Program Overview

Northwestern University Programs

Undergraduate Programs

• School of Communication
  • Communication Sciences and Disorders
  • Communication Studies
  • Dance
  • Human Communication Sciences
  • Interdepartmental Communication Options
  • Performance Studies
  • Radio/Television/Film
    • Film and Media Studies Minor
    • Game Design + Media Arts + Animation Minor
    • Radio/Television/Film Major
    • Sound Design Minor
  • Theatre
• School of Education and Social Policy
• Robert R. McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science
• Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications
• Judd A. and Marjorie Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences

Graduate Programs

• School of Professional Studies
  • Data Science
    • Data Science, MS
    • Data Science, MS Analytics and Modeling Specialization
    • Data Science, MS Analytics Management Specialization
    • Data Science, MS Artificial Intelligence Specialization
    • Data Science, MS Data Engineering Specialization
    • Data Science, MS Technology Entrepreneurship Specialization
  • Global Health
    • Global Health, MS
  • Health Analytics
    • Health Analytics, MS
  • Healthcare Administration
    • Healthcare Administration, MS
  • Health Informatics
    • Health Informatics, MS
    • Health Informatics, MS Clinical Informatics Specialization
    • Health Informatics, MS Health Administration Informatics Specialization
    • Health Informatics, MS Health Technology Informatics Specialization
  • Information Design and Strategy
    • Information Design and Strategy, MS
    • Information Design and Strategy, MS Communication with Data Specialization
    • Information Design and Strategy, MS Content Strategy Specialization
    • Information Design and Strategy, MS Learning Design Specialization
    • Information Design and Strategy, MS UX/UI Specialization
  • Information Systems
    • Information Systems, MS
    • Information Systems, MS Artificial Intelligence Specialization
    • Information Systems, MS Data Science Specialization
    • Information Systems, MS Database and Internet Technologies Specialization
    • Information Systems, MS Digital Transformation Specialization
    • Information Systems, MS Health Informatics Specialization
    • Information Systems, MS Information Systems Management Specialization
    • Information Systems, MS Information Systems Security Specialization
    • Information Systems, MS Project Management Specialization
  • Liberal Studies
    • Liberal Studies, MA
    • Liberal Studies, MA Interdisciplinary Studies Specialization
  • Literature
    • Literature, MA
    • Literature, MA American Literature Specialization
    • Literature, MA British Literature Specialization
    • Literature, MA Comparative and World Literature Specialization
    • Literature, MA Film, Literature, and Visual Culture Specialization
    • Literature, MA Interdisciplinary Studies Specialization
  • Prose and Poetry
    • Prose and Poetry, MFA
    • Prose and Poetry, MFA Dual-Genre Specialization
    • Prose and Poetry, MFA Fiction Specialization
    • Prose and Poetry, MFA Nonfiction Specialization
    • Prose and Poetry, MFA Poetry Specialization
    • Prose and Poetry, MFA Publishing and Professional Development Specialization
  • Public Policy and Administration
    • Public Policy and Administration, MA
    • Public Policy and Administration, MA Data Analytics for Public Policy Specialization
    • Public Policy and Administration, MA Global Health Specialization
    • Public Policy and Administration, MA Global Policy Specialization
    • Public Policy and Administration, MA Public Administration Specialization
    • Public Policy and Administration, MA Public Policy Specialization
  • Regulatory Compliance
    • Regulatory Compliance, MS
    • Regulatory Compliance, MS Clinical Research Specialization
    • Regulatory Compliance, MS Quality Systems Specialization
  • Sports Administration
    • Sports Administration, MA
    • Sports Administration, MA College Sports Management Specialization
    • Sports Administration, MA Sports Analytics Specialization
  • Writing
    • Writing, MA
    • Writing, MA Dual-Genre Specialization
    • Writing, MA Fiction Specialization
    • Writing, MA Nonfiction Specialization
    • Writing, MA Poetry Specialization
    • Writing, MA Publishing and Professional Development Specialization

Certificates

• Post-Baccalaureate Certificates
  • Advanced Accounting
    • Advanced Accounting, Certificate
  • Advanced Studies in Biology for Health Professions
    • Advanced Studies in Biology for Health Professions, Certificate
  • Advanced Studies in Psychology
    • Advanced Studies in Psychology, Certificate
  • Artificial Intelligence
    • Artificial Intelligence, Certificate
  • Biology for Health Sciences
    • Biology for Health Sciences, Certificate
  • Business Essentials
    • Business Essentials, Certificate
  • Business Writing/Communication
    • Business Writing/Communication, Certificate
  • Change Management
    • Change Management, Certificate
  • Corporate Communication and Branding
    • Corporate Communication and Branding, Certificate
  • CPA Accounting
    • CPA Accounting, Certificate
  • Creative Writing
    • Creative Writing, Certificate
  • Data Science
    • Data Science, Certificate
  • Digital Content Management
    • Digital Content Management, Certificate
  • Fundamentals of Accounting
    • Fundamentals of Accounting, Certificate
  • Health, Science and Society
    • Health, Science and Society, Certificate
  • Human Resources
    • Human Resources, Certificate
  • Law and Policy
    • Law and Policy, Certificate
  • Leadership
    • Leadership, Certificate
  • Math for Data Science
    • Math for Data Science, Certificate
  • Pre-Clinical Psychology
    • Pre-Clinical Psychology, Certificate
  • Pre-Graduate Business Administration
    • Pre-Graduate Business Administration, Certificate
  • Pre-Medicine
    • Pre-Medicine, Certificate
  • Pre-Physical Therapy
    • Pre-Physical Therapy, Certificate
  • Pre-Physician Assistant
    • Pre-Physician Assistant, Certificate
  • Programming
    • Programming, Certificate
  • Public Health
    • Public Health, Certificate
  • Research and Analytics
    • Research and Analytics, Certificate
  • Social Justice
    • Social Justice, Certificate
  • Specialized Studies
    • Specialized Studies, Certificates
  • Strategic Communication
    • Strategic Communication, Certificate
  • Strategic Management
    • Strategic Management, Certificate
  • Strategic Marketing
    • Strategic Marketing, Certificate
  • Writing for Print and Digital Media
    • Writing for Print and Digital Media, Certificate
• Graduate Certificates
  • Data Science
    • Analytics and Modeling, Graduate Certificate
    • Analytics Management, Graduate Certificate
    • Artificial Intelligence, Advanced Graduate Certificate
    • Data Engineering, Graduate Certificate
    • Technology Entrepreneurship, Graduate Certificate
  • Global Health
    • Global Health Leadership, Graduate Certificate
  • Health Analytics
    • Health Analytics, Advanced Graduate Certificate
    • Health Data Science, Graduate Certificate
  • Health Informatics
    • Health Informatics Graduate Certificate
    • Interdisciplinary Studies in Health Informatics, Advanced Graduate Certificate
  • Healthcare Industry
    • Healthcare Industry, Graduate Certificate
  • Information Design and Strategy
    • Communication with Data, Graduate Certificate
    • Content Strategy, Graduate Certificate
    • Interdisciplinary Studies in Information Design and Strategy, Advanced Graduate Certificate
    • Learning Design, Graduate Certificate
  • Information Systems
    • Database & Internet Technologies, Graduate Certificate
    • Information Systems Management, Graduate Certificate
    • Information Systems Security, Graduate Certificate
    • Interdisciplinary Studies in Information Systems, Advanced Graduate Certificate
    • Project Management, Graduate Certificate
  • Liberal Studies
    • Interdisciplinary Studies, Advanced Graduate Certificate
  • Literature
    • Interdisciplinary Studies, Advanced Graduate Certificate
    • Literature, Graduate Certificate
  • Predictive Analytics
    • Data Science, Advanced Graduate Certificate
  • Public Policy and Administration
    • Climate Change Communication, Advanced Graduate Certificate
    • Global Policy, Advanced Graduate Certificate
    • Policy Analysis, Advanced Graduate Certificate
    • Public Administration, Advanced Graduate Certificate
    • Public Policy and Administration, Graduate Certificate
    • Public Policy, Advanced Graduate Certificate
  • Regulatory Compliance
    • Interdisciplinary Studies in Regulatory Compliance, Advanced Graduate Certificate
    • Regulatory Compliance Graduate Certificate
  • Regulatory Policy & Health Systems
    • Regulatory Policy and Health Systems, Graduate Certificate
  • Sports Administration
    • College Sports Management, Graduate Certificate
    • Esports, Graduate Certificate
    • Interdisciplinary Studies in Sports Administration, Advanced Graduate Certificate
    • Sports Analytics, Graduate Certificate
    • Sports Communication, Graduate Certificate
    • Sports Management, Graduate Certificate
  • Writing
    • Creative Writing, Graduate Certificate
    • Interdisciplinary Studies in Writing, Advanced Graduate Certificate
    • Publishing and Professional Development in Writing, Advanced Graduate Certificate

Radio/Television/Film Major

Major Requirements (12 units)

Introductory Courses (3 units)

• 3 lower-level courses:
  • RTVF 190-0: Media Construction
  • RTVF 220-0: Analyzing Media Texts
  • 1 additional 200-level course from the following list:
    • RTVF 202-0: First-Year Topics Seminar
    • RTVF 260-0: Foundations of Screenwriting
    • RTVF 298-0: Studies in Media Topics
    • COMM_ST 275-0: Persuasive Images: Rhetoric of Popular Culture

Advanced Courses (9 units)

• 1 300-level course in media history or theory from the following list:
  • RTVF 310-0: Television History
  • RTVF 312-1: History of Film I
  • RTVF 312-2: History of Film II
  • RTVF 313-1: Doc Film History & Criticism
  • RTVF 314-0: History of the Recording Industry
  • RTVF 315-0: Audio Drama
  • RTVF 316-0: Media and Cultural Theory
  • RTVF 345-0: History of Hollywood Cinema
• 8 additional units of credit in communication at the 300 and 400 levels, including at least 6 courses in the department at the 300 and 400 levels, and including no more than a total of 2 units of independent study, practicums, or internships

School Requirements (1 unit)

First-Year Seminar (1 unit)

• CMN 101-0: SoC First Year Seminar: Interdisciplinary Topics in Communication Arts & Sciences

SoC Capstone

This requirement can be fulfilled by CMN 398-1 and accompanying lab CMN 398-2. Other courses may be appropriate as substitutions for the CMN 398 combination. Students can consult with their SoC academic advisor if they have questions about appropriate substitutions.

• CMN 398-1: SoC Capstone: Lecture
• CMN 398-2: SoC Capstone: Lab

Additional Requirements (29 units)

Distribution Requirements (18 units)

18 units of credit outside the school, including 8 units of credit from the School of Communication distribution areas: 2 from science, mathematics, and technology; 3 from individual and social behavior; and 3 from humanities and fine arts.

Electives (11 units)

Electives in communication and other areas to complete a minimum of 42 units.

Courses Outside Communication

6 courses at the 200 level or above outside communication, including at least 3 courses at the 300 level or above; courses taken to satisfy this requirement may fulfill distribution or elective course requirements.

Language Requirement

Two-year proficiency in a classical or modern foreign language as defined by the Weinberg College foreign language proficiency requirement.