McCormick's combined BS/MS program allows undergraduates to pursue a bachelor's degree and a master's degree simultaneously.McCormick's combined BS/MS program allows undergraduates to pursue a bachelor's degree and a master's degree simultaneously.

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Undergraduate
Combined BS/MS

The Combined BS (or BA)/MS program empowers exceptional students to accelerate their education and deepen their expertise in electrical engineering or computer engineering. By beginning graduate study while completing the bachelor’s degree, students can seamlessly earn both degrees—typically within five years, and in some cases in as few as four. This unique pathway allows you to pursue advanced knowledge, engage in cutting-edge research, and enter your career or doctoral studies with a distinct advantage.

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The Benefits

The Combined BS/MS or BA/MS program amplifies your career opportunities while allowing you to pursue your intellectual passions. A master’s degree distinguishes you in a competitive job market, opening doors to highly sought-after positions, greater leadership responsibility, and increased earning potential. Studies consistently show that engineers with a master’s degree often command significantly higher starting salaries than their peers entering the workforce with only a bachelor’s degree. Employers recognize the advanced technical depth, initiative, and research experience that graduate study represents, making BS/MS graduates especially attractive candidates for industry, entrepreneurship, and doctoral programs.

Equally compelling is the opportunity to tailor your education to your ambitions. You can delve deeply into a chosen specialization, broaden your expertise through interdisciplinary coursework and graduate minors, and collaborate with faculty on cutting-edge research that addresses real-world challenges. For students whose undergraduate degree lies outside electrical or computer engineering, the master’s degree can also provide a seamless pathway into these dynamic and rewarding fields.

The program is designed to make the most of your time at Northwestern. By thoughtfully integrating undergraduate and graduate coursework, most students complete both degrees in fewer than five years―often more efficiently than pursuing the degrees separately. Careful academic planning, combined with prior credit and a well-balanced curriculum, enables you to achieve an exceptional return on your investment of time and talent while building a foundation for lifelong innovation and leadership.

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Deciding Between a Master's in Electrical or Computer Engineering

The choice between an MS in Electrical Engineering (EE) and an MS in Computer Engineering (CE) should be guided by your academic background, technical interests, and long-term career goals. While the two fields share many areas of overlap, they can be viewed as different points along a broad technology spectrum: Electrical Engineering focuses more on the physical foundations and fundamental principles that enable modern technology, while Computer Engineering focuses more on the design, integration, and optimization of advanced computing systems.

The MS in Electrical Engineering provides opportunities to explore areas such as semiconductor devices, integrated circuits, electronics, signals and systems, communications, control systems, electromagnetics, photonics, quantum engineering, and the mathematical foundations that support emerging technologies. Students interested in understanding and designing the fundamental components of modern systems—from nanoscale devices and advanced electronics to sensing and communication technologies—may find EE to be a natural fit.

The MS in Computer Engineering focuses more on the architecture, design, and implementation of computing systems. Areas of study include digital systems, VLSI design, computer architecture, processors, high-performance and parallel computing, embedded systems, operating systems, networking, artificial intelligence systems, and the algorithms and platforms that enable modern computing. Students interested in building the next generation of computing technologies, intelligent systems, and large-scale computational platforms may find CE to be the ideal pathway.

For students already pursuing an undergraduate degree in EE or CE, the corresponding master’s degree provides an opportunity to deepen technical expertise, specialize in advanced topics, and develop skills that can enhance career opportunities. For students from other engineering, scientific, or quantitative disciplines, either MS program provides an opportunity to broaden their technical foundation and expand their expertise into rapidly growing fields that rely on electrical and computer engineering.

If you are uncertain which program best aligns with your interests, the Director of the MS Program can help you explore options based on your academic background, career aspirations, and desired area of specialization.

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Eligibility Requirements

The Combined BS/MS or BA/MS program welcomes talented and motivated Northwestern undergraduates from across the McCormick School of Engineering and the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences. We encourage students from a broad range of engineering, scientific, and quantitative disciplines to consider this opportunity. While students majoring in electrical engineering or computer engineering are naturally well positioned for the program, an undergraduate degree in these fields is not required. Students from diverse academic backgrounds are encouraged to apply, as the program provides an opportunity to build advanced expertise and expand their knowledge in electrical engineering or computer engineering.

  • Students with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher are eligible to apply once they have completed the appropriate prerequisite coursework. Admission to the program typically occurs when students are within five (5) courses of completing their undergraduate degree. Prior to beginning graduate study, students must complete the prerequisite courses required for their intended MS program. The prerequisite courses for each program are listed below.
    • Students that wish to pursue an MS in  Computer Engineering must have successfully completed the courses below. All other requirements for an MS degree in CE apply.
      • COMP_ENG 203: Introduction to Computer Engineering or COMP_ENG 303: Advanced Digital Design
      • COMP_ENG 205: Fundamentals of Computer System Software or COMP_SCI 213: Introduction to Computer Systems
      • COMP_SCI 211: Fundamentals of Computer Programming II
    • Students that wish to pursue an MS in Electrical Engineering must have taken at least 3 of the following courses or their equivalent at either NU or their home institution:
      • ELEC_ENG 221: Fundamentals of CircuitsELEC_ENG 222: Fundamentals of Signals and Systems
      • ELEC_ENG 223: Fundamentals of Solid State Engineering
      • ELEC_ENG 224: Fundamentals of Electromagnetics and Photonics
      • ELEC_ENG 225: Fundamentals of Electronics
      • ELEC_ENG 302: Probabilistic Systems




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Planning and Applying to the Program

Planning early can help you make the most of the Combined BS/MS or BA/MS opportunity. Students interested in the program are encouraged to begin exploring their options during their sophomore or junior year and connect with the Director of the MS Program to discuss their academic goals, potential areas of specialization, and the pathway toward completing both degrees.

Students may apply to the program once they are within five units of completing their undergraduate degree and have completed the required prerequisite coursework. The application should be submitted during the quarter prior to reaching this point. We encourage students to meet with the Director of the MS Program before applying to discuss program requirements, course planning, and how the BS/MS or BA/MS pathway can be tailored to their interests and career goals.

To apply, students should complete the following steps:

  1. Contact McCormick Graduate Programs before submitting an application to request an application fee waiver.
  2. Meet with the Director of the MS Program to discuss your goals, develop an MS study plan outlining your proposed coursework and academic pathway.
  3. Submit an online application through the CollegeNet admissions portal. This is an abbreviated version of the application used by external graduate applicants.
  4. Meet with your undergraduate advisor to confirm the remaining requirements for your BS or BA degree.

Students will be notified via email once an admission decision has been made.

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MS Degree Requirements

To complete the MS degree, students must successfully complete 12 graduate-level units of coursework. The program consists of 6 core courses that provide a strong foundation in electrical engineering or computer engineering, and 6 elective courses that allow students to tailor their education to their interests, career goals, and areas of specialization.

Students may not use the same course to satisfy requirements for both their undergraduate and graduate degrees; each course may count toward only one degree. For complete details regarding degree requirements and course planning, please refer to the ECE MS Graduate Program Manual.

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For More Information

Explore the following resources to learn more about the Combined BS/MS program, graduate study opportunities, and degree planning: