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Academic Catalog 2021-2022

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  • Health Science and Communication Studies, BS

Health Science and Communication Studies, BS

2021-2022 Edition

  • Undergraduate
    • Admission
    • Information for Entering Students
    • College Expenses
    • Academic Policies and Procedures
    • University Academics
    • College of Arts, Media and Design
    • D'Amore-​McKim School of Business
    • Khoury College of Computer Sciences
    • College of Engineering
    • Bouvé College of Health Sciences
      • Interdisciplinary
      • School of Clinical and Rehabilitation Sciences
      • School of Community Health and Behavioral Sciences
        • Public Health, BA
        • Health Science, BS
        • Data Science and Health Science, BS
        • Environmental Engineering and Health Science, BSEnvE
        • Health Science and Business Administration, BS
        • Health Science and Communication Studies, BS
        • Health Science and Psychology, BS
        • Health Science and Sociology, BS
        • Exercise Science, Minor
        • Global Health, Minor
        • Health Psychology, Minor
        • Health Research Methods, Minor
        • Health, Humanities, and Society, Minor
        • Healthcare System Operations, Minor
        • Mindfulness Studies, Minor
        • Nutrition, Minor
        • Public Health, Minor
      • School of Nursing
      • School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
      • Accelerated Bachelor/​Graduate Degree Programs
    • 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 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

Course List
Code Title Hours
COMM 1101Introduction to Communication Studies4
COMM 1112Public Speaking4
or COMM 2301 Communication Research Methods
Course List
Code Title Hours
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
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 additional communication studies courses.12

Health Science Requirements

Course List
Code Title Hours
Public Health Core
PHTH 1260The American Healthcare System4
or PHTH 1261 Comparative Healthcare Systems
PHTH 2210Foundations of Biostatistics4
PHTH 2300Communication Skills for the Health Professions4
or PHTH 2301 Communication Skills for the Health Professions—Global
PHTH 2350Community and Public Health4
or PHTH 2351 Community and Public Health - Global
PHTH 2515Healthcare Policy and Administration4
PHTH 4120Global Perspectives on Discrimination and Health4
PHTH 4202Principles of Epidemiology in Medicine and Public Health4
PHTH 4540Health Education and Program Planning4
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 1241Calculus 14
PSYC 1101Foundations of Psychology4
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

Course List
Code Title Hours
Intro to College
HSCI 1000College: An Introduction1
or COMM 1000 Communication Studies at Northeastern
Professional Development
HSCI 2000Professional Development for Bouvé Co-op1
or EEAM 2000 Professional Development for Co-op
Writing
ENGW 1111First-Year Writing4
ENGW 3306Advanced Writing in the Health Professions (or other Advanced Writing course)4
Electives
Complete 28 semester hours of electives.28

Integrative Course

Course List
Code Title Hours
Capstone
HSCI 4720Health Science Capstone—Service4
or HSCI 4730 Health Science Capstone—Research
or COMM 4102 Health Communication Campaigns
or COMM 4530 Communication and Quality of Life

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
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
HSCI 1000 or COMM 10001BIOL 11134Public health core4Vacation0
PHTH 12604BIOL 11141Elective4 
BIOL 11114CHEM 1161
and CHEM 1162
and CHEM 1163
5  
BIOL 11121Elective4  
MATH 12414ENGW 11114  
PSYC 11014   
 18 18 8 0
Year 2
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
Public health core4Co-opCo-opENGW 33064
HSCI 2000 or EEAM 20001Elective4 Elective4
COMM 11014   
COMM 1112 or 23014   
COMM elective4   
 17 4 0 8
Year 3
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
Public health core4Co-opCo-opPublic health core4
Foundation course4Elective4 Public health core4
Public health core4   
Cluster course4   
 16 4 0 8
Year 4
FallHoursSpringHours  
Public health core4HSCI 4720, 4730, COMM 4102, or COMM 45304  
Elective4COMM elective4  
COMM WI course4COMM WI course4  
COMM elective4Elective4  
 16 16  
Total Hours: 133

Five Years, Two Co-ops in Summer 2/Fall

This is a sample plan of study.

Year 1
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
HSCI 1000 or COMM 10001BIOL 11134Vacation0Vacation0
PHTH 12604BIOL 11141  
PSYC 11014ENGW 11114  
BIOL 11114CHEM 1161
and CHEM 1162
and CHEM 1163
5  
BIOL 11121Elective4  
MATH 12414   
 18 18 0 0
Year 2
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
Public health core4HSCI 2000 or EEAM 20001Vacation0Co-op0
Public health core4Public health core4  
COMM 11014Foundation course4  
COMM 1112 or 23014Elective4  
 Cluster course4  
 16 17 0 0
Year 3
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
Co-op0ENGW 33064Vacation0Vacation0
 Public health core4  
 COMM electives8  
 0 16 0 0
Year 4
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
PHTH 42024Co-op0Co-op0Vacation0
PHTH 45404   
COMM elective4   
COMM WI course4   
 16 0 0 0
Year 5
FallHoursSpringHours  
PHTH 41204HSCI 4720, 4730, COMM 4102, or COMM 45304  
HSCI 47000Electives12  
COMM WI course4   
Electives8   
 16 16  
Total Hours: 133
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  • 2021-22 Undergraduate PDF

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  • 2021-22 Course Descriptions PDF