​Degrees, Academic Options, and Requirements

Undergraduate degree requirements are established by the faculties of each school. While the requirements consequently differ significantly by school, all students must pursue at least one major (their degree major) in their home school to earn a Northwestern undergraduate degree.

Students often also elect to pursue additional majors, minors, certificates, and other special programs in schools other than their own, in addition to those from their home school. A program like this results in a single undergraduate degree with multiple majors. 

Students may also apply and be admitted to multiple schools that offer pre-approved dual degrees. A program like this results in two different undergraduate degrees conferred by the two different schools and often requires an additional year of study.

All undergraduate students must also meet the Undergraduate Registration Requirement.

Academic Advising

Academic advising is an essential component of an undergraduate education. All incoming students are assigned an academic adviser through their school. Returning students may obtain academic advice through their major department and from the dean’s office of their school. 

In addition to meeting with an academic adviser on a regular basis, students should routinely check their academic requirements—accessible via the CAESAR degree progress report and McCormick MAS—to ensure that they are meeting their degree requirements; students should promptly discuss any concerns about progress or discrepancies in the report with an adviser.