University of Wisconsin–Madison

Capstone Certificate: Applied Engineering Management (Online)

engineers talking in manufacturing plant
Strengthen your ability to lead technical teams, manage engineering projects, and support operational decision-making.UW–Madison’s online Capstone Certificate in Applied Engineering Management is designed for working professionals who want practical leadership, communication, and project management skills they can apply immediately. Courses are flexible and fully online, allowing you to build management capabilities while continuing full-time professional work.

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Certificate awardedCapstone Certificate in Applied Engineering Management
Credits9 graduate credits
Format100% Online, part-time
Duration9-12 months (part-time)
Tuition$1,100/credit Wisconsin residents receive an automatic $100 per-credit scholarship. Learn more.
StartFall / Spring / Summer
Application DeadlinesSpring: December 1 Summer: June 1 Fall: August 1

Is This Program Right for You?

This flexible, online program equips engineers with foundational leadership, communication, and financial decision-making tools. Whether you’re advancing your career or preparing for graduate study, this stackable credential helps you build momentum while you continue to work.
  • Join a cohort of working engineers in a flexible, interactive program (evening online sessions, no travel required)
  • Build leadership, communication, and engineering decision-making skills
  • Learn from industry-experienced faculty and collaborate with peers from top technical organization
  • Once successfully completed, all credits can apply toward the Master of Science in Engineering Management degree

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Online by Design

Our courses blend applied activities, structured opportunities for interaction, and recorded instructor materials. This intentional design supports strong engagement, clear guidance, and meaningful results.

Why This Program?

27 years

of delivering interactive online education, reflecting deep experience designing high-quality online programs for working professionals.

#11 ranking

Online Graduate Engineering Programs U.S. News & World Report, 2026

Student Experience

You’ll explore leadership, economic analysis, and decision-making rooted in engineering management while building communication and coordination skills to prepare for advanced study or a new leadership role.
  • Foundations of engineering leadership
  • Data-driven decision-making and problem solving
  • Cost-benefit and financial analysis for technical leader

Curriculum and Requirements

Complete a foundational engineering management curriculum of 9 credits over the course of three or four semesters.Course web sessions are the only time-constrained activities; all other weekly assignments can be accomplished on days and times of your choice. You can expect to spend about 10-12 hours a week on coursework and participating in group activities.
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EPD 610 – Engineering analysis for Decision Making
EPD 610 – ENGINEERING ANALYSIS FOR DECISION MAKING3 credits.Quantitative and qualitative analysis and visualization tools. Structured decision-making methodology for engineering applications such as variations in materials and production, process control, forecasting and executive decision making. Facilitate persuasive problem-solving and decision making in engineering applications. Builds on foundational knowledge of statistics.Requisites: Graduate/professional standing or declared in Capstone Certificate in Applied Engineering Management
EPD 611 – Engineering Economics and Management
EPD 611 – ENGINEERING ECONOMICS AND MANAGEMENT3 credits.Addresses principles and practices of interpreting financial information and performing engineering-related economic analyses. Focuses on the practical use of economic information for decision-making.Requisites: Graduate/professional standing or declared in Capstone Certificate in Applied Engineering Management
EPD 710 – Foundations of Engineering Leadership
EPD 710 – FOUNDATIONS OF ENGINEERING LEADERSHIP2 credits.Build the foundations for developing, refining, and strengthening your effectiveness as a leader of engineering teams, projects, and organizations. Enhance your understanding of how to match your leadership style to a team’s focus, organization, and culture. Grow your understanding of your strengths and weaknesses as a leader using proven assessment tools. Develop a plan for growing your leadership competency.Requisites: Graduate/professional standing or declared in Capstone Certificate in Applied Engineering Management

Select one of the following:
EPD 605 – Fundamentals of Technical Project Management
EPD 605 — FUNDAMENTALS OF TECHNICAL PROJECT MANAGEMENT1 credit.Learn techniques to plan, execute, and deliver projects with desired scope on time and on budget. Document clear project objectives and goals, accurately estimate project time and costs, schedule and allocate time-critical resources, and establish feedback systems for optimal project control. Best paired with a work experience, such as an internship or co-op, where you can apply these project management skills.Requisites: Junior standing or declared in Capstone Certificate in Applied Engineering Management. Not open to students with credit for E P D 612.
EPD 701 – Writing for Professionals
EPD 701 — WRITING FOR PROFESSIONALS1 credit.Preparation to produce effective written communication that is suitable for inter-professional and inter-disciplinary audiences in a variety of workplaces. Apply these strategies and tools.Requisites: Graduate/professional standing or declared in Capstone Certificate in Applied Engineering Management
EPD 702 – Professional Presentations
EPD 702 — PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATIONS1 credit.Sharpen your ability to create, edit, review, and present information in an efficient, clear, and effective way for your audiences. Develop your presentation skills through a series of presentations related to your professional interests and work.Requisites: Graduate/professional standing or declared in Capstone Certificate in Applied Engineering Management

View full course descriptions

Tuition and Financial Aid

$1,100 per credit, payable at the beginning of each semester. Wisconsin residents receive an automatic $100 per-credit scholarship.* Students are responsible for paying their tuition bill in full by the due date. The scholarship is credited to their student account after the semester’s drop deadline and before the start of the next semester. There is no lump-sum payment plan.*Wisconsin resident tuition scholarship does not apply to students with tuition waivers.See Tuition & Cost for more information.
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.

Admissions and Events

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All applicants must:
  • Have a Bachelor of Science in engineering or a related STEM field from an accredited institution.
  • Have a minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.75 on the last 60 semester hours of coursework.
  • Submit evidence of English language proficiency, if applicable. See the Graduate School Requirements for more information.
  • GRE is not required. Applicants who have taken the test are encouraged to submit their scores.
The admissions committee considers exceptions to standard requirements on an individual basis.

  • Online application
  • Resume/CV
  • Transcripts
  • Optional: submit up to two letters of recommendation.
For complete application details visit UW–Madison’s Guide 

Application Deadlines by Term:

Summer 2026June 1, 2026
Fall 2026August 1, 2026
Spring 2027December 1, 2026
Online Graduate Programs Overview Tuesday, September 8, 2026 5-5:30 PM CTJoin program staff for a conversation about our online graduate programs, including curriculum, application process and career impact.Register Now
Program Overview: Engineering Management MS Tuesday, October 13, 2026 12-12:30 PM CTGet more information about the Engineering Management Master’s program including curriculum, application process and potential career paths.Register Now
Online Graduate Programs Overview Tuesday, October 13, 2026 12-12:30 PM CTJoin program staff for a conversation about our online graduate programs, including curriculum, application process and career impact.Register Now

Faculty and Staff

Heather Smith Program Director

Heather Smith, Director of Graduate Programs Email Heather

Karene Cary Graduate Student Advisor

Email Karene

Laura Grossenbacher, PhD
Raj Kamal, MS, MBA
Steve King, MA
Barry Roberts, MS
Bart Skarzynski, MA, MFA
George Watson, EdD, MBA, BSB, MCPM, PMP

FAQ

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A: Yes. The Capstone Certificate in Applied Engineering Management is 100% online and designed for working professionals.

A: Most students finish in about three to four semesters while working full time, typically taking 1 to 2 courses per semester.

A: Tuition is charged per credit. See Tuition & Fees for more information.

A: Yes. Courses are designed for part-time study alongside a full-time job.

A: This program is designed to apply all credits to the online Engineering Management MS degree program. Some credits may be eligible to apply toward other UW-Madison online engineering master’s program; contact the program office for details.

A: No prior leadership experience is required. This certificate is designed for engineers who want to develop management skills.

A: Submit your application through our Professional Degrees & Certificates site. See Admissions for details or click here.

Ready to lead with confidence? Advance your career with UW–Madison’s online Capstone Certificate in Applied Engineering Management.

How to ApplyRequest Info

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