Engineering Mechanics

Overview

Engineering mechanics forms the foundation of a degree in aerospace, mechanical or civil engineering and it is fundamental to important parts of biomedical engineering, chemical engineering, materials science, and other engineering disciplines. Hence, a degree in engineering mechanics provides a broad scientific background which enables its graduates to tackle challenging problems in most fields of engineering. 

The curriculum emphasizes the basic sciences—mathematics, computer science, physics and the engineering sciences—fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, mechanics, materials science, and electrical engineering. Although the degree program is entitled Engineering Mechanics at the University of Wisconsin Madison, the program is most comparable to aerospace engineering and mechanical engineering programs at various universities across the United States. 

Careers

Engineering mechanics graduates are sought by most industries and governmental agencies including in particular those participating in the newly developing areas of engineering such as space technology, performance of new structural materials, and so on. Their work often involves participation in design, research and development projects where the problems are sufficiently complex or unusual that their solutions require engineers with:

• a thorough understanding of the fundamentals of engineering

• advanced education in the established experimental and analytical methods

• the ability to develop new experimental and analytical methods to attack problems for which standard methods, formulas, and materials have not yet been developed.