Sustainable Systems Engineering

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.

Senior faculty and experienced professionals in the industry facilitate the program’s courses. Our instructors stay connected with students and are highly accessible, which enables them to address the specific interests of students.

• Program Director: Joy Altwies, PhD, PE (read an interview with Joy)
• Graduate Academic Advisor: Karene Cary
• Alan R. Carroll, PhD
• Najoua Jouini, PhD
• James M. Tinjum, PE, PhD
• Giri Venkataramanan, PhD
• Scott Williams

Admission Requirements

Application Overview
The admissions process has been designed to conduct a holistic review of your likelihood of success in the program. Decisions are based on your academic and professional background.

To start the process, please read the admission requirements to determine your eligibility. If you have questions about your eligibility, please request an eligibility review by emailing our Graduate Academic Advisor Karene Cary. This email should include a copy of your current resume and informal transcripts.

Applications are accepted for admission during the fall and spring terms. Applications are reviewed in the order received until the June 15 deadline for fall admissions and November 1 for spring admissions. Admission is competitive and selective. Therefore, applicants are encouraged to submit application materials prior to the deadline.

Admission requirements for the Master of Engineering: Sustainable Systems Engineering (SSE) 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 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.

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
• Advising
• Technical support
• Access to campus computing resources

Total Tuition
Total tuition for this program is $39,000*.

*This total does not include 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.