McCormick School of Engineering, Northwestern University

Bachelor's Degree Programs

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The McCormick School has two missions: to produce new knowledge and to engage and educate students. The high level of faculty research activity energizes our students, keeps what is taught in the classroom current, and draws our students into research labs.

McCormick’s curriculum offers our students all the tools they need to become confident communicators, effective team members, and able leaders. Our students enjoy a balanced curriculum, choosing up to a quarter of their classes from the humanities and social sciences. This dedication to the McCormick School’s dual mission creates a rich experience for our students, preparing them to develop new science and technology solutions for society.

Bachelor of Science (BS) in Applied Mathematics

The applied mathematics program at McCormick teaches students to apply mathematical ideas and techniques to the problems that arise in engineering or science. A student receiving a BS in applied mathematics will have the background to enter the workplace or for graduate study in either mathematics (pure or applied) or an engineering field. The applied mathematics program is designed to be flexible and allow the student to concentrate a substantial part of the course work either in mathematics or one or more areas of application.

Bachelor of Science (BS) in Biomedical Engineering

Biomedical engineering at McCormick

A biomedical engineer is a fully qualified engineer who, in addition to his or her technical education, has acquired an interdisciplinary background in the life or medical sciences. Northwestern University was among the first schools to recognize the value of an education in biomedical engineering, and today McCormick offers, at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, one of the largest and broadest programs in the country.

Bachelor of Science (BS) in Chemical Engineering

Chemical engineers solve practical problems that in one way or another involve chemistry — including biochemistry — as well as the composition or structure of materials. They are specifically concerned with the principles and processes required to convert raw materials into products vital to modern civilization. Chemical engineering also plays a major role in developing methods for protecting or renewing the environment.

Bachelor of Science (BS) in Civil Engineering

Civil engineers serve the basic needs of society by building and operating the public infrastructure. Civil engineers research, plan, design, construct, manage, and maintain one-of-a-kind infrastructure systems such as roads, airports, tunnels, bridges, and seaports; residential, office, commercial, and manufacturing buildings; water supply and reclamation networks; and power generation and distribution facilities.

Bachelor of Science (BS) in Computer Science

Computer science at McCormick

Computer scientists take on the challenges posed by the world of ubiquitous, interactive, networked, multimedia computing. Faculty and students have developed new ideas to achieve results in all aspects of computer science: operating systems, compilers, databases, networking, distributed systems, parallel systems, computer graphics, image-based modeling and rendering, intelligent systems for problem-solving and education, and theoretical computer science. McCormick's computer science program curriculum covers a wide array of issues and areas that seamlessly span the broad disciplines of both electrical engineering and computer science.

Bachelor of Science (BS) in Computer Engineering

McCormick’s Computer Engineering program involves the design and engineering of computers, including hardware and software design. It is a carefully chosen synthesis of computer engineering, computer science, and electrical engineering courses that trains students to design complex digital systems, from transistors to software. Computer engineering is a broad area involving many possible areas of specialization, including Computer Architecture, VLSI Systems, Computer-Aided Design, Software Design, Robotics, Computer Vision, and Embedded Systems.

Bachelor of Science (BS) in Electrical Engineering

Electrical engineering involves the development and application of electronic and optical technologies for generating, communicating, and processing information. The EE curriculum at McCormick includes courses in electronic circuits, electromagnetics, solid-state electronics, optics, lasers, controls, digital signal processing, communications, and networks.

Bachelor of Science (BS) in Environmental Engineering

Environmental engineers apply scientific and technological knowledge to eliminate or reduce environmental problems. They examine problems such as whether water is safe to drink, or if our living or work spaces pose special threats to our health. Environmental engineers are key among those professionals who answer questions about the potentially harmful interrelationships between human civilization and the environment. To learn more on the environmental opportunities at McCormick and throughout the University, visit the Northwestern Environmental Web Portal.

Bachelor of Science (BS) in Industrial Engineering

Environmental Engineering at McCormick

Industrial engineering deals with the design, analysis, implementation, operation, and improvement of any organization, or system, that provides goods and services vital to society. Because of the inherent diversity and complexity of systems, the industrial engineer uses tools from a broad range of disciplines, including mathematics, physical and engineering sciences, social sciences (in particular economics and the behavioral sciences), and computing. IE graduates from McCormick develop an understanding of how different parts of a system interact and how they can be configured to meet a common goal.

Bachelor of Science (BS) in Manufacturing and Design Engineering (MaDE)

The Segal Design Institute’s Manufacturing and Design Engineering (MaDE) program focuses on three key areas:

Process and product design
Manufacturing systems
Manufacturing management

MaDE graduates will learn all aspects of product realization, from product design to manufacturing technologies and operations. The program will provide you with the ability to integrate various design and manufacturing processes into an effective system.

Bachelor of Science (BS) in Materials Science and Engineering

The materials science and engineering program at McCormick explores the development of high-technology materials, with an emphasis on the scientific reasons why materials behave the way they do. By combining elements of metallurgy, polymer science, surface science, solid state physics, and chemistry, a materials scientist develops a unique appreciation for the relations between the structure of materials and the properties of materials. The materials scientist also develops novel processing techniques to achieve the most desirable structures.

Bachelor of Science (BS) in Mechanical Engineering

Mechanical engineers are involved at every stage of the product life cycle, from basic research to product development, production, sales, and support. Mechanical engineering is a rapidly diversifying field, encompassing areas such as robotics, biological molecular machines, microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), nanotechnology, solid mechanics, fluid dynamics, product design, and computer-aided manufacturing. Mechanical engineers often work in cross-functional teams with civil, chemical, electrical, and industrial engineers, as well as with marketing and business specialists.