GRADUATE

STUDY
WE ARE WHOLE-BRAIN THINKERS
SEEING SIMPLICITY IN THE COMPLEX,
THE COMPLEXITY OF THE SIMPLE.

WE ARE WHOLE-BRAIN ENGINEERS,

BIG-PICTURE THINKERS, REAL-TIME

COLLABORATORS, ALL-OUT INNOVATORS.

WE ARE
TAKING THE
WORLD IN
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 DIRECTION HERE.

 Empowering students with
advanced analytical and
problem-solving skills

24
MS PROGRAMS
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
their career opportunities through career-focused
initiatives and cross-school partnerships that
expand their perspectives and strengthen business
management skills.

Graduate students choose from an array of programs

our students to become whole-brain engineers.
Master’s and PhD students at Northwestern
Engineering build on that philosophy. They conduct
interdisciplinary research and collaboration
with peers and faculty in other highly ranked
aligned with their career goals and personal
passions. Master’s degree programs, full- and part-
time, are designed to meet ever-changing industry
and research environments. Doctoral programs
allow students to work side-by-side with world-class
faculty across disciplines researching advanced
topics in engineering.

14
departments. They develop leadership skills inside
and outside the classroom and lab. And they expand see areas of graduate study >

Whichever direction our graduate students take, all

PHD PROGRAMS become prepared to change the world for the better
and to lead others to do the same.

OVERVIEW
 RESEARCHERS AND COLLABORATORS

> 20
ONGOING RESEARCH
BREAKING BARRIERS AND CREATING THE FUTURE

Northwestern Engineering’s more than

180 faculty systematically confront some
of the world’s most pressing and complex
challenges in systems, materials, health and
wellness, energy, and the environment. Our
MAJOR CENTERS INCLUDE:

• Center for Synthetic Biology

INITIATIVES WITH
interdisciplinary collaboration is exemplified
OTHER NORTHWESTERN by ongoing research initiatives with more than
DEPARTMENTS 20 other departments across our extended
Northwestern campus and dozens of other
universities and research centers worldwide.
While the majority of University research
funding comes from government sources,
corporate-sponsored research represents
a growing opportunity.
• Institute for Sustainability and Energy
at Northwestern
• International Institute for Nanotechnology
• Materials Research Science and
Engineering Center
• Northwestern-Argonne Institute for
Science and Engineering
• Northwestern Institute on Complex Systems
• Northwestern University Transportation Center
• Segal Design Institute

CAREER-FOCUSED PROFESSIONALS
PREPARING FOR SUCCESS IN BUSINESS, INDUSTRY, AND ACADEMIA

Northwestern Engineering is committed to For doctoral students, Management for

developing students for successful careers
as leaders and researchers in business,
industry, and academia. The Engineering Career
Development office identifies and works with
students to secure internship opportunities and
provides other career advancement services.
Scientists and Engineers, an eight-week
summer course drawn from the Kellogg School
of Management core MBA curriculum, equips
researchers with the knowledge they need to
become better managers and leaders.

ENTREPRENEURS AND INNOVATORS

CHANGING THE WORLD FOR THE BETTER EVERY DAY

NUVENTION COURSES
These courses are a visionary
academic partnership created
to expand upon Northwestern’s
excellence in interdisciplinary
study and to foster a sense of
collaboration throughout the
University.
Northwestern Engineering students and faculty drive progress through innovation and leadership,
turning research into patented processes and life-changing inventions, bringing products to market
through smart risk-taking and entrepreneurship. They typically account for a lion’s share of the
University’s inventions and faculty startups.
ENTREPRENEURSHIP RESOURCES
• The Farley Center for Entrepreneurship and • The Innovation and New Ventures Office
Innovation provides incubators, mentorships, (INVO) advises faculty and students on the
and seminars and encourages the ongoing development of research with commercial
development of new, interdisciplinary curricula. potential and conducts seminars and
educational programs on entrepreneurship
• NUvention courses engage interdisciplinary
and innovation.
teams from across the University in the entire
innovation and entrepreneurial life cycle, • The Garage is an entrepreneurship space
including how to transform innovations into for Northwestern students to experiment,
viable business. collaborate, and build their ideas.

OVERVIEW
A DIVERSE COMMUNITY OF LEADERS
GAINING EXPERIENCE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOMS AND LAB

The McCormick Graduate Leadership • Black Graduate Student Association (BGSA)

Council helps solidify a graduate student • Chicago Graduate Student Association (CGSA)
community among the nine departments within
• Chinese Students and Scholars
Northwestern Engineering by organizing social,
Association (CSSA)
academic, and professional activities, and
• Graduate Student Association for Latino
facilitating communication with administration.
and Spanish Activities (G-SALSA)
Students can also participate in the Graduate
• Indian Graduate Student and Scholars
Student Association, department-centered
Association (IGSSA)
student groups, and other student associations
• Queer Pride Graduate Student Association
that promote interactions among graduate
(QPGSA)
students, provide academic and social programs,
and serve as student advocates. These include: • Society of Women Engineers (GradSWE)

OVERVIEW
 COLLEAGUES, FRIENDS, AND FAMILIES

12
MILES
LIVING AND LEARNING IN ONE OF THE WORLD’ S
MOST DYNAMIC METROPOLITAN AREAS

Stretching along the shore of spectacular Lake

Michigan, Northwestern’s Evanston campus
provides an environment conducive to serious
scholarship and rich in rewarding opportunities
FROM DOWNTOWN
for every lifestyle. Evanston boasts the amenities
CHICAGO
of a big city in a manageable suburban setting.
With Northwestern’s downtown Chicago campus
only 12 miles away and readily 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.

OVERVIEW
 PHD IN

COMPUTER
ENGINEERING

QUICK FACTS
DEGREE EARNED
PhD in Computer Engineering
LOCATION
Northwestern University’s
Evanston campus
Easy access to Chicago
area research and
industry partners
TIMING
4 to 5 years
Developing innovative technology
to address global challenges
The computer engineering division within the This program has three major components:
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
• COURSEWORK includes a relatively small
(ECE) at Northwestern University prepares PhD
number of courses that are intended to complete
students to become innovative leaders in academia,
the student’s in-depth background in their
industry, entrepreneurial, and research settings.
proposed area of research and provide a breadth
The computer engineering doctoral program is a of knowledge in computer engineering and
collaborative environment in which interdisciplinary related fields.
work is encouraged and students develop close
• RESEARCH begins day one for doctoral
relationships with faculty. PhD students explore the
students in computer engineering. Highly
interrelationships between hardware and software
interdisciplinary research is a hallmark of
in a hands-on, interdisciplinary setting. Areas
Northwestern, enabling students to work closely
of focus include computer architecture, design
with internationally recognized faculty and
automation, embedded and reconfigurable systems,
contribute meaningfully to breakthrough
VLSI, computer systems, compilers, mobile and
discoveries. Notably, outside partners include
wearable computing, Internet of Things, cyber-
Argonne National Laboratory, Fermilab, Ford,
physical systems, and machine learning.
Motorola, Nokia, Oak Ridge National Laboratory,
Graduates are equipped to develop emerging and Sandia National Labs.
technologies that will help address some of the
• PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT includes
world’s biggest challenges, such as energy, health
seminars, fellowships and events. Students have
care, and transportation.
full access to Northwestern’s extensive career
placement resources.
PHD COMPUTER ENGINEERING
 CURRICULUM view curriculum requirements >

To better prepare students to undertake research, TEACHING

the computer engineering program requires
students to take courses that solidify their
in-depth background in their intended area of
research. Along with general graduate reading
and research, doctoral students are required to
take a minimum of 15 course units, with at least
six courses from CE track categories.
All candidates serve in an instructional capacity for
at least one academic quarter.
DISSERTATION
Candidate must present a dissertation indicating
evidence of original or significant research.

ADMISSION TO CANDIDACY
STEFANY CRUZ
PhD student PhD students must be admitted to candidacy
within three academic years of starting the
program, or two academic years following
The research I will
completion of the MS degree.
conduct is meant
to directly empower
marginalized
populations worldwide FACULTY meet our core faculty >

to use wearables Most of CE’s internationally renowned faculty’s carry a secondary affiliation and a primary
that may be low- teaching and research interests lie primarily in interest in either computer science or
computer engineering at the McCormick School electrical engineering.
powered but are just
of Engineering. A few members of the program
as performing useful.
This is my way to
giving back to my
community.”

INTERNSHIP CAREER PATHS

OPPORTUNITY
Recent graduates have pursued careers in or continued their work in universities around
The Crown Family Graduate
industrial research labs (Intel Labs, IBM the world. In the last decade, recent graduates
Internship Program offers students
Research, Google, Facebook, and Qualcomm), have founded more than half a dozen successful
practical experience in industry
industry (AMD, Apple, Bloomberg, IBM, Intel, startup companies.
or national research labs in a paid
Global Foundries, Mentor Graphics, and Nvidia),
position and may provide a basis
for future employment.

AREAS OF RESEARCH EXCELLENCE

Faculty members and students have developed Research spans the following fields: 
new ideas to achieve results in all aspects of • Computer engineering 
electrical engineering, computer engineering, • Signals and systems 
and computer science.  • Solid state, photonics, and quantum
technologies 

PHD COMPUTER ENGINEERING

TIMELINE ADMISSIONS
APPLICATION OPENS Applications and all supplemental materials Please view Northwestern Engineering’s
September for admission are submitted through the Admissions instructions and the department’s
Graduate School’s online application system. Admissions FAQs page for more information.

SUBMIT APPLICATION
December 15

RECEIVE DECISION
March–April

ACCEPT OFFER APPLICATION CHECKLIST

April 15
ONLINE APPLICATION FORM
PROGRAM BEGINS
ACADEMIC TRANSCRIPTS
September

TWO OR THREE LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION

START YOUR STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

APPLICATION >
TOEFL/IELTS SCORES (if applicable)

PREFERENCES FOR AREA OF STUDY

RÉSUMÉ OR CV

SUPPORTING MATERIALS (if applicable)

APPLICATION FEE

PLEASE DO NOT SEND HARD COPIES OF MATERIALS.

LEARN MORE FINANCIAL AID

MORE INFO ECE PhD students receive aid in the form of
assistantships or fellowships.
ece.northwestern.edu
To ensure our graduate students can fund their
QUESTIONS education regardless of personal financial
qzhu@northwestern.edu circumstances, Northwestern Engineering
provides opportunities for access to a variety of
federal and private loan and funding options.
The Evanston Office of Graduate Financial Aid
assists with these funding processes.
view funding resources >

PHD COMPUTER ENGINEERING

 MS IN

COMPUTER
SCIENCE

QUICK FACTS
DEGREE EARNED
Master of Science in
Computer Science
LOCATION
Northwestern University’s
Evanston campus
Easy access to research and
industry partnerships in the
Chicagoland area
TIMING
3–6 quarters
Transforming the way we
work, play, think, and live
The Department of Computer Science (CS) at
Northwestern University equips students with the
technological expertise to build computer science
solutions for a better future and to work with leading
researchers through interdisciplinary relationships
with Northwestern’s top-ranked schools.
Situated within the McCormick School of
Engineering, CS engages in internationally
recognized computer science research that is
impact-driven and future-focused in areas
including artificial intelligence and machine
learning; computer engineering; graphics; human-
computer interaction and information visualization;
programming languages; robotics; security and
privacy; systems and networking; and theory.
Includes a multi-quarter research project or
master’s thesis under the guidance of a CS faculty
member.
Master’s study within the computer science
department affords students the flexibility to
take courses and participate in research that
aligns with their career aspirations in this growing
and increasingly important field. Master’s
students take the same classes as Northwestern
undergraduates and PhD students, with ample
opportunity for team projects with Northwestern
students and faculty in CS and affiliated programs.
• COURSEWORK includes a tailored
curriculum in artificial intelligence, human-
computer interaction, distributed interactive
systems, theoretical computer science,
computer graphics and computer graphics
and photography.
• RESEARCH includes a multi-quarter research
project or master’s thesis under the guidance of
a CS faculty member.
• PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT includes
conferences and workshops. Students have
full access to Northwestern’s extensive career
placement resources.
MS COMPUTER SCIENCE
CS+X CURRICULUM view more online >

Within the CS+X initiative,

Full-time students must take three or four courses PROGRAM PLANNING
Northwestern actively fosters
per quarter. At least 12 courses are required to
ongoing transformational The director of the master’s program assists
complete the MS program, which can include some
relationships between computer students in planning their study for each term and
units for research work for students who are doing a
science and intersecting registering for classes.
research project or master’s thesis.
fields at Northwestern’s top-
ranked schools.

CS+X activities include:

• Joint hiring of faculty in
computer science and
CAREER PATHS
intersecting fields. Northwestern computer science graduates are consulting, database and systems analysis,
• Joint conferences and recruited by employers in nearly every industry. data analytics, and financial risk analysis and
workshops The wide range of career options for master’s trading. The program also provides effective
• Joint hiring and recruiting in graduates includes software development preparation for PhD studies.
intersection areas and engineering, information technology
• Shared cross-functional project
classes
• Shared student and faculty
research opportunities
• Visiting faculty and speakers at
the intersection

MS COMPUTER SCIENCE
 AREAS OF RESEARCH EXCELLENCE
• Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning • Programming Languages
• Computer Engineering • Robotics
(in collaboration with the Electrical and • Security and Privacy
Computer Engineering Department)
• Systems and Networking
• Graphics
• Theory
• Human-Computer Interaction and
Information Visualization

MARCELO WORSLEY
Assistant Professor of
Computer Science FACULTY meet our core faculty >

By including critical Master’s students tackle today’s critical of computer science research by working with
computer science problems with faculty CS+X faculty who create interdisciplinary
discussions of the
members who have developed new ideas to connections between computer science and
field and authentically achieve results in all aspects of computer fields ranging economics to law to art.
collaborating with the science. Students broaden their definition
community, we can
develop better designs
and change perceptions
of what is valuable in
computing experiences.”

MS COMPUTER SCIENCE
TIMELINE ADMISSIONS
APPLICATION OPENS Applications and all supplemental materials for Northwestern Engineering’s Admissions
September admission are submitted through the Graduate instructions and the department’s Admissions
School’s online application system. Please view page for more information.
APPLICATION DEADLINE
February 28

RECEIVE DECISION
ON A ROLLING BASIS:
If applied by November 30, APPLICATION CHECKLIST
receive decision by January 10
If applied by December 31,
ONLINE APPLICATION
receive decision by February 10
If applied by February 28,
RÉSUMÉ OR CV
receive decision by April 30

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
ACCEPT OFFER
June ACADEMIC TRANSCRIPTS

PROGRAM BEGINS TWO OR THREE LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION

September
TOEFL SCORES/IELTS SCORES (if applicable)

PREFERENCES FOR AREA OF STUDY

OPTIONAL SUPPORTING MATERIALS

START YOUR
APPLICATION > APPLICATION FEE

PLEASE DO NOT SEND HARD COPIES OF MATERIALS.

NEXT STEPS FINANCIAL AID

MORE INFO To ensure our graduate students can fund their The Evanston Office of Graduate Financial Aid
education regardless of personal financial assists with these funding processes.
cs.northwestern.edu
circumstances, Northwestern Engineering
gradfinaid@northwestern.edu >
QUESTIONS provides opportunities for access to a variety of
federal and private loan and funding options. view funding resources >
ms-admissions@cs.northwestern.edu

MS COMPUTER SCIENCE