Program Overview

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Northwestern University Academic Catalog

Undergraduate

The undergraduate program at Northwestern University offers a wide range of academic opportunities for students. The university is divided into several schools and colleges, each with its own set of programs and courses.

Schools and Colleges

• Henry and Leigh Bienen School of Music: Offers programs in music, including performance, composition, and music education.
• School of Communication: Offers programs in communication, including communication sciences and disorders, communication studies, and radio/television/film.
• School of Education and Social Policy: Offers programs in education and social policy, including elementary teaching, human development in context, and learning and organizational change.
• Robert R. McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science: Offers programs in engineering and applied science, including biomedical engineering, chemical engineering, and computer science.
• Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications: Offers programs in journalism, media, and integrated marketing communications.
• Judd A. and Marjorie Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences: Offers programs in arts and sciences, including African studies, American studies, anthropology, and art history.

Programs and Courses

The university offers a wide range of programs and courses, including:

• Undergraduate Programs: Offers undergraduate degrees in various fields, including arts and sciences, communication, education, engineering, and music.
• Graduate Programs: Offers graduate degrees in various fields, including arts and sciences, communication, education, engineering, and music.
• Certificate Programs: Offers certificate programs in various fields, including business, communication, and education.
• Online Courses: Offers online courses in various fields, including arts and sciences, communication, education, and engineering.

Admission and Financial Aid

• Admission Requirements: Vary by program and school, but generally include a high school diploma or equivalent, SAT or ACT scores, and letters of recommendation.
• Financial Aid: Available in the form of scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study programs.

Research and Academic Support

• Research Opportunities: Available in various fields, including arts and sciences, communication, education, engineering, and music.
• Academic Support: Available in the form of advising, tutoring, and academic support services.

Campus Life

• Student Organizations: Over 400 student organizations, including cultural, recreational, and community service groups.
• Campus Facilities: State-of-the-art facilities, including libraries, laboratories, and performance venues.
• Athletics: NCAA Division I athletics, with teams competing in the Big Ten Conference.

Contact Information

For more information about Northwestern University, please visit the university's website or contact the Office of the Registrar.

School of Professional Studies

Undergraduate Programs

• Biological Sciences: Offers a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences.
• Communication Studies: Offers a Bachelor of Philosophy in Communication Studies.
• Economics: Offers a Bachelor of Philosophy in Economics and a Bachelor of Science in Economics.
• English: Writing: Offers a Bachelor of Philosophy in English: Writing and a Bachelor of Science in English: Writing.
• Enterprise Leadership: Offers a Bachelor of Science in Enterprise Leadership.
• Health Sciences: Offers a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences.
• Humanities: Offers a Bachelor of Philosophy in Humanities and a Bachelor of Science in Humanities.
• Information Systems: Offers a Bachelor of Philosophy in Information Systems, a Bachelor of Science in Information Systems, and a Bachelor of Science in General Studies with a major in Information Systems.
• Organization Behavior: Offers a Bachelor of Philosophy in Organization Behavior and a Bachelor of Science in Organization Behavior.
• Psychology: Offers a Bachelor of Philosophy in Psychology and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology.
• Social Sciences: Offers a Bachelor of Philosophy in Social Sciences, a Bachelor of Science in Social Sciences, and a Bachelor of Science in General Studies with a major in Social Sciences.
• Strategic Communication: Offers a Bachelor of Science in Strategic Communication.

Graduate Programs

• Data Science: Offers a Master of Science in Data Science with various specializations.
• Global Health: Offers a Master of Science in Global Health.
• Health Analytics: Offers a Master of Science in Health Analytics.
• Healthcare Administration: Offers a Master of Science in Healthcare Administration.
• Health Informatics: Offers a Master of Science in Health Informatics with various specializations.
• Information Design and Strategy: Offers a Master of Science in Information Design and Strategy with various specializations.
• Information Systems: Offers a Master of Science in Information Systems with various specializations.
• Liberal Studies: Offers a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies with various specializations.
• Literature: Offers a Master of Arts in Literature with various specializations.
• Prose and Poetry: Offers a Master of Fine Arts in Prose and Poetry with various specializations.
• Public Policy and Administration: Offers a Master of Arts in Public Policy and Administration with various specializations.
• Regulatory Compliance: Offers a Master of Science in Regulatory Compliance with various specializations.
• Sports Administration: Offers a Master of Arts in Sports Administration with various specializations.
• Writing: Offers a Master of Arts in Writing with various specializations.

Certificate Programs

• Post-Baccalaureate Certificates: Offers various post-baccalaureate certificates, including Advanced Accounting, Advanced Studies in Biology for Health Professions, and Artificial Intelligence.
• Graduate Certificates: Offers various graduate certificates, including Analytics and Modeling, Artificial Intelligence, and Data Science.

The Graduate School

Academic Policies and Procedures

• Academic Calendar: Outlines important dates and deadlines for the academic year.
• Academic Integrity: Emphasizes the importance of academic integrity and outlines policies and procedures for addressing academic misconduct.
• Ad Hoc Combined Degrees: Allows students to pursue combined degrees in different fields.
• Certificate Requirements: Outlines requirements for certificate programs.
• General Registration Policies: Outlines policies and procedures for registration, including add/drop deadlines and course load limits.
• Graduation and Diploma Mailing: Outlines procedures for graduation and diploma mailing.
• Leaves of Absence: Outlines policies and procedures for taking leaves of absence.
• Master's Degree Requirements: Outlines requirements for master's degrees, including coursework, thesis, and examination requirements.
• Minor Requirements: Outlines requirements for minors, including coursework and credit requirements.
• Nondiscrimination Statement: Emphasizes the university's commitment to nondiscrimination and outlines policies and procedures for addressing discrimination and harassment.
• Patent and Invention Policy: Outlines policies and procedures for intellectual property and patent rights.
• PhD Degree Requirements: Outlines requirements for PhD degrees, including coursework, comprehensive exams, and dissertation requirements.
• Readmission: Outlines policies and procedures for readmission to the university.
• Satisfactory Academic Progress: Outlines policies and procedures for monitoring and addressing satisfactory academic progress.
• Student Funding Policies: Outlines policies and procedures for student funding, including assistantships, fellowships, and loans.
• Student Handbook and Code of Conduct: Outlines expectations and policies for student behavior and conduct.
• Teaching: Outlines policies and procedures for teaching, including teaching assistantships and instructor responsibilities.
• Withdrawal: Outlines policies and procedures for withdrawal from the university.

Programs A-Z

• Accounting and Information Systems: Offers a PhD in Accounting and Information Systems.
• African Studies: Offers a PhD in African Studies.
• Anthropology: Offers a PhD in Anthropology.
• Applied Physics: Offers a PhD in Applied Physics.
• Arabic: Offers a PhD in Arabic.
• Art History: Offers a PhD in Art History.
• Art Theory and Practice: Offers a PhD in Art Theory and Practice.
• Asian Languages and Cultures: Offers a PhD in Asian Languages and Cultures.
• Astronomy: Offers a PhD in Astronomy.
• Biological Sciences: Offers a PhD in Biological Sciences.
• Biomedical Engineering: Offers a PhD in Biomedical Engineering.
• Biostatistics: Offers a PhD in Biostatistics.
• Black Studies: Offers a PhD in Black Studies.
• Career Development: Offers a PhD in Career Development.
• Chemical Engineering: Offers a PhD in Chemical Engineering.
• Chemistry: Offers a PhD in Chemistry.
• Chicago Field Studies: Offers a PhD in Chicago Field Studies.
• Chinese: Offers a PhD in Chinese.
• CIC Traveling Scholar: Offers a PhD in CIC Traveling Scholar.
• Civil and Environmental Engineering: Offers a PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering.
• Classics - Readings in English: Offers a PhD in Classics - Readings in English.
• Communication Sciences and Disorders: Offers a PhD in Communication Sciences and Disorders.
• Communication Studies: Offers a PhD in Communication Studies.
• Comparative & Historical Social Science: Offers a PhD in Comparative & Historical Social Science.
• Comparative Literary Studies: Offers a PhD in Comparative Literary Studies.
• Comparative Race and Diaspora: Offers a PhD in Comparative Race and Diaspora.
• Computer Engineering: Offers a PhD in Computer Engineering.
• Computer Science: Offers a PhD in Computer Science.
• Counseling: Offers a PhD in Counseling.
• Dance: Offers a PhD in Dance.
• Data Science: Offers a PhD in Data Science.
• Driskill Graduate Program in Life Sciences: Offers a PhD in Driskill Graduate Program in Life Sciences.
• Earth and Planetary Sciences: Offers a PhD in Earth and Planetary Sciences.
• Economics: Offers a PhD in Economics.
• Electrical Engineering: Offers a PhD in Electrical Engineering.
• Engineering Science & Applied Math: Offers a PhD in Engineering Science & Applied Math.
• English: Offers a PhD in English.
• Entrepreneurship & Innovation: Offers a PhD in Entrepreneurship & Innovation.
• Environmental Policy & Culture: Offers a PhD in Environmental Policy & Culture.
• Epidemiology: Offers a PhD in Epidemiology.
• Finance: Offers a PhD in Finance.
• French: Offers a PhD in French.
• Gender Studies: Offers a PhD in Gender Studies.
• General Engineering: Offers a PhD in General Engineering.
• Genetic Counseling: Offers a PhD in Genetic Counseling.
• German: Offers a PhD in German.
• Global Avant-garde and Modernist Studies: Offers a PhD in Global Avant-garde and Modernist Studies.
• Global Health: Offers a PhD in Global Health.
• Greek: Offers a PhD in Greek.
• Health and Biomedical Informatics: Offers a PhD in Health and Biomedical Informatics.
• Health Sciences Integrated Program: Offers a PhD in Health Sciences Integrated Program.
• Health Services and Outcomes Research: Offers a PhD in Health Services and Outcomes Research.
• Hebrew: Offers a PhD in Hebrew.
• Hindi and Urdu: Offers a PhD in Hindi and Urdu.
• History: Offers a PhD in History.
• Human Development & Social Policy: Offers a PhD in Human Development & Social Policy.
• Humanities: Offers a PhD in Humanities.
• Industrial Engineering & Management Sciences: Offers a PhD in Industrial Engineering & Management Sciences.
• Initiative for Sustainability & Energy at NU: Offers a PhD in Initiative for Sustainability & Energy at NU.
• Interdisciplinary Biological Sciences Program: Offers a PhD in Interdisciplinary Biological Sciences Program.
• Interdisciplinary Seminar: Offers a PhD in Interdisciplinary Seminar.
• Italian: Offers a PhD in Italian.
• Japanese: Offers a PhD in Japanese.
• Korean: Offers a PhD in Korean.
• Latin: Offers a PhD in Latin.
• Latin American & Caribbean Studies: Offers a PhD in Latin American & Caribbean Studies.
• Latina and Latino Studies: Offers a PhD in Latina and Latino Studies.
• Learning Sciences: Offers a PhD in Learning Sciences.
• Legal Studies: Offers a PhD in Legal Studies.
• Linguistics: Offers a PhD in Linguistics.
• Management and Organizations: Offers a PhD in Management and Organizations.
• Managerial Econ & Strategy: Offers a PhD in Managerial Econ & Strategy.
• Marketing: Offers a PhD in Marketing.
• Master of Science in Clinical Investigation: Offers a PhD in Master of Science in Clinical Investigation.
• Materials Science & Engineering: Offers a PhD in Materials Science & Engineering.
• Mathematics: Offers a PhD in Mathematics.
• Mechanical Engineering: Offers a PhD in Mechanical Engineering.
• Media, Technology & Society: Offers a PhD in Media, Technology & Society.
• Medical Humanities and Bioethics: Offers a PhD in Medical Humanities and Bioethics.
• Medical Scientist Training: Offers a PhD in Medical Scientist Training.
• Medieval Studies: Offers a PhD in Medieval Studies.
• Middle East and North African Studies: Offers a PhD in Middle East and North African Studies.
• MS in Family Therapy: Offers a PhD in MS in Family Therapy.
• Music: Offers a PhD in Music.
• Music Composition: Offers a PhD in Music Composition.
• Music Education: Offers a PhD in Music Education.
• Music Technology: Offers a PhD in Music Technology.
• Music Theory: Offers a PhD in Music Theory.
• Musicology: Offers a PhD in Musicology.
• Neurobiology & Physiology: Offers a PhD in Neurobiology & Physiology.
• Neuroscience: Offers a PhD in Neuroscience.
• Neuroscience (NUIN): Offers a PhD in Neuroscience (NUIN).
• Operations Management: Offers a PhD in Operations Management.
• Performance Studies: Offers a PhD in Performance Studies.
• Persian: Offers a PhD in Persian.
• Philosophy: Offers a PhD in Philosophy.
• Physics: Offers a PhD in Physics.
• Plant Biology & Conservation: Offers a PhD in Plant Biology & Conservation.
• Political Science: Offers a PhD in Political Science.
• Portuguese: Offers a PhD in Portuguese.
• Predictive Science and Engineering: Offers a PhD in Predictive Science and Engineering.
• Professional Development: Offers a PhD in Professional Development.
• Psychology: Offers a PhD in Psychology.
• Public Health: Offers a PhD in Public Health.
• Quantitative & Systems Biology: Offers a PhD in Quantitative & Systems Biology.
• Radio/Television/Film: Offers a PhD in Radio/Television/Film.
• Religion: Offers a PhD in Religion.
• Reproductive Science and Medicine: Offers a PhD in Reproductive Science and Medicine.
• Russian: Offers a PhD in Russian.
• Segal Design Institute: Offers a PhD in Segal Design Institute.
• Slavic Languages & Literature: Offers a PhD in Slavic Languages & Literature.
• Sociology: Offers a PhD in Sociology.
• Spanish: Offers a PhD in Spanish.
• Spanish and Portuguese: Offers a PhD in Spanish and Portuguese.
• Statistics: Offers a PhD in Statistics.
• Swahili: Offers a PhD in Swahili.
• TGS General Registrations: Offers a PhD in TGS General Registrations.
• Theatre & Drama: Offers a PhD in Theatre & Drama.
• Theatre: Offers a PhD in Theatre.
• Turkish: Offers a PhD in Turkish.

Political Science Major

The major in political science provides an opportunity for students to learn about politics in a variety of realms and settings. Students are encouraged to begin the major with 200-level courses, which provide a general introduction to subfields of political science, as well as important background for 300-level courses. Majors should choose 200-level courses from at least two subfields: American politics, comparative politics, international relations, and political theory.

Major Requirements

• 3 gateway courses chosen from:
  • POLI_SCI 201-0: Introduction to Political Theory
  • POLI_SCI 220-0: American Government and Politics
  • POLI_SCI 230-0: Introduction to Law in the Political Arena
  • POLI_SCI 240-0: Introduction to International Relations
  • POLI_SCI 250-0: Introduction to Comparative Politics
• 1 methodology course in political science chosen from:
  • POLI_SCI 210-0: Introduction to Empirical Methods in Political Science
  • POLI_SCI 211-0: Introduction to Interpretive Methods in Political Science
  • POLI_SCI 212-0: Evaluating Evidence
  • POLI_SCI 312-0: Statistical Research Methods
• 1 Political Research Seminar:
  • POLI_SCI 395-0: Political Research Seminar
• 7 additional 300-level courses in political science

Notes about Substitutions and Restrictions

• A maximum of two courses per quarter from study abroad may count toward the Political Science major. More courses may be accepted toward the major for longer study abroad programs.
• At most two units of POLI_SCI 399-0 may count toward the 300-level requirement for the major.
• There is no limit to the number of units of Special Topics in Political Science (POLI_SCI 390-0) that may be applied to the major.
• At most two units of Professional Linkage Seminar (POLI_SCI 394-LK) may count toward the 300-level requirement for the major.
• Courses taken P/N cannot be counted toward the major.
• Receiving a 5 on an AP exam (either American Government or Comparative Politics) can place students out of the equivalent 200-level course, but test credit awarded cannot be substituted for the 12 courses required to complete the major.

Honors in Political Science

Majors with strong academic records and an interest in pursuing honors should submit an application to the honors program in the spring quarter of their junior year. Interested students should complete at least seven of the courses required for the major, including the methodology and research seminar requirements, before senior year. Accepted students enroll in the two-quarter seminar POLI_SCI 398-1 & POLI_SCI 398-2, which provides guidance in writing a senior thesis. These courses do not count toward the major but are required for participation in the honors program. Students must be in residence and able to attend both seminars in person during both the fall and winter quarters when enrolled in the honors program. Students interested in pursuing honors in more than one major are encouraged to pursue interdisciplinary honors.

Courses

American Politics Courses

These courses examine political behavior, power, and politics in American society and in the institutions of US government at the national, state, and local levels.

• POLI_SCI 220-0: American Government and Politics
• POLI_SCI 230-0: Introduction to Law in the Political Arena
• POLI_SCI 320-0: The American Presidency
• POLI_SCI 321-0: Urban Politics
• POLI_SCI 323-0: Public Opinion and Voting Behavior
• POLI_SCI 324-0: Political Parties and Elections
• POLI_SCI 325-0: Congress and the Legislative Process
• POLI_SCI 326-0: Race and Public Policy
• POLI_SCI 327-0: African American Politics
• POLI_SCI 328-0: Public Policy
• POLI_SCI 329-0: U.S. Environmental Politics
• POLI_SCI 331-0: Politics of the Supreme Court
• POLI_SCI 332-0: Constitutional Law I
• POLI_SCI 333-0: Constitutional Law II: Civil and Political Rights
• POLI_SCI 334-0: Latino Politics
• POLI_SCI 335-0: Political Psychology
• POLI_SCI 336-0: Immigration Politics and Policy
• POLI_SCI 337-0: Gender and Politics
• POLI_SCI 338-0: Labor in America

Comparative Politics Courses

Some of these courses concentrate on understanding the politics of specific national systems, while others focus on certain types of political phenomena and make cross-national comparisons.

• POLI_SCI 250-0: Introduction to Comparative Politics
• POLI_SCI 350-0: Social Movements
• POLI_SCI 351-0: Politics of the Middle East
• POLI_SCI 352-0: Global Development
• POLI_SCI 353-0: Politics of Latin America
• POLI_SCI 354-0: Politics of Southeast Asia
• POLI_SCI 355-0: Politics of China
• POLI_SCI 356-0: Constitutional Challenges in Comparative Perspective
• POLI_SCI 358-SA: Contemporary South Africa: A Political Economy/Policy Perspective
• POLI_SCI 359-0: Politics of Africa
• POLI_SCI 361-0: Democracy and Autocracy
• POLI_SCI 362-0: Politics of Europe
• POLI_SCI 363-SA: The Political Economy of the European Union
• POLI_SCI 364-SA: France: Politics, Culture, & Society
• POLI_SCI 365-SA: Decision Making in the European Union
• POLI_SCI 366-SA: The Dynamics of Law Making in the European Union
• POLI_SCI 368-0: Political Economy of Development
• POLI_SCI 369-0: Politics of Post-Soviet Russia and Ukraine
• POLI_SCI 373-0: Chinese Foreign Policy
• POLI_SCI 374-0: Politics of Capitalism
• POLI_SCI 388-0: Institutions and Society
• POLI_SCI 389-0: Understanding Genocide

International Relations Courses

This field includes the study of major actors and arenas in the world scene, global processes through which cooperation and conflict are managed in the international system, and ways in which change occurs and resources become allocated in the global system.

• POLI_SCI 240-0: Introduction to International Relations
• POLI_SCI 340-0: International Relations Theory
• POLI_SCI 341-0: International Political Economy
• POLI_SCI 342-0: International Organizations
• POLI_SCI 343-0: Politics of International Law
• POLI_SCI 344-0: U.S. Foreign Policy
• POLI_SCI 345-0: National Security
• POLI_SCI 346-0: European Union in International Affairs
• POLI_SCI 347-0: Ethics in International Relations
• POLI_SCI 348-0: Globalization
• POLI_SCI 349-0: International Environmental Politics
• POLI_SCI 376-0: Civil Wars
• POLI_SCI 377-0: Drugs and Politics
• POLI_SCI 378-0: America and the World
• POLI_SCI 382-0: Religion, Law, & Politics: Politics of Religious Diversity
• POLI_SCI 383-0: War and Change in International Politics
• POLI_SCI 384-0: International Responses to Mass Atrocities

Political Theory Courses

These courses examine the ideas that inform the thinking of today’s citizens, representatives, and political scientists. They are organized by historical periods and conceptual similarity.

• POLI_SCI 201-0: Introduction to Political Theory
• POLI_SCI 301-0: Ancient Political Theory
• POLI_SCI 302-0: Subjects, Citizens, Revolutionaries: Early Modern Political Thought
• POLI_SCI 303-0: Modernity and Its Discontents
• POLI_SCI 304-0: Human Rights Between East and West
• POLI_SCI 306-0: American Political Thought
• POLI_SCI 307-0: Deportation Law and Politics
• POLI_SCI 308-0: Critical Theory and the Study of Politics
• POLI_SCI 308-SA: Critical Theory and the Study of Politics
• POLI_SCI 309-0: Political Theories of the Rule of Law

Research Methodology Courses

Courses in this field help students engage in the research they may encounter in their 300 level courses and help prepare students to conduct original research on the causes and consequences of political phenomena. The methodological techniques are often transferable to research problems in government and business.

• POLI_SCI 210-0: Introduction to Empirical Methods in Political Science
• POLI_SCI 211-0: Introduction to Interpretive Methods in Political Science
• POLI_SCI 212-0: Evaluating Evidence
• POLI_SCI 312-0: Statistical Research Methods

Seminars and Independent Study

• POLI_SCI 390-0: Special Topics in Political Science
• POLI_SCI 394-LK: Professional Linkage Seminar
• POLI_SCI 395-0: Political Research Seminar
• POLI_SCI 398-1 & POLI_SCI 398-2: Senior Thesis Seminar
• POLI_SCI 399-0: Independent Study

Additional Information

For more information about the Political Science major, please visit the Northwestern University website or contact the Department of Political Science.