Human Services and Communication Studies, BA (Boston)

The intersection of human services and communications studies spans several domains. Nonprofit organizations depend on communications professionals to effectively represent their work to the community, partner organizations, and funders. Knowledge and skills developed in communications studies also service human services professionals working in the political realm as they seek to promote impactful social policies.

The human services and communication studies combined major is designed to prepare students for careers in social change by providing them with the theoretical and skill-based background necessary for practice and research. Students will develop a holistic understanding of preventative and reactive responses to social inequality and an understanding of how to impact change at the individual and structural levels. Students engage in an integrated educational program that emphasizes experiential approaches to learning through service-learning, co-op, and internship opportunities.  

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 degree language requirements, for a total of 12 semester hours of language study or demonstrated equivalent proficiency, as described in Additional Requirements for BA students. Successful demonstration of proficiency does not reduce total minimum semester hours of study required to earn the BA degree.

NUpath Requirements

All undergraduate students are required to complete the NUpath Requirements.

Human Services Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Human Services Overview
HUSV 1101	Social Change and Human Services	4
HUSV 2300	Counseling in Human Services	4
HUSV 3570	The Nonprofit Sector, Philanthropy, and Social Change	4
HUSV 3900	Social Policy	4
HUSV 2970	Research Methods for Human Services	4
or INSH 3101	Research Methods in the Social Sciences
Human Services and Diverse Populations
Complete one of the following:		4
HUSV 2355	Race, Identity, Social Change, and Empowerment
HUSV 2800	Sexual Orientation and Gender Expression
HUSV 2960	Intercultural Studies through Human Services
Human Services Electives
Complete three additional HUSV courses.		12-14

Communication Studies Requirements

Course List

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
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 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 that have not been used to satisfy other requirements.		12

Capstone

Complete one of the following capstone/senior seminar options:

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Communications Capstone Option
Complete one of the following:		4
COMM 4102	Health Communication Campaigns
COMM 4530	Communication and Quality of Life
COMM 4625	Online Communities
Complete one additional HUSV elective.		4
Human Services Capstone Option
HUSV 4700	Senior Seminar in Human Services	4
Complete one course in the following range:		4
COMM 3000 to COMM 4999

Integrative Course

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
COMM 3201	Health Communication	4

Communication Studies Major Grade Requirement

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

Program Requirement

130 total semester hours required

Sample Plan of Study

Four Years, Two Co-ops

Year 1
Fall	Hours	Spring	Hours	Summer 1	Hours	Summer 2	Hours
COMM 1000 or HUSV 1000	1	MATH 1215	4	COMM foundation course	4	COMM cluster course	4
HUSV 1101	4	HUSV 2300	4	COMM elective	4	COMM elective	4
ENGW 1111	4	HUSV elective	4
COMM 1101	4	COMM 1112 or 2301	4
Elective	4	EEAM 2000 (For CAMD students)	1
	17		17		8		8
Year 2
Fall	Hours	Spring	Hours	Summer 1	Hours	Summer 2	Hours
HUSV 2970	4	Co-op	0	Co-op	0	COMM writing-intensive	4
COMM elective	4					Elective	4
Elective	4
HUSV elective	4
	16		0		0		8
Year 3
Fall	Hours	Spring	Hours	Summer 1	Hours	Summer 2	Hours
Human services and diverse populations	4	Co-op	0	Co-op	0	COMM writing-intensive	4
HUSV 3570	4					Elective	4
ENGW 3315	4
Elective	4
	16		0		0		8
Year 4
Fall	Hours	Spring	Hours
HUSV 3900	4	Capstone	4
COMM 3201	4	Elective	4
Additional COMM/HUSV elective	4	Elective	4
Elective	4	HUSV Elective	4-6
	16		16-18
Total Hours: 130-132