Graduate Study

Career and Professional Development

Whether you plan to pursue a career in academia, conduct advanced research in your field, or enter industry after graduation, a graduate degree from McCormick puts you in the best possible position to achieve your career goals.

McCormick provides a variety of resources and programs to support your needs and contribute to your professional development.

Prepare for Academia

McCormick is committed to mentoring students who have interests in academia to ensure they are prepared to begin independent careers as faculty members. As a graduate student at McCormick, you will develop both analytical and problem-solving skills and become increasingly prepared to apply these tools to any problem you might face in the academic world.

The school has had tremendous success placing students in top academic positions across the country, and these students were advised by a diverse set of faculty members at McCormick.

The Searle Center for Advancing Learning and Teaching is an excellent resource for PhD students who are interested in academia.  The Teaching Certificate Program, Graduate Teaching Fellows, various workshops, and CIRTL (Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching, and Learning) are available to graduate students and post docs.

Discuss with your departmental adviser how best to prepare for a career in your chosen academic field.

Become an Industry Leader

McCormick graduates excel in high-level positions industry wide. Many different programs offered at Northwestern ensure you are prepared to meet the ever-changing needs of business and industry:

• McCormick PhD students are qualified to fill research positions at the highest levels in private industry and government laboratories and to perform and direct original research on the staffs of universities, hospitals, or companies.
• The full-time MMM Program leads to two degrees, a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and a Master of Design Innovation (MDI); its students are prepared to engage in proper design of products and services coupled with efficient, economical, error-free operations.
• The part-time Master of Project Management Program prepares graduates for management roles in the design, construction, operation, and management of major civil and environmental engineering projects.
• The Master of Product Design and Development Management (MPD²) Program teaches every aspect of the product design and development process, from managing creativity to project management to financial issues, and can be completed on a full- or part-time basis.
• A collaboration with the Kellogg School of Management, the Management for Scientists and Engineers summer certificate program offers PhD students an introduction to the business and leadership skills needed to address key challenges and opportunities in your career.

Browse all of our graduate programs

Professional Development

Engineering Career Development

The Engineering Career Development (ECD) provides both master’s and PhD students with practical support, workshops, advising, and customized resources to meet your career needs and help you connect with potential employers.

Job Search and Networking Preparation

For master’s students, the MS Career Bootcamp, held in September through ECD, offers training in key skills such as resume writing, interviewing, and networking.

For PhD students, ECD provides the PhD Summer Seminar Series, a sequence of workshops on topics such as leadership and team skills, entrepreneurship and commercialization, narrowing your job search, preparing your resume and CV, and networking.

Learning to Lead

The Center for Leadership at Northwestern offers courses and a certificate in leadership, a fellowship in leadership for PhD students, and opportunities to develop your leadership skills through assessment and coaching.

The Searle Center for Advancing Learning and Teaching provides workshops and programs for graduate students to assist with their development as TAs, teachers, and leaders in education. 

Fellowships & Internships

You have access to many Fellowships & Internships which can help fund your studies at McCormick while providing important practical experience and networking opportunities for your career.

International Career Opportunities

If you’re interested in an international career, Global Initiatives offers exciting opportunities for members of the McCormick community to work, study, and conduct research overseas, improving our understanding of other cultures and businesses and sharing knowledge across a range of diverse communities.