Political Science and Communication Studies, BA (Boston)

Source: https://catalog.northeastern.edu/undergraduate/social-sciences-humanities/political-science/political-science-communication-studies-ba/ Parent: https://catalog.northeastern.edu/undergraduate/arts-media-design/communication-studies/

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.

Political Science Requirements

Course List

 | Code | Title | Hours |

| --- | --- | --- | | Core Courses in Political Science | | | | POLS 1150 | American Government | 4 | | POLS 1155 | Comparative Politics | 4 | | POLS 1160 | International Relations | 4 | | POLS 2400 | Quantitative Techniques | 4 | | Political Thought | | | | Complete one of the following: | | 4 | | POLS 2325 | Ancient Philosophy and Political Thought | | | POLS 2328 | Modern Political Thought | | | POLS 2330 | American Political Thought | | | POLS 2332 | Contemporary Political Thought | | | Methodology | | | | POLS 2399 | Research Methods in Political Science | 4 | | or COMM 2301 | Communication Research Methods | | | Political Science Electives | | | | Note: Elective courses may also fulfill requirements of an optional concentration of this program. | | | | Complete four courses in the following range: | | 16 | | POLS 2000 to POLS 5999 | | |

Political Science Concentration (Optional)

If you are working toward one of the following concentrations, declare it with your advisor so that it may be added to your record. Requirements for the concentrations are listed below.

• American Political Institutions
• Campaigns and Elections
• Comparative Politics
• Identity, Culture, and Politics
• International Relations and Diplomacy
• Law and Legal Studies
• Public Policy
• Security Studies

Communication Studies Requirements

Course List

 | Code | Title | Hours |

| --- | --- | --- | | COMM 1101 | Introduction to Communication Studies | 4 | | COMM 1112 | Public Speaking | 4 | | or COMM 2301 | Communication Research Methods | |

Communication Studies Electives

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 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 three courses that have not been used to satisfy other requirements. | | 12 |

Integrative Requirements

Course List

 | Code | Title | Hours |

| --- | --- | --- | | Integrative Courses | | | | POLS 3320 | Politics and Mass Media | 4 | | or COMM 3320 | Political Communication | | | Capstone Requirement | | | | Complete one of the following. This course also counts toward the political science or communication studies elective requirement: | | 4 | | COMM 4102 | Health Communication Campaigns | | | COMM 4530 | Communication and Quality of Life | | | COMM 4608 | Strategic Communication Capstone | | | COMM 4625 | Online Communities | | | COMM 4755 | Production Capstone | | | POLS 4701 | Political Science Senior Capstone | | | POLS 4703 | Senior Thesis | |

Political Science and Communication Studies Combined Major Credit Requirement

Complete 84 semester hours in the major.

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

128 total semester hours required

Concentrations

Concentration in American Political Institutions

Course List

 | Code | Title | Hours |

| --- | --- | --- | | Complete four of the following: | | 16 | | POLS 3160 | Campaign Strategy | | | POLS 3300 | The U.S. Congress | | | POLS 3302 | Judicial Process and Behavior | | | POLS 3307 | Public Policy and Administration | | | POLS 3310 | Public Opinion, Voting, and Elections | |

Concentration in Campaigns and Elections

Course List

 | Code | Title | Hours |

| --- | --- | --- | | Required Courses | | | | POLS 3160 | Campaign Strategy | 4 | | POLS 3302 | Judicial Process and Behavior | 4 | | Campaigns and Elections Electives | | | | Complete two of the following: | | 8 | | POLS 2345 | Urban Policies and Politics | | | POLS 3310 | Public Opinion, Voting, and Elections | | | POLS 3320 | Politics and Mass Media | |

Concentration in Comparative Politics

Course List

 | Code | Title | Hours |

| --- | --- | --- | | Theoretical Requirement | | | | Complete two of the following: | | 8 | | POLS 2282 | The Holocaust and Comparative Genocide | | | POLS 2356 | Democratic Erosion | | | POLS 2359 | Immigration Politics | | | POLS 2370 | Religion and Politics | | | POLS 3418 | Nationalism | | | POLS 3430 | Revolution, Civil War, and Insurrection | | | POLS 3487 | Politics of Developing Nations | | | Regional Requirements | | | | Complete one of the following: | | 4 | | POLS 3435 | Politics and Governance of Europe and the European Union | | | POLS 3465 | Government and Politics in the Middle East | | | Experiential/Practicum Requirement | | | | Complete one of the following: | | 4 | | POLS 4915 | Model Arab League | | | POLS 4918 | Model NATO | | | POLS 4937 | Dialogue of Civilizations: Government and Politics Abroad | |

Concentration in Identity, Culture, and Politics

Course List

 | Code | Title | Hours |

| --- | --- | --- | | Core Course | | | | POLS 3418 | Nationalism | 4 | | Electives | | | | Complete three of the following: | | 12 | | POLS 2359 | Immigration Politics | | | POLS 2368 | Music and Politics in America and Abroad | | | POLS 2370 | Religion and Politics | | | POLS 3309 | Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Issues in Public Policy | | | POLS 3324 | Law and Society | |

Concentration in International Relations and Diplomacy

Course List

 | Code | Title | Hours |

| --- | --- | --- | | Experiential/Practicum Requirement | | | | Complete one of the following: | | 4 | | POLS 4910 | Model United Nations | | | POLS 4915 | Model Arab League | | | POLS 4938 | Dialogue of Civilizations: International Politics Abroad | | | Core Courses | | | | Complete three of the following: | | 12 | | POLS 3405 | International Political Economy | | | POLS 3406 | International Law | | | POLS 3435 | Politics and Governance of Europe and the European Union | | | POLS 5408 | International Security | |

Concentration in Law and Legal Studies

Course List

 | Code | Title | Hours |

| --- | --- | --- | | Complete four of the following: | | 16 | | POLS 2330 | American Political Thought | | | POLS 3300 | The U.S. Congress | | | POLS 3302 | Judicial Process and Behavior | | | POLS 3324 | Law and Society | | | POLS 3406 | International Law | | | POLS 4500 | U.S. Constitutional Law | | | POLS 4505 | U.S. Civil Liberties | |

Concentration in Public Policy

Course List

 | Code | Title | Hours |

| --- | --- | --- | | Core Requirement | | | | POLS 3307 | Public Policy and Administration | 4 | | Electives | | | | Complete three of the following: | | 12 | | POLS 2345 | Urban Policies and Politics | | | POLS 2390 | Science, Technology, and Public Policy | | | POLS 2395 | Environmental Politics and Policy | | | POLS 3425 | U.S. Foreign Policy | |

Concentration in Security Studies

Course List

 | Code | Title | Hours |

| --- | --- | --- | | Complete four of the following: | | 16 | | POLS 3420 | U.S. National Security Policy | | | POLS 3423 | Terrorism and Counterterrorism | | | POLS 3425 | U.S. Foreign Policy | | | POLS 3430 | Revolution, Civil War, and Insurrection | | | POLS 3487 | Politics of Developing Nations | | | POLS 5408 | International Security | |

Sample Plan of Study

Four Years, Two Co-ops