The Causeway Postbaccalaureate Program: Bridging the Gap to Graduate-Level Mathematics
- Elizabeth Gabel
- Jun 17, 2021
- 4 min read
The Causeway Postbaccalaureate Certificate Program is a 12-month, fully funded academic experience hosted at Northwestern University. The program exists to provide serious academic preparation, professional mentoring, and direct exposure to the culture of graduate-level mathematics. Launched in 202, the program increases access to graduate study in the mathematical sciences, especially for students from first-generation and low-income backgrounds.
The year-long, intensive program offers rigorous coursework, faculty-mentored research, and graduate school preparation for students who have completed a bachelor’s degree but need further training before applying to master’s or PhD programs. Upon completion, participating Causeway students receive a certificate from Northwestern’s Graduate School (not a degree/diploma).
Each cohort includes between seven and nine participants. All are U.S. citizens or permanent residents. A math major is not required, though applicants should have completed several undergraduate-level math courses. Participants receive a living stipend of approximately $34,000 and attend full-time.
Program Structure
The program begins in July and ends the following June. It is divided into summer and academic-year components.
During the summer quarter, all students take Foundations of Higher Mathematics (MATH 300-BR), a course designed to introduce proof-based thinking, abstract reasoning, and the structures that underlie modern mathematics. Each student is also matched with a Northwestern faculty mentor and begins a research project in their selected track.
Three academic tracks are available: pure mathematics, applied mathematics, and statistics.* Students select a track when applying, though there is flexibility to change tracks early in the program.
During the fall, winter, and spring quarters, students take graduate-level coursework aligned to their chosen area.
*The statistics track is not being offered for the 2025–26 cycle.
Coursework Built for the Next Level
Sample courses include:
Pure Math:
Real Analysis (MATH 321 series)
Abstract Algebra (MATH 331 series)
Topology, Differential Geometry, Complex Analysis
Applied Math:
Applied Linear Algebra, Computational Neuroscience, Modeling and Computation
Applied Dynamical Systems, Complex Variables
Quantitative Biology and selected interdisciplinary electives
Statistics (previous years only):
Statistical Methods, Regression Analysis, Design of Experiments
Data Visualization, Time Series Forecasting
The program is designed to mirror the pace and intellectual demands of graduate school. Students attend seminars, submit applications to doctoral programs, and receive ongoing advising. Many participants are admitted to competitive PhD and master’s programs at the conclusion of the year.
Faculty Mentorship and Research
A core component of Causeway is the research experience. Each student is paired with a faculty mentor for a summer project, selected based on the student’s academic background and interests. Research areas include probability theory, symbolic dynamics, number theory, mathematical physics, geometry, algebraic topology, and more.
Faculty include senior and junior members of the Northwestern Mathematics Department, as well as affiliated researchers in applied mathematics and statistics. Students have worked with mentors such as Bryna Kra, Ezra Getzler, Maria Nastasescu, Aaron Brown, and Eric Zaslow, among others.
Community Engagement and Mentoring
Beyond academics, Causeway emphasizes community participation. Students serve as mentors to local high schoolers at Evanston Township High School and work with Northwestern’s Warren Summer Bridge Program for incoming undergraduates. Causeway participants also engage with campus groups such as the Black Graduate Student Association and Communidad Latinx.
This aspect of the program reinforces a broader understanding of academic life, including teaching, outreach, and professional collaboration.
Evaluation and Outcomes
All students participate in an evaluation study that tracks academic confidence, sense of identity, and preparedness. Surveys and interviews are conducted at the beginning and end of the program by researchers in psychology and education. This component informs program development and contributes to broader research on access and equity in STEM education.
Graduates of Causeway have gone on to PhD and master’s programs at institutions such as UC Davis, the University of Kentucky, the University of Kansas, and Case Western Reserve. Others have entered research positions or shifted into applied work in data science and teaching.
Eligibility and Application
Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree before the program begins. U.S. citizenship or permanent residency is required. A math major is not necessary, but strong coursework and demonstrated interest in mathematics are essential.
Application requirements include:
Academic Statement (500 words)
Personal Statement (1,000 words)
Two letters of recommendation
Unofficial undergraduate transcripts
The program is now accepting applications for the 2025–26 cycle. The deadline is March 15, 2025. The program's most accurate, up-to-date details and an online application portal can be found at: https://sites.northwestern.edu/causeway.
Behind the First Year Launch: My Story
In 2021, as part of my role at the university, I helped launch the inaugural Causeway Postbaccalaureate Program at Northwestern.
I worked closely with then–Math Department Chair Eric Zaslow and Co-PI Onnie Rogers to help bring the program online, manage applications, coordinate housing and funding logistics, and support the first cohort as they arrived on campus. It is the kind of behind-the-scenes work that makes access real and I am proud to have been a part of helping get this unique and much-needed academic program off the ground.
Comments