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.
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.
View Capstone Design Experiences
Electives
MaDE students can take a variety of technical and electives that round out their education based on their interests.
McCormick School of Engineering Requirements (27 units)
- Mathematics (4 courses: Math 220, 224, 230, 234)
- Engineering Analysis and Computer Proficiency (4 courses: Gen Eng 205-1,2,3,4 Engineering Analysis)
- Basic Sciences (4 credits: Chemistry 131/141, Physics 135-2/136-2, Physics 135-3/136-3)
- Design & Communications (4 courses: DSGN 106-1,2 (0.5 credits each), English 106-1,2 (0.5 credits each), Gen Cmn 102 or 103, or Theater 332-1)
Manufacturing & Design Course Requirements (21 units)
Core Courses (13 units)
- CIV Env 216 Mechanics of Materials 1
- CS 150 Fundamentals of Computer Programming 1.5 OR Mech Eng 224 Scientific and Embedded Programming in Python
- DSGN 308 Human-Centered Product Design OR Mech Eng 315 Theory of Machines - Design of Elements
- DSGN 386 Manufacturing Engineering Design
- IEMS 201 Introduction to Statistics (IEMS 303 Statistics I may be taken in combination with an additional math course, e.g. IEMS 302
- IEMS 310 Operations Research
- IEMS 307 Quality Improvement by Experimental Design
- IEMS 382 Production Planning and Scheduling
- Mat Sci 201 Introduction to Materials
- Mat Sci 318 Materials Selection
- Mech Eng 233 Electronics Design
- Mech Eng 240 Intro to Mechanical Design and Manufacturing
- Mech Eng 340-1 Computer-Integrated Manufacturing or DSGN 346 Manufacturing Methods for Product Design
- Mech Eng 340-2 or -3 Computer-Integrated Manufacturing
Capstone Design Experience (4 units)
- DSGN 388-1 MaDE Capstone Sequence
- DSGN 388-2 MaDE Capstone Sequence
- DSGN 388-3 MaDE Capstone Sequence
- 2 credits from 200-level or higher engineering courses
- 2 credits from 300-level or higher engineering courses
*Courses numbered 295, 395, 297, 397 will need a petition
*Students may only count up to two 399 courses toward their technical electives
Social Sciences-Humanities (7 courses)
Students must take seven social sciences-humanities approved courses
Unrestricted Electives (5 courses)
Students must take five unrestricted electives approved courses
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.