Course Planning

Choose your program of interest to learn about credit requirements and view recommended course plans.

Graduate Programs
Undergradute Programs

Graduate Programs

Master of Arts in Writing (MA/MFA)
The Master of Arts (MA) in Writing program requires successful completion of ten courses to earn the degree. MA students must complete six core courses (four workshops in their genre specialization and two graduate-level literature courses), three elective courses, and a thesis project course (MCW 590). Requirements for the Publishing and Professional Development Specialization are different, and available on the MA in Fiction Curriculum and Specializations page.

The Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Prose and Poetry program requires successful completion of fifteen courses to earn the degree. MFA students must complete seven workshops in their genre specialization, one seminar on teaching creative writing, three graduate-level literature courses, two elective courses, and the two-course thesis project series (MCW 589 and MCW 590). The last course of the MFA is tuition-free for students in good-standing. Dual-genre and Publishing and Professional Development specialization requirements are different, and are available on the MFA in Prose and Poetry Curriculum and Specializations page.

Students from either degree program can take courses in any order (outside of the thesis project courses, which are taken at the end of the program). We recommend that new students begin with a workshop course or an elective in the program that is examines an especially interesting topic for them. The teaching seminar and practicum courses should be taken in later terms, once the student has completed at least half of their degree requirements.

 We also recommend that you visit the MA Course Schedule page, where you can find the current and upcoming course offerings, course descriptions, and instructor bios. If you have any questions related to your course planning, please contact your adviser for assistance.


Data Science (MSDS)
There was a change to the curriculum for the 2023-2024 academic year. Any student admitted for the fall term of 2023 should follow the "MSDS New Curriculum" recommendations below. Students who started the program prior to Fall of 2023 should follow the "MSDS Pre-2023 Curriculum."
We also recommend that you visit the MSDS Course Schedule page, where you can find the current and upcoming course offerings, course descriptions, and instructor bios. Find answers to new student frequently asked questions. If you have any questions related to your course planning, please contact your adviser for assistance.
MSDS New Curriculum
The Master of Science in Data Science requires the successful completion of 12 courses to obtain a degree. These requirements cover six core courses, a leadership, communication, or project management course, two required courses corresponding to a declared specialization, two electives, and a capstone (498) course or thesis (590) project.
There are separate course planning recommendations for students with prior programming experience and for students with no prior programming experience, at either a one or two class per quarter pace.
Students with prior programming experience
For students who plan to take one course per quarter, in any specialization should follow:
  • Quarter 1: MSDS 400
  • Quarter 2: One course from the following: MSDS 402, MSDS 403, MSDS 470, MSDS 472, MSDS 474, MSDS 475, MSDS 476, MSDS 480 (Business Leadership, Communication, or Project Management)
  • Quarter 3: MSDS 401
  • Quarter 4: MSDS 420
  • Quarter 5: MSDS 422
  • Quarter 6: MSDS 460
  • Quarter 7: MSDS 485
General Track
  • Quarter 8: Elective
  • Quarter 9: Elective
  • Quarter 10: Elective
  • Quarter 11: Elective
  • Quarter 12: MSDS 498 or MSDS 590
Analytics Management 
  • Quarter 8: MSDS 474
  • Quarter 9: MSDS 476
  • Quarter 10: Elective
  • Quarter 11: Elective
  • Quarter 12: MSDS 498 or MSDS 590
Analytics and Modeling
  • Quarter 8: MSDS 410
  • Quarter 9: MSDS 411
  • Quarter 10: Elective
  • Quarter 11: Elective
  • Quarter 12: MSDS 498 or MSDS 590

Artificial Intelligence

  • Quarter 8: MSDS 453
  • Quarter 9: MSDS 458
  • Quarter 10: Elective
  • Quarter 11: Elective
  • Quarter 12: MSDS 498 or MSDS 590
Data Engineering
  • Quarter 8: MSDS 432
  • Quarter 9: MSDS 434
  • Quarter 10: Elective
  • Quarter 11: Elective
  • Quarter 12: MSDS 498 or MSDS 590
Technology Entrepreneurship
  • Quarter 8: MSDS 470
  • Quarter 9: MSDS 474
  • Quarter 10: Elective
  • Quarter 11: Elective
  • Quarter 12: MSDS 498 or MSDS 590
For students who plan to take 2 courses per quarter, in any specialization should follow:
  • Quarter 1: MSDS 401 and one course from the following: MSDS 402, MSDS 403, MSDS 470, MSDS 472, MSDS 474, MSDS 475, MSDS 476, MSDS 480 (Leadership, Communication, or Project Management)
  • Quarter 2: MSDS 400 and MSDS 420
  • Quarter 3: MSDS 422 and MSDS 485
General Track
  • Quarter 4: MSDS 460 and Elective
  • Quarter 5: Elective and Elective
  • Quarter 6: Elective and (MSDS 498 or MSDS 590)
Analytics Management 
  • Quarter 4: MSDS 474 and Elective
  • Quarter 5: MSDS 476 and MSDS 460
  • Quarter 6: Elective and (MSDS 498 or MSDS 590)
Analytics and Modeling
  • Quarter 4: MSDS 460 and MSDS 410
  • Quarter 5: MSDS 411 and Elective
  • Quarter 6: Elective and (MSDS 498 or MSDS 590)

Artificial Intelligence

  • Quarter 4: MSDS 460 and MSDS 453
  • Quarter 5: MSDS 458 and Elective
  • Quarter 6: Elective and (MSDS 498 or MSDS 590)
Data Engineering
  • Quarter 4: MSDS 460 and MSDS 432
  • Quarter 5: MSDS 434 and Elective
  • Quarter 6: Elective and (MSDS 498 or MSDS 590)
Technology Entrepreneurship
  • Quarter 4: MSDS 460 and MSDS 470
  • Quarter 5: MSDS 474 and Elective
  • Quarter 6: Elective and (MSDS 498 or MSDS 590)
Students with no prior programming experience planning to take one course per quarter, in any specialization
  • Quarter 1: MSDS 430
  • Quarter 2: MSDS 400
  • Quarter 3: One course from the following: MSDS 402, MSDS 403, MSDS 470, MSDS 472, MSDS 474, MSDS 475, MSDS 476, MSDS 480 (Leadership, Communication, or Project Management)
  • Quarter 4: MSDS 401
  • Quarter 5: MSDS 420
  • Quarter 6: MSDS 422
  • Quarter 7: MSDS 460
General Track
  • Quarter 8: MSDS 485
  • Quarter 9: Elective
  • Quarter 10: Elective
  • Quarter 11: Elective
  • Quarter 12: MSDS 498 or MSDS 590
Analytics Management 
  • Quarter 8: MSDS 485
  • Quarter 9: MSDS 474
  • Quarter 10: MSDS 476
  • Quarter 11: Elective
  • Quarter 12: MSDS 498 or MSDS 590
Analytics and Modeling
  • Quarter 8: MSDS 485
  • Quarter 9: MSDS 410
  • Quarter 10: MSDS 411
  • Quarter 11: Elective
  • Quarter 12: MSDS 498 or MSDS 590

Artificial Intelligence

  • Quarter 8: MSDS 485
  • Quarter 9: MSDS 453
  • Quarter 10: MSDS 458
  • Quarter 11: Elective
  • Quarter 12: MSDS 498 or MSDS 590
Data Engineering
  • Quarter 8: MSDS 485
  • Quarter 9: MSDS 432
  • Quarter 10: MSDS 434
  • Quarter 11: Elective
  • Quarter 12: MSDS 498 or MSDS 590
Technology Entrepreneurship
  • Quarter 8: MSDS 485
  • Quarter 9: MSDS 470
  • Quarter 10: MSDS 474
  • Quarter 11: Elective
  • Quarter 12: MSDS 498 or MSDS 590
Students with no prior programming experience, who are planning on taking two courses per quarter, in any specialization
  • Quarter 1: MSDS 430 and MSDS 400
  • Quarter 2: MSDS 401 and one course from the following: MSDS 402, MSDS 403, MSDS 470, MSDS 472, MSDS 474, MSDS 475, MSDS 476, MSDS 480 (Leadership, Communication, or Project Management)
  • Quarter 3: MSDS 420 and MSDS 460
General Track
  • Quarter 4: MSDS 422 and MSDS 485
  • Quarter 5: Elective and Elective
  • Quarter 6: Elective and (MSDS 498 or MSDS 590)
Analytics Management
  • Quarter 4: MSDS 422 and MSDS 474
  • Quarter 5: MSDS 476 and MSDS 485
  • Quarter 6: Elective and (MSDS 498 or MSDS 590)
Analytics and Modeling
  • Quarter 4: MSDS 422 and MSDS 485
  • Quarter 5: MSDS 411 and MSDS 410
  • Quarter 6: Elective and (MSDS 498 or MSDS 590)

Artificial Intelligence

  • Quarter 4: MSDS 422 and MSDS 485
  • Quarter 5: MSDS 453 and Elective
  • Quarter 6: MSDS 458 and (MSDS 498 or MSDS 590)
Data Engineering
  • Quarter 4: MSDS 422 and MSDS 485
  • Quarter 5: MSDS 431 and Elective
  • Quarter 6: MSDS 434 (MSDS 498 or MSDS 590)
Technology Entrepreneurship
  • Quarter 4: MSDS 422 and MSDS 470
  • Quarter 5: MSDS 474 and MSDS 485
  • Quarter 6: Elective and (MSDS 498 or MSDS 590)
MSDS Pre-2023 Curriculum
The Master's in Data Science requires the successful completion of 12 courses to obtain a degree. These requirements cover six core courses, a leadership or project management course, two required courses corresponding to a declared specialization, two electives, and a capstone (498) course or thesis (590) project.
There are separate course planning recommendations for students with prior programming experience and for students with no prior programming experience, at either a one or two class per quarter pace.

MSDS students have the option to complete either MSDS 402 Introduction to Data Science or MSDS 403 Data Science in Practice.

  • Students without a background in data science should select MSDS 402 Introduction to Data Science
  • Students with a background in data science should select MSDS 403 Data Science in Practice
Students with prior programming experience
One course per quarter - All specializations
  • Quarter 1: MSDS 400
  • Quarter 2: MSDS 402 or MSDS 403
  • Quarter 3: MSDS 401
  • Quarter 4: MSDS 420
  • Quarter 5: MSDS 422
  • Quarter 6: MSDS 460
  • Quarter 7: MSDS 475 or MSDS 480 or MSDS 485
General Track
  • Quarter 8: Elective
  • Quarter 9: Elective
  • Quarter 10: Elective
  • Quarter 11: Elective
  • Quarter 12: MSDS 498 or MSDS 590
Analytics Management
  • Quarter 8: MSDS 480 or MSDS 475 or MSDS 485
  • Quarter 9: MSDS 474
  • Quarter 10: Elective
  • Quarter 11: Elective
  • Quarter 12: MSDS 498 or MSDS 590
Analytics and Modeling
  • Quarter 8: MSDS 410
  • Quarter 9: MSDS 411
  • Quarter 10: Elective
  • Quarter 11: Elective
  • Quarter 12: MSDS 498 or MSDS 590
Artificial Intelligence
  • Quarter 8: MSDS 453
  • Quarter 9: MSDS 458
  • Quarter 10: Elective
  • Quarter 11: Elective
  • Quarter 12: MSDS 498 or MSDS 590
Data Engineering
  • Quarter 8: MSDS 432
  • Quarter 9: MSDS 434
  • Quarter 10: Elective
  • Quarter 11: Elective
  • Quarter 12: MSDS 498 or MSDS 590
Technology Entrepreneurship
  • Quarter 8: MSDS 470
  • Quarter 9: MSDS 474
  • Quarter 10: Elective
  • Quarter 11: Elective
  • Quarter 12: MSDS 498 or MSDS 590
Two course per quarter - All specializations
  • Quarter 1: MSDS 400 and (MSDS 402 or MSDS 403)
  • Quarter 2: MSDS 401 and MSDS 420
  • Quarter 3: MSDS 422 and MSDS 460
General Track
  • Quarter 4: (MSDS 475 or MSDS 480 or MSDS 485) and Elective
  • Quarter 5: Elective and Elective
  • Quarter 6: Elective and (MSDS 498 or MSDS 590)
Analytics Management
  • Quarter 4: MSDS 475 and MSDS 480
  • Quarter 5: MSDS 474 and Elective
  • Quarter 6: Elective and (MSDS 498 or MSDS 590)
Analytics and Modeling
  • Quarter 4: (MSDS 475 or MSDS 480 or MSDS 485) and MSDS 410
  • Quarter 5: MSDS 411 and Elective
  • Quarter 6: Elective and (MSDS 498 or MSDS 590)
Artificial Intelligence
  • Quarter 4: (MSDS 475 or MSDS 480 or MSDS 485) and MSDS 453
  • Quarter 5: MSDS 458 and Elective
  • Quarter 6: Elective and (MSDS 498 or MSDS 590)
Data Engineering
  • Quarter 4: (MSDS 475 or MSDS 480 or MSDS 485) and MSDS 432
  • Quarter 5: MSDS 434 and Elective
  • Quarter 6: Elective and (MSDS 498 or MSDS 590)
Technology Entrepreneurship
  • Quarter 4: (MSDS 475 or MSDS 480 or MSDS 485) and MSDS 470
  • Quarter 5: MSDS 474 and Elective
  • Quarter 6: Elective and (MSDS 498 or MSDS 590)
Students with NO prior programming experience
One course per quarter - All specializations
  • Quarter 1: MSDS 430
  • Quarter 2: MSDS 400
  • Quarter 3: MSDS 402 or MSDS 403
  • Quarter 4: MSDS 401
  • Quarter 5: MSDS 420
  • Quarter 6: MSDS 422
  • Quarter 7: MSDS 460
General Track
  • Quarter 8: MSDS 475 or MSDS 480 or MSDS 485
  • Quarter 9: Elective
  • Quarter 10: Elective
  • Quarter 11: Elective
  • Quarter 12: MSDS 498 or MSDS 590
Analytics Management
  • Quarter 8: MSDS 475 or MSDS 480 or MSDS 485
  • Quarter 9: MSDS 474
  • Quarter 10: MSDS 475 or MSDS 480 or MSDS 485
  • Quarter 11: Elective
  • Quarter 12: MSDS 498 or MSDS 590
Analytics and Modeling
  • Quarter 8: MSDS 475 or MSDS 480 or MSDS 485
  • Quarter 9: MSDS 410
  • Quarter 10: MSDS 411
  • Quarter 11: Elective
  • Quarter 12: MSDS 498 or MSDS 590
Artificial Intelligence
  • Quarter 8: MSDS 475 or MSDS 480 or MSDS 485
  • Quarter 9: MSDS 453
  • Quarter 10: MSDS 458
  • Quarter 11: Elective
  • Quarter 12: MSDS 498 or MSDS 590
Data Engineering
  • Quarter 8: MSDS 475 or MSDS 480 or MSDS 485
  • Quarter 9: MSDS 432
  • Quarter 10: MSDS 434
  • Quarter 11: Elective
  • Quarter 12: MSDS 498 or MSDS 590
Technology Entrepreneurship
  • Quarter 4: MSDS 422 and MSDS 470
  • Quarter 5: MSDS 474 and (MSDS 475 or MSDS 480 or MSDS 485)
  • Quarter 6: Elective and (MSDS 498 or MSDS 590)
Two course per quarter - All specializations
  • Quarter 1: MSDS 430 and (MSDS 402 or MSDS 403)
  • Quarter 2: MSDS 400 and MSDS 401
  • Quarter 3: MSDS 420 and MSDS 460
General Track
  • Quarter 4: MSDS 422 and (MSDS 475 or MSDS 480 or MSDS 485)
  • Quarter 5: Elective and Elective
  • Quarter 6: Elective and (MSDS 498 or MSDS 590)
Analytics Management
  • Quarter 4: MSDS 422 and (MSDS 475 or MSDS 480 or MSDS 485)
  • Quarter 5: MSDS 474 and (MSDS 475 or MSDS 480 or MSDS 485)
  • Quarter 6: Elective and (MSDS 498 or MSDS 590)
Analytics and Modeling
  • Quarter 4: MSDS 422 and MSDS 410
  • Quarter 5: MSDS 411 and (MSDS 475 or MSDS 480 or MSDS 485)
  • Quarter 6: Elective and (MSDS 498 or MSDS 590)
Artificial Intelligence
  • Quarter 4: MSDS 422 and (MSDS 475 or MSDS 480 or MSDS 485)
  • Quarter 5: MSDS 453 and Elective
  • Quarter 6: MSDS 458 and (MSDS 498 or MSDS 590)
Data Engineering
  • Quarter 4: MSDS 422 and MSDS 432
  • Quarter 5: MSDS 434 and (MSDS 475 or MSDS 480 or MSDS 485)
  • Quarter 6: Elective and (MSDS 498 or MSDS 590)
Technology Entrepreneurship
  • Quarter 4: MSDS 422 and MSDS 470
  • Quarter 5: MSDS 474 and (MSDS 475 or MSDS 480 or MSDS 485)
  • Quarter 6: Elective and (MSDS 498 or MSDS 590)
[Note: MSDS 590 thesis projects are rarely completed in one term.]


Global Health (MSGH)

The Master of Science in Global Health program requires twelve courses to earn the degree. MSGH students must complete eight core courses (including the Leadership 481 course), three elective courses, and the practicum course (MSGH 580).

The MSGH program is designed to be completed in 2-3 years of part-time study, but students have up to five years to complete their program. Students who are planning to complete the program as quickly as possible must plan carefully to meet the prerequisites listed for the practicum. Students must meet the stated prerequisites prior to enrolling in the practicum course.

In your first term, we recommend registering for MSGH 405 or MSGH 408.  For students who are planning on taking a full course load of two courses at a time, we recommend registering for MSGH 405 and MSGH 408.

We also recommend that you visit the MSGH Course Schedule page, where you can find the current and upcoming course offerings, course descriptions, and instructor bios. If you have any questions related to your course planning, please contact your adviser for assistance.


Health Analytics (MSHA)

The Master of Science in Health Analytics program requires twelve courses to earn the degree. MSHA students must complete one entry course:  MSHA 401(students without an analytics background e.g., nursing, respiratory therapy, physical therapy, physicians) or MSHA 402 (students without a clinical background e.g., engineering, economics, statistics ) and 11 core courses. Students with neither an analytics nor clinical background should take MSHA 401, Programming for Health Analytics.

The MSHA program is designed to be completed in two to two and a half years (eight to ten academic quarters), but students have up to five years to complete their program (twenty academic quarters). If you have a more aggressive timeline to completion, please contact your adviser to discuss how and if the goal can be achieved. 

There is not a sequenced order to the courses (with the exception of the Capstone and/or Thesis course, which is taken in the final term of the program), and they do not need to be taken in numerical order. However, many MSHA students do take them in roughly numerical order depending on the timing of course offerings.  As there are some courses that have prerequisites, (MSHA 410, MSHA 411, and MSHA 412), we recommend taking MSHA 405 and MSHA 409 within the first two quarters of your program.

For your first term, we recommend the entry course for your program (MSHA 401 or MSHA 402). We recommend waiting to enroll in the Health Analytics Leadership course (MSHA 480) for later in your program, as it adds the greatest degree of flexibility in your scheduling of your courses in your final terms.

We also recommend that you visit the MSHA Course Schedule page on the SPS website, where you can find the current and upcoming course offerings, course descriptions, and instructor bios. If you have any questions related to your course planning, please contact your adviser for assistance.


Health Informatics (MHI)

The Master of Science in Health Informatics program requires twelve courses to earn the degree. MHI student must complete five core courses (MHI 401, MHI 403, MHI 407, MSHA 480 or LEADERS 481, and the Capstone or Thesis course), and seven courses within their chosen specialization (the four required specialization courses, and three elective courses in the specialization area). The three areas of specialization are Clinical Informatics, Health Administration Informatics, or Health Technology Informatics.

The MHI program is designed to be completed in two to two and a half years (eight to ten academic quarters), but students have up to five years to complete their program (twenty academic quarters). If you have a more aggressive timeline to completion, please contact your adviser to discuss how and if the goal can be achieved. 

There is not a sequenced order to the courses (with the exception of the Capstone and/or Thesis course, which is taken in the final term of the program), and they do not need to be taken in numerical order. However, many MHI students do take them in roughly numerical order depending on the timing of course offerings

In your first term, we recommend a core course for the program (e.g. MHI 401 or MHI 403, which are offered nearly every quarter, or MHI 407). After you have some of the core requirements completed, we encourage students to start pursing the classes required for your specialization. We recommend waiting to enroll in the Leadership course (MSHA 480 or LEADERS 481) for later in your program, as it adds the greatest degree of flexibility in your scheduling of your courses in your final terms.

We also recommend that you visit the MHI Course Schedule page on the SPS website, where you can find the current and upcoming course offerings, course descriptions, and instructor bios. If you have any questions related to your course planning, please contact your adviser for assistance.



Information Design and Strategy (IDS)

The Master of Science in Information Design and Strategy program requires twelve courses to earn the degree. IDS students must complete eight core courses, three elective courses corresponding to the student’s declared specialization, and either the capstone project (498) or thesis (590) course.

In your first term, it is best to begin the program with one of the following core courses: MS_IDS 403 Effective Communication, MS_IDS 405 User Research, or MS_IDS 411 Info Design and Architecture. If you are planning to take more than one course, enroll in a specialization course in addition to either MS_IDS 403, MS_IDS 405, or MS_IDS 411.

We recommend waiting to enroll in the Leadership course (LEADERS 481) for later in your program, as it adds the greatest degree of flexibility in the scheduling of your courses in your final terms.

We also recommend that you visit the IDS Course Schedule page, where you can find the current and upcoming course offerings, course descriptions, and instructor bios If you have any questions related to your course planning, please contact your adviser for assistance.


Information Systems (MSIS)
The Master of Science in Information Systems program requires eleven courses to earn the degree. MSIS students must complete four core courses (CIS 413, CIS 414, CIS 417, and CIS 498 Capstone or CIS 590 Thesis) and seven courses within their area of specialization (students in the Data Science specialization complete three core courses and eight specialization courses).

Students in the Artificial Intelligence specialization follow a slightly different course plan. The MSIS: AI core is CIS 413, MSDS 430, CIS 417, and CIS 498 or Thesis 590. 

Students in the Data Science specialization follow a slightly different course plan. The MSIS: DS specialization core is MSDS 430, CIS 417, and CIS 498 or Thesis 590. 

For all MSIS students, we recommend that in your first term you begin with one of the program’s core courses: CIS 413, CIS 414, or CIS 417. If you are planning to take more than one course, core courses can be paired with a specialization course.

Please review your admissions letter to confirm your selected specialization. We also recommend that you visit the MSIS Course Schedule page, where you can find the current and upcoming course offerings, course descriptions, and instructor bios. If you have any questions related to your course planning, please contact your adviser for assistance.

Literature (MALit)
The Master of Arts in Literature program requires nine courses to earn the degree. MALit students must complete a core courses (Lit 410), seven elective Literature courses, and the Thesis project course (Lit 590).

MALit students have the option to structure their elective coursework to complete a specialization, if they choose. Students complete four thematically linked courses to earn a specialization within the MALit degree.

Students can take courses in any order except for the thesis course, which must be the final course in the program. We recommend taking LIT 410: Introduction to Graduate Study early in your program, in the first quarter that it is offered.

We also recommend that you visit the MALit Course Schedule page, where you can find the current and upcoming course offerings, course descriptions, and instructor bios. If you have any questions related to your course planning, please contact your adviser for assistance.


Public Policy and Administration (MPPA)
The Master of Arts in Public Policy and Administration program requires 13 courses: nine core courses, three specialization courses, and either the capstone course (MPPA 498) or individual thesis research project (MPPA 590).

Please note that MPPA 498 is only guaranteed to be offered in the fall and spring quarters. MPPA 498 (or MPPA 590) must be taken as the final course of your program, and only one other course may be taken in the same quarter.

All other MPPA courses may be taken in any order, although we recommend taking two or three core courses before beginning the specialization courses. That being said, specialization courses are only offered on a rotational basis, so if a course catches your interest, feel free to take it while you can!

MPPA 403 and MPPA 407 are foundational courses and recommended for the first quarter. Alternatively, MPPA 401 Research and Writing can also serve as a good starting point. Students in 401 Research and Writing can start developing a project to present in the 498 Capstone course.

Tip: If you plan to take more than one course at a time, it may be helpful to balance a math-oriented course with a reading/writing-oriented course.

The MPPA Course Schedule is issued over the summer for the entire coming academic year. We encourage you to take advantage of this resource and plan as far in advance as possible, to avoid undesired gaps in scheduling. Please feel free to reach out to your academic adviser at MPPA-advising@northwestern.edu for planning assistance.

Note: If you must be enrolled in at least two courses per quarter for financial aid eligibility, keep in mind that there is an odd number of required courses (13), so plan carefully. You may wish to pick one quarter in which to take three courses, in order to receive aid for your entire program.



Regulatory Compliance (MSRC)
The Master of Science in Regulatory Compliance program requires 11 courses: five core courses, four specialization (track) courses, one cross-track elective course (any elective outside of your specialization area), and either the capstone course (MSRC 498) or individual thesis research project (MSRC 590).

Please note that, beginning in 2024-25, MSRC 498 (Capstone) will only be offered in the spring quarter. MSRC 498 (or MSRC 590) must be taken as the final course of your program, and only one other course may be taken in the same quarter.

It is strongly recommended that you take MSRC 405 Applied Research and Writing as your first class, and before taking MSRC 401 Quality Systems for Regulatory Compliance, as you will be writing a research paper in MSRC 401. The 405 Research and Writing class is offered every winter and summer.

Most specialization courses are only offered once per year, so if you are planning to take two courses per quarter, we recommend that you begin with one core course and one specialization course. Students in the Quality Systems track are advised to take MSHA 409 – and, if possible, MSRC 401 – before beginning the specialization courses.

The MSRC Course Schedule is issued over the summer for the entire coming academic year. We encourage you to take advantage of this resource and plan as far in advance as possible, to avoid undesired gaps in scheduling. Please feel free to reach out to your academic adviser at MSRC-advising@northwestern.edu for planning assistance.

Note: If you must be enrolled in at least two courses per quarter for financial aid eligibility, keep in mind that there is an odd number of required courses (11). Most students plan on at least one quarter in which they may not be aid-eligible. The alternative, a three-course quarter, is often not feasible in this program.



Sports Administration (MSA)

 The Master of Arts in Sports Administration program requires successful completion of eleven courses to earn the degree. Students must complete seven core courses, three elective courses, and a capstone class (498) or thesis project (590).

MSA students can take courses in any order (outside of the Capstone or Thesis course, which is the final course in the program). Most students are encouraged to begin with MSA 401 Sports Research Methods or MSA 402 Sports Marketing. Students in the Sports Analytics specialization should start with MSDS 400 Math for Data Scientists as one of their first courses. The Requirements for the Sports Analytics track are slightly different, and available on the MSA Curriculum and Specializations page. Note that MSA 401 Sports Research Methods is not required for students in this track.

We recommend that you visit the MSA Course Schedule page, where you can find the current and upcoming course offerings, course descriptions, and instructor bios. If you have any questions related to your course planning, please contact your adviser for assistance. Planning your schedule is of critical importance, as all classes are not offered every quarter.

Undergraduate & Post Baccalaureate Programs

Bachelor's Degree Programs
The courses you take to complete your degree will generally fall into three categories: distribution requirements, major/minor area of study, and electives. All undergraduate students are required to take an English Composition course (e.g. English 111 or 205). The Credit Evaluation included in your admissions packet outlines the requirements for your degree, and can serve as a road map toward completing your program.
We recommend that you visit the Search Courses page on the SPS website, where you can find the current and upcoming course offerings, course descriptions, and instructor bios. If you have any questions about what courses to take, please contact your academic adviser.


If you have been admitted under Performance-based Admission (PBA) guidelines, you are required to speak with your adviser before registering.



Professional Health Careers Post-Baccalaureate Programs (ProHealth)
New students starting in the fall are encouraged to take the following courses for each program, in order to meet prerequisite requirements for each sequence:
 
Pre-Medicine
  • CHEM 110 Quantitative Problem Solving in Chemistry
  • PHYSICS 130-A College Physics I (with lab, Physics 131-A)
  • PRO HLTH 396-A Professional Health Careers Proseminar I (a no-cost, non-credit course)
Pre-Nursing
  • CHEM 110 Quantitative Problem Solving in Chemistry
  • PSYCH 110 Introduction to Psychology
Pre-Clinical Psychology
  • PSYCH 110 Introduction to Psychology
  • PSYCH 201 Statistical Methods in Psychology
Pre-Physical Therapy
  • BIOL SCI 313 Human Anatomy
  • PHYSICS 130-A College Physics I (with lab, Physics 131-A)
Pre-Physician Assistant
  • BIOL SCI 217 Physiology
  • CHEM 110 Quantitative Problem Solving in Chemistry
  • PRO HLTH 396-A Professional Health Careers Proseminar I (a no-cost, non-credit course)

Pre-Medicine Completion
Remaining courses are dependent on previously completed coursework. If unsure of remaining requirements, email your adviser for guidance.

Pre-speech Pathology

  • CSD 318 Introduction to Audiology (also available in winter, but students needing to meet Financial Aid requirements should take it in fall)
  • CSD 392 Language Development and Usage
  • CSD 465 Hearing Impairment

Recommended courses for the Pre-speech and Pre-med completion programs are variable based on what the student needs to complete. If you have any questions please email your adviser with any questions about course planning.

^ Back to top ^