SoC Summer Course Offerings

Northwestern University’s School of Communication offers a curated selection of undergraduate summer courses through Summer Session, enabling students to maintain degree progress, pursue new interests, or explore our distinctive programs in a flexible summer format. Courses draw from all five School of Communication departments (Communication Sciences and Disorders, Communication Studies, Performance Studies, Radio/Television/Film, and Theatre) and are available in varied times and modalities, including daytime, evening, weekend, online, and in-person sessions from June 22 to August 30, 2026.

2026 Summer Courses

Course Code	Course Title	Location	Modality	Instructor(s)	Description
RTVF 220-0	Analyzing Media Texts	Online	MW 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM	Camargo, Crystal	This course is an introduction to the study and structure of film and other audiovisual media that explores both film techniques and grammar.
CSD 409-4	Foundations of Clinical and Professional Practice	Evanston	Th 2 - 3:45 pm	Krizman, Jennifer	Professional issues for audiologists, including professional communication, emotionally intelligent leadership, clinical decision-making theory and practice, critical thinking, and theoretical-clinical integration of knowledge and skills.
CSD 415-4	Clinical Practicum in Audiology	Online	Asynch	Fabian, Catherine Swem, Katherine Winn, Tracy	Clinical experience in University and off-campus hearing clinics. Clinical practice in prevention of hearing loss in children and adults. Clinical policies and procedures for assessment of hearing; for selection, fitting and use of sensory aids, including assistive listening devices; and for remediation of hearing problems.
THEATRE 170-2	Lucid Body (Movement for Performance)	Evanston	TBA	Ellis, Roger	This physical acting course strengthens the connections between breath, body, voice, and text, empowering actors to make bold, authentic choices on demand. Through movement work, students expand range, heighten impulse-to-action clarity, and translate inner life into rich physicality. Students learn practical regulation tools and consent-forward collaboration to sustain high-stakes fictional work safely.
THEATRE 253-0	Music Theatre History	Online	Asynch	Godwin, Aaron	Musical theatre is at once a remarkable and elusive genre of theatre that beget an entire industry, complete with legions of adoring fans, a canon of iconic works that transcend their theatrical origins, and a compendium of songs that have achieved global popularity. This course offers a comprehensive survey of the evolution of musical theatre, tracing its roots from European operetta, vaudeville, and minstrelsy to the contemporary global stage. Together, we will explore major stylistic shifts, landmark productions, pivotal theatre makers (including composers, lyricists, directors, producers, choreographers, and performers), and the socio-cultural contexts that both shaped and were shaped by this art form. We will analyze how issues of race, class, gender, technology, and cultural trends have been reflected in, and often challenged by, the musical stage, from the early Broadway spectacles of the Tin Pan Alley era to the sophisticated book musicals of the mid-20th century, the diverse mega musicals and jukebox musicals the late 20th century, and the contemporary musicals of today. By examining primary source materials, musical excerpts, and archival footage, students will develop a critical understanding of musical theatre's enduring impact on entertainment and popular culture.
THEATRE 281-0	Intro to Playwriting	Online	MW 1:00 PM - 3:20 PM	Schellhardt, Laura	A great course for anyone who loves to write for the stage or who'd like to try it out. Students read plays from different eras, complete weekly writing exercises, and ultimately craft the beginning of an original full-length play. Open to students from all departments with any level of writing experience. This course is one of the most popular offerings from the playwriting program, and it is a prerequisite for both the Playwriting Module and the Advanced Playwriting Sequence. No permission number required.
THEATRE 330-0	Methods of Teaching Drama	Online	TuTh 1:00 PM - 3:20 PM	Horn, Elizabeth	This class provides the necessary tools to prepare and facilitate drama-based instructional strategies (i.e. kinesthetic activities, improvisation, and role play). Through readings, in-class activities, discussion, lesson planning, practice facilitations, and written reflection, students will develop the practical skills necessary to implement theatrical devices and strategies in both drama and cross-curricular K-12 classroom settings.
THEATRE 330-0	Theatre for Social Change with Youth	Online	TuTh 1:00 PM - 3:20 PM	Horn, Elizabeth	We’ll study dramatic texts, artists, and organizations in Theatre for Social Change with youth, inviting diverse voices into dialogue. You’ll reflect on the issues that matter to you; your identity markers; ethics, responsibility, reciprocity, and power; working within oppressive systems; and theory versus practice. Your primary project in this class will be dreaming up and planning a Theatre for Social Change project or program for youth. Implementing this project is beyond the scope of this class and is not required. Rather, by envisioning a program, you’ll critically examine these issues and gain an appreciation for the opportunities and challenges in facilitating Theatre for Social Change with youth.
THEATRE 350-0	Music Theatre Ensemble Performance	Evanston	MTuWThF 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM	Nelson, Ryan	Step into the world of Broadway this summer with Music Theatre Ensemble Performance! Under the direction of Jeff Award–winning music director and Assoc. Professor of Instruction Dr. Ryan T. Nelson, students will rehearse and perform dynamic ensemble numbers from hit musicals such as Come From Away, In the Heights, Titanic, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Beautiful, Ragtime, Mamma Mia!, Spring Awakening, A Chorus Line, Hairspray, and more. Through intensive rehearsal, students will develop techniques for learning music quickly and cleanly, mastering blend, harmony, diction, and storytelling as part of a unified ensemble. The course emphasizes professional rehearsal practices, musical precision, and expressive performance. In addition, music directors and conductors enrolled in the course will have opportunities to explore best practices in rehearsal techniques -observing, assisting, and participating in coached teaching labs designed to strengthen their conducting and communication skills. The session culminates in a public concert performance on campus, showcasing the ensemble’s work on some of the most iconic moments in contemporary musical theatre.
THEATRE 375-0	Business for the Artist	Online	MWF 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM	Borger, Brianna	This class will demystify the inner workings of the performing arts industry and empower students to create a life for themselves that is financially stable and creatively fulfilling. Coursework will focus on three categories: BUSINESS (Casting, Agents, Unions, Resumes, Networking, Regional Markets, Resumes, Websites, Contracts, Types of Work, Internal Structures), LIFE (Financial Literacy, Budgeting, Personal Values, Self-Assessment, Taxes, Unemployment, Health Insurance, Finding Non-Performance Work), and PRACTICE (Mock Auditions, Callbacks, and Cold Reads).
RTVF 260-0	Foundations of Screenwriting	Online	MW 6:00 PM - 8:50 PM	Gernand, Erik Steven	The course will provide students with a working knowledge of the fundamentals of screenwriting. Students will learn how core concepts of character, structure, plot, theme, and tone work together on the page to create narrative. Students will explore these concepts and their practice in film, as well as how they might utilize these concepts to express their personal voice and vision.
RTVF 312-1	History of Film I	Online	MW 2:00 PM - 4:50 PM	Rossi, Nathaniel	This course surveys the history of international cinema from its emergence through the 1950s. We will explore the diverse forms cinema took and functions it performed during this period by looking closely at a range of films and writings about them. We will examine the industrial, social, and historical contexts within which these films were produced and experienced as well as theorizations of cinema that emerged concurrently with them. The course thus introduces students to the study of film history as well as to key national and international trends in making and thinking about cinema as it rose to prominence as a vital component of the art and culture of the twentieth century. Topics covered include the cinema of attractions; cinema’s relation to colonialism; the development of narrative filmmaking; studio systems; audiences; exhibition practices; the concept of national cinemas as exemplified by the cinemas of the United States, France, Germany, the Soviet Union, Japan, India, and China; the avant-garde and cinema’s relation to art movements; the coming of synchronized sound; animation; documentary cinema; and diverse conceptualizations of cinema’s political possibilities and dangers.
RTVF 363-0	Writing the TV Pilot	Online	TuTh 2:00 PM - 4:50 PM	Bent, Eliza	In this class, we will study the fundamentals of writing for television from concept, logline, and treatment to story arc and season outline. Through reading assignments, viewing coursework, and written exercises we will explore ways to write TV episodes suited to a variety of interests, tastes, and aesthetics. We will study examples from TV of the past and present, programs from abroad, as well as more emerging web-based forms.
RTVF 370-0	Topics in Pre-Production: Producing	Online	TuTh 6:00 PM - 8:50 PM	Henry, Kyle	Students will learn the fundamentals of film producing, from pre-production through distribution, primarily through the lens of independent/low-budget filmmaking. Emphasis will be placed on both applied research and hands-on practice through serving as producer on a student short film in pre-production or production during the quarter. Course guest speakers always includes local and nationally recognized film producers and filmmakers for real-world advice about the art of producing and the current state of the field. You will be required to deliver an end-of-quarter pitch presentation supplying a detailed schedule and budget for the short film to which you are attached as a co-producer.
RTVF 373-0	Intro to Songwriting & Pop Music Production	Online	MW 2:00 PM - 4:50 PM	Gradone, Pierce	Songwriting is a project-based course that will introduce students to the technologies and techniques that drive the creation and production of contemporary popular music. Students will be introduced to the conceptual frameworks and tools to both analyze and create works of popular music in genres of their choosing. Throughout the course of the class, they will learn about writing lyrics, melodies, chord progressions, MIDI programming, and musical arrangements.
RTVF 276-0	Interactive Media Programming in MAX	Evanston	MTuWTh 6:00 PM - 9:50 PM	Moore, Stephan	This class is a two-week intensive study of the audiovisual programming language Max. Max is quickly becoming one of the main tools enlisted by media artists in creating complex and pioneering artworks. Through numerous demonstrations and participatory coding sessions, students will learn about a range of applications for Max while developing good coding techniques and building up a library of reusable code for their own future projects. Topics covered include audio/video processing, generative composition, physical computing, control mapping, and a peek at Max for Live, the bridge between Max and the popular audio performance and DAW platform Ableton Live. No prior programming experience is required. However, while designed to allow beginners to jump in, this course is also suitable for students with some Max experience who are looking to expand their skills and technique.
RTVF 378-0	Topics in Post-Production: Motion Graphics	Online	TuTh 3:00 PM - 5:50 PM	Brown, Jeffrey Clayton	This class will introduce you to graphic animation and special effects work. You’ll learn text animation, basic 2D animation, camera tracking, and working with video footage (as in green screen and other VFX). Your main project: create an opening title sequence for your own imaginary TV show (think about the shows you watch on streaming services. – some of those opening sequences are stunning works of art. That’s what you’ll do! We’ll also break down good examples and reverse-engineer how they were done. I’ll post a weekly video that you watch on your own time where I dive more deeply into the concepts and techniques we’re learning, assigning you a weekly exercise. Although this is a highly creative and visually expressive class, it does require quite a bit of computer time and attention to detail. Required materials: A computer with an internet connection with the NU Adobe Creative Suite.
COMM_ST 102-0	Public Speaking	Evanston	MW 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM, TuTh 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM	TBA	Theory, composition, delivery, and criticism of public speeches.
COMM_ST 201-0	Research Methods in Communication Studies	Online	Asynch, Time: TBA	Billard, Thomas	Foundations of knowledge in many areas of the field, including the nature of interpersonal interaction and the impact of mass media. How communication researchers do their work; how to judge the quality of research products.
COMM_ST 225-0	Communication and Culture	Online	Asynch, Time: TBA	Kamenchuck Nisbet, Olga	This course introduces students to the field of communication and culture. The course aims to provide students with the knowledge and the skills to be competent intercultural communicators in international and domestic settings. The students will learn the major theoretical background for conducting successful communication between cultures, will understand the opportunities and challenges each culture presents, develop a better understanding of how others became who they are, and will know how to select appropriate communication behaviors and tools suitable for each setting.
COMM_ST 246-0	Intro to Health Communication	Online	Asynch, Time: TBA	Pusateri, Kimberly	Communication is inextricably intertwined with issues of health and medicine. This is true on a personal, intimate level in the way patients and caregivers interact in the examination room and how families communicate at home. It is also true on an organizational level; policies and community relations affect the way health care is provided and how people feel about that care. It is also evident in media campaigns that seek to educate people about health. The importance of health communication is extraordinary, but so are the challenges. This course positions students to solve health-related problems. We will explore the theory, research, and skills associated with communicating in health contexts. Students who complete this course will be more mindful, educated, and effective health communicators.
COMM_ST 250-DL	Team Leadership and Decision Making	Online	Asynch, Time: TBA	Bernard, Megan	This course is organized to expose you to concepts and issues related to effective, ethical leadership and collaboration. You will come to understand models and theories that describe these topics and gain practice thinking and writing critically. The goal of this course is for you to leave with the fundamental strategies and knowledge to engage with others--as a leader and a team member-- to achieve good results in good conscience. This course is conducted completely online. A technology fee will be added to tuition.
COMM_ST 295-0	Intro to Sports Communication	Online	Asynch, Time: TBA	Dun, Susan	This course provides an engaging introduction to the field of sport communication with a focus on interpersonal dynamics. Students will explore the fundamental concepts of communication within the sports context, examining how relationships, culture, and social interactions influence both personal and professional exchanges in the sports world. Key topics include effective communication strategies for athletes and coaches, the role of interpersonal communication in team dynamics, and conflict resolution. By the end of the course, students will gain a deeper understanding of how interpersonal communication shapes the sports experience and will be equipped with practical tools to enhance their communication skills in various sport-related settings. This course is ideal for those looking to pursue careers in sports management, coaching, media relations, or athletic training.
COMM_ST 303-0	Commincation and Misinformation	Online	Asynch, Time: TBA	Walter, Nathan	This course will explore the factors that make people vulnerable to misinformation and the reasons that corrections so often fail to change their minds. We will also analyze how those tendencies are enhanced by media technologies and exploited by various stakeholders.In addition, we will consider possible remedies that could be employed to combat misperceptions. Finally, students will put knowledge into practice, by producing an original podcast episode in small groups.
COMM_ST 344-0	Interpersonal Conflict	Online	Asynch, Time: TBA	Kamenchuk Nisbet, Olga	In-depth analysis of theories and research examining conflict within relationships. Special emphasis on conflict within friendships, dating relationships, and family.
COMM_ST 350-0	Organizational Leadership	Online	Asynch, Time: TBA	DeChurch, Leslie	This course enables students to think critically about organizational leadership. We'll explore five perspectives on leadership and apply them to case studies of leaders who've made important contributions to their organizations and to society. Our leadership framework covers five facets or types of leadership theories, each of which applies a different lens to answer the question: what makes leadership effective? Beginning with features we explore the role of personal characteristics. Features enable us to understand the effects of leader behaviors and actions. Next we explore form-based theories to understand shared and inclusive leadership. Fit perspectives enable us to understand leadership situations. Lastly, with foci we examine the sphere of leadership impact. This course enables students to critically examine organizational leadership and to do so using a set of illustrative case studies of interesting people who have led interesting lives of impact.
COMM_ST 352-0	Social Network Analysis	Online	Asynch, Time: TBA	Contractor, Noshir	Digital technologies like ChatGPT transform how we learn, organize, innovate, mobilize, trade, travel, date, and play. This course introduces “network thinking” to examine how our social networks enable and constrain our attitudes and behaviors, personally and professionally, as individuals and collectives. The course will discuss how social networks concepts, theories, and methods help us map, measure, understand and leverage social networking platforms (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, Snapchat), enterprise social media (e.g., Slack, Microsoft Teams), recommender systems (e.g., Amazon, Netflix, Spotify), financial transaction networks (e.g., Venmo, PayPal, Ripple), sharing economy websites (e.g., Uber, Airbnb, Instacart, Upwork) and dating websites (e.g., Tinder, Grindr, Match, eHarmony).
COMM_ST 352-DL	Social Network Analysis	Online	Asynch, Time: TBA	Jain, Neelam	This course uses principles of social network analysis to understand the growing connectivity and complexity of the world around us on different scales, ranging from small groups to the web. Together, we will examine the historical evolution of SNA, delve into its core methodologies, and explore its diverse applications in various domains. Through interactive modules, students will gain hands-on experience in analyzing network structures, identifying influential individuals and groups, and applying theoretical frameworks to interpret network formation and performance. By the end of this course, students will be equipped with both the analytical tools and principles needed to navigate and leverage the interconnectedness of their own personal and professional social networks.
COMM_ST 379-0	Digital Propaganda and Repression	Online	Asynch, Time TBA	Lu, Yingdan	Digital media and technologies, often considered liberation technology, have increasingly been employed by governments and non-political entities for political propaganda and repression. This course will examine the practices and implications of propaganda and repression within the digital media landscape. We will explore the role of digital media and technologies in authoritarian regimes, the common strategies and applications of digital propaganda and repression, and consider how various actors implement these tactics, along with their consequences and global impacts. Through course readings, in-class discussions, and student-led projects, students will develop a critical understanding of the interplay between digital media, politics, and civil society.
COMM_ST 380-0	Political Communication	Online	Asynch, Time TBA	Nisbet, Erik	This seminar focuses on the theory, practice, and problems of political communication designed for both communication majors and non-majors. This course will introduce you to a wide-range of processes and problems of mediated political communication, from elections, political advertising, and political news to political entertainment, humor, and social media, etc. primarily within a democratic context, specifically the United States. Furthermore, political communication is fabric that holds a participatory democracy together - and thus our examination of political communication is intrinsically tied to understanding the health of American democracy and how political communication contributes to it for better or worse.
COMM_ST 387-0	Critical Internet Studies	Online	Asynch, Time TBA	Zidani, Sulafa	This course focuses on the economic, political, cultural aspects of the internet. We will touch on current debates in Internet Studies, employing a critical lens that moves beyond celebratory views of technology. Students will learn to analyze the internet as a social, political, and cultural force shaping modern life. We will examine the internet at different levels, including infrastructure, design, and content, and dig into the tension between commercial interests and creative uses of the internet for public discourse and identity negotiation. Readings focus on timely topics like platforms, meme, surveillance, online activism, and more. The online format allows students to engage with the digital space in an interactive way and participate in collective learning. Ultimately, this class offers an opportunity to discuss the internet in a fundamental way, which will help students develop a critical literacy to understand, question, and choose how to engage with the technologies that increasingly mediate our communication.
COMM_ST 395-0	Social Relationships & Health	Online	Asynch, Time TBA	Pusateri, Kimberly	This course is designed to familiarize you with current perspectives on the interplay between interpersonal communication processes and health-related issues. We will explore the ways that relational partners communicate about health, cope with health-related problems, and influence one another’s health-related behaviors. By the end of this course, you will be able to articulate strategies for generating successful or beneficial health-related communication among interpersonal partners (as well as recognize problematic communicative behaviors).
COMM_ST 395-0	Marketing Communications Planning	Online	Asynch, Time TBA	Nisbet, Erik	Strategic communication and marketing are critical components of organizational leadership and success. Without the engagement of external stakeholders and audiences – whether in a business, nonprofit, political, advocacy, or community contexts – an organization cannot achieve its core goals. Marketing is a broad business practice that encompasses four sets of considerations typically described as product, price, place, and promotion. This course will focus specifically on this last component of marketing and introduces students to contemporary principles, practices, and planning steps associated with creating an organizational plan for consumer-centered promotion and persuasion. The course will cover the key steps in creating a marketing communications plan - organizational branding, situational analysis, audience segmentation, understand consumer psychology and behavior, strategic message design, and leveraging paid, owned, and earned media to meet promotional goals and objectives. By the end of the course, students will have a broad understanding of communication with external stakeholders and experience in developing the major components of a marketing communications plan.
COMM_ST 395-0	Social Media, Technology & Mental Health	Online	Asynch, Time TBA	Syversen, Sarah	This course will examine the relationship between social media, technology, and mental health. Students will explore and critically analyze the advantages, challenges, and opportunities of using social networking sites and technology (e.g. apps, digital interventions, video games) to communicate about and seek support for mental health disorders. Conversely, students will scrutinize social media, technology, its impact on mental health and wellness, with special attention paid to topics such as social comparison and online self-presentation.
COMM_ST 395-DL	Digital Media and Society	Online	Asynch, Time TBA	John, Amanda	How has digital media transformed our sense of self and our relationships with others? In this digital literacy course, we will attempt to answer this question by studying contemporary and historical media research from a variety of fields, including social science, philosophy, media studies, and communication studies. Students will participate in group work and self reflection activities intended to help them analyze and evaluate the role that digital media plays in their lives. They will practice using different interpretive strategies and analytical tools to help them determine the social and cultural impact of digital media. We will pay special attention to the influence of digital media on conceptions of self and community, so that we may better understand how digital media affects how we work, play, learn, and communicate with one another. Each week, students will learn about a particular topic through readings, videos, mini-lectures, and podcasts. Then they will participate in online discussions and complete homework related to the topic. The course will be highly interactive, and students will work with each other and with the instructor throughout the course.