Segal Design Certificate
The Segal Design Certificate is a set of courses and projects that build design knowledge and skills and is available to any undergraduate at Northwestern interested in gaining a competitive edge in their professional career.
Working in team-based, cross-disciplinary settings, students pursuing the certificate focus on innovative design processes to solve real problems for real clients. The program culminates with each student generating a design portfolio that is presented at a Segal Design Expo.
Who Should Enroll?
Any Northwestern undergraduate interested in augmenting his or her education with a strong understanding of innovative design processes can pursue the Segal Design Certificate.
To learn more, download this information sheet about the Segal Design Certificate for interested Northwestern students and their advisors.
Curriculum & Requirements
Certificate students must take the following:
- Prerequisite (one unit) DSGN 106-1 Design Thinking and Communication, OR DSGN 208 Design Thinking and Doing
- A required two-quarter design sequence: DSGN 380-1, 2 (offered winter-spring) or DSGN 395 Studio Design Projects I & II (offered winter-spring) or DSGN 384-1, 2 (offered fall-winter or winter-spring)
- DSGN 370 Portfolio Development and Presentation
- Three approved electives
Design Portfolio
Certificate students must produce and present a design portfolio that enables them to reflect on their entire design education and demonstrates their experience and accomplishments. They must also complete their baccalaureate degree from Northwestern.
Learn more about curriculum and requirements
Deadlines
Junior Year
During their junior year, interested students should submit the intent to pursue form, indicating their desire to enroll in the Segal Design Certificate program.
Senior Year
At least two quarters before graduation, certificate students must submit a completed petition to receive form. Portfolio presentations are typically scheduled as part of students’ final deliverable for the DSGN 370 course at a Segal Design Expo.
Advising
Advising is completed by appointment. Students within McCormick may contact Stacy Benjamin, director of the Segal Design Certificate. Students outside McCormick may contact John Anderson.
The certificate is highly customizable, and we advise students on an individual basis. It is generally recommended that students take the portfolio class during fall quarter of their senior year, so they can use their portfolio for job interviews later that year.
How to Enroll
During their sophomore or junior year, interested students should submit the intent to pursue form, indicating their desire to enroll in the Segal Design Certificate program. Students must take Design Thinking and Communication course before submitting the form. Engineering Students who have not taken DTC during their first year should take it before declaring their intent to pursue the Segal Design Certificate. Students outside McCormick can take Design Thinking and
Petition to Receive
At least two quarters before graduation, certificate students must submit a completed petition to receive form.
Contact Us
For more information about the Segal Design Certificate program, please email Stacy Benjamin (for students within McCormick) and email John Anderson (for students outside McCormick).