Advanced Manufacturing

The Master of Science in Advanced Manufacturing builds on the McCormick School of Engineering’s long-standing expertise in manufacturing research, innovation, and education, and is supported by Northwestern’s network of nationally funded centers, award-winning faculty, and collaborations across Chicago, the Midwest, and beyond.

Students in Northwestern’s Advanced Manufacturing program work closely with faculty and researchers in state-of-the-art laboratories and industry collaborations. Our curriculum trains students to analyze and optimize flexible manufacturing systems, design new processes, and apply advanced technologies to solve real-world industrial and research challenges. Participants gain a strong foundation in core principles while exploring emerging areas that define the future of manufacturing.

Students complete either a research-focused thesis or an industry-focused project, gaining hands-on experience with real-world problem solving.

Additional resources:

• Program website
• Program handbook(s)

Degree Requirements

The following requirements are in addition to, or further elaborate upon, those requirements outlined in The Graduate School Policy Guide.

To provide hands-on experience with real-world problem-solving practices, the MS in Advanced Manufacturing requires a thesis to be completed by all students enrolled in the program. No non-thesis options will be available.

Master's

Total Units Required: 12

Six core courses (6 units) and 3 electives (3 units) are required to complete coursework for the MS program. Three additional thesis units are then required to complete the MS thesis requirements, for a total of 12 units required for the degree.

• Research Thesis – Students complete 9 courses + 1 academic-focused thesis project. Students may complete this thesis in their 4th quarter, or start early in the 3rd quarter of the program.
• Practicum Thesis – Students complete 9 courses + 2-3 small industry-focused thesis projects. Students may complete one project per quarter 1-3 (strongly encouraged for BS/MS who have existing department network), or complete all projects in their 4th quarter.

Other MS Degree Requirements

• Internship: Students are strongly encouraged to complete an internship during the summer quarter of the program to gain industry experience.