four students and Andy Dressel in bike lab

Engineering MS: Mechanical Engineering
MS

The mechanical engineering master’s degree program at UWM offers a focused learning environment that will deepen your understanding of core mechanical engineering principles and allow you to explore advanced topics with faculty who are pursuing ambitious and high-impact research.

An MS degree can also increase your competitiveness in the job market, opening doors to leadership roles and higher-paying positions within the mechanical engineering field.

Master’s students in mechanical engineering can specialize in various areas, such as renewable energy, robotics, battery technology, optics, biomechanics, tribology, water filtration, sensors, composite materials, or HVAC engineering. 

Program Type

Master’s

Program Format

On Campus

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Industrial Training and Assessment Center (IAC)

Mechanical engineering faculty and graduate student researchers from UWM’s U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)- funded ITAC have helped over 600 Wisconsin manufacturers to increase productivity and competitiveness by reducing energy and water consumption, enhancing cybersecurity, and adopting smart manufacturing technology. Learn more about the ITAC efforts here.

Students and Ryo Amano enter building for IAC assessment

Flexibility to achieve your specific goals

The mechanical engineering master’s degree at UWM is designed for both working professionals and aspiring researchers to achieve their respective goals. Students may choose either a thesis (30 credits) or a non-thesis option (31 credits) depending on their career objectives.

As a top R1 research university we strongly believe in critical thinking and the courage to ask bold questions, so we encourage students to pursue the development of a thesis. However, if you have prior engineering or scientific work experience and are seeking an MS for professional advancement, the non-thesis option is a great alternative that requires additional coursework in lieu of a thesis.

The MS in Engineering does not require a rigid set of courses, giving you the flexibility to design a program of study to be compatible with your interests and career objectives. This feature also makes the MS a solid stepping stone for doctoral level study. View the academic catalog for specific requirements.

View Teaching Assistantships (TAs) or Research Assistantships (RAs) information. Assistantship decisions are made by the academic departments only after an applicant has been accepted into the program.

More Information

Contact the College of Engineering & Applied Science Graduate Programs Office.

Research Labs for MS Mechanical Engineering

We’re a top tier R1 research university and our mechanical engineering master’s students have the opportunity to work with engineering faculty engaged in cutting-edge research around batteries, energy, optics, rehab robotics, sensors and tribology.

As an R1 research institution, research is integral to our work and to the experience of students pursuing graduate degrees. Our college has a wide range of faculty-led labs that perform cutting-edge research. View a list of all of our college’s research labs, centers, and institutes.

Faculty

Alqam, Hana'a
  • Lecturer, Mechanical Engineering
Amano, Ryoichi
  • Professor, Richard and Joanne Grigg Fellow, Mechanical Engineering
  • ASME Life Fellow, Royal Aeronautical Society Fellow
  • Director, Industrial Training and Assessment Center (ITAC)
Armstrong, Brian
  • Professor, Mechanical Engineering
Avdeev, Ilya
  • Professor, Mechanical Engineering
  • Director, Lubar Entrepreneurship Center (LEC)
  • Director, Advanced Manufacturing & Design Laboratory
Chang, Woo Jin
  • Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering
D'Souza, Roshan
  • Richard and Joanne Grigg Professorship
  • Professor, Mechanical Engineering
Lim, Saniel
  • Teaching Faculty II, Mechanical Engineering Department
Musinski, William
  • Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science & Engineering
Nosonovsky, Michael
  • Professor, Mechanical Engineering
Pillai, Krishna
  • Professor, Mechanical Engineering
Qu, Deyang
  • Johnson Controls Endowed Professor in Energy Storage Research
  • Department Chair, Biomedical Engineering
  • UWM Distinguished Professor, Mechanical Engineering
Rahman, Mohammad Habib
  • Richard and Joanne Grigg Professorship
  • Professor and Department Chair, Mechanical Engineering and Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering
  • Affiliate Professor, Computer Science and Biomedical Engineering
  • Switzer Research Distinguished Fellow
Reisel, John
  • Professor, Mechanical Engineering
  • Secretary of the University
Rohatgi, Pradeep
  • Distinguished Professor, Materials Science and Engineering Department
  • Distinguished Professor, Biomedical Engineering
  • Distinguished Professor, Mechanical Engineering
  • Director, Center for Advanced Manufacture of Materials
Salowitz, Nathan
  • Alan D. Kulwicki '77 Faculty Fellowship
  • Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering
  • Founder, Advanced Structures Laboratory
Schnorenberg, Alyssa Joy
  • Scientist I, Mechanical Engineering Department
  • Associate Director, Mobility Lab
Slavens, Brooke
  • Richard and Joanne Grigg Professor of Mechanical Engineering, EMS Office 1080
  • Affiliate Faculty of Biomedical Engineering and Rehabilitation Science & Technology
Stern, Nathaniel
  • Professor, Mechanical Engineering
  • Professor, Art & Design
  • Director of Academic Engagement & Creative Impact, Lubar Entrepreneruship Center
Sung, Yongjin
  • Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering
  • Associate Professor, Biomedical Engineering
Yahiaoui, Mohamed
  • Teaching Faculty 3, Mechanical Engineering

Advising

Crary, Therese
  • Advisor, Graduate Programs
  • Biomedical and Health Informatics, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering
Packard, Robert
  • Advisor, Graduate Programs
  • Civil/Environmental Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Industrial/Manufacturing Engineering, Materials Science & Engineering

UWM is proud to be one of only two R1 research universities in Wisconsin. We’re also a top externally funded institution with robust opportunities for teaching and research assistantships for students who are pursuing a master’s in mechanical engineering. Partners that support our important research include:

  • National Academy of Sciences, Engineering & Medicine
  • National Science Foundation
  • United States Department of Defense
  • United States Department of Energy
  • Regional businesses: Johnson Controls, Rockwell Automation, Harley Davidson, We Energies
Academic Catalog
All Academic Resources
College of Engineering and Applied Science Virtual Tour Stop - Mechanical Engineering Lab
Take a Virtual Tour of Mechanical Engineering
Important Dates
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Accreditation
This program is accredited by the U.S. Higher Learning Commission (HLC).