Program Overview

School of Professional Studies

Overview

The School of Professional Studies at Northwestern University offers a range of undergraduate and graduate programs designed to meet the needs of working professionals and individuals seeking to advance their education. The school's programs are taught by Northwestern University faculty and are designed to provide students with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in their chosen field.

Undergraduate Programs

The School of Professional Studies offers several undergraduate programs, including:

• Biological Sciences
• Communication Studies
• Economics
• English: Writing
• Enterprise Leadership
• Health Sciences
• Humanities
  • Humanities, BPhil
  • Humanities, BSGS
• Information Systems
• Organization Behavior
• Psychology
• Social Sciences
• Strategic Communication

Graduate Programs

The School of Professional Studies also offers several graduate programs, including:

• Data Science
  • Data Science, MS
  • Data Science, MS Analytics and Modeling Specialization
  • Data Science, MS Analytics Management Specialization
  • Data Science, MS Artificial Intelligence Specialization
  • Data Science, MS Data Engineering Specialization
  • Data Science, MS Technology Entrepreneurship Specialization
• Global Health
  • Global Health, MS
• Health Analytics
  • Health Analytics, MS
• Healthcare Administration
  • Healthcare Administration, MS
• Health Informatics
  • Health Informatics, MS
  • Health Informatics, MS Clinical Informatics Specialization
  • Health Informatics, MS Health Administration Informatics Specialization
  • Health Informatics, MS Health Technology Informatics Specialization
• Information Design and Strategy
  • Information Design and Strategy, MS
  • Information Design and Strategy, MS Communication with Data Specialization
  • Information Design and Strategy, MS Content Strategy Specialization
  • Information Design and Strategy, MS Learning Design Specialization
  • Information Design and Strategy, MS UX/UI Specialization
• Information Systems
  • Information Systems, MS
  • Information Systems, MS Artificial Intelligence Specialization
  • Information Systems, MS Data Science Specialization
  • Information Systems, MS Database and Internet Technologies Specialization
  • Information Systems, MS Digital Transformation Specialization
  • Information Systems, MS Health Informatics Specialization
  • Information Systems, MS Information Systems Management Specialization
  • Information Systems, MS Information Systems Security Specialization
  • Information Systems, MS Project Management Specialization
• Liberal Studies
  • Liberal Studies, MA
  • Liberal Studies, MA Interdisciplinary Studies Specialization
• Literature
  • Literature, MA
  • Literature, MA American Literature Specialization
  • Literature, MA British Literature Specialization
  • Literature, MA Comparative and World Literature Specialization
  • Literature, MA Film, Literature, and Visual Culture Specialization
  • Literature, MA Interdisciplinary Studies Specialization
• Prose and Poetry
  • Prose and Poetry, MFA
  • Prose and Poetry, MFA Dual-Genre Specialization
  • Prose and Poetry, MFA Fiction Specialization
  • Prose and Poetry, MFA Nonfiction Specialization
  • Prose and Poetry, MFA Poetry Specialization
  • Prose and Poetry, MFA Publishing and Professional Development Specialization
• Public Policy and Administration
  • Public Policy and Administration, MA
  • Public Policy and Administration, MA Data Analytics for Public Policy Specialization
  • Public Policy and Administration, MA Global Health Specialization
  • Public Policy and Administration, MA Global Policy Specialization
  • Public Policy and Administration, MA Public Administration Specialization
  • Public Policy and Administration, MA Public Policy Specialization
• Regulatory Compliance
  • Regulatory Compliance, MS
  • Regulatory Compliance, MS Clinical Research Specialization
  • Regulatory Compliance, MS Quality Systems Specialization
• Sports Administration
  • Sports Administration, MA
  • Sports Administration, MA College Sports Management Specialization
  • Sports Administration, MA Sports Analytics Specialization
• Writing
  • Writing, MA
  • Writing, MA Dual-Genre Specialization
  • Writing, MA Fiction Specialization
  • Writing, MA Nonfiction Specialization
  • Writing, MA Poetry Specialization
  • Writing, MA Publishing and Professional Development Specialization

Certificates

The School of Professional Studies also offers several certificate programs, including:

• Post-Baccalaureate Certificates
  • Advanced Accounting
    • Advanced Accounting, Certificate
  • Advanced Studies in Biology for Health Professions
    • Advanced Studies in Biology for Health Professions, Certificate
  • Advanced Studies in Psychology
    • Advanced Studies in Psychology, Certificate
  • Artificial Intelligence
    • Artificial Intelligence, Certificate
  • Biology for Health Sciences
    • Biology for Health Sciences, Certificate
  • Business Essentials
    • Business Essentials, Certificate
  • Business Writing/Communication
    • Business Writing/Communication, Certificate
  • Change Management
    • Change Management, Certificate
  • Corporate Communication and Branding
    • Corporate Communication and Branding, Certificate
  • CPA Accounting
    • CPA Accounting, Certificate
  • Creative Writing
    • Creative Writing, Certificate
  • Data Science
    • Data Science, Certificate
  • Digital Content Management
    • Digital Content Management, Certificate
  • Fundamentals of Accounting
    • Fundamentals of Accounting, Certificate
  • Health, Science and Society
    • Health, Science and Society, Certificate
  • Human Resources
    • Human Resources, Certificate
  • Law and Policy
    • Law and Policy, Certificate
  • Leadership
    • Leadership, Certificate
  • Math for Data Science
    • Math for Data Science, Certificate
  • Pre-Clinical Psychology
    • Pre-Clinical Psychology, Certificate
  • Pre-Graduate Business Administration
    • Pre-Graduate Business Administration, Certificate
  • Pre-Medicine
    • Pre-Medicine, Certificate
  • Pre-Physical Therapy
    • Pre-Physical Therapy, Certificate
  • Pre-Physician Assistant
    • Pre-Physician Assistant, Certificate
  • Programming
    • Programming, Certificate
  • Public Health
    • Public Health, Certificate
  • Research and Analytics
    • Research and Analytics, Certificate
  • Social Justice
    • Social Justice, Certificate
  • Specialized Studies
    • Specialized Studies, Certificates
  • Strategic Communication
    • Strategic Communication, Certificate
  • Strategic Management
    • Strategic Management, Certificate
  • Strategic Marketing
    • Strategic Marketing, Certificate
  • Writing for Print and Digital Media
    • Writing for Print and Digital Media, Certificate
• Graduate Certificates
  • Data Science
    • Analytics and Modeling, Graduate Certificate
    • Analytics Management, Graduate Certificate
    • Artificial Intelligence, Advanced Graduate Certificate
    • Data Engineering, Graduate Certificate
    • Technology Entrepreneurship, Graduate Certificate
  • Global Health
    • Global Health Leadership, Graduate Certificate
  • Health Analytics
    • Health Analytics, Advanced Graduate Certificate
    • Health Data Science, Graduate Certificate
  • Health Informatics
    • Health Informatics Graduate Certificate
    • Interdisciplinary Studies in Health Informatics, Advanced Graduate Certificate
  • Healthcare Industry
    • Healthcare Industry, Graduate Certificate
  • Information Design and Strategy
    • Communication with Data, Graduate Certificate
    • Content Strategy, Graduate Certificate
    • Interdisciplinary Studies in Information Design and Strategy, Advanced Graduate Certificate
    • Learning Design, Graduate Certificate
  • Information Systems
    • Database & Internet Technologies, Graduate Certificate
    • Information Systems Management, Graduate Certificate
    • Information Systems Security, Graduate Certificate
    • Interdisciplinary Studies in Information Systems, Advanced Graduate Certificate
    • Project Management, Graduate Certificate
  • Liberal Studies
    • Interdisciplinary Studies, Advanced Graduate Certificate
  • Literature
    • Interdisciplinary Studies, Advanced Graduate Certificate
    • Literature, Graduate Certificate
  • Predictive Analytics
    • Data Science, Advanced Graduate Certificate
  • Public Policy and Administration
    • Climate Change Communication, Advanced Graduate Certificate
    • Global Policy, Advanced Graduate Certificate
    • Policy Analysis, Advanced Graduate Certificate
    • Public Administration, Advanced Graduate Certificate
    • Public Policy and Administration, Graduate Certificate
    • Public Policy, Advanced Graduate Certificate
  • Regulatory Compliance
    • Interdisciplinary Studies in Regulatory Compliance, Advanced Graduate Certificate
    • Regulatory Compliance Graduate Certificate
  • Regulatory Policy & Health Systems
    • Regulatory Policy and Health Systems, Graduate Certificate
  • Sports Administration
    • College Sports Management, Graduate Certificate
    • Esports, Graduate Certificate
    • Interdisciplinary Studies in Sports Administration, Advanced Graduate Certificate
    • Sports Analytics, Graduate Certificate
    • Sports Communication, Graduate Certificate
    • Sports Management, Graduate Certificate
  • Writing
    • Creative Writing, Graduate Certificate
    • Interdisciplinary Studies in Writing, Advanced Graduate Certificate
    • Publishing and Professional Development in Writing, Advanced Graduate Certificate

Degree Requirements

The Bachelor of Philosophy (BPhil) degree is conferred by the Judd A. and Marjorie Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences. To earn the BPhil degree, students must complete a total of 45 units, including a writing requirement, a foundational disciplines requirement, two years of study in a language other than English (or demonstration of equivalent language proficiency), a major, and electives.

Writing Requirement

The writing requirement ensures that students have the skills necessary to meet the rigorous writing demands of subsequent SPS courses in all majors, degrees, and disciplines. Expository writing courses — ENGLISH 111 Writing Seminar II and ENGLISH 205 Intermediate Composition — provide the tools to meet the demands of advanced academic writing. Completion of ENGLISH 111 Writing Seminar II and ENGLISH 205 Intermediate Composition with a grade of C or higher satisfies the writing requirement in all SPS bachelor’s degree programs.

Foundational Disciplines Requirements

Students complete coursework in three foundational disciplines—humanities, scientific inquiry and quantitative reasoning, and social sciences—to obtain broad experience in the liberal arts. Included in the foundational disciplines requirement are two courses that apply perspectives on power, justice, and equity: one course focused within the United States and one course focused globally. A philosophy course on professional ethics is required for one of the four humanities courses.

Humanities Major Requirements

The humanities major requires students to complete a total of 45 units, including:

• Core Courses:
  • Art History: One 200-level ART_HIST course
  • English: One 200-level ENGLISH course
  • History: HISTORY 250-A Global History: Early Modern to Modern Transition and HISTORY 250-B Global History: Modern World
  • Philosophy: PHIL 110-CN Introduction to Philosophy
• Research/Methods Courses:
  • ENGLISH 300-CN Seminar in Reading and Interpretation
  • Research Seminar: One of the following:
    • ART_HIST 390-0 Undergraduate Seminar
    • ENGLISH 397-0 Research Seminar for Literature Majors
    • HISTORY 395-CN Research Seminar
• Electives:
  • Six 300-level courses in English, history, art history, classics, comparative literary studies, philosophy, or religious studies
  • At least two courses must be selected from English, history, and art history
  • At least one course must focus on a non-western culture or non-dominant U.S. culture
  • At least one course must engage with culture or history primarily before 1830
  • Courses in black studies with a humanities focus may also be included with academic adviser approval
  • An additional research seminar may be counted as an elective

Bachelor of Philosophy Degree Requirements

The Bachelor of Philosophy (BPhil) degree requires students to complete a total of 45 units, including:

• English 111 and 205: 2 units
• Language: 6 units
• Humanities: 4 units
• Scientific Inquiry and Quantitative Reasoning: 4 units
• Social Sciences: 4 units
• Major Requirements: 10-22 units
• Electives: Up to 15 units
• Total: 45 units