Curriculum

Core Courses

7 core courses are required, totaling 7 units of credit.

• DSGN 401-1 Human-Centered Design Studio 1 (Fall)
• DSGN 401-2 Human-Centered Design Studio 2 (Winter)
  
• DSGN 401-3 Human-Centered Design Studio 3 (Spring)
  
• DSGN 495-20 Design Research (Fall)
  
• DSGN 495-05 Differentiation by Design (Winter)
  
• DSGN 495-21 Sustainable Design and Product Development (Winter)
  
• DSGN 495-31 Innovation Frontiers (Spring)

Electives

Elective courses can be scheduled for any quarter of the academic year; an example schedule is shown above.

Engineering Theme

3 units of Engineering Theme coursework are required.

Students work with an advisor to select three engineering courses that form a theme such as “manufacturing methods,” “biomechanics,” “mechatronics,” “embedded systems,” etc.  At least two courses must be at the 400 level (graduate level).

Breadth Elective

2 units of Breadth Elective coursework are required.

Students may select two courses on design-related topics such as intellectual capital management, organizational behavior, entrepreneurship, technology and social behavior, drawing, and design history. Students may choose these electives from the entire graduate course catalog of Northwestern University. Additional courses in the arts may be available from a partner school. Careful selection and the approval of the student’s advisor is essential.

Beyond Course Work

Design Boot Camp:

In addition to the above regular term course work, it is required that all incoming students attend a pre-term workshop called "Design Boot Camp". Boot Camp is a 3-week set of intensive training sessions that provides students the opportunity to strengthen their skills in selected tools of the design trade, including 2D visualization and communication, 3D modeling, and mechatronics.

Over the course of the Boot Camp, students will work on a simple project which allows them to practice their newly acquired skills. The boot camp sessions are primarily devoted to instruction, and therefore students will be expected to work on their own time to complete the project within the timeframe given.

For the 2009-10 academic year, Design Boot Camp will be start on Tuesday, September 1 and will meet on weekdays until Friday, September 18. Admitted students will receive a letter from the administration with further information.

Design Community Involvement:

Students in the MS-EDI program are expected to be leaders in the evolving design community at Northwestern. To this end, our students may be required to organize events such as seminars and field trips, and to supervise undergraduate design teams.