Joint Majors Requirements
This section provides a list of pre-approved joint majors that MMSS students may choose from. Choice of a joint major not on this list must be approved by the director of MMSS. For each joint major, the extent to which required courses in the MMSS program can be used to meet the requirements of the joint major is outlined in the Academic Catalog, and the department's website.
For students’ convenience, a summary of the main requirements for each joint major is also provided. However, all of the detailed requirements for each joint major are not necessarily described in full. Students should consult documents issued by the relevant department for detailed descriptions of the complete requirements for any major. This document generally lists the most current major requirements for each department. In some cases, requirements for a major will change during the time a student is at Northwestern. Weinberg’s general rule is that students can graduate under any major or minor requirements in effect during their years as Northwestern undergraduates, and they can also pick different years for different majors or minors. It is always a good idea for students to confirm their understanding of the requirements they need to fulfill for their joint major with the relevant department.
Three general college-wide rules that apply for meeting requirements of joint majors are:
(i) the same course may not be applied to the major requirements of two departments, but that
(ii) a course used as a major course in one department may also fulfill a related course
requirement for another major program, and
(iii) a single thesis cannot be used to satisfy the requirements of two different majors.
In some cases, MMSS students are granted exceptions to rule (i) above (i.e., in some cases MMSS students are allowed to count a required MMSS course as a course satisfying a requirement for both the MMSS major and the other major). These cases are described in this section.
The extent to which required MMSS courses can be used to fulfill related course requirements under rule (ii) is also explained.
Finally, in some cases MMSS students are also granted an exception to rule (iii). Namely in some cases MMSS students are allowed to use a single thesis to meet the thesis requirement of MMSS and their additional major, so long as the thesis is only used to apply for honors in one of the two majors. Students that wish to apply for honors in both MMSS and their additional major must write two separate theses. However, there is also an option open to students where they can submit a single thesis to receive interdisciplinary honors in MMSS and their other major. A detailed discussion of all these issues can be found at Thesis and Honors Guidelines.
a) Anthropology
Summary of requirements for the major
ANTHRO 211 ANTHRO 215
ANTHRO 213 ANTHRO 370
ANTHRO 214
Five additional 300-level anthropology courses subject to restrictions listed in the catalog.
Four related courses.
ANTHRO 398 (senior year)
Requirements fulfilled by MMSS courses
MATH 385-0 counts as a 300-level anthropology course.
MMSS 211-1, MMSS 211-2, MMSS 211-3, MMSS 311-1 and MMSS 311-2 count as related courses.
b) Data Science Major for MMSS Students
Students will need to complete all MMSS requirements and requirements for the Data Science Major are modified as follows:
The Intro Stats (STAT 202-0, STAT 210-0, or equivalent) is waived
STAT 228-0 is waived
MATH 385-0 counts in place of STAT 320-1
The two related Technical and Domain electives are automatically fulfilled by MATH 386-1 and MATH 386-2
All other Data Science major courses remain the same.
c) Economics
Summary of requirements for the non-MMSS economics major
ECON 201
ECON 202
ECON 281
ECON 310-1
ECON 310-2
ECON 311
MATH 220-0
STAT 210
Six additional 300-level economics courses.
Three related courses.
Requirements for MMSS students to obtain a joint major in economics
In addition to taking all of the required MMSS courses, students must take ECON 201, ECON 311 and five additional 300-level economics courses in order to obtain a joint major in economics.
NOTES:
- MMSS students should not register for ECON 202 or ECON 310-1 because the material in these courses is covered in MMSS 211-1.
- MMSS students are not required to take ECON 281 as this material is covered by the MMSS econometrics courses MATH 386-1, and 386-2.
- MMSS students with a strong high school background in macroeconomics should consult with the director of undergraduate studies in economics regarding whether they should take ECON 201, Introduction to Macroeconomics, or could instead directly enter into Economics 311, Intermediate Macroeconomics, after completing MMSS 211-1.
- In cases where students enter the program as sophomores, it is possible that they may have taken ECON 310-1 as freshmen prior to joining the program. In these cases, students are excused from taking MMSS 211-1. (Entering sophomores who have taken ECON 202 but not ECON 310-1 should register for MMSS 211-1.)
- MMSS students may take ECON 310-2 and have it count as one their five additional 300-level courses. However, they are not required to take ECON 310-2.
- MMSS students should not register for ECON 380-1 or ECON 380-2 because the material in these courses is covered in the MMSS game theory courses, MMSS 211-2 and MMSS 311-1.
- MMSS students should not register for ECON 381-1 or ECON 381-2 because the material in these courses is covered in MATH 386-1 and MATH 386-2.
c) Linguistics Major Requirements Link
Summary of requirements for the major
LING 250, LING 260, LING 270.
Nine 300-level linguistics courses subject to restrictions listed in the catalog.
Four related courses.
Requirements fulfilled by MMSS courses
MMSS 311-1 and MMSS 311-2 count as 300-level linguistics courses.
MMSS 211-1, MMSS 211-2 and MMSS 211-3 count as related courses.
d) Political Science Major Requirements Link
Summary of the requirements for the major
- 3 gateway courses chosen from 201, 220, 230, 240, 250. Since the gateway courses expose students to a variety of subfields, students may take no more than 2 from the American Politics courses (220, 221, and 230) to fulfill this requirement.
- 1 methodology course in Political Science chosen from 210, 211, 310, 311, 312
- 395
- 7 additional 300-level courses in Political Science
- Requirements fulfilled by MMSS courses
- MATH 385-0 fulfills the POLI SCI methodology requirement.
- MMSS 311-2 counts as a 300-level political science course.
Summary of the requirements for the major
PSYCH 110, PSYCH 201, PSYCH 205.
Eight additional psychology courses subject to requirements listed in the Undergraduate Catalog.
Five related courses from mathematics, computer science, or the natural sciences subject to restrictions listed in the Undergraduate Catalog.
Requirements fulfilled by MMSS courses
MATH 385-0 counts as PSYCH 201.
MATH 285-1, MATH 285-2, MATH 285-3, MATH 386-1 and MATH 386-2 count as the five required courses in mathematics, computer science, statistics, or the natural sciences.
NOTES:
- MMSS students ARE required to take PSYCH 205. Keep in mind that PSYCH 201 or an approved substitute (e.g., MATH 385-0) is a prerequisite for PSYCH 205.
f) Sociology Major Requirements Link
Summary of requirements for the major
SOC 226, SOC 303, SOC 329, SOC 306
SOC 398-1 and SOC 398-2 (if writing a senior thesis) or two 300-level sociology courses (if not writing a thesis.)
Two additional sociology courses at the 100- or 200-level.
Four additional 300-level sociology courses subject to restrictions listed in the Undergraduate Catalog.
Four related courses.
Requirements fulfilled by MMSS courses
MATH 385-0 counts as SOC 303.
MATH 386-2, MMSS 211-1, MMSS 211-2, MMSS 211-3, MMSS 311-1 and MMSS 311-2 count as related courses.
NOTES:
- MMSS students ARE required to take SOC 226 and SOC 329.
g) Statistics Major Requirements Link
Summary of requirements for the major
STAT 320-2, 3; STAT 348 or STAT 354; three additional 300-level statistics electives.
Summary of requirements for the minor
STAT 320-2, 3; STAT 348 or STAT 354; one additional 300-level statistics elective.
Requirements fulfilled by MMSS courses In both cases of either a major or a minor in statistics, both STAT 228 and STAT 202 are waived, MATH 385 counts in place of STAT 320-1, and the combination of MATH 386-1 and MATH 386-2 counts in place of STAT 350.
Requirements for the Data Science major - Students will need to complete all MMSS requirements and requirements for the Data Science Major are modified as follows:
The Intro Stats (STAT 202-0, STAT 210-0, or equivalent) is waived
STAT 228-0 is waived
MATH 385-0 counts in place of STAT 320-1
The two related Technical and Domain electives are automatically fulfilled by MATH 386-1 and MATH 386-2
Requirements for the Data Science minor
STAT 301-1, -2, -3, STAT 302, and 1 elective course; Waive 202 requirement