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Combined Bachelor’s-MOD Degree

Northwestern University undergraduates can fast-track their graduate education with the Combined Bachelor’s-MOD pathway. This unique option allows you to earn your bachelor’s and master’s degrees in less time—saving both tuition and time as you launch your career in managing change inside organizations or for consulting to organizations and teams implementing solutions to critical problems.

How the Combined Bachelor’s-MOD Pathway Works

  • 12 Courses Required for the MOD Degree: The Master of Science in Organizational Dynamics (MOD) program consists of 12 graduate-level courses.
  • Complete Up to 3 Courses as an Undergraduate: Current Northwestern undergraduates (BA or BS) may take up to three approved SESP graduate courses during their undergraduate studies. With advance planning, these courses can count toward your MOD degree.
  • Accelerate Your Master’s: By applying three approved courses as an undergraduate, you can reduce the MOD program to as few as 9 courses after earning your bachelor’s degree—completing your master’s in less time and with a lighter course load.

Benefits of the Combined Pathway

  • Top-Ranked School: SESP is consistently ranked among the top 10 schools by US News & World Report
  • Time and Tuition Savings: Reduce your graduate coursework and accelerate your career launch or growth into advanced roles.
  • Flexible Planning: Coordinate with academic advisors to select eligible courses and ensure they fit your academic plan and busy schedule.
  • Seamless Transition: Enjoy a streamlined transition from undergraduate to graduate study within Northwestern’s supportive academic environment.
  • Extensive Career Development Resources: Gain access to our LOC graduate career center and coaching to prepare for your job search right away.

Sample Pathway

With careful planning, you can complete your bachelor’s and master’s in as little as five years total.

Academic Year Courses Taken MOD Units Remaining After BA/BS
Undergraduate (Years 3–4) 3 Approved SESP Courses 9 Units
MOD Graduate Year 9 Graduate-Level Courses 0 (Degree Complete)

Who Should Consider This Program?

  • Northwestern undergraduates in any major (BA or BS) interested in change management, organization development, leadership, industrial-organizational psychology, or related fields.
  • Students seeking to maximize the value of their Northwestern education and advance quickly into graduate-level roles.

Learn More and Plan Your Path

Combined BX-MOD Application Process for MOD

Who Can Apply

All Northwestern undergraduate students with a GPA over 3.0 may apply.

When to Apply

To begin taking courses that can count toward their MOD degree, students must apply to the BX-MOD program at least one quarter before graduating with their bachelor’s degree. The BX-MOD program allows students to complete up to 3 courses during their undergraduate studies.

Therefore, to maximize the number of classes a student may take as a non-SESP undergraduate, consult the chart below. Students can complete 3 classes as a maximum, but depending on when students apply, the number of courses may be less.

Completing bachelor in... Starting Undergrad LOC courses in... Earliest Application Deadline to take courses as an undergraduate... Application due by...
December Junior Year Fall Quarter October 10 April 10
March Junior Year Winter Quarter January 10 October 10
June Junior Year Spring Quarter April 10 January 10

How to Apply

You can begin and save your MOD application on SESP’s online application portal at any time.

Apply to the Combined Bachelor’s-MOD Degree Program

Current SESP Undergraduates

Eligible SESP students must complete the application no later than one quarter before they will graduate with their bachelor’s degree.
Completing bachelor in... Latest Application Deadline... Starting MOD graduate classes...
December October 10 Winter Quarter
March January 10 Spring Quarter
June April 10 Fall Quarter

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.

Combined BX-MOD Application Requirements

Complete the MOD Application Form (Application Form Will Be Available October 10)

BX-MOD Eligibility Confirmation: You will need to complete this section of the online application form before proceeding through the full MOD application. Please work with your academic adviser to submit the following:

  • Your adviser-approved petition to graduate (PDF of screen shot)
  • Your academic plan form, which will include future undergraduate courses you will take to complete your bachelor’s degree and up to three desired LOC courses that you would like to count toward MOD, approved by your undergraduate adviser
  • Unofficial Northwestern transcript [Note: An official transcript must be submitted upon graduation and before registering for MOD graduate courses.]

Resume

Statement of Purpose, Personal Statement, and Two Essays

Statement of purpose, personal statement, and two essays as required for general MOD admissions

2 Letters of Reccomendation

Strong letters of recommendations from at least two academic (maximum of one from a SESP faculty member) or professional reviewers who can judge your capacity for success in a challenging graduate program.

$150 Application Fee (Non-Refundable)

Important Suggestions

  • Please review the list of approved LOC courses that you may take as an undergraduate.
  • Work closely with your undergraduate adviser to complete the academic plan and other application requirements.
    • You must submit an approved academic plan form and attach a PDF screen shot of your adviser-approved petition to graduate to confirm your BX-MOD eligibility. The plan form must list the proposed courses remaining in your bachelor’s degree.
    • Your academic adviser should consult with the SESP BX-MOD program adviser to confirm course availability while creating your academic plan. Please contact mod.sao@northwestern.edu for more information.
  • If you are an international student, please let your OISS advisor know you are interested in the combined degree program and discuss how eligibility to work will work in your case.

Contact BX-MOD Adviser

If you are a current Northwestern undergraduate student with questions about BX-MOD, contact us at mod.sao@northwestern.edu with any questions you may have.