Health Science and Communication Studies, BS
The combined Bachelor of Science degree program in health science and communication studies offers an interdisciplinary approach to public health communication. Students combine courses from health sciences and communication studies to learn about health and illness and the important role of communication in shaping the public’s understanding of health issues. The interdisciplinary curriculum is enhanced by experiential learning opportunities and is designed to prepare students for challenging careers that involve crafting messages about health, developing strategies for promoting healthcare services, and specific applications such as disease awareness and prevention.
Complete all courses listed below unless otherwise indicated. Also complete any corequisite labs, recitations, clinicals, or tools courses where specified and complete any additional courses needed beyond specific college and major requirements to satisfy graduation credit requirements.
University-Wide Requirements
All undergraduate students are required to complete the University-Wide Requirements.
NUpath Requirements
All undergraduate students are required to complete the NUpath Requirements.
Communication Studies Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| COMM 1101 | Introduction to Communication Studies | 4 |
| COMM 1112 | Public Speaking | 4 |
| or COMM 2301 | Communication Research Methods | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation Course | ||
| Complete one of the following: | 4 | |
| Persuasion and Rhetoric | ||
| Communication Theory | ||
| Principles of Organizational Communication | ||
| Communication in a Digital Age | ||
| Cluster Course | ||
| Complete one of the following: | 4 | |
| Sex, Relationships, and Communication | ||
| Global and Intercultural Communication | ||
| Communication and Gender | ||
| Communication Law | ||
| Free Speech in Cyberspace | ||
| Writing-Intensive | ||
| Complete two of the following: | 8 | |
| Mobile Communication | ||
| Health Communication | ||
| Interpersonal Communication | ||
| Communication and Inclusion | ||
| Political Communication | ||
| Great Speakers and Speeches | ||
| Communication Criticism | ||
| Public Relations Principles | ||
| Free Speech: Law and Practice | ||
| Communication and Sexualities | ||
| Theories of Conflict and Negotiation | ||
| Communication, Politics, and Social Change | ||
| Nonverbal Social Interaction | ||
| Youth and Communication Technology | ||
| Crisis Communication and Image Management | ||
| Communication Studies Electives | ||
| Complete three additional communication studies courses. | 12 | |
Health Science Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Public Health Core | ||
| PHTH 1260 | The American Healthcare System | 4 |
| or PHTH 1261 | Comparative Healthcare Systems | |
| PHTH 2210 | Foundations of Biostatistics | 4 |
| PHTH 2300 | Communication Skills for the Health Professions | 4 |
| or PHTH 2301 | Communication Skills for the Health Professions—Global | |
| PHTH 2350 | Community and Public Health | 4 |
| or PHTH 2351 | Community and Public Health - Global | |
| PHTH 2515 | Healthcare Policy and Administration | 4 |
| PHTH 4120 | Global Perspectives on Discrimination and Health | 4 |
| PHTH 4202 | Principles of Epidemiology in Medicine and Public Health | 4 |
| PHTH 4540 | Health Education and Program Planning | 4 |
| Life Sciences | ||
| BIOL 1111 and BIOL 1112 | General Biology 1 and Lab for BIOL 1111 | 5 |
| BIOL 1113 and BIOL 1114 | General Biology 2 and Lab for BIOL 1113 | 5 |
| MATH 1241 | Calculus 1 | 4 |
| PSYC 1101 | Foundations of Psychology | 4 |
| CHEM 1161 and CHEM 1162 and CHEM 1163 | General Chemistry for Science Majors and Lab for CHEM 1161 and Recitation for CHEM 1161 | 5 |
Other Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Intro to College | ||
| HSCI 1000 | College: An Introduction | 1 |
| or COMM 1000 | Communication Studies at Northeastern | |
| Professional Development | ||
| HSCI 2000 | Professional Development for Bouvé Co-op | 1 |
| or EEAM 2000 | Professional Development for Co-op | |
| Writing | ||
| ENGW 1111 | First-Year Writing | 4 |
| ENGW 3306 | Advanced Writing in the Health Professions (or other Advanced Writing course) | 4 |
| Electives | 28 | |
Integrative Course
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Capstone | ||
| HSCI 4720 | Health Science Capstone—Service | 4 |
| or HSCI 4730 | Health Science Capstone—Research | |
| or COMM 4102 | Health Communication Campaigns | |
| or COMM 4530 | Communication and Quality of Life | |
| or COMM 4603 | Advocacy Workshop | |
Health Sciences Major Requirement
A grade of C or higher is required for all BIOL, CHEM, HLTH, HSCI, MATH, and PHTH courses.
Communication Studies Major Requirement
No more than two grades below a C in communication studies courses may be used to fulfill degree requirements.
Program Requirement
133 total semester hours required
Four Years, Two Co-ops
| Year 1 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer 1 | Hours | Summer 2 | Hours |
| HSCI 1000 or COMM 1000 | 1 | BIOL 1113 | 4 | Public health core | 4 | Vacation | 0 |
| PHTH 1260 | 4 | BIOL 1114 | 1 | Elective | 4 | ||
| BIOL 1111 | 4 | CHEM 1161 and CHEM 1162 and CHEM 1163 | 5 | ||||
| BIOL 1112 | 1 | Elective | 4 | ||||
| MATH 1241 | 4 | ENGW 1111 | 4 | ||||
| PSYC 1101 | 4 | ||||||
| 18 | 18 | 8 | 0 | ||||
| Year 2 | |||||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer 1 | Hours | Summer 2 | Hours |
| Public health core | 4 | Co-op | Co-op | ENGW 3306 | 4 | ||
| HSCI 2000 or EEAM 2000 | 1 | Elective | 4 | Elective | 4 | ||
| COMM 1101 | 4 | ||||||
| COMM 1112 or 2301 | 4 | ||||||
| COMM elective | 4 | ||||||
| 17 | 4 | 0 | 8 | ||||
| Year 3 | |||||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer 1 | Hours | Summer 2 | Hours |
| Public health core | 4 | Co-op | Co-op | Public health core | 4 | ||
| Foundation course | 4 | Elective | 4 | Public health core | 4 | ||
| Public health core | 4 | ||||||
| Cluster course | 4 | ||||||
| 16 | 4 | 0 | 8 | ||||
| Year 4 | |||||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | ||||
| Public health core | 4 | HSCI 4720, 4730, COMM 4102, COMM 4530, or COMM 4603 | 4 | ||||
| Elective | 4 | COMM elective | 4 | ||||
| COMM WI course | 4 | COMM WI course | 4 | ||||
| COMM elective | 4 | Elective | 4 | ||||
| 16 | 16 | ||||||
| Total Hours: 133 | |||||||
Five Years, Two Co-ops in Summer 2/Fall
This is a sample plan of study.
| Year 1 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer 1 | Hours | Summer 2 | Hours |
| HSCI 1000 or COMM 1000 | 1 | BIOL 1113 | 4 | Vacation | 0 | Vacation | 0 |
| PHTH 1260 | 4 | BIOL 1114 | 1 | ||||
| PSYC 1101 | 4 | ENGW 1111 | 4 | ||||
| BIOL 1111 | 4 | CHEM 1161 and CHEM 1162 and CHEM 1163 | 5 | ||||
| BIOL 1112 | 1 | Elective | 4 | ||||
| MATH 1241 | 4 | ||||||
| 18 | 18 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Year 2 | |||||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer 1 | Hours | Summer 2 | Hours |
| Public health core | 4 | HSCI 2000 or EEAM 2000 | 1 | Vacation | 0 | Co-op | 0 |
| Public health core | 4 | Public health core | 4 | ||||
| COMM 1101 | 4 | Foundation course | 4 | ||||
| COMM 1112 or 2301 | 4 | Elective | 4 | ||||
| Cluster course | 4 | ||||||
| 16 | 17 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Year 3 | |||||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer 1 | Hours | Summer 2 | Hours |
| Co-op | 0 | ENGW 3306 | 4 | Vacation | 0 | Vacation | 0 |
| Public health core | 4 | ||||||
| COMM electives | 8 | ||||||
| 0 | 16 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Year 4 | |||||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer 1 | Hours | Summer 2 | Hours |
| PHTH 4202 | 4 | Co-op | 0 | Co-op | 0 | Vacation | 0 |
| PHTH 4540 | 4 | ||||||
| COMM elective | 4 | ||||||
| COMM WI course | 4 | ||||||
| 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Year 5 | |||||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | ||||
| PHTH 4120 | 4 | HSCI 4720, 4730, COMM 4102, COMM 4530, or COMM 4603 | 4 | ||||
| HSCI 4700 | 0 | Electives | 12 | ||||
| COMM WI course | 4 | ||||||
| Electives | 8 | ||||||
| 16 | 16 | ||||||
| Total Hours: 133 | |||||||