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
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.
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.