Interdisciplinary Professional Programs
College of Engineering

Engineering Management

Online | 30 credits | 2-4 years | $1300 per credit
Application deadlines are: May 1 – Summer | July 1 – Fall | Nov 1 – Spring

MSEM students Matt Lowink, Mike Schlaak, and Zach Schuler attending the in-person residency.

Start your journey on the path to engineering leadership

Want to grow your career opportunities by joining the next generation of engineering leaders?

With the Master of Science in Engineering Management (MSEM) degree you will learn to communicate across the languages of business management and engineering, drive change and innovation at work through data-driven management, and position yourself for success in high-growth industries—all from a top-ranked, part-time, interactive online graduate program that fits into your busy life.

Learn from industry leaders, world-renowned faculty, and peers from leading industry organizations. This degree is a top-ranked, collaborative online program where you will immediately apply what you learn to your real projects. At UW-Madison, we have rich experience in creating effective programs that are designed for online—a learning experience to meet you where you are. 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 instructors and fellow learners. Our students and alumni consistently point to the value of the lifelong network they develop through our programs—built through teamwork, challenges, and projects.

Attend/View Info Sessions  Get our informational PDF

Academics

Degree Requirements
The online Master of Science in Engineering degree program requires 30 graduate credits. You will typically take two courses each semester.

Course web conferences are the only time-constrained course activities; all other weekly assignments can be accomplished on days and times of your choice. You can expect to spend about 20 hours a week on coursework and participating in team project activities.

Courses
The Engineering Management curriculum includes 22 credits of required courses and 8 credits of electives. Other appropriate electives may be selected upon approval by the program director.

Required Courses

Electives

Distance Learning that is Anything but Distant
The University of Wisconsin’s MEM program is designed to encourage participation through insightful discussions, collaboration on team projects, and learning from your peers.

You will be able to interact in each course with your fellow engineers, in a learning and networking environment, alongside other professionals.

This unique model also provides students exposure to best practices in virtual teamwork and collaboration – crucial skills in an increasingly global economy. In this program, you will use the Internet, live webconferencing, and software applications to complete assignments and participate in team projects.

Learning is Year-Round
You have the opportunity to experience UW campus life during the optional summer residency.

The multi-day session will correspond with coursework from your summer semester course and lead you into your fall courses with face-to-face group collaboration and expert speakers.

While you choose when to do most of your work each week, the fixed curriculum and semester schedule help you maintain focus and consistent progress. This flexible but structured approach produces graduates with valuable new skills.

Admission Requirements

Admission requirements for the Master of Science in Engineering Management (MSEM) program are listed below.
Exceptions to standard admission requirements are considered by the admissions committee on an individual basis.

  • A bachelor of science (BS) degree from a program accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) or the equivalent.*
  • A minimum of two years’ post baccalaureate engineering experience. Engineering co-op or intern experience may be applied to the experience requirement.
  • 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.
  • GRE is not required. Applicants who have taken the test are encouraged to submit their scores.

*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.

Begin the application process

Tuition Costs
$1,300 per credit payable at the beginning of each semester. Students are billed for courses in which they are enrolled each term. There is no lump sum payment plan.

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 $39,000*. (This tuition is based on 30 total credits, the cost will increase if for some reason a student needs more than 30 credits.)

* This total does not include travel and living expenses for summer residency programs, 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.

Heather Smith
Program Director

Email Heather

Karene Cary
Graduate Academic Advisor

Karene Cary

Email Karene

Related Certificate

Student Testimonials

“The most valuable part of the program was learning valuable skills that will help me become a manager in the future. My favorite part of the program was being surrounded by classmates with diverse experiences and learning from them.”

—Maha Hussein, Class of 2021

“I can’t speak more highly about the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the level of dedication they put into their students and programs. This is especially true as I worked to earn this degree through the pandemic and was able to witness their stellar management of the situation firsthand. I look forward to applying this degree to my current and future roles to best support and advance my company.”

—Robert D’Alessandro, Class of 2021

“The most valuable part of this program for my career was how it helped me grow as a leader. I have been fortunate enough to lead many different projects in my young career, and this program helped me better manage teams in my current role and will aid me in my future roles as well.”

—Payton Hilby, Class of 2021

News