# Hardest courses in Mechanical Engineering | UW–Madison [View on UW Courses](https://uwcourses.com/departments/ME/hardest?term=1274) ## Dataset ### search projection #### version 1 #### terms * 1274 * 1272 * 1264 * 1262 * 1254 * 1252 * 1244 * 1242 * 1234 * 1232 * 1224 * 1222 * 1212 * 1204 * 1202 * 1194 * 1192 * 1184 * 1182 * 1174 * 1172 * 1164 * 1162 * 1154 * 1152 * 1144 * 1142 * 1134 * 1132 * 1124 * 1122 * 1114 * 1112 * 1104 * 1102 * 1094 * 1092 * 1084 * 1082 * 1074 * 1072 ### revision fc1811fa52e581ea57a35c0cf3343f8740a8ffbf ### repository twangodev/uwcourses ### schema version 6 ### importer version 10 ### projection id 25a5e1495a940a130efa223858e76f52294bba73a112cecf25208173491bd201 ### observed at 2026-10-14T17:50:09.728220+00:00 ### built at 2026-10-19T18:58:33.786556+00:00 ### courses 8929 ### current instructors 3758 ### limited false ### terms * 1274 * 1272 * 1264 * 1262 * 1254 * 1252 * 1244 * 1242 * 1234 * 1232 * 1224 * 1222 * 1212 * 1204 * 1202 * 1194 * 1192 * 1184 * 1182 * 1174 * 1172 * 1164 * 1162 * 1154 * 1152 * 1144 * 1142 * 1134 * 1132 * 1124 * 1122 * 1114 * 1112 * 1104 * 1102 * 1094 * 1092 * 1084 * 1082 * 1074 * 1072 ### term 1274 ### departments | subject | count | | --------- | ----- | | AAE | 90 | | ABT | 20 | | ACCTIS | 36 | | ACTSCI | 14 | | AFAERO | 10 | | AFRICAN | 87 | | AFROAMER | 70 | | AGROECOL | 21 | | AMERIND | 54 | | ANAT\&PHY | 7 | | ANATOMY | 2 | | ANESTHES | 8 | | ANSCI | 53 | | ANTHRO | 93 | | ART | 124 | | ARTED | 10 | | ARTHIST | 121 | | ASIALANG | 129 | | ASIAN | 109 | | ASIANAM | 28 | | ASTRON | 38 | | ATMOCN | 70 | | BIOCHEM | 52 | | BIOCORE | 10 | | BIOLOGY | 14 | | BIOMDSCI | 18 | | BME | 66 | | BMI | 41 | | BMOLCHEM | 10 | | BOTANY | 68 | | BSE | 44 | | C\&ESOC | 73 | | CBE | 48 | | CHEM | 101 | | CHICLA | 51 | | CIVENGR | 131 | | CLASSICS | 47 | | CNP | 11 | | CNSRSCI | 49 | | COMARTS | 137 | | COMPBIO | 15 | | COMPLIT | 10 | | COMPSCI | 138 | | COUNPSY | 78 | | CRB | 14 | | CS\&D | 71 | | CSCS | 39 | | CURRIC | 193 | | DANCE | 93 | | DERM | 8 | | DS | 88 | | DYSCI | 33 | | ECE | 155 | | ECON | 144 | | EDPOL | 115 | | EDPSYCH | 97 | | ELPA | 71 | | EMA | 52 | | EMERMED | 17 | | ENGL | 205 | | ENTOM | 39 | | ENVIRST | 149 | | EP | 15 | | EPD | 65 | | ESL | 15 | | F\&WECOL | 60 | | FAMMED | 21 | | FINANCE | 50 | | FOLKLORE | 38 | | FOODSCI | 43 | | FRENCH | 62 | | GEN\&WS | 144 | | GENBUS | 72 | | GENECSLR | 17 | | GENETICS | 60 | | GEOG | 112 | | GEOSCI | 83 | | GERMAN | 84 | | GLE | 47 | | GNS | 39 | | GREEK | 27 | | HDFS | 43 | | HEBR-BIB | 13 | | HEBR-MOD | 10 | | HISTORY | 232 | | HISTSCI | 54 | | HONCOL | 13 | | ILS | 43 | | INFOSYS | 9 | | INTEGART | 7 | | INTEGSCI | 22 | | INTER-AG | 18 | | INTER-HE | 11 | | INTER-LS | 21 | | INTEREGR | 16 | | INTLBUS | 21 | | INTLST | 52 | | ISYE | 82 | | ITALIAN | 55 | | JEWISH | 56 | | JOURN | 87 | | KINES | 127 | | LACIS | 26 | | LANDARC | 61 | | LATIN | 24 | | LAW | 118 | | LEGALST | 48 | | LINGUIS | 35 | | LIS | 90 | | LITTRANS | 79 | | LSC | 52 | | M\&ENVTOX | 7 | | MARKETNG | 65 | | MATH | 152 | | MDGENET | 8 | | ME | 132 | | MEDHIST | 41 | | MEDICINE | 59 | | MEDIEVAL | 32 | | MEDPHYS | 39 | | MEDSC-M | 29 | | MEDSC-V | 45 | | MHR | 68 | | MICROBIO | 45 | | MILSCI | 16 | | MM\&I | 22 | | MOLBIOL | 6 | | MS\&E | 60 | | MUSIC | 164 | | MUSPERF | 125 | | NAVSCI | 20 | | NE | 44 | | NEURODPT | 11 | | NEUROL | 7 | | NEURSURG | 5 | | NTP | 11 | | NURSING | 112 | | NUTRSCI | 64 | | OBS\&GYN | 18 | | OCCTHER | 39 | | ONCOLOGY | 13 | | OPHTHALM | 5 | | OTM | 44 | | PATH | 34 | | PATH-BIO | 29 | | PEDIAT | 27 | | PHARMACY | 36 | | PHILOS | 76 | | PHMCOL-M | 10 | | PHMPRAC | 41 | | PHMSCI | 58 | | PHYASST | 38 | | PHYSICS | 88 | | PHYSIOL | 3 | | PHYTHER | 37 | | PLANTSCI | 53 | | PLPATH | 37 | | POLISCI | 197 | | POPHLTH | 54 | | PORTUG | 33 | | PSYCH | 102 | | PSYCHIAT | 21 | | PUBAFFR | 54 | | PUBLHLTH | 23 | | RADIOL | 11 | | REALEST | 41 | | RELIGST | 90 | | RHABMED | 9 | | RMI | 24 | | RP\&SE | 101 | | S\&APHM | 16 | | SCANDST | 73 | | SLAVIC | 90 | | SOC | 145 | | SOCWORK | 87 | | SOILSCI | 46 | | SPANISH | 81 | | SRMED | 21 | | STAT | 91 | | STDYABRD | 52 | | STS | 8 | | SURGERY | 24 | | SURGSCI | 33 | | THEATRE | 88 | | URBRPL | 60 | | UROLOGY | 6 | | ZOOLOGY | 90 | ### designations | family | value | label | | ---------------------- | -------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------ | | breadth | biological-science | Breadth - Biological Science | | breadth | biological-science-or-social-science | Breadth - Biological Science or Social Science | | breadth | humanities | Breadth - Humanities | | breadth | humanities-or-natural-science | Breadth - Humanities or Natural Science | | breadth | humanities-or-social-science | Breadth - Humanities or Social Science | | breadth | literature | Breadth - Literature | | breadth | natural-science | Breadth - Natural Science | | breadth | physical-science | Breadth - Physical Science | | breadth | social-science | Breadth - Social Science | | breadth | social-science-or-natural-science | Breadth - Social Science or Natural Science | | catalog-level | advanced | Level - Advanced | | catalog-level | elementary | Level - Elementary | | catalog-level | intermediate | Level - Intermediate | | communication | a | Comm QR - Communication A | | communication | b | Comm QR - Communication B | | core-gened | civics-and-perspectives | Core GenEd - Civics & Perspectives | | core-gened | communication-and-literacy | Core GenEd - Communication & Literacy | | core-gened | humanities-and-arts | Core GenEd - Humanities & Arts | | core-gened | mathematics-and-quantitative-reasoning | Core GenEd - Mathematics & Quantitative Reasoning | | core-gened | natural-science-and-wellness | Core GenEd - Natural Science & Wellness | | core-gened | natural-science-and-wellness-lab | Core GenEd - Natural Science & Wellness + Lab | | core-gened | social-and-behavioral-science | Core GenEd - Social & Behavioral Science | | ethnic-studies | yes | Ethnic St - Ethnic Studies | | frgn-lang | 1st-semester-language | Frgn Lang - 1st semester language | | frgn-lang | 2nd-semester-language | Frgn Lang - 2nd semester language | | frgn-lang | 3rd-semester-language | Frgn Lang - 3rd semester language | | frgn-lang | 4th-semester-language | Frgn Lang - 4th semester language | | frgn-lang | 5th-semester-language | Frgn Lang - 5th + semester language | | graduate-credit | yes | Grad 50% - Counts toward 50% graduate coursework requirement | | honors | accelerated-honors | Honors - Accelerated Honors (!) | | honors | honors-only-courses-h | Honors - Honors Only Courses (H) | | honors | honors-optional | Honors - Honors Optional (%) | | liberal-arts | l-and-s-liberal-arts-and-science | L\&S Credit - L\&S Liberal Arts and Science | | quantitative-reasoning | a | Comm QR - Quantitative Reasoning A | | quantitative-reasoning | b | Comm QR - Quantitative Reasoning B | | workplace | workplace-experience | Workplace - Workplace Experience | ### deployed at 2026-10-21T15:26:46.388253+00:00 ### site commit daa1fadde432744ba417ff2b9999b11224ddd967 ## subject ME ## collection hardest ## results ### total 29 ### page 1 ### q ### term 1274 ### availability offered ### filters #### term 1274 #### ranking hardest #### subject ME ### kind course ### items ```json [ { "course_uid": "course_b5cc447e8038efff870ea454", "course_id": "ME 342", "title": "DESIGN OF MACHINE ELEMENTS", "credits_min": 3, "credits_max": 3, "gpa": 3.131, "badges": [ { "id": "grade-outcomes", "tag": "lower-grades", "label": "Lower grades", "tone": "negative", "evidence": "Spring 2026 · latest released grades before Spring 2027: 3.12 GPA across 161 letter grades, versus 3.51 for Mechanical Engineering (25 courses). Requires a difference of at least 0.20 and 30 letter grades. Historical outcomes, not predicted difficulty.", "sources": [ { "label": "Grade history and sources", "href": "/courses/ME_342#grades" } ] } ], "description": "Design 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.", "discovery": { "term": "1274", "offered": true, "history": { "counts": [ 279, 261, 285, 143, 113, 28, 7 ], "count": 1116, "gpa": 3.132616487455197, "topShare": 48.38709677419355, "firstTerm": "1232", "lastTerm": "1264" }, "instructors": [], "instructorHistory": null, "courseComparison": null, "claim": { "text": "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.", "evidence_scope": "past_student_reviews", "citations": [ { "type": "review", "source_url": "https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/540610", "source_review_id": "UmF0aW5nLTI3MDgwNzg1", "instructor_name": "Heidi Ploeg", "review_date": "2016-10-26 10:38:00 +0000 UTC", "review_id": "ede4b76f1955055cd9b3e4da", "run_id": "20261014T203208-0851c9a1", "source_instructor_id": "rmp:540610" } ] }, "reviewFiles": [ "/data/fc1811fa52e581ea57a35c0cf3343f8740a8ffbf/reviews/course_b5cc447e8038efff870ea454-0.json" ] } }, { "course_uid": "course_feae6ebc37f0d3966d3c3359", "course_id": "ME 363", "title": "FLUID DYNAMICS", "credits_min": 3, "credits_max": 3, "gpa": 3.097, "badges": [ { "id": "grade-outcomes", "tag": "lower-grades", "label": "Lower grades", "tone": "negative", "evidence": "Spring 2026 · latest released grades before Spring 2027: 3.22 GPA across 192 letter grades, versus 3.51 for Mechanical Engineering (25 courses). Requires a difference of at least 0.20 and 30 letter grades. Historical outcomes, not predicted difficulty.", "sources": [ { "label": "Grade history and sources", "href": "/courses/ME_363#grades" } ] } ], "description": "Introduction to fluid mechanics covering velocity fields, forces, stresses, conservation laws, Bernoulli equation, boundary layers, hydrostatics, and internal/external flow solutions.", "discovery": { "term": "1274", "offered": true, "history": { "counts": [ 312, 289, 397, 141, 132, 22, 8 ], "count": 1301, "gpa": 3.142966948501153, "topShare": 46.19523443504996, "firstTerm": "1232", "lastTerm": "1264" }, "instructors": [ { "course_uid": "course_feae6ebc37f0d3966d3c3359", "uid": "instructor_79529432848edcb30c04643c", "name": "Mario Trujillo", "quality": 3.7045967902482344, "quality_count": 20, "instructor_url": "/instructors/MARIO_TRUJILLO" } ], "instructorHistory": null, "courseComparison": null, "claim": { "text": "The material was challenging, but the instructor did not grade harshly.", "evidence_scope": "past_student_reviews", "citations": [ { "type": "review", "source_url": "https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/1404148", "source_review_id": "UmF0aW5nLTM5MjMxNTQ1", "instructor_name": "Mario Trujillo", "review_date": "2024-04-22 22:04:05 +0000 UTC", "review_id": "c6656ddaa401dd86577b6437", "run_id": "20261014T203208-0851c9a1", "source_instructor_id": "rmp:1404148" } ] }, "reviewFiles": [ "/data/fc1811fa52e581ea57a35c0cf3343f8740a8ffbf/reviews/course_feae6ebc37f0d3966d3c3359-0.json" ] } }, { "course_uid": "course_30b7af243793fc0540887d4f", "course_id": "ME 340", "title": "DYNAMIC SYSTEMS", "credits_min": 3, "credits_max": 3, "gpa": 3.122, "badges": [ { "id": "grade-outcomes", "tag": "lower-grades", "label": "Lower grades", "tone": "negative", "evidence": "Spring 2026 · latest released grades before Spring 2027: 2.73 GPA across 131 letter grades, versus 3.51 for Mechanical Engineering (25 courses). Requires a difference of at least 0.20 and 30 letter grades. Historical outcomes, not predicted difficulty.", "sources": [ { "label": "Grade history and sources", "href": "/courses/ME_340#grades" } ] } ], "description": "Dynamic Systems covers mathematical modeling and analysis of dynamic systems with mechanical, thermal, and fluid elements, including time/frequency domain solutions and linearization.", "discovery": { "term": "1274", "offered": true, "history": { "counts": [ 288, 264, 248, 136, 88, 30, 16 ], "count": 1070, "gpa": 3.1457943925233645, "topShare": 51.58878504672897, "firstTerm": "1232", "lastTerm": "1264" }, "instructors": [ { "course_uid": "course_30b7af243793fc0540887d4f", "uid": "instructor_9aeac2adb03136620a4b9a66", "name": "Arganthael Berson", "quality": 3.9078668261267544, "quality_count": 11, "instructor_url": "/instructors/ARGANTHAEL_BERSON" } ], "instructorHistory": null, "courseComparison": null, "claim": { "text": "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.", "evidence_scope": "past_student_reviews", "citations": [ { "type": "review", "source_url": "https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2367451", "source_review_id": "UmF0aW5nLTQyOTMzODMz", "instructor_name": "Arganthael Berson", "review_date": "2026-04-26 01:52:56 +0000 UTC", "review_id": "419a385fac469ba05c9919ae", "run_id": "20261014T203208-0851c9a1", "source_instructor_id": "rmp:2367451" } ] }, "reviewFiles": [ "/data/fc1811fa52e581ea57a35c0cf3343f8740a8ffbf/reviews/course_30b7af243793fc0540887d4f-0.json" ] } }, { "course_uid": "course_e943bbcb154c20d2c16a6792", "course_id": "ME 364", "title": "ELEMENTARY HEAT TRANSFER", "credits_min": 3, "credits_max": 3, "gpa": 3.137, "badges": [ { "id": "grade-outcomes", "tag": "lower-grades", "label": "Lower grades", "tone": "negative", "evidence": "Spring 2026 · latest released grades before Spring 2027: 2.89 GPA across 150 letter grades, versus 3.51 for Mechanical Engineering (25 courses). Requires a difference of at least 0.20 and 30 letter grades. Historical outcomes, not predicted difficulty.", "sources": [ { "label": "Grade history and sources", "href": "/courses/ME_364#grades" } ] } ], "description": "Elementary Heat Transfer covers fundamental concepts of conduction, convection, and radiation, along with heat-exchanger principles.", "discovery": { "term": "1274", "offered": true, "history": { "counts": [ 227, 339, 349, 165, 64, 18, 6 ], "count": 1168, "gpa": 3.1678082191780823, "topShare": 48.45890410958904, "firstTerm": "1232", "lastTerm": "1264" }, "instructors": [ { "course_uid": "course_e943bbcb154c20d2c16a6792", "uid": "instructor_592ac479809a1c85175ebf6c", "name": "Dakotah Thompson", "quality": 3.7770719849972845, "quality_count": 6, "instructor_url": "/instructors/DAKOTAH_THOMPSON" } ], "instructorHistory": null, "courseComparison": null, "claim": { "text": "Exams were reported as difficult to finish in time, and the instructor did not curve grades. One student noted that homework formatting took more time than the actual heat transfer problems.", "evidence_scope": "past_student_reviews", "citations": [ { "type": "review", "source_url": "https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2580955", "source_review_id": "UmF0aW5nLTM3NjI5OTgy", "instructor_name": "Dakotah Thompson", "review_date": "2023-04-13 22:09:54 +0000 UTC", "review_id": "d440e5ce0f1c33decb5e0c6e", "run_id": "20261014T203208-0851c9a1", "source_instructor_id": "rmp:2580955" }, { "type": "review", "source_url": "https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2580955", "source_review_id": "UmF0aW5nLTQzMDUxNTA5", "instructor_name": "Dakotah Thompson", "review_date": "2026-05-06 22:07:00 +0000 UTC", "review_id": "3806c89d0999bae92445df63", "run_id": "20261014T203208-0851c9a1", "source_instructor_id": "rmp:2580955" } ] }, "reviewFiles": [ "/data/fc1811fa52e581ea57a35c0cf3343f8740a8ffbf/reviews/course_e943bbcb154c20d2c16a6792-0.json" ] } }, { "course_uid": "course_b295a028aee788daadbfb445", "course_id": "ME 370", "title": "ENERGY SYSTEMS LABORATORY", "credits_min": 3, "credits_max": 3, "gpa": 3.089, "badges": [ { "id": "grade-outcomes", "tag": "lower-grades", "label": "Lower grades", "tone": "negative", "evidence": "Spring 2026 · latest released grades before Spring 2027: 3.07 GPA across 217 letter grades, versus 3.51 for Mechanical Engineering (25 courses). Requires a difference of at least 0.20 and 30 letter grades. Historical outcomes, not predicted difficulty.", "sources": [ { "label": "Grade history and sources", "href": "/courses/ME_370#grades" } ] } ], "description": "Energy Systems Laboratory covers experimental evaluation and analysis of performance for energy conversion systems including turbines, compressors, refrigerators, and fans.", "discovery": { "term": "1274", "offered": true, "history": { "counts": [ 171, 350, 332, 111, 48, 2, 0 ], "count": 1014, "gpa": 3.235207100591716, "topShare": 51.38067061143984, "firstTerm": "1232", "lastTerm": "1264" }, "instructors": [ { "course_uid": "course_b295a028aee788daadbfb445", "uid": "instructor_1f329b85e92b0a329361801d", "name": "Luca Mastropasqua", "quality": null, "quality_count": 0, "instructor_url": "/instructors/LUCA_MASTROPASQUA" } ], "instructorHistory": null, "courseComparison": null, "claim": { "text": "Students reported a large amount of work, including a 15-page report and 45-minute presentation with minimal lecture support. Labs required substantial effort, but one student noted it was hard to get a bad grade on them.", "evidence_scope": "past_student_reviews", "citations": [ { "type": "review", "source_url": "https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/1200458", "source_review_id": "UmF0aW5nLTI0NzQ5MTI4", "instructor_name": "Tom Krupenkin", "review_date": "2015-05-05 21:43:31 +0000 UTC", "review_id": "58dbc2509c8fd92709eb91f1", "run_id": "20261014T203208-0851c9a1", "source_instructor_id": "rmp:1200458" }, { "type": "review", "source_url": "https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2367451", "source_review_id": "UmF0aW5nLTQwNDI1MTE2", "instructor_name": "Arganthael Berson", "review_date": "2024-12-23 20:48:36 +0000 UTC", "review_id": "ad9fe866961ecb07c4600225", "run_id": "20261014T203208-0851c9a1", "source_instructor_id": "rmp:2367451" } ] }, "reviewFiles": [ "/data/fc1811fa52e581ea57a35c0cf3343f8740a8ffbf/reviews/course_b295a028aee788daadbfb445-0.json" ] } }, { "course_uid": "course_c30972f318c82dcee2e70be3", "course_id": "ME 361", "title": "THERMODYNAMICS", "credits_min": 3, "credits_max": 3, "gpa": 3.048, "badges": [ { "id": "rated-teacher", "tag": "rated-teacher", "label": "Highly rated instructor", "tone": "positive", "evidence": "Spring 2027: Gregory Nellis (4.43/5 adjusted; 50 ratings). 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