northwestern university phd programs

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The Graduate School offers PhD and master's degrees in more than 70 disciplines. Our interdisciplinary certificates and clusters provide additional opportunities to connect with students and faculty outside your department.  Find statistics for our programs.

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Doctoral programs

The Kellogg School of Management strongly believes in an interdisciplinary and collaborative approach to doctoral study. This approach directly engages you with the many programs and research faculty found across Northwestern University, one of the nation's leading private research universities.

Our Ph.D. program steeps students in a particular discipline, or combination of disciplines. This training provides great insight into how business works, and a firm foundation from which you can develop excellent conceptual and analytical skills for productive research careers.

Kellogg offers eight fields of study as well as a JD-Ph.D. degree that enables doctoral students to earn a law degree and a Ph.D. degree concurrently.

Contact us about the Doctoral Program

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Doctoral Degree Options

Our three doctoral degree options were the first of their kind in the nation. Students can pursue a doctorate in Learning Sciences or in Human Development and Social Policy. We also offer a joint PhD in Computer Science and Learning Sciences with the McCormick School of Engineering. 

PhD in Computer Science & Learning Sciences

The joint PhD Program in Computer Science and Learning Sciences builds on enduring and growing connections between research on learning and computation. This program is intended for students with an interest in both fields who would otherwise have to choose one area or the other.  Learn How to Apply

PhD in Human Development & Social Policy

The Human Development and Social Policy doctoral program is grounded in the study of relations between public policy and human development. Faculty and students conduct research on how public policy affects human development and well-being, how research on human development across the life span informs policy, and how people affect policy.  Learn How to Apply

PhD in Learning Sciences

The Learning Sciences doctoral degree program prepares graduates to advance the understanding and practice of teaching and learning. Research and coursework emphasize instructional, technological, and social policy innovations and the design of effective learning and teaching environments.  Learn How to Apply

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DEPARTMENT OF STATISTICS AND DATA SCIENCE

Phd program, phd program overview.

The doctoral program in Statistics and Data Science is designed to provide students with comprehensive training in theory and methodology in statistics and data science, and their applications to problems in a wide range of fields. The program is flexible and may be arranged to reflect students' interests and career goals. Cross-disciplinary work is encouraged. The PhD program prepares students for careers as university teachers and researchers as well as research statisticians and data scientists in industry, government and the non-profit sector.

Requirements

Students are required to fulfill the Department requirements in addition to those specified by The Graduate School (TGS).

From the Graduate School’s webpage outlining the general requirements for a PhD :

In order to receive a doctoral degree, students must:

• Complete all required coursework. .
• Gain admittance to candidacy.
• Submit a prospectus to be approved by a faculty committee.
• Present a dissertation with original research. Review the Dissertation Publication page for more information.
• Complete the necessary teaching requirement
• Submit necessary forms to file for graduation
• Complete degree requirements within the approved timeline

PhD degrees must be approved by the student's academic program. Consult with your program directly regarding specific degree requirements.

The Department requires that students in the Statistics and Data Science PhD program:

• Meet the department minimum residency requirement of 2 years
• STAT 344-0 Statistical Computing
• STAT 350-0 Regression Analysis
• STAT 353-0 Advanced Regression
• STAT 415-0 I ntroduction to Machine Learning
• STAT 420-1,2,3 Introduction to Statistical Theory and Methodology 1, 2, 3
• STAT 430-1, 2 Probability for Statistical Inference 1, 2
• STAT 440 Applied Stochastic Processes for Statistics
• STAT 457-0 Applied Bayesian Inference

Students generally complete the required coursework during their first two years in the PhD program. *note that required courses changed in the 2021-22 academic year, previous required courses can be found at the end of this page.

• Pass the Qualifying Exam. This comprehensive examination covers basic topics in statistics and data science and and is typically taken in fall quarter of the second year.

Pass the Prospectus presentation/examination and be admitted for PhD candidacy by the end of year 3 . The department requires that students must complete their Prospectus (proposal of dissertation topic) before the end of year 3, which is earlier than The Graduate School deadline of the end of year 4. The prospectus must be approved by a faculty committee comprised of a committee chair and a minimum of 2 other faculty members. Students usually first find an adviser through independent studies who will then typically serve as the committee chair. When necessary, exceptions may be made upon the approval of the committee chair and the director of graduate studies, to extend the due date of the prospectus exam until the end of year 4.

• Successfully complete and defend a doctoral dissertation. After the prospectus is approved, students begin work on the doctoral dissertation, which must demonstrate an original contribution to a chosen area of specialization. A final examination (thesis defense) is given based on the dissertation. Students typically complete the PhD program in 5 years.
• Attend all seminars in the department and participate in other research activities . In addition to these academic requirements, students are expected to participate in other research activities and attend all department seminars every year they are in the program.

Optional MS degree en route to PhD

Students admitted to the Statistics and Data Science PhD program can obtain an optional MS (Master of Science) degree en route to their PhD. The MS degree requires 12 courses: STAT 350-0 Regression Analysis, STAT 353 Advanced Regression, STAT 420-1,2,3 Introduction to Statistical Theory and Methodology 1, 2, 3, STAT 415-0 I ntroduction to Machine Learning , and at least 6 more courses approved by the department of which two must be 400 level STAT elective courses, no more than 3 can be approved non-STAT courses.

*Prior to 2021-2022, the course requirements for the PhD were:

• STAT 351-0 Design and Analysis of Experiments
• STAT 425 Sampling Theory and Applications
• MATH 450-1,2 Probability 1, 2 or MATH 450-1 Probability 1 and IEMS 460-1,2 Stochastic Processes 1, 2
• Six additional 300/400 graduate-level Statistics courses, at least two must be 400 -level

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Graduate Study   /   Programs PhD Programs

McCormick’s PhD students work with our world-class faculty to research advanced topics in engineering. Upon graduating, our students are prepared to innovate and perform at the highest level both in academia and the private sector.

How to Apply

Each McCormick department handles its own recruitment and admissions processes for PhD students. Follow the links on this page for more information about specific programs and departments.

All departmental PhDapplicants use the same online application .

Download our Graduate Application Instructions

Departmental PhD Programs

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Biomedical Engineering

Chemical and biological engineering, civil and environmental engineering, computer engineering, computer science, electrical engineering, engineering sciences and applied mathematics, industrial engineering and management sciences, materials science and engineering, mechanical engineering, interdisciplinary programs.

The Department of Biomedical Engineering (BME) at McCormick provides students with the opportunity to conduct cutting-edge research in a wide variety of areas such as neural engineering, cardiovascular and pulmonary engineering, materials and tissues, and imaging and biophotonics.

The department believes that students should be trained to do both theoretical and experimental work, and most PhD theses include both components.

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Emphasizing both core chemical engineering training as well as interdisciplinary research on the cutting edge of the field, the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering provides students with the tools, experience, and adaptability to prosper in research and development in industry or government, or as faculty members at colleges and universities.

The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) provides graduate students with individual mentorship and an exceptional range of opportunities in areas such as geotechnics, mechanics of materials and solids, structural engineering and infrastructure materials, and more. CEE prepares its PhD students to become the next generation of leaders able to address a wide variety of social, economic, and physical challenges in constructing and managing the industrial and public works infrastructure.

The PhD in computer engineering program prepares students to become innovative leaders in academic, industrial, and entrepreneurial settings. The focus on this program is on research, including areas such as computer architecture; computer-aided design; mobile systems; parallel processing; hardware software interaction; VLSI design; embedded systems; systems simulation; robotics; and large-scale systems.

The PhD program in computer science enables students to work with leading researchers in cutting-edge labs advancing work in distributed systems, artificial intelligence, human computer interaction, theoretical computer science, and computer graphics. In addition, there are ample opportunities for interdisciplinary collaborations across the Northwestern schools.

The PhD program in electrical engineering provides students with the opportunity to work with leading, world-renowned faculty members in research areas such as solid-state devices, photonics, image and video processing, and wireless communications.

The applied math department solves complex science and engineering problems using mathematical models.

ESAM’s PhD program prepares students for independent research and helps them adapt their research areas to current career opportunities. Graduates can go on to teach at the university/college level or continue PhD-level research at national and industrial laboratories or similar environments.

The IEMS PhD program is an excellent choice for analytically talented students interested in developing theoretical and practical tools that can be used to solve problems in industry and government. IEMS does not offer a terminal MS degree.

Our IEMS faculty members have been honored with awards and fellowships from leading professional societies such as INFORMS, IIE and ASA. Many hold appointments to the editorial boards of flagship journals in their fields. Their research is supported by grants from the Department of Energy, National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, Office of Naval Research, and many industrial corporate sponsors.

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Since it was established more than 50 years ago as the first materials science academic department in the world, the Department of Materials Science and Engineering has continued to lead the field.

As a PhD student, you will work closely with your adviser to engage in pioneering materials research. You’ll have the opportunity to contribute to joint projects with other McCormick departments, Northwestern’s chemistry, physics, and geological sciences departments, the Feinberg School of Medicine, and national laboratories such as Argonne National Laboratory.

The Department of Mechanical Engineering provides graduate students with an exciting array of coursework and research, blending fundamental skills with cutting-edge science and technology. Faculty and students develop novel technologies and capabilities across a host of technically challenging areas such as nanotechnology, robotics, virtual design and manufacturing, tribology, composite materials, and more.

The graduate program focuses primarily on the discovery of new knowledge and technologies. Doctoral students are expected not only to pursue a rigorous course of study, but also to demonstrate scholarly distinction by advancing the state of knowledge in their chosen fields.

Computer Science and Learning Sciences

The Joint PhD Program in Computer Science and Learning Sciences builds on enduring and growing connections between research on learning and computation. Rapid technological advances continue to create new and exciting ways to both understand and support learning in all settings and in all stages of life. This program is intended for students with an interest in both fields who would otherwise be forced to choose one area or the other.

Example areas of interest include:

• educational data mining
• computational modeling and simulations
• adaptive technology for learning
• equity issues in computing
• intelligent tutoring systems
• interaction design to support learning

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Technology and Social Behavior

Northwestern’s doctoral program in technology and social behavior recruits students from a variety of backgrounds and gives them rigorous training in:

• social sciences
• human-computer interaction
• computer science methodologies

This innovative study of technology and social behavior prepares students to bridge different disciplines, putting you in the strongest possible position for today’s academic and industry research jobs.

Theoretical and Applied Mechanics

Theoretical and Applied Mechanics (TAM) is an interdisciplinary, interdepartmental graduate degree program. Adaptable to the specific needs and abilities of its students, TAM allows qualified students of engineering, mathematics, physics, or an allied science to pursue their PhD in solid mechanics or fluid mechanics.

Some specific research areas for TAM PhD students include:

• computational mechanics
• mechanics in biology and fluids
• micro/nanomechanics
• multifunctional materials
• geomechanics
• structural reliability and nondestructive characterization

Applied Physics Graduate Program

This program serves as a hub for collaborative research and innovation among faculty and students in:

• physics & astronomy
• molecular biosciences
• earth & planetary sciences
• electrical & computer engineering
• materials science & engineering

This program offers interdisciplinary PhD research opportunities for prospective graduate students with a strong undergraduate background in physics. The program prepares graduates for professional careers in science and technology, either in academics or in industry.

PhD Research Clusters

McCormick supports a range of interdisciplinary research clusters, such as Segal Design Institute's Design Cluster and the Predictive Science & Engineering Design (PS&ED) cluster, that enable graduate students and faculty from different departments and schools to work together to advance research in various fields.

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DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY

  Hello and welcome to the Graduate Student section of our website.

Northwestern University's Psychology Department is one of the strongest and most prestigious departments in the United States. We offer Ph.D. programs in five areas: Clinical Psychology; Personality, Development, and Health Psychology; Cognitive Psychology; Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience (CAN); and Social Psychology. Faculty and graduate students in all five areas are conducting some of the most exciting and influential research being done in the psychological sciences today. Graduate students in our program receive rigorous training in methodology, statistics, and broad content areas in psychology and the behavioral sciences. From the first year onward, graduate students are involved in research projects under the supervision of Psychology Department faculty members. Early in their graduate school careers, they present the findings of their work at professional conferences and publish their research in leading psychological journals. They also receive invaluable experience as teachers and mentors of undergraduate students. Northwestern's Psychology Department aims to train the best and brightest of the next generation's scientists in Psychology and the related behavioral sciences. Our graduates have gone on to attain prestigious academic and research positions in universities, colleges, hospitals, and other venues where psychological research is conducted.

All Ph.D. students in the Psychology Department receive full funding (tuition and stipend) for five academic years (including four summers). Many graduate students also receive outside funding through NSF fellowships and other awards. Students work closely with faculty in the Psychology Department in class work and in the laboratory. In addition, students may take courses and do research with faculty in other departments at Northwestern University, including those in the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Education and Social Policy, and the Medical School. Many students are involved in interdisciplinary research.

Northwestern's Psychology Department offers an exciting, dynamic, and friendly community of scientists and scholars, set on the beautiful lakefront campus of a world-class university, minutes from one of the world's greatest cities, Chicago. If you would like to learn more about our community and our programs, please contact us.

Program Areas for Graduate Study

• Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience
• Personality, Development, and Health

For more information about graduate study at Northwestern:

The Graduate School http://www.tgs.northwestern.edu/