Browse all Mechanical Engineering courses →
Red: department · Gray: UW–Madison
GPA and percentages are weighted by recorded letter grades. UW comparisons use the same terms. Cross-listed courses count once within this department and once across UW; department totals should not be added together. Grade counts are not unique students. Offering counts reflect captured records, not a complete historical schedule.
Grades have not been recorded for this term. Historical results remain in the overview above.
No released grades for this term.
65 courses
Overview of experimental and modeling techniques for human movement, covering motion capture, force plates, musculoskeletal modeling, inverse dynamics, and forward dynamic simulation.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Introduction to the physics of biological fluid flow with an emphasis on the cardiovascular system including blood rheology, pulsatile flow, wave travel, and topics relevant to blood flow measurement and biomedical device design.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2023–Spring 2026 · limited sampleSpecial Topics in Biomechanics covers various special topics in the field of biomechanics.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2025–Fall 2025 · limited sampleCovers engineering design principles for heavy-duty off-road vehicles, including engines, transmissions, traction, dynamics, suspension, and braking.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2023–Spring 2026Graduate course on stochastic methods for turbulent heat/momentum transfer, covering fully developed turbulence, numerical modeling, and stability/transition with engineering applications.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026 · limited sampleMatrix Methods in Machine Learning covers linear algebraic foundations including SVD, regression, and regularization applied to classification, clustering, and neural networks.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Robert Nowak, Eduardo Arvelo
Homework assignments were challenging but graded on completion, while summer terms were described as crammed and intense.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Introduction to Artificial Neural Networks covering theory and applications including MLPs, CNNs, RNNs, SVMs, and genetic algorithms for control, pattern recognition, and object detection.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Pedro Morgado
The course had a huge workload with many homeworks, exercises, and a group project. The first half was very difficult without a strong background in Linear Algebra or Calc 3.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Hands-on Introduction to Robotics covering concepts and tools for robotic systems, including actuators, sensors, manipulators, and control systems.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Peter Adamczyk
The course demanded substantial effort outside of class time, as classwork alone did not provide a deep feel for the code or mechanics. One student suggested that mastering Linux and ROS before enrolling would have made the material easier to manage.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2025ECE/ME 441 covers robotics analysis and design for serial chain manipulators, including forward/inverse/differential kinematics, dynamics, trajectory generation, and controls.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2025–Spring 2026 · limited samplePrinted and flexible electronics covering additive fabrication of thin-film electronics, printable techniques, materials, and applications, with a key focus on mechanically flexible electronic devices.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2025–Spring 2025 · limited sampleAutomatic Controls Laboratory covers lab-based design, analysis, and implementation of control for mechatronic systems, integrating mechanical and electrical engineering disciplines.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2024–Spring 2026 · limited sampleFundamental and advanced thermal radiation concepts, ranging from blackbody radiation to the radiative transfer equation and fluctuational electrodynamics. Key topics include radiative properties of materials and their relation to optical constants, radiative exchange between real surfaces, radiative transfer in participating media, radiative transfer in nanoscale geometries, and contemporary research topics. Proficiency in a programming language such as MATLAB, Python, Fortran, etc. [such asCOMP SCI 220] is required. Knowledge of intermediate heat transfer [such asM E 564] or knowledge of photonics [such asE C E 434] is required.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
No recorded grade history
Honors in Research I involves independent work in aerospace, engineering mechanics, or mechanical engineering under supervision.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
No recorded grade history
A laboratory course covering data processing, tension/compression tests, creep, fatigue, fracture, composites, combined stress, beam flexure, dynamic loads, and buckling.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Andrew Mikkelson
The course was rated as low difficulty, with lectures that explained concepts clearly and utilized many examples to aid comprehension.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Gasdynamics course covering thermodynamics and fluid dynamics of steady and unsteady compressible gas flows in one and two dimensions, including the method of characteristics, wave phenomena, and shock interactions.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
No recorded grade history
Harmonic motion; natural frequencies and vibration of damped and undamped single and multi-degree of freedom systems; general theory of free, forced, and transient vibrations modal analysis; lumped-mass modeling; balancing; vibration absorbers and tuned mass dampers; method of matrix equation formulation and solution; finite element modeling.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026 · limited sampleCovers feedback control theory, numerical optimal control, and quadcopter dynamics with hands-on labs on a nano quadcopter platform.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2026–Spring 2026 · limited sampleCovers inspection data, sampling plans, process control charts, and reliability models for quality control.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Hantang Qin
One student reported the class was extremely difficult, citing poor instruction.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Design and Analysis of Manufacturing Systems covers techniques for designing, analyzing, operating, and controlling modern manufacturing systems through case studies using industry data.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2023–Spring 2026Cooperative Education Program offering full-time workplace experience where students apply engineering theory and practical knowledge in a professional setting.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
No recorded grade history
Introduction to mechanical engineering covering modeling, experimentation, analysis, design, ethics, communication, and shop safety.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Gregory Nellis
The group project took lots of time outside of class to complete, and it was important to work ahead on it.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Introduction to geometric description and modeling of mechanical form, components, and assemblies using CAD systems, covering descriptive geometry, engineering drawing, and GDT.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Kate Fu
Students reported that the CAD modeling aspect was easy, though the final project was decently time-intensive. The specific workload for the project varied depending on the dynamics of the student's group.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Undergraduate Mechanical Engineering Projects involves individual lab projects under staff supervision.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Independent study course involving directed study projects arranged with the instructor.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
No recorded grade history
Introductory course covering polymer processing, materials, manufacturing, recycling, ethics, and modeling techniques such as dimensional analysis and simulation.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Tim Osswald
Exams were described as difficult and distinct from lecture material, with one student finding studying extremely hard due to the disconnect between labs and classes.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Introduces metal manufacturing processes, design for manufacturability, automation, control, metrology, and engineering economics for cost determination.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Introduction to Computer Aided Engineering covering CAD/CAE fundamentals, modeling, manufacturing (NC/3D printing), and structural/thermal analysis.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Jason Oakley
Homework assignments took a long time to complete and were sometimes changed halfway through the deadline window, requiring students to start early.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Dynamic Systems covers mathematical modeling and analysis of dynamic systems with mechanical, thermal, and fluid elements, including time/frequency domain solutions and linearization.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Arganthael Berson
One student rated the course difficulty as low, noting that Prof. Berson was very helpful and made significant efforts to assist students during office hours.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Design of Machine Elements covers analysis and design of machine components, focusing on loads, stresses, fatigue, material selection, and power transmission systems like gearing and bearings.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Heidi Ploeg
One student found the course covered a wide range of difficult material that was hard to synthesize, noting there was always a significant amount of work due.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Interdisciplinary experiential design projects focusing on detailed design, fabrication, testing, and modification of systems and devices.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026