Policy
In some cases, students may apply to the MSEd programs knowing that they wish to enter the world of education, but not entirely sure whether they wish to work in an Elementary, Secondary, or Higher Education setting. In others, a student may enter one of the programs, only to discover that s/he would prefer to pursue a different one.
We recommend that students who are uncertain of their ultimate career goals enter the MSEd programs as Non-Matriculated Special Students. The four classes taken at that time can help a student decide which program is most appropriate when applying for full matriculation.
Because the graduation requirements for our programs can vary widely, it is very likely that changing focus in the middle of your studies will result in several extra classes, which will necessarily extend your stay at Northwestern and delay your completion of the degree. As such, we strongly recommend that you discuss any change of program area with your advisor in depth.
If you have discussed the change with your advisor, and understand the implications of your change, you may download a petition to change program area. The petition will need to be approved by both your advisor and the program director.
Petition to Change Program Area