Program Overview

Introduction to the Bachelor of Science in Manufacturing & Design Engineering (MaDE)

The Bachelor of Science in Manufacturing and Design Engineering (MaDE) program at Northwestern University develops students' ability to transform innovative concepts into feasible products. Combining human-centered design, mechanical and industrial engineering, and materials science, the MaDE program challenges students to identify unmet user needs and find competitive advantages throughout the entire product development process.

Program Overview

The MaDE program prepares graduates to guide products from concept to completion, creating solutions that are both technically sound and user-focused. This multidisciplinary approach equips students with the skills to work on complex problems using multiple tools and disciplinary lenses.

Why Pursue a MaDE Degree?

The MaDE program offers hands-on project experience through each stage of product design and development, from the identification of unmet needs to the creation of concepts to engineering solutions and manufacturing at scale. A signature feature of the MaDE program is the capstone design experience, a year-long white space challenge during which students invent and develop their own product.

Industry-Ready Skills

The faculty of the MaDE program are experienced product designers and developers, manufacturing engineers, and industry innovators. With their mentorship, students learn how to:

• Conduct qualitative research to discover unmet needs
• Apply statistical methods for testing mock-ups and prototypes
• Design for manufacturing and assembly (DFMA)
• Understand material selection and its impact on sustainability
• Optimize supply chains and production costs
• Work with manufacturers and suppliers
• Take prototypes from product to production

Who Should Enroll?

The MaDE program is ideal for undergraduate students who want to combine technical expertise with creative problem-solving and hands-on prototyping, work on complex problems using multiple tools and disciplinary lenses, lead product development teams or have entrepreneurial aspirations, become comfortable working on teams and build project management and communication skills, and make a tangible impact on people’s lives and the planet through innovative products.

Career Paths

MaDE students have gone on to work in various industries, including:

• Designing home goods products at consumer brands
• Leading innovation teams at aerospace and automotive industries
• Launching successful physical and digital product startups
• Driving sustainability initiatives at large and small companies
• Transforming manufacturing processes at major organizations

MaDE Student Stories

Examples of student projects include:

• Gastropops: A tasty artificial snail that helps inform conservation and restoration efforts
• Sno-Gro Boots: Children’s winter boots that can expand up to three sizes

Admissions and Tuition

Undergraduate admissions for the Segal Design Institute and the McCormick School of Engineering are handled by Northwestern University’s Office of Undergraduate Admissions. For information on tuition, fees, and expenses, please refer to the Northwestern undergraduate financial aid website.

Declaring the MaDE Major

Current undergraduate students at the McCormick School of Engineering at Northwestern University who wish to declare Manufacturing and Design Engineering (MaDE) as their major should contact the director of the MaDE program.