Introduction to the Theme
The Requirement in More Detail
Theme Declaration/Paperwork
How to Set Up Your Theme
Frequently Asked Questions

Introduction to the Theme

The humanities/social sciences theme requirement (or "Theme") calls for McCormick students to develop an area of competency related to the study of the human condition. To fulfill the requirement, each student selects a set of related courses built around one central "theme" or topic of interest to the student. There are more than 1,600 courses that qualify.

Definition of Humanities and Social Sciences

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The Requirement in More Detail

Courses approved for use in the theme are categorized into three very broad areas: FAL (Fine Arts, Language, & Literature), HSV (Historical Studies & Values), or SBS (Social & Behavioral Sciences). After the student has chosen a focus, he or she must also make sure that the seven courses are distributed among these categories.

There are two ways to fulfill the theme requirement.

Note: the group of focus courses is not restricted to just one of the three categories.

If a course falls into more than one category, the student can choose which category he or she would like to use. The listing of the courses and their respective categories appears below:

Approved Theme Course Listing

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Theme Declaration/Paperwork

By the end of the sophomore year, a completed Theme Form should be turned into the Academic Services Office. The student will receive an email indicating whether the theme has been approved. If it is approved, a copy is placed in the gray theme binders in L269 for the student to pick up. If a theme is denied, the student will receive an e-mail with suggestions for revisions.

Social Sciences/Humanities Theme Form

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How to Set Up Your Theme

If you are unsure where to start with the plans for your theme, think about what subjects interest you beyond engineering. Do you enjoy reading literature, pondering philosophy, painting, playing a musical instrument, learning about other religions, or studying psychology? Are there ways that speaking a foreign language or developing your knowledge of economics could further your professional or personal goals? These are just a few potential starting points for your theme. Browse the listing of theme courses to get ideas.

Your theme is likely to be approved if you follow the STAR acronym:

• Succinct Title - you have concisely focused your theme, as indicated in the title
• Thematically Related - the focus courses clearly and directly connect in this area of concentration
• Approved Courses - all of the courses listed appear on the list of approved courses
• Remaining Courses - you fulfill the rest of the categorical requirements on the form

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Frequently Asked Questions

Theme Basics

Why is there a humanities theme requirement?

McCormick has created the social sciences/humanities theme requirement in order to provide engineering students with a well-rounded educational experience.

Is there any way to see how the courses I've already taken could be used towards my theme?

Yes. In CAESAR, go to "View Degree Progress" on the left side of the screen and pull up your online degree audit. In the humanities theme section, the audit will indicate which of your courses would apply to the theme requirement and the category/ies into which the courses would fall.

How have other students constructed their theme requirement? Can you give me some examples?

To choose the classes for your theme, pick related courses that interest you. Check the list of approved courses to make sure you can use each class towards your theme.

Some examples of titles of themes that have been approved in the past include:

• World Religions
• European Art History
• Economics and Society
• Russian Language and Literature
• Theater Studies
• International Politics
• Gender and Sexuality
• Spanish Language and History

You can also choose to focus all of your courses on classes from one major - i.e., taking five approved Psychology classes to create a Psychology theme. The courses in your theme area do not all have to be from the same category (SBS/FAL/HSV).

Can I see some more detailed examples of past themes?

Sure. Check out the list below.

More Examples of Potentials Themes

These examples are only meant to be a guideline; you are not restricted to the choices listed here.

Why wasn't my theme approved?

Themes might be denied for a number of reasons. Some of the most common reasons are listed below.

• The theme courses are not sufficiently related.
• The three categories (FAL/HSV/SBS) are not distributed correctly as instructed on the form.
• The student has not submitted all of the paperwork for study abroad, transfer credits, or a course that is not already on the approved list.

I received an email stating that my theme was denied, but I think it should have been approved. Is there anything else I can do?

If you disagree with the decision that was made on your initial theme form submission, you can submit a curriculum petition for review by the McCormick Curriculum Committee, which convenes on a quarterly basis. The committee's decisions are final.

Can I be excused from the theme requirement for any reason?

No. The theme is part of the McCormick degree program and cannot be waived or excused.

What is meant by "the humanities"?

Wikipedia defines the humanities as "those academic disciplines which study the human condition using methods that are largely analytic, critical, or speculative, as distinguished from the mainly empirical approaches of the natural and social sciences. Conventionally the humanities include ancient and modern languages and literature, history, philosophy, religion, visual and performing arts (including music). Additional subjects sometimes included in the humanities are anthropology, area studies, communications and cultural studies, although these are often regarded as social sciences." (accessed July 5, 2007)

What is meant by "the social sciences"?

Merriam-Webster defines the social sciences as "the branch of science that deals with the institutions and functioning of human society and with the interpersonal relationships of individuals as members of society."

Questions about Creating the Theme

I would like to use a class towards the theme requirement, but it's not on the list of approved courses. Is there any way to add it to that list?

Yes. You would need to submit a syllabus from the class to Mary Stanton in the Academic Services Office, Tech L269. McCormick will evaluate the syllabus and assign the course a theme category if it is approved.

Do my distribution courses have to relate to my theme topic?

No. Courses listed in the distribution area do not have to be related to the theme at all.

Do my related theme courses all have to come from the same area (HSV/SBS/FAL)?

Not necessarily. You should just make sure that you have a sufficient number of courses from each area, based on the rules for the option (A or B) that you are using.

I've taken the following five SBS classes: Industrial Economics, Human Sexuality, Sociological Theory, Medical Anthropology, and Speech Writing. Would this theme be approved, since all the courses are from the same category?

This theme would not be approved, because the courses are not related to one another. Your main theme courses must all relate to a central topic. Using courses from the same category is not enough to make them an acceptable theme. In fact, as mentioned in the previous answer, all of the courses in a theme do not need to be from the same category.

I'm taking intro-level Psychology, Sociology, and Philosophy. Could I use those three courses as my theme?

No. You must demonstrate a focused object of study across your related theme courses.

I took language courses in French, Spanish, and Chinese. Can I use these courses as my theme?

No. You cannot use various language courses towards a theme, unless you have also taken a linguistics course to tie them together.

Why can't I use my Research Methods and Econometrics classes towards the theme requirement? What about McCormick classes?

Research methods, statistics, accounting, and/or econometrics courses cannot be used towards the theme requirement because they draw too heavily on math and science. For the same reason, engineering courses are not considered social sciences/humanities classes.

What am I supposed to title my theme?

Your theme title should describe the related courses you have designated as your theme courses. Titles such as "Option B" or "My theme" would not be acceptable.

Why does Option A limit the number of 100-level classes I can take?

Option A limits the number of 100-level classes as a means of encouraging the student to develop a knowledge base in the humanities beyond the introductory level.

Can I double-count courses towards both my theme and another McCormick requirement?

No. Each class can only fulfill one of the 48 degree requirements for a McCormick degree.

I am a Co-op student. Am I excused from the theme requirement?

No. Co-op students are expected to fulfill the same McCormick degree requirements as students who do not participate in Co-op.

I'm double-majoring in another subject through another school at Northwestern. Does that mean my theme requirement is waived?

No, but many double-majors do apply the coursework from their non-engineering major towards the theme. For instance, an Economics/Industrial Engineering student could use his or her approved Economics classes towards the theme.

Can theme courses be taken P/N?

Yes. For the theme, the P/N (pass/no credit) option can be used for any 300-level course and a maximum of four 100 or 200-level courses. You should review these additional P/N rules for McCormick to make sure that taking theme courses P/N would not interfere with the rest of your McCormick degree.

Please also be aware that if you are using theme courses as part of another major for another school (i.e. Weinberg), that school or department may have separate rules that prevent taking a class P/N, so it is best to check with the respective department as well.

Using Outside Credit towards the Theme

Can I use study abroad credits towards the theme requirement?

Yes. To use study abroad credits towards any McCormick requirement, a curriculum petition form must be submitted with a transcript from the host institution.

Curriculum Petition Form

Can I use AP or transfer credits towards my theme?

Yes. List the AP or transfer credits on your theme form as they appear on your transcript. For instance, a 200-level Political Science class might appear as "Poli Sci 2XX." Be sure to note on the form whether the classes were test credit or transfer credit.

Other Questions or Concerns

How am I supposed to fill out the form if I haven't taken all the courses for my theme yet?

It's okay if you haven't taken all of your theme courses yet. You can just list the quarter(s) when you expect to take the remaining course(s). In fact, this is encouraged, so that if the form is not approved, you'll have time to make another plan.

I still have questions about the theme requirement! Who should I talk to?

If your question was not answered above, please contact Mary Stanton , Freshman/Sophomore Program Coordinator, in the Academic Services Office, Tech L269.

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