Students who minor in structural engineering will learn all about the framework of structures, and how to design those structures to withstand the stresses and pressures of their environment, and how to keep them safe, stable and secure throughout their use.

The minor in structural engineering is designed for students in: Architecture, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, Materials, Geology, and Physics.

This minor is not available to civil engineering majors.

Program Type

Minor

Program Format

On Campus

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Alumni Story

John Kissinger, ’79 BSE Structural Engineering and CEO of GRAEF, is one of only 20 people who know the secret of how the brise soleil at the Milwaukee Art Museum works. He’s also helped to build iconic Midwestern structures including the Wisconsin Center, the Quadracci Pavilion at the Milwaukee Art Museum, Chicago’s McCormick Place West addition and the renovation of Lambeau Field. Read more here.

What to expect when you’re a structural engineering minor:

The minor in structural engineering will provide you with a broad technical background in the framework of structures.

Requirements:

  • 18-credit minor requires Civ Eng 335, 360, and 372, and one of the following two courses: Civ Eng 571 or 572.
  • Two additional courses from the following: Civ Eng 401, 431, 456, 463, 502, 560, 566, 571, 572, 573, 574, 578, 579; and Arch 301, 510, and 516.

Honors:

Students at UWM have many opportunities to earn honors recognition. Click here for more detail.

Two students wearing protective eye and face gear hold material in a flame as they learn how to apply the structural engineering skills they learned in the classroom.
UWM Engineering students designing and fabricating a structurally sound Steel Bridge to compete at the annual competition for American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)

Get experience in structural engineering outside the classroom

UWM’s College of Engineering & Applied Science program provides many opportunities to pair classroom learning with hands-on experiences outside the classroom. The college’s location in Wisconsin’s largest city, with a broad network of industry partnerships, gives you easy access to well-paid internships and co-ops, as well as other important opportunities to enhance your resume. 

Internships & Co-ops

You’ll have many hands-on opportunities to develop your skills and determine what type of career experience you would like after graduation, with opportunities to earn a significant paycheck in nearby internships and co-ops over summer breaks and even during the academic year.

Here are some of the businesses where our civil engineering students have had internships, co-ops or launched careers:

  • AECOM
  • City of Milwaukee
  • CSD Structural Engineers
  • GRAEF
  • HNTB
  • Jacobs
  • JP Cullen
  • RA Smith
  • WEC Energy Group
  • Wisconsin DOT
Student Organizations

American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)

ASCE at UWM is chapter of Wisconsin ASCE that presents students with the opportunity to participate in engineering related activities and competitions, and network with other engineering students and professionals.

Construction Leadership Council – Student Chapter (CLC)

CLC provides young professionals with an opportunity to observe and develop their skills with current industry leaders.

Engineers Without Borders (EWB@UWM)

The humanitarian work of EWB@UWM brings running water to impoverished villages in the Ixil Triangle of Guatemala and aims to improve the sustainable use of energy in Wisconsin.

Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE)

ITE is an international society of transportation professionals who are responsible for meeting mobilty and safety needs.

Structural Engineering Society at UWM (SES-UWM)

SES-UWM expands the experience and knowledge of members in structural engineering-related fields through relevant events and technical workshops featuring notable speakers.

For full descriptions and contact information of all engineering and civil engineering related student organizations and clubs, click here.

Resource Rooms and Teaching Labs

Concrete and Construction Materials Lab

Students use this lab to test and determine properties of various types of cement.

Engineering Mechanics and Composites Research Lab

This lab is used to study the manufacturing, testing, characterization and nondestructive evaluation of polymer and non-polymer based composite materials.

Hydraulics Lab

Students use this lab to conduct experiments of groundwater flow theory and Darcy’s law, steady uniform open channel flow, non-uniform open channel flow, sediment transport, HEC-RAS river flow analysis, and stormwater management modeling.

Pavement Materials Lab

This lab uses the Triaxial test for resilient modulus determination of soils and aggregates, California Bearing Ratio, Micro-Deval abrasion test, and specific gravity and absorption of aggregates.

Soil Mechanics Instructional Lab

Students use this lab to perform various tests on soil to determine their physical, engineering, and mechanical properties. Apparatus and tools such as soil crushers and sample splitters are used to prepare soil specimens.

Structures & Mechanics Lab

This lab is used to perform load testing, as well as to test tension and compression, flexure, bend, fatigue and creep testing for reinforced concrete beams, steel and bolted connections.

Surveying Lab

Civil engineering students will use equipment and tools from this lab to measure distance and angles in order to perform a topographic survey,

Virtual Reality Infrastructure Lab

UWM is the first non-military user of this Euclideon hologram table in the U.S. It is unique in allowing multiple people to simultaneously view 3D digital objects from different perspectives without bulky headgear. Students are able to solve design problems here before the product shows up in a shop or in the field.

Water Quality Lab

Students will use this lab and its state-of-the-art equipment to perform various water quality tests including pH, turbidity, conductivity, and acidity.

UWM students have many additional resources available to them within the College of Engineering & Applied Science. From computer labs and tutoring resources to teaching labs and spaces to create or collaborate. Details here.

Research Opportunities

A benefit of attending a top tier R1 research university is the opportunity to work with faculty engaged in cutting-edge research and to participate in the Support for Undergraduate Research Fellows (SURF) program. The SURF program helps you to improve your professional preparation through research by closely working with our faculty to explore, discover, and transform ideas into reality.

SURF students also receive funding for their efforts: from 2012-2023 almost $1.5M was awarded to over 700 students from our college.

Graduate and undergraduate students also have the opportunity to participate in the annual Research Poster Competition & Experiential Learning Expo, providing them with excellent opportunities to share their work with judges from industry.

We’re here to help

Our dedicated Center for Student Experience & Talent (SET) works with our students to prepare them for a career after graduation.

What you’ll do as a Structural Engineer

Structural engineers often work alongside civil engineers and architects as part of a construction team to create drawings and specifications, perform calculations, review the work of other engineers, write reports and evaluations, and observe construction sites.

Most practicing structural engineers design and analyze buildings, bridges, power plants, electrical towers, dams, and other large structures that are essential to life as we know it.

Advising

  • Academic Advisor, Undergraduate Advising
  • Students with last names M-R
  • Academic Advisor, Undergraduate Advising
  • Students with last names A-E
  • Senior Advisor, Undergraduate Advising
  • Students with last names beginning F-L
  • Prospective Transfer Student Liaison
  • Senior Advisor, Undergraduate Advising
  • Students with last names beginning S-Z
  • Prospective Student Liaison

Tutoring Center

  • Retention Coordinator, Tutoring
  • Student Support Center Coordinator
  • Freshmen Orientation Instructor

Faculty

  • Assistant Professor of Engineering Education, Civil & Environmental Engineering
  • Scientist II, Civil & Environmental Engineering
  • Lab Manager, Bicycle and Motorcycle Engineering Research Laboratory, EMS W301
  • Advisor, American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
  • Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering
  • Department Chair, Civil and Environmental Engineering
  • Associate Dean for Research, Engineering & Applied Science Office of the Dean
  • Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering
  • Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering
  • Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering
  • Richard and Joanne Grigg Fellowship
  • Associate Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering
  • Richard and Joanne Grigg Professorship
  • Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering
  • Director, Institute for Physical Infrastructure and Transportation (IPIT)
  • Founder and Director, Safe and Smart Traffic Lab
  • Associate Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering
  • Assistant Professor, Civil & Environmental Engineering
  • Affiliate Assistant Professor, Electrical Engineering
  • Founder and Director, Automated, Connected & Electric Mobility Systems Lab
  • Richard and Joanne Grigg Professorship
  • Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering
  • Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering
  • Director, Structural Engineering Lab
  • Lawrence E. Sivak Faculty Fellowship
  • Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering
  • Richard and Joanne Grigg Fellowship
  • Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering
  • Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering
Contact
Civil & Environmental Engineering
Contact Info: ceas-cem@uwm.edu

Street Address
College of Engineering & Applied Science
3200 North Cramer Street
Milwaukee, WI 53211

Mailing Address
College of Engineering & Applied Science
P.O. Box 784
Milwaukee, WI 53201-0784