FAQ

Please don't hesitate to contact us if you need more information.

M.S. in Information Technology
Northwestern University
Technological Institute, Room L359
2145 Sheridan Road
Evanston, IL 60208-3118
Telephone: 847/491-5931
Fax: 847/467-3550
infotech@northwestern.edu

If you have questions about applying to the IT Program, please see the Admission FAQ page.

Classes and class days
How many students are in each class?
What is a typical class day like?
What type of math will I need to know in my classes?
Am I required to bring a laptop to class?
How much time do I need to spend outside of class?
Am I permitted to miss a class day?

Tuition and financial aid
What is your tuition?
How much do books cost?
What kind of financial aid do you offer?
How do I apply for financial aid?

Study groups
Do I have to be in a study group?
How big are the study groups?
How do I choose a study group?

Other
What kind of degree do I earn in the MSIT?
May I sit in on a class before I decide to apply?

Classes and Class Days
How many students are in each class?
One of the goals of the MSIT is to allow students the chance to develop meaningful relationships with other students and with our top-notch faculty. For this reason, we limit each new class to approximately 30-35 students, ensuring that you will have direct access to the resources and people you need.

What is a typical class day like?
Breakfast is available and classrooms are opened by about 8:15 each Saturday. Most of our students arrive by 9:00 a.m. to eat breakfast, mingle with other students, and prepare for class. The first class begins at 9:30 a.m. and lasts until 12:30 p.m. with a 15-minute break about halfway through the class. Students then have a break at 12:30, during which time we often have short presentations, called Tribunes, given by students or guests. We have lunch between 1:00 and 2:00, giving students plenty of time to refuel for the afternoon. The afternoon class meets from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m., again with a break about halfway through.

What type of math will I need to know?
Some courses require a familiarity with high school algebra and pre-calculus. Courses do NOT use differential or integral calculus. Click here to learn more about the math used in the program.

Am I required to bring a laptop to class?
You are not required to bring a laptop to class. About half of our students bring laptops to take notes or to refer to online materials during class. Wireless service is provided should you choose to bring a laptop with you.

How much time should I expect to spend outside of class?
Outside of class, students spend 10-15 hours on homework and meeting with their study groups - on average. This time can vary greatly depending on the student and the quarter.

Am I permitted to miss a class day?
Naturally our students have lives outside of the classroom, and we understand that occasional absences from class are inevitable. However, your performance is directly impacted by your participation in class and group work. Our attendance policy holds that your grade may be affected if you miss more than 2 courses out of any 10-week quarter. If you must miss a class, you are responsible for notifying the instructor and our office as far in advance as possible and for making up any missed assignments.

Tuition and Financial Aid
What is the tuition?
The tuition for the IT Program is all-inclusive, meaning the amount you pay covers not only the cost of instruction, but also all of your books and instructional materials, meals and refreshments on class days, NU student services (access to fitness center, libraries, etc.), and services of our staff. The tuition for the 2009-2010 academic year is $28,650 ($9,550 per quarter).

How much do books cost?
The tuition you pay includes all of your books and instructional materials. You will pay nothing extra! And, our staff purchases the books on your behalf, so you won't need to make any trips to the bookstore.

What kind of financial aid do you offer?
Students who need financial assistance will need to apply for student loans - either through the federal loan program or alternate lenders. We do not offer any scholarships or grants at this time. U.S. citizens and permanent residents can apply for federal student loans. Students with other residency statuses in the U.S. will likely be required to apply for loans through alternate lenders.

The majority of our students get at least some tuition reimbursement from their employers, but many supplement this reimbursement with student loans. Students may begin the application process for student loans as early as January of the year in which they will enroll in the IT Program. However, some awards (including federal loans) cannot be finalized until a student has been admitted to the program.

How do I apply for financial aid?
Students who qualify for the federal loan programs (U.S. citizens and permanent residents) must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to begin the loan process. This form is readily available online at www.fafsa.ed.gov . Students can apply for the coming academic year in January. Students will be notified of loan awards after they have been accepted to the IT Program.

Students applying through alternate lenders will need to file applications directly with those lenders. Northwestern University maintains a list of approved alternative lenders with complete application instructions at www.tgs.northwestern.edu/financialaid/studentloans/lenders/

Study Groups
Do I have to be in a study group?
Study groups are an optional part of the IT Program. However, there are so many benefits to being in a study group - shared learning, professional relationships, efficient learning - that no student has ever opted out of this part of the program. We strongly encourage every student to participate in a group for the first quarter. Students will likely find that the benefits to being in a study group far outweigh the initial hesitation some students may feel about it.

How big are the study groups?
Four students is the ideal size for a study group, although groups of five can work as well. Groups over 5 can be harder to manage and tend to splinter within themselves. Groups under 4 generally are too small to allow for beneficial collaboration and sharing of work.

How do I choose a study group?
Since the study groups have become so important to the program, our staff takes some of the initial confusion out of the process by assigning each student to a study group. Assignments are made based on geographical preferences (i.e. where the student wishes to meet) and student backgrounds (aiming for a mix of technical and business backgrounds if possible). Students are not required to stay in the group to which they were assigned and may switch groups during the program.

Other
What kind of degree do I earn?
Students earn a Master of Science degree in Information Technology, conferred by Northwestern University's Robert R. McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science.

May I sit in on a class before I decide to apply?
Yes! We encourage all prospective students to consider spending some time with us on a Saturday, either before you decide to apply or even after you have already applied. Sitting in on one or two of our classes is a great opportunity for you to meet our professors and students and to see the curriculum in action. Contact the Associate Director at 847-467-6557 or infotech@northwestern.edu if you would like to arrange a visit!