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Academic Catalog 2022-2023

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  • Communication and Media Studies, BA

Communication and Media Studies, BA

2022-2023 Edition

  • Undergraduate
    • Admission
    • Information for Entering Students
    • Financial Information
    • Academic Policies and Procedures
    • University Academics
    • College of Arts, Media and Design
      • School of Architecture
      • Art + Design
      • Communication Studies
        • Communication Studies, BA
        • Communication and Media Studies, BA
        • Communication Studies and Graphic and Information Design, BA
        • Communication Studies and Sociology, BA
        • Communication Studies and Theatre, BA
        • English and Communication Studies, BA
        • Human Services and Communication Studies, BA
        • Linguistics and Communication Studies, BA
        • Political Science and Communication Studies, BA
        • Media and Screen Studies, BA
        • Africana Studies and Media and Screen Studies, BA
        • Media and Screen Studies and English, BA
        • Media and Screen Studies and History, BA
        • Media and Screen Studies and Journalism, BA
        • Media and Screen Studies and Media Arts, BA
        • Media and Screen Studies and Philosophy, BA
        • Media and Screen Studies and Political Science, BA
        • Media and Screen Studies and Sociology, BA
        • Media and Screen Studies and Theatre, BA
        • Media Arts and Communication Studies, BA
        • Business Administration and Communication Studies, BS
        • Computer Science and Communication Studies, BS
        • Communication Studies and Speech-​Language Pathology and Audiology, BS
        • Health Science and Communication Studies, BS
        • Media and Screen Studies and Theatre, BS
        • Music and Communication Studies with Concentration in Music Industry, BS
        • Political Science and Communication Studies, BS
        • Argumentation and Law, Minor
        • Cinema Studies, Minor
        • Communication Studies, Minor
        • Digital Communications, Minor
        • Film Production, Minor
        • Film Studies, Minor
        • Human Communication, Minor
        • Improvisation and Storytelling, Minor
        • Media and Screen Studies, Minor
        • Media Production, Minor
        • Oratory and Public Speaking, Minor
        • Political Communication, Minor
        • Rhetoric, Minor
        • Social Activism, Minor
        • Sports, Media, Communication, Minor
      • School of Journalism
      • Music
      • Theatre
      • Interdisciplinary
      • Accelerated Bachelor/​Graduate Degree Programs
    • D'Amore-​McKim School of Business
    • Khoury College of Computer Sciences
    • College of Engineering
    • Bouvé College of Health Sciences
    • College of Science
    • College of Social Sciences and Humanities
    • Faculty
    • Appendix
  • College of Professional Studies Undergraduate
  • Graduate
  • Course Descriptions
  • Catalog Archives
  • Overview
  • Program Requirements
  • Plan of Study

The Department of Communication Studies offers majors in both communication studies and in media and screen studies. The department also offers an integrated major that allows students to combine COMM and MSCR courses to create a unique plan of study that features courses on the theory and practice of communication along with the study of media, cultural, and creative industries. Students graduating with a communication and media studies major can pursue a graduate degree or enter careers in advertising, communication education, healthcare, journalism, law, public relations, government/politics, media and film production, and social and human services.

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.

Universitywide Requirements

All undergraduate students are required to complete the Universitywide Requirements.

BA Language Requirements

All BA students are required to complete the BA language requirements.

NUpath Requirements

All undergraduate students are required to complete the NUpath Requirements.

NUpath requirements Interpreting Culture (IC), Societies and Institutions (SI), Difference and Diversity (DD), Creative Expression/Innovation (EI), Analyzing and Using Data (AD), and Ethical Reasoning (ER) are met through the major course requirements. 

NUpath requirements Natural and Designed World (ND) and Formal and Quantitative Reasoning (FQ) may be met through electives in the major.

Communication and Media Studies Requirements

Course List
Code Title Hours
Introduction to College
COMM 1000Communication Studies at Northeastern1
or MSCR 1000 Media and Screen Studies at Northeastern
Common Requirements
COMM 1101Introduction to Communication Studies4
MSCR 1220Media, Culture, and Society4
COMM 2301Communication Research Methods4
Communication Studies Foundational Course
Complete one of the following:4
COMM 1210
Persuasion and Rhetoric
COMM 1225
Communication Theory
COMM 1231
Principles of Organizational Communication
COMM 1255
Communication in a Digital Age
Media Studies Foundational Course
Complete one of the following:4
MSCR 1320
Media and Social Change
MSCR 1420
Media History
MSCR 2220
Understanding Media
Diversity and Difference Cluster
Complete one of the following:4
COMM 2304
Communication and Gender
COMM 3304
Communication and Inclusion
MSCR 2505
Digital Feminisms
MSCR 3392
Gender and Film
MSCR 3437
Media and Identity
Globalization Cluster
Complete one of the following:4
COMM 2303
Global and Intercultural Communication
MSCR 2325
Global Media
Creative Expression Cluster4
Complete one of the following:
COMM 1112
Public Speaking
MSCR 1230
Introduction to Film Production
MSCR 3389
Screenwriting
Writing-Intensive
Complete two of the following:8
COMM 3200
Mobile Communication
COMM 3201
Health Communication
COMM 3230
Interpersonal Communication
COMM 3320
Political Communication
COMM 3414
Great Speakers and Speeches
COMM 3415
Communication Criticism
COMM 3445
Public Relations Principles
COMM 3500
Environmental Issues, Communication, and the Media
COMM 3501
Free Speech: Law and Practice
COMM 3530
Communication and Sexualities
COMM 3532
Theories of Conflict and Negotiation
COMM 4535
Nonverbal Social Interaction
COMM 4605
Youth and Communication Technology
COMM 4631
Crisis Communication and Image Management
MSCR 3420
Digital Media Culture
MSCR 3422
Media Audiences
MSCR 3600
Film Theory
MSCR 3700
Queer Media
MSCR 4208
TV History
Capstone
Complete one of the following:4
COMM 4102
Health Communication Campaigns
COMM 4530
Communication and Quality of Life
COMM 4533
Consultation Skills
COMM 4602
Contemporary Rhetorical Theory
COMM 4608
Strategic Communication Capstone
COMM 4625
Online Communities
COMM 4755
Production Capstone
COMM 4901
Seminar in Communications
MSCR 4623
Theories of Media and Culture
Elective courses
Choose five from the following list:20
Any COMM courses not already counting above
Any MSCR courses not already counting above
ARTD 2380
Video Basics (with optional ARTD 2381)
ARTD 3480
Video: Sound and Image

Major Grade Requirement

No more than three grades below a C in COMM and MSCR courses may be used to fulfill major requirements.

Program Requirement

128 total semester hours required

Sample Plan of Study: Four Years, Two Co-ops 

Year 1
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
COMM 1000 or MSCR 10001COMM foundational course4COMM 23014Writing-intensive course4
COMM 11014MSCR foundational course4Cluster 1: Difference and diversity course4Elective4
MSCR 12204Foreign language4  
ENGW 11114Elective 4  
Foreign language 4   
 17 16 8 8
Year 2
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
Cluster 2: Globalization course4Co-opCo-opMajor elective 34
Cluster 3: Creative expression course4  Elective4
Major elective 14   
Major elective 24   
EEAM 20001   
 17 0 0 8
Year 3
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
Writing-intensive course4Co-opCo-opElective4
Major elective 44  Elective4
Major elective 54   
Elective4   
 16 0 0 8
Year 4
FallHoursSpringHours  
Capstone4Elective4  
Elective4Elective4  
Elective4Elective4  
Elective4Elective4  
 16 16  
Total Hours: 130
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  • 2021-22 Undergraduate PDF

  • 2021-22 College of Professional Studies Undergraduate PDF

  • 2021-22 Graduate PDF

  • 2021-22 Course Descriptions PDF