The Department of Communication Studies and the Department of Art + Design offer a combined major in communication studies and graphic and information design. Students interested in the combined major integrate the study of communication skills and processes with the design of message and meaning, integrating text, image, and data.
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.
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 Natural and Designed World (ND), Creative Expression/Innovation (EI), Formal and Quantitative Reasoning (FQ), Analyzing and Using Data (AD), and Difference and Diversity (DD) may be met through electives in the major.
Communication Studies Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Communication Studies Common Requirements | ||
| COMM 1101 | Introduction to Communication Studies | 4 |
| COMM 1112 | Public Speaking | 4 |
| or COMM 2301 | Communication Research Methods | |
| 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 | ||
| Environmental Issues, Communication, and the Media | ||
| Free Speech: Law and Practice | ||
| Communication and Sexualities | ||
| Theories of Conflict and Negotiation | ||
| Nonverbal Social Interaction | ||
| Youth and Communication Technology | ||
| Crisis Communication and Image Management | ||
| Communication Electives | ||
| Complete three COMM courses. | 12 | |
Graphic and Information Design Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Art and Design at Northeastern | ||
| ARTF 1000 | Art and Design at Northeastern | 1 |
| Art and Design Fundamentals | ||
| ARTF 1122 | Color and Composition (with optional ARTF 1123) | 4 |
| ARTF 2223 | Experience and Interaction (with optional ARTF 2220) | 4 |
| Art and Design History | ||
| ARTH 2210 | Modern Art and Design History | 4 |
| ARTH 2215 | History of Graphic Design | 4 |
| Design | ||
| ARTG 1250 | Design Process Context and Systems | 4 |
| ARTG 2250 | Typography 1 (with optional ARTG 2251) | 4 |
| ARTG 2252 | Graphic Design 1 | 4 |
| ARTG 3350 | Typography 2 | 4 |
| ARTG 3451 | Information Design 1 | 4 |
| Degree Project | ||
| ARTG 4550 | Design Degree Project 1 | 4 |
| Art and Design Electives | ||
| Complete one course with the corresponding tools course, if indicated, from the following: | 4-5 | |
| Introduction to Photography and Photo Tools | ||
| Video Basics (with optional ARTD 2381) | ||
| Observational Drawing | ||
| Conceptual Drawing | ||
| Form and Structure and Form and Structure Tools | ||
| Movement and Time (with optional ARTF 2221) | ||
| Programming Basics | ||
| Interaction Design 1: Responsive | ||
| Graphic Design 2 | ||
| Identity and Brand Design | ||
| Typography 3 | ||
Integrative Requirement
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Integrative Courses | ||
| COMM 2200 | Visual Communication | 4 |
| or ARTG 4550 | Design Degree Project 1 | |
Communication Studies Grade Requirement
No more than two grades below a C in communication studies courses may be used to fulfill degree requirements.
Communication Studies and Graphic and Information Design Major Credit Requirement
84 semester hours required in the major
Program Requirement
128 total semester hours required
Sample Four Years, Two Co-ops in Summer 2/Fall
| Year 1 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer 1 | Hours | Summer 2 | Hours |
| ARTF 1000 or COMM 1000 | 1 | COMM 1112 or 2301 | 4 | Communication studies elective | 4 | A + D Foundation | 4 |
| COMM 1101 | 4 | Communication studies foundation course | 4 | ARTG 2250 (with optional ARTG 2251) | 4 | Elective | 4 |
| ARTF 1122 (with optional ARTF 1123) | 4 | ARTG 1250 | 4 | ||||
| Art History Elective | 4 | Elective | 4 | ||||
| ENGW 1111 | 4 | ||||||
| 17 | 16 | 8 | 8 | ||||
| Year 2 | |||||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer 1 | Hours | Summer 2 | Hours |
| Communication studies writing-intensive 1 | 4 | Communication studies elective 1 | 4 | Communication studies elective 2 | 4 | Co-op | 0 |
| ARTG 3350 | 4 | Design option 2 | 4 | Elective | 4 | ||
| Design option 1 | 4 | Art + Design elective | 4 | ||||
| Elective | 4 | Elective | 4 | ||||
| EEAM 2000 | 1 | ||||||
| 16 | 17 | 8 | 0 | ||||
| Year 3 | |||||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer 1 | Hours | Summer 2 | Hours |
| Co-op | 0 | Communication writing-intensive 2 | 4 | Communication studies elective 3 | 4 | Co-op | 0 |
| Design elective | 4 | Elective | 4 | ||||
| Elective | 4 | ||||||
| ENGW 3314 or 3315 | 4 | ||||||
| 0 | 16 | 8 | 0 | ||||
| Year 4 | |||||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer 1 | Hours | Summer 2 | Hours |
| Co-op | 0 | ARTG 4550 | 4 | Vacation | 0 | Co-op | 0 |
| COMM 2200 | 4 | ||||||
| Elective | 4 | ||||||
| Elective | 4 | ||||||
| 0 | 16 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Total Hours: 130 | |||||||