Bridge to Graduate Study

Prepare for graduate study with a custom certificate program

Northwestern University School of Continuing Studies offers students the opportunity to create a course of study to prepare for graduate study. Listed below are descriptions of four custom programs you might use to model your own program in preparation for graduate study. Course descriptions and schedule information are available by viewing current course listings. If you would like to discuss Bridge to Graduate Study options with an SCS adviser, call 312-503-4682 to schedule an appointment.

Bridge to Business School

If you are planning to apply to business school, you might find it helpful to first enhance your academic record, expand your knowledge base, and expand your competencies. You can do that by either completing our Pregraduate Business Administration certificate or developing your own customized course of study. For example, if you are interested in pursuing an MBA with an emphasis on branding, you might choose courses such as Principles of Marketing, Brand Marketing, Consumer Behavior, Theories of Persuasion, and Introduction to Public Relations. This certificate would enhance your application to an MBA program that focused on branding.

Bridge to Law School

There is no one academic path to law school, but law schools seek students with strong writing and verbal communication skills, an understanding of society and human nature, and critical and creative thinking skills. In the increasingly competitive admissions process, your most recent academic work is closely reviewed. Students who come to the School of Continuing Studies to prepare for law school often take courses in subjects such as English, history, political science, communication studies, and sociology. For example, you might enroll in an advanced English course, an advanced course in political science, a course in communication studies (such as Theories of Argumentation or Theories of Persuasion), and a history course.

Bridge to Graduate School

In recent years, an increasing number of students have taken advanced course work at the School of Continuing Studies to prepare for graduate work, including PhD programs. If you are interested in pursuing graduate studies, you should first examine the admission requirements of programs that you are considering to guide your decisions about course enrollment at SCS. For example, if you are planning to apply to a PhD program in psychology, you will need to ensure you are enrolled in courses that meet the requirements or recommendations of the program or programs to which you intend to apply.

Bridge to Graduate Study in Education

General Education Courses
If you are planning to enter a master's program to prepare for a career in elementary or secondary education, the School of Continuing Studies can help you get started. Based on your undergraduate course work and the requirements of your chosen master's program, you can take general education courses at SCS to prepare for graduate study while satisfying some teacher certification requirements. In the state of Illinois, the requirements for certification are determined by the certifying institution (visit www.isbe.state.il.us/certification for details). To plan your course of study, you should examine the general education requirements of the graduate program or programs to which you plan to apply, whether at the School of Education and Social Policy at Northwestern University or at another institution. Then you should meet with an SCS academic adviser who can help you create a customized course of study. Upon completion of the courses approved by your prospective graduate program, (a minimum of four courses), you will receive a certificate of completion, awarded by the School of Continuing Studies.

Courses for Secondary Education
If you are a career changer interested in a secondary education graduate program, you will need to satisfy the course equivalents of a major. In many cases, you can fulfill those requirements for an eligible major, such as Mathematics or History, at SCS. You should first examine the admission requirements of programs that you are considering to guide your decisions about course enrollment at SCS. Requirements vary from school to school. Once you have an idea of the courses in which you are interested, you should meet with an SCS adviser to map out a customized course of study for your Pregraduate Teacher Education program.