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Academic Catalog 2022-2023

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  • Music and Communication Studies with Concentration in Music Industry, BS

Music and Communication Studies with Concentration in Music Industry, BS

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
      • School of Journalism
      • Music
        • Music, BA
        • Music with Concentration in Music Industry, BS
        • Music with Concentration in Music Technology, BS
        • Computer Science and Music with Concentration in Music Technology, BS
        • Electrical Engineering and Music with concentration in Music Technology, BSEE
        • Game Design and Music with Concentration in Music Technology, BS
        • Music and Communication Studies with Concentration in Music Industry, BS
        • Physics and Music with Concentration in Music Technology, BS
        • Psychology and Music, BS
        • Ethnomusicology, Minor
        • Music, Minor
        • Music Composition, Minor
        • Music Industry, Minor
        • Music Performance, Minor
        • Music Recording, Minor
        • Music Technology, Minor
        • Performing Arts Administration, Minor
        • Songwriting, Minor
      • 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 Bachelor of Science in Music and Communication Studies with Concentration in Music Industry, the first such undergraduate program offered in Boston, is designed for students with an interest in all aspects of the music industries, including songwriting, recording, production, technology, products, label operations, promotion, marketing, social media, management, finance, economics, data analytics, legal issues, licensing, and intellectual property. Our program encourages learners to become entrepreneurial thought leaders and ethical change agents in the music industries. Communication studies offers students an opportunity to obtain the communication skills and the understanding of the communication process required to thrive in a complex and changing society.

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.

NUpath Requirements

All undergraduate students are required to complete the NUpath Requirements.

NUpath requirements Creative Expression/Innovation (EI), Interpreting Culture (IC), Societies and Institutions (SI), and Ethical Reasoning (ER) are met through the major course requirements. 

NUpath requirements Natural and Designed World (ND), Formal and Quantitative Reasoning (FQ), Analyzing and Using Data (AD), and Differences and Diversity (DD) may be met through electives in the major.

Music Industry Requirements

Course List
Code Title Hours
Introduction to College
MUSC 1000Music at Northeastern1
Music Core
MUSC 1002
and MUSC 1003
Music in Everyday Life
and Lab for MUSC 1002
4
Music Theory Placement
All students must take a theory placement exam. Students who do not place into MUSC 1201 must first take the following:
MUSC 1119Fundamentals of Western Music Theory4
Music Theory Requirement
MUSC 1201Music Theory 14
Introductory Music Industry
MUSI 1230Introduction to Music Industry4
Music in Context
Complete one course from one of the following categories:4
Western Art Music
MUSC 2105
Songs That Made History
MUSC 2312
Topics in Western Art Music
MUSC 2320
40,000 Years of Music Technology
MUSC 2340
Divas, DJs, and Double Standards
MUSC 2380
The World of Choral Music
MUSC 3352
Sounding Human
Global Music/Ethnomusicology
MUSC 2101
Black Popular Music
MUSC 2130
Music of Asia
MUSC 2313
Topics in World Music
MUSC 2330
Musical Communities of Boston
MUSC 3353
Music and the Racial Imagination
MUSC 3354
Sound and the Sacred
MUSI 3351
Music and Social Justice
MUSI 3360
Global Music Industries in Context
MUSI 3401
Hip Hop in the Music Industry
MUSI 5900
Ethnography in Creative Industries
Contemporary/Popular Music
MUSC 2101
Black Popular Music
MUSC 2150
Making a Musical: Analysis, Craft, and Creation
MUSC 2310
Popular Music Since 1945
MUSC 2311
Topics in American Music
MUSC 2317
Punk Rock
MUSC 2320
40,000 Years of Music Technology
MUSC 2340
Divas, DJs, and Double Standards
MUSC 2351
Music, Sound, and the Screen
MUSC 2380
The World of Choral Music
MUSC 3352
Sounding Human
MUSC 3353
Music and the Racial Imagination
MUSC 3354
Sound and the Sacred
MUSC 3560
Topics in Music since 1900
MUSI 3360
Global Music Industries in Context
MUSI 3401
Hip Hop in the Music Industry
MUSI 3540
Special Topics in Music Industry
Music Industry Electives
Complete three of the following:12
MUSC 2150
Making a Musical: Analysis, Craft, and Creation
MUSC 2210
Introduction to Songwriting
MUSC 2211
Advanced Songwriting
MUSC 3353
Music and the Racial Imagination
MUSI 1204
Analyzing Popular Genres
MUSI 2101
Demo Production for Songwriters
MUSI 2231
Music Licensing for Media
MUSI 2232
Music Recording 1
MUSI 2234
Festivals
MUSI 2235
Copyright in the Creative Industries
MUSI 2330
Performing Arts Administration
MUSI 2331
Music Recording 2
MUSI 2341
Music Supervision 1
MUSI 2540
Special Topics in Music Industry
MUSI 3332
Artist Management
MUSI 3333
The Record Industry
MUSI 3338
Music Industry Marketing and Promotion
MUSI 3340
Concert Promotion and Venue Management
MUSI 3351
Music and Social Justice
MUSI 3360
Global Music Industries in Context
MUSI 3401
Hip Hop in the Music Industry
MUSI 4530
Music Entrepreneurship
MUSI 4601
Seminar in Music Industry
MUSI 5900
Ethnography in Creative Industries
MUST 1220
Introduction to Music Technology
Business Course
ACCT 1209Financial Accounting and Reporting4

Communication Studies Requirements

Course List
Code Title Hours
Communication Studies Common Requirements
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 1231
Principles of Organizational Communication
COMM 1225
Communication Theory
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

Integrative Requirement

Course List
Code Title Hours
Complete one of the integrative options below. If a communication studies course is taken, an additional music industry course is required, chosen from the list of music industry electives above.4-8
Music Option
Complete one of the following:
MUSI 4530
Music Entrepreneurship
MUSI 4601
Seminar in Music Industry
MUSI 5900
Ethnography in Creative Industries
Communication Studies Option
Complete two of the following. One communication studies course is required:
COMM 4608
Strategic Communication Capstone
or COMM 4625
Online Communities
MUSC 2000 to MUSC 5999
MUSI 2000 to MUSI 5999
MUST 2000 to MUST 5999

Communication Studies Major Grade Requirement

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

Music Major Grade Requirement

Students must maintain at least a 2.667 GPA (B– average) in the requirements of the music half of the combined major and also complete all required music courses with grades of at least C. Students who fail to meet the above standards will be placed on departmental probation; those who remain on probation for two consecutive semesters will be dropped from the major.

Program Requirement

128 total semester hours required

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

Year 1
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
MUSC 1000 or COMM 10001ENGW 11114Elective4Elective4
MUSC 1002
and MUSC 1003
4MUSC 12014Elective4Elective4
MUSI 12304COMM foundational course4  
COMM 11014Music in context elective4  
COMM 1112 or 23014   
 17 16 8 8
Year 2
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
COMM cluster course4COMM elective4Elective4Co-op
Elective4Elective4Elective4 
Music industry elective4Music industry elective4  
Elective4Elective4  
 EEAM 20001  
 16 17 8 0
Year 3
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
Co-opENGW 3314 or 33154COMM elective4Co-op
 COMM elective4COMM writing-intensive4 
 ACCT 12094  
 Elective4  
 0 16 8 0
Year 4
FallHoursSpringHours  
Co-opCOMM writing-intensive4  
 Music industry elective4  
 Integrative course4  
 Capstone4  
 0 16  
Total Hours: 130
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