Program Overview

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Northwestern University Academic Catalog

School of Professional Studies

The School of Professional Studies offers a range of undergraduate and graduate programs designed to meet the needs of working professionals and individuals seeking to advance their careers.

Undergraduate Programs

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

Graduate Programs

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

Post-Baccalaureate Certificates

• Advanced Accounting, Certificate
• Advanced Studies in Biology for Health Professions, Certificate
• Advanced Studies in Psychology, Certificate
• Artificial Intelligence, Certificate
• Biology for Health Sciences, Certificate
• Business Essentials, Certificate
• Business Writing/Communication, Certificate
• Change Management, Certificate
• Corporate Communication and Branding, Certificate
• CPA Accounting, Certificate
• Creative Writing, Certificate
• Data Science, Certificate
• Digital Content Management, Certificate
• Fundamentals of Accounting, Certificate
• Health, Science and Society, Certificate
• Human Resources, Certificate
• Law and Policy, Certificate
• Leadership, Certificate
• Math for Data Science, Certificate
• Pre-Clinical Psychology, Certificate
• Pre-Graduate Business Administration, Certificate
• Pre-Medicine, Certificate
• Pre-Physical Therapy, Certificate
• Pre-Physician Assistant, Certificate
• Programming, Certificate
• Public Health, Certificate
• Research and Analytics, Certificate
• Social Justice, Certificate
• Specialized Studies, Certificates
• Strategic Communication, Certificate
• Strategic Management, Certificate
• Strategic Marketing, Certificate
• Writing for Print and Digital Media, Certificate

Graduate Certificates

• Data Science, Analytics and Modeling, Graduate Certificate
• Data Science, Analytics Management, Graduate Certificate
• Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, Advanced Graduate Certificate
• Data Science, Data Engineering, Graduate Certificate
• Data Science, Technology Entrepreneurship, Graduate Certificate
• Global Health, Global Health Leadership, Graduate Certificate
• Health Analytics, Health Analytics, Advanced Graduate Certificate
• Health Analytics, Health Data Science, Graduate Certificate
• Health Informatics, Health Informatics Graduate Certificate
• Health Informatics, Interdisciplinary Studies in Health Informatics, Advanced Graduate Certificate
• Healthcare Industry, Healthcare Industry, Graduate Certificate
• Information Design and Strategy, Communication with Data, Graduate Certificate
• Information Design and Strategy, Content Strategy, Graduate Certificate
• Information Design and Strategy, Interdisciplinary Studies in Information Design and Strategy, Advanced Graduate Certificate
• Information Design and Strategy, Learning Design, Graduate Certificate
• Information Systems, Database & Internet Technologies, Graduate Certificate
• Information Systems, Information Systems Management, Graduate Certificate
• Information Systems, Information Systems Security, Graduate Certificate
• Information Systems, Interdisciplinary Studies in Information Systems, Advanced Graduate Certificate
• Information Systems, Project Management, Graduate Certificate
• Liberal Studies, Interdisciplinary Studies, Advanced Graduate Certificate
• Literature, Interdisciplinary Studies, Advanced Graduate Certificate
• Literature, Literature, Graduate Certificate
• Predictive Analytics, Data Science, Advanced Graduate Certificate
• Public Policy and Administration, Climate Change Communication, Advanced Graduate Certificate
• Public Policy and Administration, Global Policy, Advanced Graduate Certificate
• Public Policy and Administration, Policy Analysis, Advanced Graduate Certificate
• Public Policy and Administration, Public Administration, Advanced Graduate Certificate
• Public Policy and Administration, Public Policy and Administration, Graduate Certificate
• Public Policy and Administration, Public Policy, Advanced Graduate Certificate
• Regulatory Compliance, Interdisciplinary Studies in Regulatory Compliance, Advanced Graduate Certificate
• Regulatory Compliance, Regulatory Compliance Graduate Certificate
• Regulatory Policy & Health Systems, Regulatory Policy and Health Systems, Graduate Certificate
• Sports Administration, College Sports Management, Graduate Certificate
• Sports Administration, Esports, Graduate Certificate
• Sports Administration, Interdisciplinary Studies in Sports Administration, Advanced Graduate Certificate
• Sports Administration, Sports Analytics, Graduate Certificate
• Sports Administration, Sports Communication, Graduate Certificate
• Sports Administration, Sports Management, Graduate Certificate
• Writing, Creative Writing, Graduate Certificate
• Writing, Interdisciplinary Studies in Writing, Advanced Graduate Certificate
• Writing, Publishing and Professional Development in Writing, Advanced Graduate Certificate

Information Design and Strategy, MS Content Strategy Specialization

Communicators today must adapt content to multiple platforms and channels, but how do they do this while retaining the essential messages? The Content Strategy specialization will enable students to improve the impact of their communication individually and collaboratively, while taking into account organizational goals - and make full use of the expressive possibilities of digital media in creating memorable and engaging content.

Curriculum

Core Courses (9 units)

• MS_IDS 401-DL: Models and Theories of User-Centered Design
• MS_IDS 403-DL: Effective Communication
• MS_IDS 405-DL: User Research
• MS_IDS 407-DL: Information and Content Strategy
• MS_IDS 409-DL: Data Science, Management, and Business Strategy
• MS_IDS 411-DL: Information Design and Architecture
• MS_IDS 413-DL: Visual Communication
• MS_IDS 481-DL: Leadership and Business Strategy
• MS_IDS 498-DL: Capstone Project
• or MS_IDS 590-DL: Thesis Research

Specialization Courses (3 units)

• MS_IDS 432-DL: Storytelling and Technical Writing
• MS_IDS 433-DL: Social Media and Content Curation
• MS_IDS 435-DL: Persuasion and Strategic Communication

About the Final Project

As their final course, students take either the individual research project in an independent study format (thesis research) or the final project class in which students integrate the knowledge they have gained in the core curriculum in a project presented by the instructor. In both cases, students are guided by faculty in exploring the body of knowledge on information design and strategy while contributing research of practical value to the field. The capstone independent thesis project and capstone class project count as one unit of credit.

Pre-requisite: Students may take one other course simultaneously with MS_IDS 498-DL Capstone Project. All other course requirements must have been completed before the commencement of this course.

• Choose one
  • MS_IDS 498-DL: Capstone Project
  • MS_IDS 590-DL: Thesis Research

The Graduate School

Academic Policies and Procedures

• Academic Calendar
• Academic Integrity
• Ad Hoc Combined Degrees
• Certificate Requirements
• General Registration Policies
• Graduation and Diploma Mailing
• Leaves of Absence
• Master's Degree Requirements
• Minor Requirements
• Nondiscrimination Statement
• Patent and Invention Policy
• PhD Degree Requirements
• Readmission
• Satisfactory Academic Progress
• Student Funding Policies
• Student Handbook and Code of Conduct
• Teaching
• Withdrawal

Undergraduate

Requirements and Policies

• Courses and Credit
• Enrollment
  • Exams and Attendance
  • Withdrawal
• Grades
• Graduation & Degrees
  • Graduation Honors
• In-Person Arrival and Course Engagement
• Student Status
  • Academic Standing
  • Disciplinary Actions
  • Returning to the University
• Transcripts
• Transfer Credit
  • Test Credit
  • Transfer Types
• Undergraduate Registration Requirement

Additional Baccalaureate Options

• Accelerated Bachelors
• Certificates
  • Kellogg Certificates
    • Financial Economics Certificate
    • Managerial Analytics Certificate
  • McCormick Certificates
  • Medill Certificates
  • Programs & Centers Certificates
    • Leadership
    • Sustainability and Energy
  • SESP Certificates
  • SoC Certificates
• Minors
  • Bienen Minors
  • Programs & Centers Minors
    • Transportation and Logistics Minor
  • SoC Minors
  • McCormick Minors
  • WCAS Minors
• Second Majors
  • Bienen Second Majors
  • WCAS Second Majors

Dual Graduate & Undergraduate Degrees

• Honors Program in Medical Education
• Premedical Scholars Program

Dual Bachelor's Degrees

• BA/BS in Liberal Arts and Engineering
• BA/BMus in Liberal Arts and Music
• BA/BS or BS/BS in Communication and Engineering
• BA/BMus, BS/BMus, BA/BAMus, or BS/BAMus in Communication and Music
• BSED/BMus or BSED/BAMus in Education and Social Policy and in Music
• BS/BMus or BS/BAMus in Engineering and Music
• BSJ/BMus in Journalism and Music
• BSED/BSJ in Education and Social Policy and in Journalism

Study Outside Northwestern

Undergraduate Research

Special Programs & Courses

• College Transition Programs
• Innovation in News and Storytelling
• Military Programs
  • Naval Science

Academic Calendar

Academic Integrity

Academic Support

Henry and Leigh Bienen School of Music

• Composition and Music Technology
  • Composition Major
  • Composition Minor
  • Music Technology Minor
• Conducting and Ensembles
• Jazz
  • Jazz Studies Major
• Music Cognition
• Music Core
• Music Education
  • Music Education Major
  • Music Education Minor
• Music Studies for Nonmajors
• Music Technology
• Music Theory and Cognition
  • Music Cognition Major
  • Music Cognition Minor
  • Music Theory Major
  • Music Theory Minor
• Musicology
  • Musicology Major
  • Musicology Minor
• Piano
  • Piano Major
• String Instruments
  • String Instruments Major
• Voice and Opera
  • Voice and Opera Major
• Winds and Percussion Instruments
  • Winds and Percussion Instruments Major

School of Communication

• Communication Sciences and Disorders
  • Human Communication Sciences Major
  • Human Communication Sciences Minor
• Communication Studies
  • Communication Studies Major
  • Management of Creative Industries Certificate
• Dance
• Human Communication Sciences
• Interdepartmental Communication Options
• Performance Studies
  • Performance Studies Major
  • Performance Studies Minor
• Radio/Television/Film
  • Film and Media Studies Minor
  • Game Design + Media Arts + Animation Minor
  • Radio/Television/Film Major
  • Sound Design Minor
• Theatre
  • Dance Major
  • Dance Minor
  • Music Theatre Certificate
  • Theatre Major
  • Theatre Minor

School of Education and Social Policy

• Elementary Teaching
  • Elementary Teaching Major
• Human Development in Context
  • Human Development in Context Major
• Learning and Organizational Change
  • Learning and Organizational Change Major
• Learning Sciences
  • Learning Sciences Major
• Secondary Teaching
• Social Policy
  • Social Policy Major
• Experiential Learning
• Civic Engagement Certificate

Robert R. McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science

• Applied Mathematics
• Architectural Engineering and Design
• Artificial Intelligence
  • Artificial Intelligence Minor
• Biomedical Engineering
  • Biomedical Engineering Degree
• Chemical Engineering
  • Chemical Engineering Degree
  • Biotechnology and Biochemical Engineering Minor
• Civil and Environmental Engineering
  • Civil Engineering Degree
  • Environmental Engineering Degree
  • Architectural Engineering and Design
  • Environmental Engineering Minor
• Computer Engineering
• Computer Science
  • Computer Science Degree
  • Computer Science Minor (McCormick School of Engineering)
• Curious Life Certificate
  • Curious Life Certificate
• Design Engineering (Engineering Design)
• Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Computer Engineering Degree
  • Electrical Engineering Degree
• Engineering Sciences and Applied Mathematics
  • Applied Mathematics Degree
• Environmental Engineering
• Farley Center for Entrepreneurship
  • Entrepreneurship Minor
• General Engineering
• Human Computer Interaction
  • Human Computer Interaction Certificate
• Industrial Engineering and Management Sciences
  • Industrial Engineering Degree
• Machine Learning and Data Science
  • Machine Learning and Data Science Minor
• Materials Science and Engineering
  • Materials Science and Engineering Degree
• Mechanical Engineering
  • Mechanical Engineering Degree
• Segal Design Institute
  • Manufacturing and Design Engineering Degree
  • Segal Design Certificate
• Robotics

Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications

• Integrated Marketing Communications
  • Integrated Marketing Communications Certificate
• Journalism
  • Journalism Degree

Judd A. and Marjorie Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences

• Advanced Expression
• African Studies
  • African Studies Adjunct Major
  • African Studies Minor
• American Studies
  • American Studies Major
• Anthropology
  • Anthropology Major
  • Anthropology Minor
• Arabic
• Art History
  • Art History Major
  • Art History Minor
• Art Theory and Practice
  • Art Theory and Practice Major
  • Art Theory and Practice Minor
• Asian American Studies
  • Asian American Studies Major
  • Asian American Studies Minor
• Asian Languages and Cultures
  • Asian Languages and Cultures Major
  • Asian Humanities Minor
  • Advanced Asian Languages Minor
• Astronomy
• Biological Sciences
  • Biological Sciences Major
  • Biological Sciences Second Major for ISP Students
• Black Studies
  • Black Studies Major
  • Black Studies Minor
• Business Institutions
  • Business Institutions Minor
• Catholic Studies
• Chemistry
  • Chemistry Major
  • Chemistry Minor
  • Chemistry Second Major for ISP Students
  • Chemistry BA/MS
• Chicago Field Studies
• Chinese
• Classics
  • Classics Major
  • Classics Minor Concentrations
• Cognitive Science
  • Cognitive Science Major
  • Cognitive Science Minor
• Comparative Literary Studies
  • Comparative Literary Studies Major
  • World Literature Minor
  • Comparative Literary Studies BA/MA
• Computer Science
  • Computer Science Major
  • Computer Science Minor (Weinberg College)
  • Computer Science Second Major for ISP Students
  • Computer Science BA/MS
• Critical Theory
  • Critical Theory Minor
• Data Science
• Earth and Planetary Sciences
  • Earth and Planetary Sciences Major
  • Earth and Planetary Sciences Minor
  • Earth and Planetary Sciences Second Major for ISP Students
• Economics
  • Economics Major
  • Economics Minor
  • Economics BA/MA
• Empirical and Deductive Reasoning
• English
  • English Major
  • Creative Writing Major
  • English Minor
  • Creative Writing Minor
• Environmental Policy and Culture
  • Environmental Policy and Culture Adjunct Major
  • Environmental Policy and Culture Minor
• Environmental Sciences
  • Environmental Sciences Major
  • Environmental Sciences Second Major for ISP Students
• Ethics and Civic Life
  • Brady Scholars Program
• French and Italian
  • French Major
  • French Minor
  • Italian Literature and Culture Major
  • Italian Minor
  • French BA/MA
• Gender and Sexuality Studies
  • Gender and Sexuality Studies Major
  • Gender and Sexuality Studies Minor
• General Liberal Arts
• German
  • German Major
  • German Minor
  • German Studies Minor
  • Business German Minor
• Global Health Studies
  • Global Health Studies Adjunct Major
  • Global Health Studies Minor
• Greek
• Hebrew
• Hindi
• Historical Studies
• History
  • History Major
  • History Minor
• Humanities
  • Kaplan Humanities Scholars Program
• Integrated Science
  • Integrated Science Major
• International Studies
  • International Studies Adjunct Major
  • International Studies Minor
• Italian
• Japanese
• Jewish Studies
  • Jewish Studies Major
  • Hebrew Studies Minor
  • Jewish Studies Minor
• Korean
• Latin
• Latin American and Caribbean Studies
  • Latin American and Caribbean Studies Minor
• Latina and Latino Studies
  • Latina and Latino Studies Major
  • Latina and Latino Studies Minor
• Legal Studies
  • Legal Studies Major
  • Legal Studies Minor
• Linguistics
  • Linguistics Major
  • Linguistics Minor
  • Linguistics BA/MA
• Literature and Arts
• Materials Science
  • Materials Science Minor
• Mathematical Methods in the Social Sciences
  • MMSS Adjunct Major
• Mathematics
  • Mathematics Major
  • Mathematics Minor
  • Mathematics Second Major for ISP Students
  • Mathematics Second Major or Minor for MMSS Students
• Middle East and North African Languages
  • Arabic Minor
• Middle East and North African Studies
  • Middle East and North African Studies Major
  • Middle East and North African Studies Minor
• Molecular Biosciences
• Native American and Indigenous Studies
  • Native American and Indigenous Studies Minor
• Natural Sciences
• Neurobiology
  • Neuroscience Major
  • Neuroscience Second Major for ISP Students
• Neuroscience
• Perspectives on Power, Justice, and Equity
• Philosophy
  • Philosophy Major
  • Philosophy Minor
• Physics and Astronomy
  • Physics Major
  • Physics Minor
  • Physics Second Major for ISP Students
• Political Science
  • Political Science Major
  • Political Science Minor
• Portuguese
• Psychology
  • Psychology Major
  • Psychology Minor
• Religious Studies
  • Religious Studies Major
  • Religious Studies Minor
  • Catholic Studies Minor
• Russian
• Science in Human Culture
  • Science in Human Culture Adjunct Major
  • Science in Human Culture Minor
• Slavic Languages and Literatures
  • Slavic Languages and Literatures Major
  • Russian and East European Studies Minor
• Social and Behavioral Sciences
• Sociology
  • Sociology Major
  • Sociological Research Minor
  • Sociological Studies Minor
• Spanish & Portuguese
  • Spanish Major
  • Spanish Minor
  • Portuguese Language and Lusophone Cultures Minor
• Statistics and Data Science
  • Data Science Major
  • Data Science Minor
  • Statistics Major
  • Statistics Minor
• Swahili
• Turkish
• Urdu
• Writing Program