Curriculum

Learning Objectives

  1. Equip students with analytical thinking skills by providing a core education in manufacturing fundamentals and the tools used to understand and predict material evolution in processing, such as physics-based analytical and computational tools.
  2. Provide students with the breadth of manufacturing processes by covering additive, subtractive, deformation-based, and hybrid processes.
  3. Broaden students’ perspectives in circular economy by presenting the principles of materials-process-property-performance and by teaching the principles of data collection, artificial intelligence and statistics in quality and process control of manufacturing processes and supply chain.
  4. Prepare students well in smart manufacturing by introducing robotics, the Internet of Things, and automation tools in modern manufacturing and assembly.

Thesis Tracks

To provide hands-on experience with real-world problem-solving practices, the MS in Advanced Manufacturing requires a thesis to be completed by all students enrolled in the program. No non-thesis options will be available.

  • Research Thesis – Students complete 9 courses + 1 academic-focused thesis project. Students may complete this thesis in their 4th quarter, or start early in the 3rd quarter of the program.
  • Practicum Thesis – Students complete 9 courses + 2-3 small industry-focused thesis projects. Students may complete one project per quarter 1-3 (strongly encouraged for BS/MS who have existing department network), or complete all projects in their 4th quarter.

For each track, timeline of completion is shown below. Within each track, there are options to attempt to complete the program in between 3-4 quarters, depending on student engagement and available time. Flexibility with BS/MS program students and timeline can be determined with the program directors.

Research Thesis (single large project)

Fall      Winter Spring
Year 1
  • Three course credits
  • Set general area of focus
  • Choose practicum vs research thesis
  • Three course credits
  • Finalize coursework plan & area of focus
  • Internship search
  • Three course credits
  • Set thesis topic
  • Begin thesis work – one thesis credit
Year 2
  • Complete coursework, if necessary
  • Complete thesis work – remaining thesis credits


Practicum Thesis (multiple small projects)

Fall      Winter Spring
Year 1
  • Three course credits
  • Set general area of focus
  • Choose practicum vs research thesis
  • Optional single thesis credit
  • Three course credits
  • Finalize coursework plan & area of focus
  • Internship search
  • Optional single thesis credit
  • Three course credits (courses completed)
  • Optional single thesis credit
Year 2 
  • Complete remaining coursework, if necessary 
  • Three thesis credits, if none previously done 

Internship

Students are strongly encouraged to complete an internship during the summer quarter of the program to gain industry experience. (Enrollment in an internship course, CRDV, will not be required). Those students who are returning for a 4th quarter are encouraged to continue work from their internship project as a thesis project for either track option.

Coursework

Northwestern follows the quarter system (see academic calendar). We recommend full-time students take 3 – 4 courses per quarter.

Six core courses (6 units) and 3 electives (3 units) are required to complete coursework for the MS program. Three additional thesis units are then required to complete the MS thesis requirements, for a total of 12 units required for the degree.

Required Courses

Elective Courses

  • Semiconductor Fabrication
  • MAT_SCI 381: Energy Materials
  • MAT_SCI 390: Materials Design
  • MAT_SCI 318: Materials Selection
  • MECH_ENG 395: Design and Manufacturing of Medical Devices
  • COMP_SCI 346: Microcontroller System Design
  • MECH_ENG 433: Advanced Mechatronics
  • DSGN 407: Making Things Sustainable