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A silent montage shows the lakeside campus, children learning in classrooms, a speaker addressing pupils in a gym, students using computers, teaching and collaboration, graduation hooding, a laboratory demonstration, friends with ice cream, group discussions and a presentation, outdoor conversations, and people walking and cycling along a tree-lined campus path.

Learning and Leading with Purpose

Our students, faculty, and community are committed to improving lives and transforming society.

SESP students become

We value interdisciplinary training and hands-on experiences.

Join us and explore all you can do.

Programs

Get to Know Us

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Since 1926, our school has been a close-knit community of students, faculty, and staff committed to improving lives. See what makes us special.

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Ranked Education School, U.S. News & World Report
Faculty members elected to the National Academy of Education
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Undergraduates employed or completing graduate school or fellowships after graduation
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Service hours provided to local communities through the Civic Education Project

Making an Impact

At SESP, we partner with communities to make research useful. Together, we test new ideas, find better ways of working, and share what we learn to benefit more people.

Student walking in Chicago by train

Morton Schapiro Northwestern Academy for Chicago Public Schools

The Morton Schapiro Northwestern Academy for Chicago Public Schools enhances access and successful matriculation for academically motivated students. Thanks to the Academy, these talented individuals are on track to attend top-tier colleges and universities. To date, graduates have enrolled in more than 115 institutions, including Northwestern, Harvard, Yale, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Nichole Pinkard working with student

STEAMbassadors

STEAMbassadors trains college-bound 18 to 24-year-olds from under-resourced communities to work with youth in neighborhoods lacking learning opportunities and role models in computer science, engineering, and the arts. They are assigned to local organizations partnering with the Chicago Department of Family Support Services in parks, libraries, and schools to create an out-of-school learning ecosystem across the city.

Evanston Township High School Partnership Office

Northwestern-Evanston Township High School (ETHS) Partnership Office

The Northwestern/ETHS Partnership Office is part of the Good Neighbor, Great University Initiative, supported by Neighborhood and Community Relations and the Office of Community Education Partnerships in the School of Education and Social Policy. Northwestern has more than 100 significant partnerships with Evanston Township High School. This relationship spans disciplines, encompassing academics, athletics, health and wellness, identity and social consciousness, college and career education, cultural events, mentoring, the arts, and community engagement.

Featured News

News and Events

Cynthia Coburn

Coburn Honored During Investiture Ceremony

November 11, 2026 5:28 PM

Northwestern University Professor Cynthia Coburn, a world-renowned expert on education research and policy, was formally invested as the Margaret Walker Alexander Professor during a recent ceremony at 2001 Sheridan Road.

Dan McAdams

A Shift in Trump’s Self-Control?

November 5, 2026 4:38 PM

“Something is changing with Trump,” Dan P. McAdams, a professor at Northwestern University’s School of Education and Social Policy, told The New York Times.

Michael Spikes

Is Illinois' Media Literacy Law Working?

October 27, 2026 9:32 AM

Illinois’ law requiring media literacy education in high schools, the first of its kind in the nation, has been implemented unevenly, according to a study co-authored by School of Education and Social Policy alumnus Michael Spikes (PhD23).

AI and the Illusion of Empathy

October 21, 2026 1:23 PM

AI assistants like Claude can appear to have emotions, whether by apologizing profusely for making a mistake or expressing frustration when stuck. So, what happens to humans when AI appears to have feelings?

Events

Nov
13
2026

NU x Chicago Comedy Nights!

7:00 PM Norris University Center, 1999 Campus Drive
Prsented by Norris Programs in collaboration with SESP, join us for a series of comedy nights featuring Chicago headline...
Nov
16
2026

IPR Colloq.: T. Sabol (IPR/SESP) - The Impact of Chicago’s Universal Pre-K Expansion on the Childcare Market and Student Outcomes

12:00 PM Deering Library, 1937 Sheridan Road
Title: The Impact of Chicago’s Universal Pre-K Expansion on the Childcare Market and Student Outcomes By Terri Sabol, As...
Nov
16
2026

MS in Education and Social Policy Program Building a Strong App

12:00 PM
Attend a live-streamed information session about the Master of Science in Education & Social Policy Program at Northwest...
Nov
17
2026

Family Action Network (FAN) - Getting In Is Not Enough: The Real Skills Students Need for Life

7:00 PM , 701 Locust Rd.
For decades, families have been taught that getting into a good college is the key to a successful life. The admissions ...
Nov
24
2026

MS in Education and Social Policy Program Learning Sciences Info Session

12:00 PM
Attend a livestreamed information session about the Master of Science in Education and Social Policy Program. Presentati...
Nov
30
2026

IPR Colloq.: K. Harris (UNC Chapel Hill) - The Role of Social Factors in Health Across the Life Course

12:00 PM Deering Library, 1937 Sheridan Road
Title: The Role of Social Factors in Health Across the Life Course By Kathleen Mullan Harris, Distinguished Professor of...