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 must beging the MOD program in the fall quarter 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 (e.g., summer) off. International students with an H-1B or another visa status that permits unrestricted work in the U.S. may request to start early. Our hybrid course format does fulfill the “in-person” requirement necessary for F-1 visas.
The MOD program is 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 mod.assistant@northwestern.edu, with accompanying PDF file.
- Mailed to:
Master of Science in Organizational Dynamics 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 no institutional code assigned:
- In an email to mod.assistant@northwestern.edu, with accompanying PDF file.
- In an envelope sealed by IELTS to Master of Science in Organizational Dynamics Program, 1800 Sherman Avenue, Suite 3500, Evanston, IL 60208, Northwestern University.