MMM Program Curriciulum
Northwestern’s MMM program is a fully integrated dual degree between the Kellogg School of Management and the Segal Design Institute at the McCormick School of Engineering. Students earn both an MBA and a Master of Science in Design Innovation.
The curriculum is designed not only to build analytical rigor and design capability, but to develop the ability to integrate them in practice. At Kellogg, students develop strength in strategy, finance, operations, and market analysis. At Segal, they engage deeply in human centered research, synthesis, and prototyping. Across both, they apply these approaches together by framing problems, generating concepts, testing solutions, and refining them in real world contexts.
The goal is not exposure to multiple disciplines, but fluency across them, and the judgment to know how and when to apply each.
Visit McCormick’s site to take an in-depth look at the MMM Curriculum
MMM Curriculum
MMM skills and focus areas
MMM offerings
User-Centered Design
Developing customer insights, personas, and journey maps through ethnographic research. Leading with empathy for customers and users, and gaining a deep understanding of customer needs.
Innovation & Ideation
Applying principles of innovation to ideas, products, business models, and always “thinking big”.
Functional Teamwork
Fostering communication among engineers and designers.
Research-Design-Build
Mindful Project Management
Business Innovation Lab
Appropriability by Design
Master Series: Innovation Strategy
Master Series: Growth Innovation
Curiosity Understanding Empathy
Traditional MBA Skills
Honing leadership skills, strategic thinking, and business acumen.
Kellogg MBA core classes
Deeper Dive (MBA+)
Delve deeper into business management than traditional MBA skills with advanced analytics to drive data-driven decisions for your organization.
Applied Advanced Analytics
Finance II (or ACF)
Advanced Operations Course
Visual and Verbal Communication Skills
Practicing effective storytelling and visualization techniques.
Whole Brain Communication
Basic Programming
Know your products inside and out, and communicate more credibly with the developers on your team by understanding of how software works and how software is built.
Digital Design & Development
Work Experience Degree Requirement
All MMM are required to complete an 8–12 week period of work during the Summer Quarter between the first and second years of the MBA program. This practical experience, directly related to the student’s field of study (MBA degree) and a graduation requirement, is aimed to deepen and broaden the student’s knowledge and skills. International F-1 students will be eligible for F-1 Curricular Practical Training (F-1 CPT; or J-1 academic training for J-1 international students) starting summer quarter 2021.