G R A D UAT E S T UDY

NORTHWESTE RN
ENGINEERING
W E A R E W H O L E- B R A IN T H IN K E R S

S EEIN G S IMP L I C I T Y IN T HE C O MP L E X ,

T HE C O MP L E X I T Y O F T HE S IMP L E.

W E A R E W H O L E- B R A IN E N G IN E E R S ,

B I G-P I C T UR E T HINK ER S , R E A L-T IME

C O L L A B O R ATO R S , A L L- O U T INN O VATO R S .

WE ARE
TA K I N G T H E
WO R L D I N
A WHOLE NEW
DIRECTION.
Driving progress through innovation and leadership.
Turning research into patented processes and
life-changing inventions. Bringing products to market
with smart risk-taking and entrepreneurship.

FIND YOUR DIREC T ION HER E .

G R A D U AT E S T U DY
AT N O R T H W E S T E R N
ENGINEERING
WHOLE-BR AIN THINKING.
E M P O W E R I N G O U R S T U D E N T S W I T H A D V A N C E D A N A LY T I C A L
A N D P R O B L E M -S O LV I N G S K I L L S
Analysis. Logic. Synthesis. Math. All are elements of “left-brain”
thinking, all critical to engineering success. To lead today in a
world of change, engineers require more. They need “right-brain”
skills. Intuition. Metaphorical thinking. Creative problem solving.
At Northwestern Engineering, we celebrate whole-brain thinking
and empower our students to become whole-brain engineers.
Master’s and PhD program students at Northwestern Engineering
take the concept to new heights. They conduct interdisciplinary
research and collaborate with peers and faculty in other highly
ranked departments and beyond. They develop leadership
skills inside and outside the classroom and lab. And, they expand
their career opportunities through career-focused initiatives
and cross-school partnerships that expand their perspectives
and strengthen business management skills.
Whatever direction our graduate students take, all develop the
highly advanced analytical and problem-solving skills required
to change the world for the better in material ways and to lead
others to do the same.
WHOLE-BR AIN ENGINEERS.
P U R S U ING A DVA N C ED DEGR EE S
ACROSS A WIDE RANGE OF PROGRAMS
At every level in every program of study, Northwestern Engineering
P A R T-T I M E M S P R O G R A M S
students constantly advance in their development as whole-brain
engineers. Graduate students choose from an array of master’s Engineering management Executive management
and doctoral programs aligned with their career goals and personal for design and construction Information technology
passions. Master’s degree programs—full- and part-time—are Product design and development management
designed to meet ever-changing industry and research environments. Project management
Doctoral candidates work side-by-side with world-class faculty In addition to the programs listed above, part-time tracks are
across disciplines researching advanced topics in engineering. available for most full-time departmental MS programs.

F U L L-T I M E M S P R O G R A M S PHD PROGRAMS

Analytics Artiicial intelligence Biomedical engineering
Biotechnology Chemical and biological engineering
Civil and environmental engineering Computer engineering
Computer science Electrical engineering Energy and sustainability
Engineering design innovation Engineering management
Engineering sciences and applied mathematics Information
technology MMM (dual degree) Materials science and engineering
Mechanical engineering Product design and development
management Project management Robotics Theoretical and
applied mechanics
Applied physics Biomedical engineering Chemical and
biological engineering Civil and environmental engineering
Computer engineering Computer science Computer science and
learning sciences Electrical engineering Engineering sciences and
applied mathematics Industrial engineering and management
sciences Materials science and engineering Mechanical
engineering Technology and social behavior Theoretical and
applied mechanics

W H AT E V E R D I R E C T I O N O U R G R A D U AT E
S T U D E N T S TA K E , A L L D E V E L O P T H E H I G H LY
A D VA N C E D A N A LY T I C A L A N D P R O B L E M -
S O LV I N G S K I L L S R E Q U I R E D T O C H A N G E T H E
W O R L D F O R T H E B E T T E R I N M AT E R I A L WAY S
AND TO LEAD OTHERS TO DO THE SAME.
R E S E A R C H E R S A N D C O L L A B O R AT O R S
B R E A K I N G B A R R I E R S A N D C R E AT I N G T H E F U T U R E
MAJOR CENTERS INCLUDE:

Northwestern Engineering’s more than 180 faculty systematically

confront some of the world’s most pressing and complex challenges Northwestern-Argonne Institute for Science and Engineering
in systems, materials, health and wellness, energy, and the
Center for Quantum Devices
environment. Our interdisciplinary collaboration is exempliied by
ongoing research initiatives with more than 20 other departments in Institute for Sustainability and Energy
our extended Northwestern family and dozens of other universities
and research centers worldwide. International Institute for Nanotechnology

While the majority of University research funding comes from Materials Research Science and Engineering Center
government sources, corporate-sponsored research represents
a growing opportunity for professors. Northwestern Institute on Complex Systems

Segal Design Institute

Transportation Center

CAREER-FOCUSED PROFE SSIONAL S

P R E P A R I N G F O R S U C C E S S I N B U S I N E S S , I N D U S T R Y,
AND ACADEMIA
Northwestern Engineering is committed to preparing students
for successful careers as leaders and researchers in business,
industry, and academia. The Engineering Career Development ofice
identiies and works with students to secure internship opportunities
and provides other career advancement services. For doctoral
students, Management for Scientists and Engineers, an eight-week
summer course drawn from the Kellogg School of Management core
MBA curriculum, equips young researchers with the knowledge they
need to become better managers and leaders.

E N T R E P R E N E U R S A N D I N N O VAT O R S
C H A N G I N G T H E W O R L D F O R T H E B E T T E R E V E R Y D A Y.
NORTHWESTERN ENGINEERING’S
Northwestern Engineering students and faculty drive progress
ENTREPRENEURSHIP RESOURCES:
through innovation and leadership, turning research into patented
processes and life-changing inventions and bringing products
to market through smart risk-taking and entrepreneurship. They The Farley Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation provides
typically account for a lion’s share of the University’s inventions incubators, mentorships, and seminars and encourages the ongoing
and faculty startups. development of new, interdisciplinary curricula.

NU vention courses engage interdisciplinary teams from across

the University in the entire innovation and entrepreneurial life
cycle, including how to transform innovations into viable business.

The Innovation and New Ventures Ofice ( INVO ) advises faculty

and students on the development of research with commercial
potential and provides seminars and educational programs
on entrepreneurship and innovation.

The Garage provides an entrepreneurship space for Northwestern

students to experiment, collaborate, and get their ideas built.
A COMMUNIT Y OF LE ADERS
GAINING EXPERIENCE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE
THE CL ASSROOMS AND L AB
The McCormick Graduate Leadership Council helps solidify a gradu- Chicago Graduate Student Association ( CGSA )
ate student community among the eight departments within North-
western Engineering by organizing social, academic, and profession- Black Graduate Student Association ( BGSA )
al activities, and facilitates communication with the administration.
Chinese Students and Scholars Association ( CSSA )
Students can also participate in the Graduate Student
Association, department-centered student groups, and other Graduate Student Association for Latino
and Spanish Activities (G-SALSA )
student associations that promote interactions among graduate
students, provide academic and social programs, and serve
Indian Graduate Student and Scholars Association (IGSSA)
as student advocates, including:

Queer Pride Graduate Student Association (QPGSA )

Society of Women Engineers (GradSWE)

Turkish Intercultural Club

C OL L E AGUE S, F RIENDS, A ND FA MILIE S

LIVING AND LEARNING IN ONE OF THE WORLD’S
M O S T DY N A M I C M E T R O P O L I TA N A R E A S

Stretching along the north shore of spectacular Lake Michigan,
Northwestern’s Evanston campus provides an environment
conducive to serious scholarship and rich in rewarding opportu-
nities for every lifestyle. Evanston boasts the amenities of a big
city in a manageable suburban setting.
With downtown Chicago only 12 miles away and easily accessible
by public transportation or the intercampus shuttle, Northwestern
students have easy access to the wealth of professional sports,
music, art, and cultural diversity that the nation’s third-largest city
offers. Northwestern’s location also means unsurpassed access to
major corporations, research centers, and other organizations eager
to engage Northwestern Engineering students in experiential
learning, internships, and careers.
G R A D UAT E
A P P L I CAT I O N
INSTRUCTIONS
FOR 2020
application systems open in September each year and you may begin
your application as soon as the system is open. During the process
Northwestern Engineering has prepared this guide to help you
you can save your work, return frequently to update your application,
navigate the sometimes complex application process for MS or
and then submit the application upon completion.
PhD admission. You can also refer to each department’s website
for more information. P H D A P P L I C AT I O N S

Application to the PhD program of choice starts at the department’s

A P P L I C AT I O N P R O C E S S
AND DEADLINES
Application requirements and deadlines for PhD and MS degrees vary
by department or program. It is best to refer to the individual depart-
ment or program website for exact speciications.
All applications for PhD and MS degrees are made through one of two
Northwestern University online application systems. Both online
website. From there, applicants are directed into Northwestern’s
The Graduate School’s application system where the application is
completed and submitted.
The application deadline for most PhD programs is December 15.
Departments with exceptions to this date include engineering
sciences and applied mathematics (December 31), and industrial
 program websites for speciic information.
engineering and management sciences (December 5). Always check
the department’s website for any updates.

R E S U M E /C V A N D S TAT E M E N T O F P U R P O S E
PhD program admission does not require an MS degree and the
majority of our new PhD students do not hold an MS degree. Should Please include your resume/CV and statement of purpose
acceptance to our highly competitive PhD programs not be granted, with the online application.
many applicants wish to be considered for an MS program. North-
western makes this request easy to make through a checkbox section
in the PhD application – no separate application is required for MS TRANSCRIPTS
consideration.

Applicants upload unoficial transcripts through the online

M S A P P L I C AT I O N S
application system.
Apply to the MS program of your choice starting at the department’s
or program’s website. From there, and depending upon the program,
Oficial transcripts will be required only for new students
you will be automatically delivered into either Northwestern’s The
who enroll at Northwestern. Those will be collected in the summer
Graduate School’s application system, or Northwestern’s McCor-
months.
mick’s application system where you will inish and submit your
application.

R E C O M M E N D AT I O N S
Students can only submit one application to The Graduate School,
but a prospective student can apply to an unlimited number of
McCormick MS programs. All recommendations should be submitted through the
online application system. Two or three recommendations are re-
MS application deadlines vary by program, and some programs even quired depending on the program.
have a rolling admissions policy. Always check the department’s or
program’s website for any updates on requirements and timing.
Please do not direct your references to send hard copies by mail.

S U P P O R T I N G M AT E R I A L S
F O R A P P L I C AT I O N S
TEST SCORES

Applicants can use the E TS system to send GRE and TOEFL scores
(if TOEFL is required for you) to Northwestern University (E TS code
1565).

Northwestern will accept scanned copies of score reports through

the online application system and verify those scores with E TS.

The minimum Internet-based TOEFL scores are 90 for PhD

applicants and 80 for MS applicants in most programs. Higher
TOEFL scores may be required for some MS programs. A score of 7.0
may in part also be used from the IELTS. Please see departmental or
 ONCE YOU H AV E A PPLIED
A P P L I C AT I O N
During the application process, you may work with the departmen- CHECKLIST
tal graduate program assistant or the program’s associate director
to complete your application ile. You will also be able to track your
status online in the application system. Please check with your desired program for speciic instructions.

Complete online application

ONCE YOU H AV E BEEN A DMIT TED I N C L U D E W I T H O N L I N E A P P L I C AT I O N

Recommenders’ contact information

PhD programs: admitted PhD students have until April 15 to accept Resume/CV
or decline the offer of admission. Those residing in the United States
Statement of purpose
are invited to campus in late winter. Northwestern Engineering will
help defray expenses for your travel to Evanston. Unoficial transcripts

MS programs: admitted MS students will receive speciic
acceptance deadline information from their department or program.
GRE scores
TOEFL scores (if required; if English was the language of instruction
at the institution where you received your bachelor’s or master’s
degree, then the TOEFL requirement is waived.)

FUNDING IELTS scores (as an alternative to TOEFL scores)

Do not send hard copies of materials that have been submitted

PhD programs: Northwestern Engineering fully funds PhD electronically. It slows the processing of your application.
students with paid tuition, paid health insurance, and a monthly
stipend. After admission, PhD applicants will receive a
formal PhD funding offer letter.

N E E D A S S I S TA N C E ? H AV E A Q U E S T I O N?

Please feel free to contact the graduate program assistant dean

for your chosen program.

Assistant Dean Assistant Dean for Professional

for Graduate Studies
Bruce A. Lindvall
2145 Sheridan Road, Suite L-261
Evanston, IL 60208–3103
Phone 847–491–4547
b-lindvall@northwestern.edu
Educational MS Programs
Ward Lavino
2145 Sheridan Road, Suite L-255
Evanston, IL 60208–3103
Phone 847–467–6167
edward.lavino@northwestern.edu
M AST E R O F S C I E N C E
I N E L ECT RI CA L
E N G I N E E RI N G
THE ELEC TRICAL ENGINEERING DIVISION WITHIN THE DEPAR TMENT
O F E L E C T R I C A L A N D C O M P U T E R E N G I N E E R I N G ( ECE ) offers a graduate degree
program in electrical engineering that provides students the lexibility to specialize in different
aspects of the ield. The division’s internationally renowned and award-winning faculty,
many of whom are members of prestigious scholarly societies, are deeply committed to their
students. The department has state-of-the-art research equipment and the considerable
resources of a prestigious university.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
COMPUTER SCIENCE
Courses and research in the MS in electrical engineering
program focus on expanding skills in solid-state devices;
quantum electronics; electronic materials; iber optics; lasers;
optical materials; nanophotonics; spintronics; microwave and
electromagnetic theory; computational electromagnetics;
communication systems and networks; information theory and
coding; control and large-scale systems; digital signal processing;
computer vision and robotics; ultrasonics; and biomedical
electronics.
In addition to course work, students working toward an MS degree
in electrical engineering must choose one of the following plans and
obtain approval from their adviser:
PL AN A (THESIS MS)
Students must write an MS thesis for which they may receive two
or three units of research credit 590. This can be counted toward
the 12-unit requirement for the MS degree. The student’s MS
examination committee must approve the thesis.
PL AN B (PRO JECT MS)

Students must complete a project and write a project report for

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS which they will receive one or two units of research credit 590,
To maintain a proper balance between department resources and which can be counted toward the 12-unit requirement for the MS
the size of the graduate student population, the department limits degree. The difference between an MS thesis and an MS project
offers of admission to only the most qualiied applicants. Thus the is that the thesis normally has substantial original research results,
admission process is highly selective and competitive in nature. while a project contains results based on existing theory or tech-
niques. The student’s MS examination committee must approve
Faculty whose research interests fall into the area of specialization
the project report.
of the applicant perform the initial evaluation of each application.
A typical applicant is expected to have a BS in electrical engineering,
computer engineering, computer science, or a related discipline
from a recognized institution. Highly qualiied candidates with other
academic backgrounds may also be considered.

The speciic undergraduate preparation required for graduate study

depends on the program and the area of specialization. An applicant
who has insuficient undergraduate preparation in a particular area,
but is well qualiied in every other respect, may be required to take
certain undergraduate courses as soon as possible after enrolling
at Northwestern. Such students are informed of this requirement
at the time of admission.

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
At least 12 units of graduate study are required for the MS
degree. Typically, one unit of credit corresponds to a one-quarter
course. All course work for the MS degree must be taken within
The Graduate School of Northwestern University and must be com-
pleted within ive years of enrollment. Every MS student is required
to take at least three relevant courses at the 400 level.
PL AN C (COURSE MS)

Students must take 12 courses approved by the student’s adviser.

The choice of courses must represent a coherent program of study
that prepares the student for advanced work in a speciic ield.
An MS examination committee evaluates the student’s performance
in the course work. Not all programs allow this option.

PROGRAM PLANNING

Each student is assigned an initial program adviser who will assist

with planning for the irst quarters of study. Students are encour-
aged to ind a permanent research adviser by the end of the irst
quarter. The research adviser serves as the student’s primary
contact with the department for the remainder of the program and
should be chosen to match the student’s research interests. Each
student completes a study plan, which is approved by the adviser
prior to registration and updated with any program changes and
grades each quarter.

The normal full-time program of graduate study is three units per

quarter. The maximum permitted is four. All students who receive
fellowships, research assistantships, or teaching assistantships
must register as full-time students.

For the convenience of graduate students who wish to pursue their

MS studies in the department on a part-time basis, the department
schedules certain courses in the late afternoon. However, it may
not be possible to take all required courses for the MS degree in
late-afternoon time slots. For further information, contact the
associate chair for graduate affairs.

ARE AS OF RESE ARCH E XCELLENCE

Research in the electrical engineering division spans a diverse set
of intellectual disciplines. These disciplines are divided into two
interrelated research interest groups:

SIGNAL S AND SYSTEMS (SIGSYS)

The signals and systems research interest group broadly covers

signals, including images and other forms of information and their
acquisition, representation, processing, analysis and interpretation,
coding, transmission through networks, wireless and other channels,
and the control of linear and non-linear dynamic systems.

Signals and systems contains the following sub-areas:

Communication systems and wireless networks

Information theory and coding

Control and large-scale systems

Digital signal processing, image, speech, acoustic, and tactile

processing

Computer vision and robotics

Biomedical electronics Microwave and electromagnetic theory

FA C U LT Y Computational electromagnetics

Randy Berry Arthur Butz Oliver Cossairt

Randy Freeman Michael Honig Aggelos Katsaggelos C.C. Lee FA C U LT Y
Ilya Mikhelson Thrasos Pappas Alan Sahakian Ermin Wei
Koray Aydin Matthew Grayson Seng-Tiong Ho Pedram Khalili
Ying Wu
Prem Kumar Hooman Mohseni Martin Plonus
Manijeh Razeghi Selim Shahriar Allen Talove Horace Yuen
S O L I D S TAT E & P H O T O N I C S (S S P)

The solid state and photonics research interest group shares the
main research interests of design, analysis, and proof-of-concept ADDITIONAL PROGRAM
development o fsolid-state and photonic devices and systems.
I N F O R M AT I O N
Solid-state and photonics contains the following sub-areas:
C A R E E R PAT H S

Students who earn the MS in electrical engineering gain a compet-

Solid-state devices
itive edge over their peers, working in ields such as system design
and speciication; university teaching and research; sales; cost anal-
Quantum electronics ysis; management; component design, research, and development;
and consulting, production, and quality control.

Many graduates of the master of science in electrical engineering

Electronic materials
program go on to further graduate study at PhD-granting institutions.

Fiberoptics
C O N TA C T
Learn more about the MS in electrical engineering at our website:
Lasers
https://www.mccormick.northwestern.edu/electrical-computer/
graduate/masters/electrical-engineering.html
Optical materials You may also email freeman@eecs.northwestern.edu with speciic
questions about the program.

Nanophotonics

Spintronics
FINANCIAL AID
FO R MASTE R’S
DEG RE E PROG R AM
STUDENTS
Faculty and staff of the McCormick School of Engineering and Also, note that if your ultimate goal is to pursue a PhD, you may
Applied Science understands that inancing a master’s degree enter PhD programs without having completed an MS degree.
can play an important role in deciding which school you will attend.
To help make sure that all of our master’s degree students can
LOANS
fund their educations regardless of personal inancial
circumstances, Northwestern Engineering provides opportunities for Northwestern loan procedures, deadlines, and downloadable
access to a variety of federal and private loan and funding options. forms are available at:

The Evanston Ofice of Graduate Financial Aid assists current and
incoming students with these funding processes and also
provides sound debt management services. You may contact
the ofice by phone at 847–491–8950 or by e-mail at
gradinaid@northwestern.edu.
https://www.northwestern.edu/evanston-graduate-inancial-aid/
Private student loan comparison for students not eligible
for federal loans is available at:
https://www.northwestern.edu/evanston-graduate-inancial-aid/
private-student-loans/index.html
Financial literacy, federal loan programs, loan forgiveness
provisions, and repayment calculators are available at:

http://www.northwestern.edu/inancial-wellness/

TUITION

Tuition, fees, billing, and payment information is available at:

http://www.northwestern.edu/sfs/

SCHOLARSHIPS

Information about private outside scholarship assistance

may be found at:

http://petersons.com

Please feel free to follow up with the Evanston Ofice of Graduate

Financial Aid or Bruce A. Lindvall, assistant dean for graduate
studies at McCormick, at b-lindvall@northwestern.edu or at 847–
491–4547, if you have questions about inancing your MS degree.