Human Services and Communication Studies, BA (Boston)

The intersection of human services and communication 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
Common Requirements
COMM 1101	Introduction to Communication Studies	4
COMM 1112	Public Speaking	4
or COMM 2301	Communication Research Methods
Foundation Course
Complete 4 semester hours from 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 4 semester hours from 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 8 semester hours from 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 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 12 semester hours from the following:		12
COMM courses between COMM 1100 - 4999, which have not been used to satisfy other degree requirements.
JRNL 2301	Visual Storytelling in Journalism
MSCR 1230	Introduction to Film Production
MSCR courses in the ranges MSCR 2100 - 2199, MSCR 3100 - 3199, and MSCR 4100 - 4199.
PREL 1425	Public Relations Principles
PREL 3625	Public Relations Practice

Integrative Requirement Courses

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Complete 8 semester hours from the following:
COMM 2500	Analyzing Conversations in Everyday Life	4
or COMM 1331	Legal Argumentation, Advocacy, and Citizenship
or COMM 1412	Social Movement Communication
HUSV 2340	Mindfulness in Mental Health	4

Capstone Experience Course

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Complete 4 semester hours from the following:
COMM 4102	Health Communication Campaigns	4
or COMM 4530	Communication and Quality of Life
or COMM 4625	Online Communities
or COMM 4901	Seminar in Communications
or HUSV 4700	Senior Seminar in Human Services

Supporting Courses

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Introduction to College
COMM 1000	Communication Studies at Northeastern	1
or HUSV 1000	Human Services at Northeastern
Experiential Learning
EEAM 2000	Professional Development for Co-op	1
or EESH 2000	Professional Development for Co-op
Writing Requirements
First-Year Writing
ENGW 1111	First-Year Writing	4
or ENGW 1102	First-Year Writing for Multilingual Writers
or ENGW 1114	First-Year Writing with Service-Learning
Advanced Writing in the Disciplines
COMM 3409	Advocacy Writing	4
or ENGW 3308	Advanced Writing in the Social Sciences
or ENGW 3309	Advanced Writing in the Humanities
or ENGW 3314	Advanced Writing in the Arts, Media, and Design
or ENGW 3315	Interdisciplinary Advanced Writing in the Disciplines

Communication Studies Major Grade Requirement

No more than two grades below a “C” in Communication Studies courses may be used to satisfy degree requirements.

Major Credit Requirement

84 semester hours required in the major.

Program Requirement

128 total semester hours required