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How to Apply

MSLOC has been disrupting the status quo since 2001, and our commitment includes designing ways to have the best of all worlds when it comes to continuous learning. We bring forward the management practice that many MBA programs excel at teaching. We incorporate the investigative methods associated with leading industrial/organizational psychology programs. We explore design thinking approaches that center and elevate human users in defining problems and discovering solutions.

Your Future as a Fearless Change Leader Starts Here

Gain the vision, knowledge, skills and confidence to facilitate sustainable, positive transformation for work in business, education, design, technology, research, consulting, nonprofit, and more.

Application Deadlines

The MSLOC Admissions Committee reviews applications for the Master's degree program following each of these quarterly application due dates: January 10, April 1, June 10, and October 1.

  • MSLOC generally admits full-time, part-time and certificate students in fall and spring quarters.
  • Applicants who meet priority admission deadlines may be offered an option to enroll in summer or winter quarter courses (space permitting).
  • For winter courses applicants must apply by October. 1.
  • To be considered for scholarships, applicants need to apply by the priority deadlines.
  • If you are also interested in applying for one of our certificates, you may indicate that on your application or add it to your program plan at a later time.
This table displays the application deadlines for fall, spring and summer (LEOIC only) entry.
Entry Quarter Priority Application Deadlines Final Application Deadline
Fall April 1 June 10
Spring October 1 January 10
Summer (LEOIC only) October 1 April 1

Please see Northwestern University’s quarterly academic calendar for quarter start dates.

Application Process

Admissions Committee members evaluate an applicant’s scholastic and leadership achievements, future learning aspirations and career goals, interpersonal skills, and professional performance. We also review your academic record, employment history, resume, essays, recommendations, interview performance (if requested by our Admissions Committee) and test scores (optional) to make an admission decision.

We encourage you to start your online application early. The application system provides you with support and instructions for successful completion. Once you start an application, you can save it and continue later. MSLOC Admissions Committee members will review applications once they have been submitted and are complete.

Submitting Your Application

Applications must be submitted online by the deadline corresponding to the academic quarter you wish to begin. You may submit your application up to one year prior to your planned enrollment date. For example, you could submit an application for fall admission in the following year on the November 1 deadline of the current year. MSLOC has a limited number of openings for each incoming class. We recommend applying early.

Incomplete Applications

You must submit your online application by the stated deadline. Transcripts and recommendations may arrive after the deadline. If we have not received all supporting documents (transcripts, recommendations, test scores, etc.) within four weeks of the application deadline, we may make the decision to move your application forward to the next deadline.

Notification

MSLOC will notify you by email regarding our admission decision. You should receive a notification within six weeks of the stated deadline or the receipt of all application pieces.

Admission

If you are offered admission and wish to accept, you need to complete the web-based “Intention to Register” form by the acceptance due date (instructions will be in your admission letter). You will be prompted to submit, via credit card, a non-refundable commitment and coaching fee of $750 USD, which holds your place in the MSLOC degree program.

Receipt of your form and deposit prompts us to initiate the University entry process and plan for your matriculation into the MSLOC program. You’ll also receive information regarding academic advising and dates to hold for MSLOC virtual onboarding events.

Northwestern University Admission Policy

It is the policy of Northwestern University not to discriminate against any individual on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, age, disability, citizenship, or veteran status in matters of admissions, employment, housing or services, or in the educational program or activities it operates, in accordance with civil rights legislation and University commitment. Any alleged violations of this policy or questions regarding the law with respect to nondiscrimination should be addressed to the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance, 1800 Sherman Avenue, Suite 4500, Evanston, Illinois 60201; phone 847-467-6165. You can also contact the Office of the Provost, Rebecca Crown Center, 633 Clark St., Evanston, Illinois 60208; phone 847-491-5117.

Applicants seeking disability accommodations should contact AccessibleNU at 847-467-5530. See the AccessibleNU website for more information.

Admission Requirements

Minimum Two Years of Relevant Work Experience

We require a minimum of two years of full-time relevant work experience. Relevant experience includes work within an organization that exposes the candidate to the operations and strategy of the workplace. Example areas could include human resources, organizational effectiveness, project management, consulting, strategic planning, teaching/educational administration, training and development, marketing, process improvement or general management.

Online Application

  • Statement of Purpose
  • Essays
  • Resume
  • Two Professional Recommendations

College/University Transcripts

We require one official transcript from every college, university or professional school attended, whether or not you graduated. If you enrolled in academic programs located outside of the US, the admissions committee needs to see a transcript evaluation (see section below on transcript evaluation). Transcripts must be submitted in one of two ways:

  • Preferred: in an email to msloc.assistant@northwestern.edu, with accompanying PDF file of the transcript, originating from the issuing college or university
  • In an envelope sealed by the issuing college or university mailed to the Master of Science in Learning & Organizational Change Program, Northwestern University, 1800 Sherman Avenue, Suite 3500, Evanston, Illinois 60208

Transcripts not received in this manner are not considered official and will not be accepted.

$175 US Application Fee (Non-refundable)

A non-refundable processing fee of $175 USD is required with your completed application. Payment is submitted via credit card. Please contact our office if you would like to request a fee waiver.

Academic Record and GRE/GMAT

For those applicants whose undergraduate GPA was significantly lower than the 3.2 GPA threshold, an academic addendum explaining the circumstances of the lower GPA may be added, in addition to or in place of, GRE/GMAT scores, to an application by emailing msloc.assisstant@northwestern.edu. The GRE/GMAT is optional and not required for admission.

Personal Interview (if requested)

If the Admissions Committee requires a personal interview, you will be notified via email. Interviews are awarded at the discretion of the Admissions Committee; not all applicants will be interviewed. Interviews are conducted via Zoom.

International Admission Requirements

Visa Status

Start date eligibility depends on your Visa status. If you would like to attend under an F-1 student visa, which allows you to study in the U.S., you may start in any quarter, but fall quarter is the optimal quarter to start. This is because U.S. Immigration law requires that F-1 visa holders attend full-time for the first nine months of their program before taking a quarter (summer) off. Also, our Capstone course series is set to specific quarters of the year, so international students who do not begin in fall quarter will most likely need extra courses to maintain full-time status so they can enroll in and complete the required Capstone courses. International students with an H-1B or another visa status that permits unrestricted work in the U.S. may start during any quarter. Our hybrid course format does fulfill the “in-person” requirement necessary for F-1 visas.

For F-1 visa holders, eligibility for paid work outside of the University starts after nine months of having been a student. Most International students choose a paid, full-time internship during their first summer. Then, after this period, F-1 Visa holders are eligible to work outside of the University for 20 hours/week during the remainder of the academic year through Curricular Practical Training (CPT). We are a STEM- designated program, so you can stay in the U.S. for up to 3 years post-graduation to work for Optional Practical Training (OPT).

You may also wish to review the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Study in the States for additional information and resources.

Transcript Evaluation

If you attended academic programs located outside the US, the Admissions Committee needs to see a transcript evaluation. You must use a credential evaluation service that converts the scores and grade point average into US-based grades, as well as confirms the educational experience meets our requirements.

Two organizations that offer transcript evaluation services are World Education Services and Education Perspectives. Other transcript credentialing services will be accepted as long as they are certified by NACES. Request the course-by-course or detailed report (vs. the document-by-document report). They will request that you have your academic program(s) send your transcripts to them, and they will, in turn, generate a report that is sent directly to us. You do not need to send your original transcripts to us.

Direct the translation service to send transcripts to:

  • Preferred: In an email to msloc.assistant@northwestern.edu, with accompanying PDF file
  • Mailed to the Master of Science in Learning & Organizational Change Program
    Northwestern University
    1800 Sherman Avenue
    Suite 3500
    Evanston, Illinois 60208

English Proficiency Requirements

Much of your success in graduate study in the U.S. depends on your ability to understand, read, write, and speak English. If English is not your native language, evidence of proficiency in its use will be decisive in reviewing your application for admission.

Applicants whose native language is not English must certify their proficiency in the English language in ONE of the following three ways:

  • Providing official documents for the TOEFL or IELTS. Official scores must be less than two years old. See descriptions of these terms below
  • Providing official documentation from a credential evaluation service (examples are WES and Educational Perspectives) verifying the equivalent of an undergraduate degree from an accredited four-year institution where the language of instruction is English
  • Providing official transcripts verifying a degree from an accredited institution where the language of instruction is English

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)

We require an applicant score of 100 or higher on the TOEFL iBT. TOEFL results must come directly from the Educational Testing Service (ETS). Personal copies are not considered official. We do not accept TOEFL Essentials.

The institutional code assigned to The Northwestern University Master of Science in Learning & Organizational Change Program is 2591.

The TOEFL is administered at test centers throughout the world, including locations within the United States or you may test at home. For more information, e-mail: toefl@ets.org or access www.ets.org/toefl.

International English Language Testing Service (IELTS) Examination

The International English Language Testing Service (IELTS) examination is designed to assess the language ability of applicants who need to study where English is the language of communication. The IELTS examination is offered as an alternative to the TOEFL exam. Applicants need not submit the results of both. The minimum overall band score for admission is 7.5. The minimum score in each of the four sections (reading, writing, listening and speaking) is Band 7.

The IELTS exam is given at over 270 centers located throughout the world. A full list of the test centers is available on the IELTS website. Test centers run regular administrations, according to local need, and the results are available within two weeks. Personal copies are not considered official. Test takers must request that test results be sent directly to our office. There is not an institutional code assigned:

  • In an email to msloc.assistant@northwestern.edu, with accompanying PDF file
  • In an envelope sealed by IELTS to Master of Science in Learning & Organizational Change Program, 1800 Sherman Avenue, Suite 3500, Evanston, IL 60208, Northwestern University

Have more questions?

Reach out or attend an Information Session