MaDE Curriculum
The following are curriculum and requirements for students pursuing the BS in Manufacturing and Design Engineering (MaDE). The MaDE program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, under the General Criteria and the Manufacturing and Similarly Named Engineering Programs Program Criteria.
MaDE Degree Requirements
MaDE students complete 12 courses per year, typically taking four courses per quarter. To obtain the MaDE degree, students complete a total of 48 courses from the MaDE undergraduate catalog, including 18 engineering units from the ABET Course Partitioning list.
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.
McCormick School of Engineering Requirements
These courses serve as the foundation of your degree at the McCormick School of Engineering. Math, engineering analysis, basic sciences, and design and communications form the basis of your introductory engineering education.
Manufacturing and Design Course Requirements
A blend of industrial engineering, materials science, mechanical engineering, and human-centered design courses give you the holistic skillset you need to take products from the design phase to market viability.
Capstone Design Experience
A signature feature of the MaDE program, the capstone design experience is a year-long white space challenge during which students invent and develop their own product. MaDE students pursue full intellectual property rights for their capstone projects. You’ll not only create products — you’ll have the opportunity to patent them and potentially bring them to market.
Electives
MaDE students can take a variety of technical and electives that round out their education based on their interests.
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)
- MaDE Foundations (3 units)
- Core Courses (12 units)
- MaDE Capstone Sequence (3 units)
- Technical Electives (4 units)
2025-2026 Degree Requirements
View the 2025-26 Academic Catalog
Curriculum Planning Resources
Recommended Plans of Study
Below are several examples of how students can plan their schedule to accommodate study abroad, a dual degree, or co-op.
McCormick Requirements and Curriculum Checklists
- MaDE undergraduate catalog
- Flowchart of McCormick requirements AY 22-23
- Flowchart of McCormick requirements AY 23-24
- MaDE AY23-24 curriculum checklist
- MaDE AY22-23 curriculum checklist
Advising
The MaDE program is highly customizable, and we advise students on an individual basis. To schedule an advising appointment, students can contact MaDE Program Director David Gatchell at d-gatchell@northwestern.edu.