The University of Wisconsin College of Engineering is set to debut its new Aerospace Engineering major this fall after the UW System Board of Regents voted on its approval Feb. 5, according to a College of Engineering press release.
The program, the state of Wisconsin’s first ABET-accredited aerospace engineering degree, will be available for students beginning at the start of the Fall 2026 semester, according to the College of Engineering.
John Bollinger Chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering Darryl Thelen said in an email statement that the program expects to welcome up to 100 new students in the fall and about 150 to 200 new students per year in future years.
“As the field evolved, the option no longer provided the breadth and depth sought by students and employers,” Thelen said in the email statement.
Previously, students interested in aerospace engineering pursued an aerospace option within the Engineering Mechanics, BS. UW decided to create a standalone aerospace engineering degree to provide a clear credential for employers, according to Thelen in the email statement.
“We are excited to launch a new Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering to meet growing student interest and workforce demand in one of the most dynamic and rapidly advancing fields of engineering,” Thelen said in the email statement.
The program will strengthen Wisconsin’s role in the future of aerospace while expanding career opportunities for students, Thelen said in the email statement.
The degree will prepare students for careers designing and analyzing aerospace technologies with opportunities spanning commercial aviation, defense, space exploration, satellite and unmanned systems and the rapidly growing private space sector, according to Thelen in the email statement.
Employment of aerospace engineers is projected to grow faster than average in the next 10 years, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
“Momentum to create a standalone Aerospace Engineering degree gained traction two years ago,” Thelen said in the email statement. “Since then, it has been an all-hands effort to design the curriculum, equip laboratories, launch faculty hiring and secure approval. We are now in the implementation phase and excited to welcome our first cohort this fall.”
More information about the new program, including enrollment details, will come in June 2026.
