Stand Out as an Innovative Power Engineer
The Master of Science Electrical Engineering: Power program will prepare you for leading edge positions in industry in the areas of electric power, power electronics, motor drives, and electric machines.
UW–Madison’s Power Engineering master’s degree provides graduate students applicable and theoretical knowledge in power electronics, including alternative energy, through research and study of technological and conceptual innovations in electrical and computer engineering.
The education you receive at UW-Madison is directly applicable to a career in industry and is suitable for a new or recent graduate, as well as experienced professionals who seek the necessary (re)training to change or advance their careers.
UW–Madison’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering is recognized for excellence in research, instruction and service to the profession. It ranks among the top electrical and computer engineering departments in national surveys, consistently producing talented graduates whose skills are highly respected throughout the nation and around the world.
Learn and Network with the Best in the Industry
The Wisconsin Electric Machines and Power Electronics Consortium (WEMPEC) is a UW–Madison technology focus center sponsored by companies holding an interest in electric machines and power electronics. With a mission to provide education, research and service, WEMPEC is a model program demonstrating strong interaction between university and industry.
UW–Madison’s online engineering graduate programs are world-class degree and consistently ranked in the Top 10 online engineering master’s programs by U.S. News & World Report.
Learn more about this program!
Watch the most recent Spring 2020 session:
30 credits
2-4 years
$1600 per credit
Resident and non-resident
June 1/Nov 1
Fall/spring application deadlines
Related Certificate
Important Requirement
Admittance into the Master of Science: Electrical Engineering program requires completion of the Capstone Certificate in Power Conversion and Control.
- Course and Degree Plan
- Learning Online
- Faculty & Staff
- Admission Requirements
- Tuition and Financial Aid
Academics
UW–Madison and Wisconsin Electric Machines and Power Electronics Consortium (WEMPEC) faculty have established a comprehensive curriculum in the electrical machines and power electronics field that serves students at the university, as well as engineers already established in the industry.
Many courses in the Master of Science: Electrical Engineering program are taught by distinguished faculty from WEMPEC and UW–Madison’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, which is recognized for excellence in research, instruction and service to the profession.
The University of Wisconsin’s online Master of Science: Electrical Engineering program requires 30 credits including a three-week summer lab course, on campus, to complete the degree.
Each of these three options REQUIRES students to enroll in one summer lab course to fulfill degree requirements. Available labs are: ECE 504, or ECE 512.
Courses in the power engineering curriculum offer students a chance to improve their skill set. The curriculum is designed to provide students with an engaging experience, that is accessible anywhere—even when working full-time. This MS degree requires 30 credits, 15 of which must be ECE 400+ credits. In addition students choose between a course option or thesis/project option.
Required Courses
- Includes the following courses completed under the Power Conversion and Control Capstone certificate program:
- ECE 427 Electric Power Systems
- ME 447 Computer Control of Machines and Processes
- ECE 504 Electric Machine and Drive System Laboratory
- ECE 511 Theory and Control of Synchronous Machines
- ECE 512 Power Electronics Laboratory
- ECE/COMPSCI/ME 532 Matrix Methods in Machine Learning
- ECE 699 Advanced Independent Study
- ECE 711 Dynamics and Control of AC Drives
- ECE 712 Solid State Power Conversion
- ECE 713 Electromagnetic Design of AC Machines
- ECE 714 Utility Application of Power Electronics
- ECE/ME 739 Advanced Robotics
- ME 746 Dynamics of Controlled Systems
- ME 747 Advanced Computer Control of Machines and Processes
- ECE 790 Master’s Research or Thesis
- ECE 999 Advanced Independent Study
Students must take one three-week, summer laboratory, on campus in Madison, Wisconsin. Students may choose from ECE-504 Electric Machine and Drive System Laboratory or ECE-512 Power Electronics Laboratory, which are offered in alternate summers.
Students must complete a professional development assignment which is detailed here. Students must watch or attend 11 hours of seminars and technical presentations, 8 hours of which must be associated with material outside the power area.
At UW-Madison, we’ve built a learning experience to meet you where you are.
Whether your work involves frequent travel, changing hours, or periods of intense demand, our courses help you grow wherever you happen to be and whenever you have online access. We develop and deliver courses for high-performing professionals, with a deep understanding of the challenges those professionals face.
As a UW student, you will be part of a vibrant community, challenged and supported by your fellow learners, as well as instructors. Our students and alumni consistently point to the value of the global professional network they develop through our programs, built through teamwork, challenges, and projects, and lasting a lifetime.
Faculty members in the power engineering program are experts in their field and provide students with engaging, real-word educational examples and activities that they can put to use immediately in their daily work.
- Graduate Academic Advisor: Justin Kyle Bush, M.Ed.
- Steve Fredette, PhD
- Rich Shiferl
- Giri Venkataramanan, PhD
- Michael R. Zinn, PhD
Admission Requirements
Admission requirements for the Master of Science: Electrical Engineering program are listed below.
- Completion of the Capstone Certificate in Power Conversion and Control with a GPA of 3.3
- A bachelor of science (BS) degree from a program accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) or the equivalent.* An electrical engineering major is preferred.
- A minimum undergraduate grade-point average (GPA) of 3.00 on the equivalent of the last 60 semester hours (approximately two years of work) or a master’s degree with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00. Applicants from an international institution must have a strong academic performance comparable to a 3.00 for an undergraduate or master’s degree. All GPAs are based on a 4.00 scale. We use your institution’s grading scale; do not convert your grades to a 4.00 scale.
- Applicants whose native language is not English must provide scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). The minimum acceptable score on the TOEFL is 580 on the written version, 243 on the computer version, or 92 on the Internet version.
- International applicants must have a degree comparable to an approved U.S. bachelor’s degree.
- We highly recommend applicants submit scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).
*Equivalency to an ABET accredited program: Applicants who do not hold a bachelor’s degree from an ABET accredited program may also qualify for admission to the program. Such applicants must have a BS in science, technology, or a related field with sufficient coursework and professional experience to demonstrate proficiency in engineering practice OR at least 16 credits of math and science coursework. Registration as a professional engineer by examination, if achieved, should be documented to support your application.
All applicants are advised to determine whether this program meets requirements for licensure in the state where they live. See the National Society of Professional Engineers website for contact information for state licensing boards
Tuition Costs
$1,600 per credit, payable at the beginning of each semester.
Tuition Includes:
- Technology costs for internet course delivery
- Live web-conferencing
- Toll-free telephone line for the audio portion of conference calls
- Library use
- Use of the web-conferencing software for group project work for program courses
Total Tuition
Total tuition for this program is $48,000*.
* This total does not include travel and living expenses for summer residencies, textbooks, or course software. Software required for courses is typically available in educational versions at substantial discounts.
Federal Loans
Students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents are eligible to receive some level of funding through the Federal Direct loan program. These loans are available to qualified graduate students who are taking at least four credits during the fall and spring semesters, and two credits during summer. Private loans are also available. Learn more about financial aid.
Employer Support
Many students receive some financial support from their employers. Often, students find it beneficial to sit down with their employer and discuss how this program applies to their current and future responsibilities. Other key points to discuss include how participation will not interrupt your work schedule.
News
Student Spotlight: Hunter Finneran
Hunter Finneran is a graduate of our Power Conversion and Control (PCC) capstone certificate and is now pursuing his Master of Science in Electrical Engineering: Power, which he’ll graduate from in 2023. He currently lives …
Back to the Future: Mastering an Online Degree After a Multi-Year Break
Getting an online Master of Science in Electrical Engineering: Power degree was a bit nerve-wracking for Jeffrey Vasel after many years out of school. “When I graduated from college, online classes didn’t exist,” he says. …
UW–Madison Online Graduate Engineering Programs Ranked 9th by U.S. News & World Report
MADISON, Wis.—UW-Madison’s online master’s degrees in engineering were ranked #9 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. This is the eleventh year in the row that the online engineering programs, offered by the College of …
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