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Northwestern University

Curriculum

Take what you learn in class and apply it at work the next day.

Curriculum

To earn the Master of Science in Product in Design and Development Management degree, students must complete 24 required courses and a capstone project. Each of the courses run five weeks, and the capstone is completed during the final three quarters. Courses are designed for and attended exclusively by mpd² students, and the students progress through the curriculum together as a cohort.

Overview

The courses range from a wide array of subjects typical of both a) a professional design and development curriculum (product management, understanding through design, obtaining meaning from data, protecting intellectual property, creativity, leading design sprints, design research, and managing innovation), and b) a business curriculum (marketing, finance, accounting, organizational behavior, leadership, negotiation, decision making, and business modeling).

The mpd² curriculum incorporates a final Capstone project during the last three quarters of the program. Students research a topic of interest and design a product or service that addresses a customer’s need. This project serves as a practical application of their learning, demonstrating their proficiency through a formal presentation to faculty, venture capitalists and industry experts. Students work with industry mentors and our consumer research platforms on these projects to gain real-world experience and valuable networking opportunities. This hands-on project reinforces the concepts learned throughout the program and gives the students an opportunity to produce a tangible outcome that can have impact on their area of focus.

See the 2024-2025 class schedule here.

Attend an info session / open house

*Course supports the Capstone requirement.

Fall 1

Winter 1

Spring 1

Fall 2

Winter 2

Spring 2

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