The McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science is committed to training whole-brain engineers. The McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science is committed to training whole-brain engineers.

Academics
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Master's Program
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Structural Engineering and Design Specialization
Curriculum & Requirements

Eligibility and Admission

Students studying structural engineering and design earn a master of science in civil engineering through Northwestern University's Graduate School. To be admitted to the MS program, the student must meet one of the following requirements:

  1. A BS degree in civil engineering or closely related engineering, OR

  2. A non-engineering degree, but with coursework covering mathematics through differential equations, first-year, college-level physics, statics and dynamics, mechanics of materials, structural analysis or mechanics, and soil mechanics.

These course requirements for admission may be met at Northwestern, but credits from these courses cannot be applied to the graduate degree. In addition, each applicant must meet the usual requirements of The Graduate School and the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

MS Degree requirements 

The MS degree in Structural Engineering and Design consists of 12 courses, four of which form a core of required fundamental courses. Students must also select a Professional track — either the Design track or the Research track.  Each track consists of three courses, and students commit to one track or the other, and complete the sequence of courses.  The remaining five courses are selected from a group of approved electives, based on the student's career objectives and interests.  For more details, see the MS Structural Engineering and Design curriculum here.