Students can tailor the major to their interests by selecting technical electives in a specific area of focus, such a software.Academics / Undergraduate / Computer Engineering Major (BS Degree)Curriculum and Requirements
Academics
/ Undergraduate
/ Computer Engineering Major (BS Degree)
The curriculum of the bachelor of science in computer engineering is continuously revised based on feedback from our constituents, including students, industry affiliates, and our advisory board. The common themes in computer engineering follow:
Degree Requirements
An overview of the curriculum for new students starting in the 2026-27 academic year is displayed below. The new engineering core requirement, Engineering Foundations will replace the Engineering Analysis sequence for all McCormick undergraduate degrees. The full curriculum will be published to the Northwestern University Academic Catalog in September 2026.
Engineering Core Requirements (26 units)
- Mathematics (4 units)
- Basic sciences (4 units)
- Engineering Foundations (3 units)
- Design, Communication, and Innovation (3 units)
- Social Sciences/Humanities Theme (7 units)
- Unrestricted electives (5 units)
Major Program Requirements (22 units)
- Required courses (8 units)
- Technical electives (13 units)
- Design course (1 units)