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Academic Catalog 2021-2022

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  • Communication Studies and Sociology, BA

Communication Studies and Sociology, BA

2021-2022 Edition

  • Undergraduate
    • Admission
    • Information for Entering Students
    • College Expenses
    • 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
        • Media Arts and Communication Studies, BA
        • 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
        • Political Science 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
        • Human Communication, Minor
        • Improvisation and Storytelling, Minor
        • Media 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 communication studies department and the sociology department offer an interdisciplinary combined major in communication studies and sociology. The combined major integrates the study of communication skills and processes with the study of social behaviors.

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 Societies and Institutions (SI) and Ethical Reasoning (ER) are met through the major course requirements. 

NUpath requirements Natural and Designed World (ND), Creative Expression/Innovation (EI), Interpreting Culture (IC), Formal and Quantitative Reasoning (FQ), Difference and Diversity (DD), and Analyzing and Using Data (AD) may be met through electives in the major.

Communication Studies Requirements

Course List
Code Title Hours
Communication Studies Common Requirements
COMM 1000Communication Studies at Northeastern1
COMM 1101Introduction to Communication Studies4
COMM 1112Public Speaking4
or COMM 2301 Communication Research Methods
Foundation 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
Cluster Course
Complete one of the following:4
COMM 1131
Sex, Relationships, and Communication
COMM 2303
Global and Intercultural Communication
COMM 2304
Communication and Gender
COMM 2501
Communication Law
COMM 2551
Free Speech in Cyberspace
Writing-Intensive Courses
Complete two of the following:8
COMM 3200
Mobile Communication
COMM 3201
Health Communication
COMM 3230
Interpersonal Communication
COMM 3304
Communication and Inclusion
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
Communication Studies Electives
Complete three COMM courses.12

Sociology Requirements

Course List
Code Title Hours
Required Sociology Courses
SOCL 1101Introduction to Sociology4
SOCL 2320Statistical Analysis in Sociology4
SOCL 2321Research Methods in Sociology4
SOCL 3300Social Theory4
Introductory Electives
Complete two of the following:8
SOCL 1228
Social Problems
SOCL 1245
Sociology of Poverty
SOCL 1255
Sociology of the Family
SOCL 1260
Gender in a Changing Society
SOCL 1295
Drugs and Society
Intermediate-Level Elective
Complete one of the following:4
SOCL 2358
Current Issues in Cities and Suburbs
SOCL 3440
Sociology of Human Service Organizations
SOCL 3450
Class, Power, and Social Change
SOCL 3465
Globalization and the Evolution of Human Societies
SOCL 3487
Applied Sociology: Practice and Theory
Advanced-Level Elective
Complete one of the following:4
SOCL 4518
Law and Society in a Digital World
SOCL 4520
Race, Class, and Gender
SOCL 4528
Computers and Society
SOCL 4580
Special Topics in Sociology
SOCL 4992
Directed Study

Capstone and Integrative Requirements

Course List
Code Title Hours
Integrative Course
Complete one of the following:4
COMM 3320
Political Communication
COMM 3532
Theories of Conflict and Negotiation
SOCL 1246
Environment and Society
Capstone/Senior Seminar Option
Complete one of the following two options:8
Communications Capstone Option
Complete one COMM course and one SOCL course from the following list:
COMM 4102
Health Communication Campaigns
COMM 4530
Communication and Quality of Life
COMM 4625
Online Communities
SOCL 3000 to SOCL 4999
Sociology Senior Seminar Option
Complete SOCL 4600 and one COMM course from the following list:
SOCL 4600
Senior Seminar
COMM 3000 to COMM 4999

Communication Studies Grade Requirement

No more than two grades below a C in communication studies courses may be used to fulfill degree requirements.

Sociology Major Grade Requirement

A GPA of 2.000 for major courses is required.

Communication Studies and Sociology Combined Major Credit Requirement

Complete 80 semester hours in the major.

Experiential Liberal Arts

All undergraduate students in the College of Social Sciences and Humanities are required to complete the Experiential Liberal Arts Requirement.

Program Requirement

128 total semester hours required

Sample Four Years, Two Co-ops

Year 1
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
COMM 10001ENGW 11114Communication Studies cluster course4Introductory Sociology elective4
COMM 11014Communication Studies foundation course4Elective4Elective4
COMM 1112 or 23014SOCL 23204  
SOCL 11014SOCL 23214  
SOCL 33004   
 17 16 8 8
Year 2
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
Communication Studies elective4CO-OPCO-OP0Communication Studies elective4
Elective4  Communication Studies writing-intensive4
Introductory Sociology elective4   
Elective4   
EEAM 20001   
 17 0 0 8
Year 3
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
Communication Studies writing-intensive4CO-OPCO-OPCommunication Studies elective4
Intermediate Sociology elective4  Elective4
Advanced Writing in the Discipline4   
Elective4   
 16 0 0 8
Year 4
FallHoursSpringHours  
Elective4Communication Studies or Sociology capstone4  
Elective4Communication Studies or Sociology capstone elective4  
Integrative course4Elective4  
Advanced Sociology 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