer is admit semester and student holds RA
appointment or at least 33% TA or PA appointment)
If none of the above, full time
enrollment is:
8 credits
4 credits
Enrollment
UW–Madison, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Mechanics Programs, Graduate
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iii. Research and independent study courses
a. Research section enrollment
You may enroll in Engineering Mechanics research courses (790, 890, and 990) as approved by your
faculty advisor providing that you meet the following pre-requisites:
• 790 sections are for MS students and require students to be both a Department of Mechanical
Engineering graduate student and be admitted to the MS-Research program.
• 890 and 990 sections are for PhD students and require students to be both a department of
Mechanical Engineering graduate student and be admitted to the PhD program. 890 is for pre-
dissertators and 990 is for dissertators.
• Students who do not meet the requirements for 790, 890, or 990 will need to request that their
faculty advisor submit an email request for enrollment permission to the Mechanical
Engineering Graduate Coordinator. The request must include your name, campus ID, the
enrollment term, and the course number.
Research credits (790, 890, and 990) are graded as P (Progress), S (Satisfactory), or U (Unsatisfactory).
Research credits are not weighted into a student’s GPA.
A grade of P (Progress) for a research course means the course was not ocially given a nal grade by
the faculty advisor. A grade of P may prevent a warrant from being requested and will prevent a
student from graduating. Contact your faculty advisor or the Mechanical Engineering Graduate
Coordinator with questions regarding resolving P grades.
b. Independent study enrollment
Engineering Mechanics students who would like to enroll in an independent study course (EMA 599)
must rst meet with the intended faculty and agree upon a plan of study. The faculty advisor must
submit an email request for enrollment permission to the Mechanical Engineering Graduate
Coordinator. The request must include your name, campus ID, the enrollment term, and the course
number.
Independent study credits (EMA 599) are graded with a letter grade (A–F) and are weighted with the
student’s GPA.
iv. Wait list
In Course Search & Enroll (enroll.wisc.edu), if a class is closed and the department is maintaining a
waiting list, a yellow triangle will display on that course section. If you would like to be placed on the
wait list you’ll need to check the box titled ‘Please Wait List Me’ on the Enrollment Preferences page
and continue through the enrollment to nalize your request. The Registrar’s Oce provides
directions at https://kb.wisc.edu/registrar/15644. You will be allowed to place yourself on a wait list for
a maximum of three class sections. You will receive permission to enroll from the waitlist through an
email notication. You have 48 hours to enroll aer receiving notication, so check your email daily.
Prerequisite: You must be enrolled in at least one course.
Enrollment
UW–Madison, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Mechanics Programs, Graduate
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v. Credit overload
To enroll for more than the maximum credit load in any given semester, you must submit a Credit
Overload Request form. This form must be signed by your faculty advisor and turned in to the
Graduate School, 217 Bascom Hall. The Graduate School will look closely at the rationale for the
request, and if the request is approved, you will be notied that they can add the course. This form
MUST be submitted at least one week before the add deadline.
grad.wisc.edu/documents/forms
registrar.wisc.edu/dates/
Exit Interviews
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Exit Interviews
The EM Program will conduct interviews of all graduate students who complete their degrees and of
those who leave without completing a degree. Two formats will be available: students will be
encouraged to meet with a member of the Graduate Studies Committee, but they will be allowed to
complete an online survey when an in-person meeting is not practicable. Specific survey questions
may be adjusted over time, but they will need to cover at least the following topics:
1. The student’s degree of satisfaction with mentor/mentee relationships,
2. The quality of the research experience,
3. Whether the climate of the research group was constructive,
4. Coursework requirements and options that contributed greatest and least to the student’s
professional knowledge,
5. Whether the climate of the ME Department was supportive of the student’s professional
development, and
6. The extent to which the EM graduate experience prepared the individual for forthcoming
career steps.
Commencement
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Commencement
Graduating students are encouraged to participate in the Commencement ceremony. Commencement
ceremonies are held in December and May. Because there is no ceremony oered during the summer,
students have the option to participate in the winter or spring ceremony. Students should think of
their degree completion and participation in the commencement ceremony as two separate events.
To participate in the Commencement ceremony for any given semester, you apply for graduation in
your Student Center. You can decide to participate in the ceremony up until the day of the ceremony.
You need to apply for graduation before the deadline announced by the Chancellor’s Oce, if you
want your name in the commencement program. Please watch for email announcements regarding
Commencement.
registrar.wisc.edu/applyforgraduation
Traditionally, PhD students are escorted by their faculty advisor. PhD students should discuss their
commencement plans with their faculty advisor.
The Chancellor’s Commencement website has more information on ordering the proper attire, dates,
and times. Remember to order your cap and gown!
commencement.wisc.edu
i. Degree completion letter
The Oce of the Registrar and the Graduate School provide a Degree Completion Letter documenting
degree completion until your degree is posted and your diploma arrives.
registrar.wisc.edu/degreecompletion
ii. Duplicate or replacement diploma
If you need a duplicate or replacement diploma, please complete and submit the duplicate diploma
request form to the Oce of the Registrar. The cost is $50 (USD).
registrar.wisc.edu/diploma
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Satisfactory progress: academic expectations
All graduate students are expected to make satisfactory progress toward their degree each semester.
Satisfactory progress means taking a sucient number of courses each semester, maintaining the
required grade point average, moving ahead on the degree requirements, participating in required
ethics and safety training, and making good progress on your thesis or dissertation. Your advisor, the
Graduate Committee and the Graduate School are responsible for determining satisfactory progress.
Continuation in the Graduate School is at the discretion of your program, the Graduate School, and
your faculty advisor.
The Graduate School sets minimum standards that all graduate students in the university must meet.
Many departments and programs have additional requirements that exceed these Graduate School
minimum requirements. The denition of satisfactory progress varies by program. The Graduate Guide
contains the Graduate School’s minimum degree requirements and each program’s minimum criteria
for satisfactory progress.
guide.wisc.edu/graduate
The Graduate School requires that you maintain a minimum graduate GPA of 3.00 in all graduate-level
work (300 or above, excluding research, audit, credit/no credit, and pass/fail courses) taken as a
graduate student unless probationary admission conditions require higher grades. If you are unable to
complete coursework by the end of the semester, instructors may assign temporary I (Incomplete)
grades if all but a small fraction of the coursework at the end of a semester was completed.
Engineering Mechanics graduate students are allowed the subsequent semester of enrollment to
complete coursework graded as incomplete. A course with a grade of PI does not count towards the
degree requirements. Students cannot graduate with an Incomplete (I) grade on their record.
A student may be placed on probation or suspended from the Graduate School for low grades or for
failing to resolve incompletes in a timely fashion. In special cases the Graduate School permits
students who do not meet these minimum standards to continue on probation upon recommendation
and support of their advisor.
grad.wisc.edu/documents/probation
A student may be placed on probation or dismissed from the Department of Mechanical Engineering
for failing to make satisfactory progress (see Section XVII. Disciplinary action and dismissal).
Most programs require satisfactory progress to continue guaranteed funding support. Unsatisfactory
progress may cause students to lose a TA, RA, or Fellowship appointment, and possibly their status as
a graduate student.
grad.wisc.edu/documents/satisfactory-progress
i. Probation
If a student was admitted on probation and they satisfy the conditions outlined at the time of
admission, probationary status will be removed automatically. Once their studies have begun,
students are expected to make satisfactory progress toward their degree.
Students must be in good academic standing with the Graduate School, their program, and their
advisor. The Graduate School regularly reviews the record of any student who received grades of BC,
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C, D, F, or I in graduate-level courses (300 or above), or grades of U in research and thesis. This review
could result in academic probation with a hold on future enrollment, and the student may be
suspended from graduate studies.
The Graduate School may also put students on probation for incompletes not cleared within one term.
Dissertators will not be placed on probation for incomplete grades in research courses. All incomplete
grades must be resolved before a degree is granted.
Please note that any student who is on probation will not be able to enroll for the following semester
until their nal grades are submitted and the Graduate School has veried they are making
satisfactory progress. For any questions relating to probation, please contact The Graduate School
Academic Services, at (608) 262-2433 or gsacserv@grad.wisc.edu.
Satisfactory progress: conduct expectations
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Satisfactory progress: conduct expectations
i. Professional conduct
All students are expected to adhere to the highest standards of professional behavior and ethics. You
should avoid even an appearance of improper behavior or lack of ethical standards while in Graduate
School at UW–Madison, in all professional settings, and in your personal lives. You should conduct
yourself according to the standards expected of members of the profession to which you aspire.
Concerns about infractions of Professional Conduct may be eectively handled informally between
the instructor/advisor and the student. If a resolution is not achieved, a graduate program
representative may be included in the discussion. Separate and apart from a violation of Professional
Conduct, a student may face University disciplinary action with regard to the same action.
You are responsible for reading the information here as well as the information published on all the
relevant websites. Lack of knowledge of this information does not excuse any infraction.
1.
Professional Ethics. You shall:
• show respect for a diversity of opinions, perspectives, and cultures;
• accurately represent your work and acknowledge the contributions of others;
• aim to gain knowledge and contribute to the knowledge base of others;
• understand the UW Student Code of Conduct;
conduct.students.wisc.edu
• represent your profession and the program; and
• strive to incorporate and practice disciplinary ideals in your daily lives.
Resumes/CVs must reect accurate information.
2.
Honesty and Integrity. You shall:
• demonstrate honesty and integrity as shown by honesty and ethics in research and IRB
applications—including honesty in interpretation of data; commitment to an unbiased
interpretation of academic and professional endeavors; and the need to document research
activities, protect subject/client condentiality, and HIPAA regulations.
• follow through and pull your weight in group activities and understand where collaboration
among students is or is not allowed;
• not plagiarize others or past work (self-plagiarism), cheat, or purposefully undermine the
work of others; and
• avoid conicts of interest for the duration of your time in the program.
As a professional, honesty and integrity also extends to personal behavior in life outside of the
academic setting by realizing that students are representatives of the program, UW–Madison, and
the profession as a whole.
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3.
Interpersonal and Workplace Relationships. You shall interact with peers, faculty, sta and
those your encounter in their professional capacity in a manner that is respectful, considerate, and
professional. This includes and is not limited to:
• attending all scheduled meetings,
• honoring agreed-upon work schedules,
• being on-time and prepared for work/meetings,
• contributing collaboratively to the team,
• keeping the lines of communication open,
• oering prompt response to inquiries,
• and employing respectful use of available equipment/technology/resources.
Chronic or unexplained absences are unprofessional in the workplace and could be grounds for
termination or removal of funding. To facilitate the free and open exchange of ideas, any criticism
shall be oered in a constructive manner, and the right of others to hold dierent opinions shall be
respected.
4.
Commitment to Learning. You are expected to meet you educational responsibilities at all times.
Be actively prepared for class and be ready for questions and answers. Be on time for every class
and always show courtesy during class or if you have to leave class early. If possible, you should
notify the instructor at least one day in advance of a planned absence. Students who are unable to
attend class are responsible for nding out what occurred that day and should not expect
instructors to give them individual instruction.
Recognizing that the pursuit of knowledge is a continuous process, you shall show commitment to
learning by persevering despite adversity and seeking guidance in order to adapt to change. You
shall strive for academic excellence and pursue and incorporate all critique, both positive and
negative, in the acquisition of knowledge in order to understand and respect the community in
which you work.
5.
Professional Appearance. You shall convey a positive, professional appearance in order to
represent the program in a dignied manner. Appearance includes a person’s attire, hygiene, and
appropriate etiquette/protocols for the environment (including safety protocols and protective
clothing in environments that require them).
This graduate program, the Graduate School, and the Division of Student Life all uphold the
UW System policies and procedures in place for academic and non-academic misconduct. In addition,
graduate students are held to the same standards of responsible conduct of research as faculty and
sta. Furthermore, unprofessional behavior towards clients/subjects, faculty, sta, peers and public
are signicant issues in the evaluation and promotion of students. In turn, we hold expectations for
the highest level of academic integrity and expect professional, ethical, and respectful conduct in all
interactions. Students may be disciplined or dismissed from the graduate program for misconduct or
disregard for professional conduct expectations regardless of their academic standing in the program.
Separate and apart from a violation of Professional Conduct, a student may face University
disciplinary action with regard to the same action.
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ii. Hostile and intimidating behavior
Hostile and intimidating behavior, sometimes known by the shorthand term “bullying,” is dened in
university policy as “unwelcome behavior pervasive or severe enough that a reasonable person would
nd it hostile and/or intimidating and that does not further the University’s academic or operational
interests.”
hr.wisc.edu/hib/principles-and-policies
Hostile and intimidating behavior (HIB) can occur in the university setting. Even individual instances
of such behavior can have a signicant eect on the person it’s aimed at, and can take a physical and
emotional toll, reduce the eectiveness of a person’s work or learning. It is a signicant reason for
unhealthy workplace climate and culture and should be addressed immediately. Hostile and
intimidating behavior is prohibited by university policy.
a. What is hostile and intimidating behavior?
Hostile and intimidating behavior is dened as unwelcome behavior pervasive or severe to the extent
that it makes the conditions for work inhospitable and impairs another person’s ability to carry out
his/her responsibilities to the university, and that does not further the University’s academic or
operational interests. A person or a group can perpetrate this behavior. The person need not be more
senior than or a supervisor to the target. Unacceptable behavior may include, but is not limited to:
• Abusive expression (including spoken, written, recorded, visual, digital, or nonverbal, etc.)
directed at another person in the workplace, such as derogatory remarks or epithets that are
outside the range of commonly accepted expressions of disagreement, disapproval, or critique in
an academic culture and professional setting that respects free expression;
• Unwarranted physical contact or intimidating gestures;
• Conspicuous exclusion or isolation having the eect of harming another person’s reputation in
the workplace and hindering another person’s work;
• Sabotage of another person’s work or impeding another person’s capacity for academic
expression, be it oral, written, or other;
• Abuse of authority, such as using threats or retaliation in the exercise of authority, supervision,
or guidance, or impeding another person from exercising shared governance rights, etc.
Repeated acts or a pattern of hostile and/or intimidating behaviors are of particular concern. A single
act typically will not be sucient to warrant discipline or dismissal, but an especially severe or
egregious act may warrant either.
b. What to do if you feel you’ve been the target of hostile and intimidating behavior
Undesired consequences of hostile and intimidating behavior can be avoided or minimized when the
problem is addressed early on, but victims are oen hesitant to pursue a formal process before the
impact is severe. Educational opportunities and campus resources have been implemented with the
intent of aiding all employees and students in defusing situations before they become severe. These
resources, including trained personnel who can advise and mediate, comprise the “informal
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approach.” It is possible that situations will continue to arise in which informal interventions are not
eective, and the “formal approach” has been designed to address those situations.
hr.wisc.edu/hib/addressing-hib
You are encouraged to seek out advice and consultation aer the rst instance of hostile and
intimidating behavior: consultation is not escalation. Discussing what’s happened in a timely way can
oen prevent continued bullying. Here are some ways to do this:
• Seek advice from a trusted colleague;
• You may choose to seek informal resolution by approaching the individual yourself or with an
intermediary;
• Consult your advisor, human resources representative, department chair, director, dean, or any
campus resource to discuss options for resolution;
• Keep notes of what happened, when, where, and who was present. Retain copies of any
correspondence.
Graduate students sometimes experience hostile and intimidating behavior from faculty members. If
you are a student who is experiencing such behavior, you are entitled to support as a university
employee through the Ombuds oce, the Dean of Students oce, and (if a grad student) the Graduate
School. Graduate student workers should also consult with Graduate Coordinators, TAA Stewards,
and/or the Graduate School.
ombuds.wisc.edu
doso.students.wisc.edu
grad.wisc.edu/contacts
Mechanical Engineering graduate students with concerns may contact the Associate Chair for
Graduate Studies, Chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, or the College of Engineering
Assistant Dean for Graduate Aairs.
iii. Academic misconduct
Academic misconduct is an act in which a student (UWS 14.03(1)):
1.
seeks to claim credit for the work or eorts of another without authorization or citation;
2.
uses unauthorized materials or fabricated data in any academic exercise;
3.
forges or falsies academic documents or records;
4.
intentionally impedes or damages the academic work of others;
5.
engages in conduct aimed at making false representation of a student’s academic performance; or
6.
assists other students in any of these acts.
Examples of academic misconduct include but are not limited to:
1.
cutting and pasting text from the Web without quotation marks or proper citation;
2.
paraphrasing from the Web without crediting the source;
3.
using notes or a programmable calculator in an exam when such use is not allowed;
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4.
using another person’s ideas, words, or research and presenting it as one’s own by not properly
crediting the originator;
5.
stealing examinations or course materials;
6.
changing or creating data in a lab experiment;
7.
altering a transcript;
8.
signing another person’s name to an attendance sheet;
9.
hiding a book knowing that another student needs it to prepare for an assignment;
10.
collaboration that is contrary to the stated rules of the course; or
11.
tampering with a lab experiment or computer program of another student.
Graduate School Policy & Procedure: Misconduct, Academic
grad.wisc.edu/documents/misconduct-academic
Oce of Student Conduct and Community Standards: Academic Misconduct
conduct.students.wisc.edu/academic-misconduct
University of Wisconsin System: Chapter UWS 14: Student Academic Disciplinary Procedures
docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/code/admin_code/uws/14
iv. Non-academic misconduct
The university may discipline a student in non-academic matters in the following situations:
1.
for conduct which constitutes a serious danger to the personal safety of a member of the university
community or guest;
2.
for stalking or harassment;
3.
for conduct that seriously damages or destroys university property or attempts to damage or
destroy university property, or the property of a member of the university community or guest;
4.
for conduct that obstructs or seriously impairs university-run or university-authorized activities, or
that interferes with or impedes the ability of a member of the university community, or guest, to
participate in university-run or university-authorized activities;
5.
for unauthorized possession of university property or property of another member of the
university community or guest;
6.
for acts which violate the provisions of UWS 18, Conduct on University Lands;
7.
for knowingly making a false statement to any university employee or agent on a university-related
matter, or for refusing to identify oneself to such employee or agent;
8.
for violating a standard of conduct, or other requirement or restriction imposed in connection
with disciplinary action.
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Examples of non-academic misconduct include but are not limited to:
1.
engaging in conduct that is a crime involving danger to property or persons, as dened in UWS
18.06(22)(d);
2.
attacking or otherwise physically abusing, threatening to physically injure, or physically
intimidating a member of the university community or a guest;
3.
attacking or throwing rocks or other dangerous objects at law enforcement personnel, or inciting
others to do so;
4.
selling or delivering a controlled substance, as dened in 161 Wis. Stats., or possessing a controlled
substance with intent to sell or deliver;
5.
removing, tampering with, or otherwise rendering useless university equipment or property
intended for use in preserving or protecting the safety of members of the university community,
such as re alarms, re extinguisher, re exit signs, rst aid equipment, or emergency telephones;
or obstructing re escape routes;
6.
preventing or blocking physical entry to or exit from a university building, corridor, or room;
7.
engaging in shouted interruptions, whistling, or similar means of interfering with a classroom
presentation or a university-sponsored speech or program;
8.
obstructing a university ocer or employee engaged in the lawful performance of duties;
9.
obstructing or interfering with a student engaged in attending classes or participating in
university-run or university-authorized activities;
10.
knowingly disrupting access to university computing resources or misusing university computing
resources.
Graduate School Academic Policies & Procedures: Misconduct, Non-Academic
grad.wisc.edu/documents/misconduct-nonacademic
Oce of Student Conduct and Community Standards: Non-Academic Misconduct
conduct.students.wisc.edu/nonacademic-misconduct
University of Wisconsin System: Chapter UWS 17: Student Non-Academic Disciplinary Procedures
docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/code/admin_code/uws/17
University of Wisconsin System: Chapter UWS 18: Conduct on University Lands
docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/code/admin_code/uws/18
v. Research misconduct
Much of graduate education is carried out not in classrooms, but in laboratories and other research
venues, oen supported by federal or other external funding sources. Indeed, it is oen dicult to
distinguish between academic misconduct and cases of research misconduct. Graduate students are
held to the same standards of responsible conduct of research as faculty and sta. The Graduate
School is responsible for investigating allegations of research misconduct. This is oen done in
consultation with the Division of Student Life as well as with federal and state agencies to monitor,
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investigate, determine sanctions, and train about the responsible conduct of research.
Associate Vice Chancellor for Research Policy, 333 Bascom Hall, (608) 262-1044.
Please see section on “Grievance procedures and misconduct reporting” for further information on
reporting research misconduct of others.
Graduate School Policies & Procedures: Responsible Conduct of Research
grad.wisc.edu/documents/responsible-conduct-of-research/
Oce of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Education: Research Ethics
research.wisc.edu/compliance-policy/research-ethics
Research and Graduate Education database: Reporting Research Misconduct
kb.wisc.edu/gsadminkb/page.php?id=34486
Research and Graduate Education database: Responsible Conduct of Research Resources
kb.wisc.edu/gsadminkb/search.php?cat=2907
Academic exception petition
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Academic exception petition
Academic exceptions are considered on a case-by-case basis and should not be considered a
precedent. Deviations from normal progress are highly discouraged, but the program recognizes that
there are in some cases extenuating academic and personal circumstances. Petitions for exceptions to
the Satisfactory Progress Expectations (academic or conduct), or other petitions shall be directed to
the Associate Chair for Graduate Studies. The following procedures apply to all petitions:
1.
The specic requirement/rule/expectation pertinent to the petition must be identied.
2.
Detailed information regarding the reason for the exception must be provided in writing.
3.
The student’s academic advisor must provide written support for the petition.
The Graduate Committee will review the petition and, in consultation with the student’s advisor, may
grant extensions to normal progress requirements for students who face circumstances (similar to
tenure extensions) as noted in university regulations, including signicant responsibilities with
respect to elder or dependent care obligations, disability or chronic illness, or circumstances beyond
one’s personal control. Where warranted, the petition should provide good evidence of plans and
ability to return to conformance with the standard and to acceptably complete the program.
Note that petitions for extension of academic timelines (e.g., qualifying exams) for childbirth and
adoption will be automatically granted as they are covered by the parental leave policy. The normal
extension will be one semester; anything beyond this will be granted only in the event of highly
extraordinary circumstances. Extensions will be granted formally with a note of explanation to be
placed in the student’s le. Students who are granted an exception will be reviewed by the Graduate
Committee and may be placed on probation (see section XIX. Disciplinary action and dismissal).
Disciplinary action and dismissal
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Disciplinary action and dismissal
The Mechanical Engineering Department will review the progress of each graduate student at the end
of every semester. A student’s failure to meet the program’s Satisfactory Progress Expectations
(academic or conduct) can result in disciplinary action, including immediate dismissal from the
program.
Once every semester, the Graduate Committee will conduct a review of all graduate students in the
program. A detailed review will be triggered by one or more of the following conditions:
• GPA for the semester was below 3.0.
• An Incomplete was earned in a formal course.
• The advisor gave either an Incomplete or an Unsatisfactory grade on research credits.
• Not participating in the yearly safety and ethics seminars.
• The Advisor indicated that the student is not making satisfactory progress in the College of
Engineering’s Graduate On-Line Assessment & Achievement Learning System (GOAALS).
• The Graduate Committee receives documentation from the Advisor that a student is not making
satisfactory progress on their research.
• Qualifying exam not taken in required semester, both with or without an exception granted by
the Graduate Committee.
• Student does not have an Advisor.
• Failure to complete Preliminary Examination within ve years of completing Qualifying
Examination.
• Failure to defend dissertation within ve years of completing Preliminary Examination.
• Academic misconduct incident.
• Non-academic misconduct incident.
• Research misconduct incident.
The outcome of the Graduate Committee’s review will be in the form of a recommendation to the
Department Chair and will consist of one of the following:
• Student is in Good Standing. The student is considered to be making satisfactory progress toward
their degree. Unless the Chair disagrees with the committee’s recommendation, no further action
will be taken and no additional notication will be provided.
• Student be placed on Departmental Probation. If the Graduate Committee nds that a student is
not making satisfactory progress (see Sections XIII and XIV) they can recommend that the
student be placed on Departmental Probation based on the supplied action plan or lack of
progress on an existing action plan. The student is permitted to enroll in the subsequent
semester, but the student and their advisor must put forward a specic plan with dates and
deadlines in place in regard to removal of probationary status by the end of the following
semester.
• Student be Dismissed from the Mechanical Engineering Department. The student has
demonstrated a sustained lack of progress toward degree completion or has been found guilty of
Disciplinary action and dismissal
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signicant academic, non-academic, or research misconduct by the Dean of Students. If a
student is on Departmental Probation for multiple semesters (sequential or dispersed) the
Graduate Committee may recommend that the student be Dismissed from the Department of
Mechanical Engineering. The student will not be allowed to enroll in the subsequent semester.
Students who have been dismissed from the Mechanical Engineering program will need to
reapply to the department if they want to pursue a degree in Mechanical Engineering.
Applications will not be considered within one calendar year of dismissal.
In the event that the result of the review is a recommendation of Departmental Probation or Dismissal
from the Department, the recommendation will be transmitted to the student by letter from the
Graduate Committee, and the nal decision of the Chair will be transmitted in a separate letter. No
notication will be given to students in Good Standing.
If a student is on Departmental Probation, the Mechanical Engineering Graduate Committee may
recommend revoking that student’s funding guarantee. Graduate students can receive nancial
support through a scholarship, fellowship, assistantship, etc., without a funding guarantee. The lack
of a funding guarantee only means that the student’s Advisor and the Department of Mechanical
Engineering are not obligated to nancially support them.
A student will be removed from Departmental Probation and considered in Good Standing when they
have completed their Action Plan in a satisfactory manner. In other words, once a student is again
making satisfactory academic progress they will be considered in Good Standing, hence removed from
Probation.
Funding guarantees are not automatically reinstated aer a student is removed from Departmental
Probation and is again in Good Standing.
Grievance procedures and reporting misconduct and crime
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Grievance procedures and
reporting misconduct and crime
i. Grievance procedures
If a student feels unfairly treated or aggrieved by faculty, sta, or another student, the University
oers several avenues to resolve the grievance. Students’ concerns about unfair treatment are best
handled directly with the person responsible for the objectionable action. If the student is
uncomfortable making direct contact with the individual(s) involved, they should contact the advisor
or the person in charge of the unit where the action occurred (program or department chair, section
chair, lab manager, etc.). Many departments and schools/colleges have established specic
procedures for handling such situations; check their web pages and published handbooks for
information. If such procedures exist at the local level, these should be investigated rst. The Assistant
Dean for Graduate Aairs (engr-dean-graduatea[email protected].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 diculties.
grad.wisc.edu/documents/grievances-and-appeals
ii. Mechanical Engineering’s procedures for proper accounting
of student grievances
1.
The student is encouraged to speak rst with the person toward whom the grievance is directed to
see if a situation can be resolved at this level.
2.
Should a satisfactory resolution not be achieved, the student should contact the Associate Chair for
Graduate Studies or Department Chair to discuss the grievance. The Associate Chair for Graduate
Studies or Department Chair will facilitate problem resolution through informal channels and
facilitate any complaints or issues of students. The rst attempt is 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 diculties if necessary. Find University resources for
sexual harassment, discrimination, disability accommodations, and other related concerns at the
UW Oce of Equity and Diversity.
diversity.wisc.edu
Other campus resources:
The Graduate School
grad.wisc.edu
McBurney Disability Resource Center
mcburney.wisc.edu
Employee Assistance Oce
eao.wisc.edu
Ombuds Oce
ombuds.wisc.edu
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University Health Services
uhs.wisc.edu
3.
If the issue is not resolved to the student’s satisfaction the student can submit the grievance to the
Associate Chair for Graduate Studies in writing, within 60 calendar days of the alleged unfair
treatment.
4.
On receipt of a written complaint, a faculty committee will be convened by the Associate Chair for
Graduate Studies to manage the grievance. The faculty committee will obtain a written response
from the person toward whom the complaint is directed. This response will be shared with the
person ling the grievance.
5.
The faculty committee will determine a decision regarding the grievance. The Associate Chair for
Graduate Studies 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.
6.
At this point, if either party (the student or the person toward whom the grievance is directed) is
unsatised with the decision of the faculty committee, the party may le a written appeal. Either
party has 10 working days to le a written appeal to the School/College.
7.
Documentation of the grievance will be stored for at least 7 years. Signicant grievances that set a
precedent will be stored indenitely.
The Graduate School has procedures for students wishing to appeal a grievance decision made at the
school/college level.
grad.wisc.edu/documents/grievances-and-appeals
iii. Reporting misconduct and crime
The campus has established policies governing student conduct, academic dishonesty, discrimination,
and harassment/abuse as well as specic reporting requirements in certain cases. If you have a
grievance regarding unfair treatment towards yourself, please reference the procedures and resources
identied above.
If you learn about, observe, or witness misconduct or other wrongdoing, you may be required to
report that misconduct or abuse. Depending on the situation, it may be appropriate to consult with
your advisor, Graduate Program Coordinator, or other campus resources (such as the UW Oce of
Equity and Diversity, Graduate School, Mc Burney Disability Resource Center, Employee Assistance
Oce, Ombuds Oce, and University Health Services).
a. Research misconduct reporting
The University of Wisconsin–Madison strives to foster the highest scholarly and ethical standards
among its students, faculty, and sta. Graduate students and research associates are among the most
vulnerable groups when reporting misconduct because their source of nancial support and the
progress in their careers may be at risk by raising questions of wrongdoing. They are also oen the
closest witnesses to wrong-doing when it occurs and therefore must be appropriately protected from
the consequences of reporting wrongdoing and be informed of their rights.
Grievance procedures and reporting misconduct and crime
UW–Madison, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Mechanics Programs, Graduate
Student Handbook | Fall 2023
74
research.wisc.edu/compliance-policy/research-ethics
b. Academic misconduct reporting
If you know a classmate is cheating on an exam or other academic exercise, notify your professor,
teaching assistant, or proctor of the exam. As a part of the university community, you are expected to
uphold the standards of the university. Also, consider how your classmate’s dishonesty may aect the
overall grading curve and integrity of the program.
c. Sexual assault reporting
Faculty, sta, teaching assistants, and others who work directly with students at UW–Madison are
required by law to report rst-hand knowledge or disclosures of sexual assault to university ocials,
specically the Oce for Equity & Diversity or the Division of Student Life. This eort is not the same
as ling a criminal report. Disclosing the victim’s name is not required as part of this report.
doso.students.wisc.edu/report-an-issue
d. Child abuse reporting
As a UW–Madison employee (under Wisconsin Executive Order #54), you are required to immediately
report child abuse or neglect to Child Protective Services (CPS) or law enforcement if, in the course of
employment, the employee observes an incident or threat of child abuse or neglect, or learns of an
incident or threat of child abuse or neglect, and the employee has reasonable cause to believe that
child abuse or neglect has occurred or will occur. Volunteers working for UW–Madison sponsored
programs or activities are also expected to report suspected abuse or neglect. Please nd full details at:
compliance.wisc.edu/titleix/mandatory-reporting
e. Reporting and response to incidents of bias/hate
The University of Wisconsin–Madison values a diverse community where all members are able to
participate fully in the Wisconsin Experience. Incidents of bias/hate aecting a person or group create
a hostile climate and negatively impact the quality of the Wisconsin Experience for community
members. UW–Madison takes such incidents seriously and will investigate and respond to reported or
observed incidents of bias/hate.
doso.students.wisc.edu/report-an-issue
