All students complete 18 courses outside the School of Communication. Each major has specific distribution requirements.
| Distribution Areas | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Math/Science/ Technology | Individual and Social Behavior | Humanities and Fine Arts | Additional Distribution Courses | |
| Human Communication Sciences (HCS has additional specific distro requirements, see the major requirements for details) | 5 | 3 | 3 | 7 |
| Communication Studies | 3 | 3 | 3 | 9 |
| Performance Studies | 2 | 3 | 3 | 10 |
| Radio/Television/Film | 2 | 3 | 3 | 10 |
| Theatre | 2 | 3 | 3 | 10 |
| Dance | 2 | 3 | 3 | 10 |
At least one course in each distribution area must be taken at Northwestern University.
Special Courses and Distribution Requirements
| Course Type | Can be Applied As |
|---|---|
| WCAS Independent Studies | Maximum of 2 Additional Distribution Courses |
| WCAS Freshman Seminars | Additional Distribution Courses (Except English can count as HFA) |
| Internship (Chicago Field Studies) | One unit of internship can apply to additional distribution requirements |
| Apprenticeship, professional linkage seminars, and practicum courses | May not apply to distribution requirements; only to electives |
| Residential College Tutorials | Only if approved as WCAS distribution courses, and not taught by SoC faculty, may then count for SoC distributions |
Note: many of the courses approved as distribution courses may have prerequisite course requirements, or enrollment may be limited to students in the major. Check CAESAR for details
Math/Science/Technology Distribution Area
Courses in this area share a foundation in the scientific method, in which empirical data is interpreted, and hypotheses about the causes of natural and social phenomena are tested by repeatable experiments. Key tools in this enterprise are mathematics and other forms of symbolic reasoning. Classes in these topics train students to analyze and interpret complex information, recognize patterns, reach sound conclusions, and convey those conclusions to others in an effective manner.
Courses that are approved as either natural sciences or formal studies distribution requirements for WCAS are accepted as math/science/technology courses for SoC.
Music Technology and Music Theory courses also count for math/science/technology.
Math/Science/Technology Accepted Subjects
| Anthropology – those approved as natural science or formal studies in WCAS | General Music – those approved as natural science or formal studies in WCAS (Gen Mus 252 and 253) |
| Astronomy | Geography – Only those approved as natural science or formal studies in WCAS |
| Biological Sciences | Initiative for Sustainability and Energy (ISEN) – Only those approved as natural science by WCAS |
| Chemistry – consult the Department for placement information if you have prior work in college-level chemistry. | Linguistics – those approved as natural science or formal studies in WCAS |
| Civil Engineering 206 | Mathematical Methods in the Social Sciences – for students in the MMSS program |
| Cognitive Science | Mathematics – If you have prior college level math, take the online placement test or consult the Math Department for more information. |
| Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) 108, 112, 202, 301, 302, 303, 304, 305, 306, 310 and 318; prerequisites may apply; CSD majors may not use CSD courses to fulfill their distribution requirements. | Material Science 101 and any approved for natural science or formal studies in WCAS |
| Design (Only courses offered through the McCormick School of Engineering) | Music Technology and Music Theory and Cognition; Also, Gen Mus 252 and 253 |
| Electrical Engineering/Computer Science (EECS) | Physics – Consult the Physics Department for appropriate placement if you have prior work in calculus-level physics. |
| Environmental Science | Philosophy (only courses designated as formal studies by WCAS) |
| Earth & Planetary Sciences | Psychology – those approved as natural science or formal studies in WCAS |
| Econ 381 Econometrics | Statistics (including statistics offered in any department) |
| Econ 281 Intro to Applied Econometrics | SESP 210 |
Note: While not necessarily recommended for non-majors, any 300-level course in astronomy, biological sciences, chemistry, cognitive science, earth and planetary science, math, mathematical methods in the social sciences (MMSS), physics, or statistics will be accepted toward the math/science/technology distribution requirement.
Individual/Social Behavior Distribution Area
Courses in this area use empirical methods and social and cultural theories in order to explain human behavior. The area includes classes in history, the social and behavioral sciences, and the study of communal and individual values.
Courses in several of the “Studies” departments (African-American, American, Asian American, Gender, Latina and Latino) and Journalism may satisfy either Individual/Social Behavior or Humanities/Fine Arts.
Individual and Social Behavior Accepted Subjects
| African-American Studies / Black Studies | Integrated Marketing Communication (IMC) (sophomore standing required) |
| American Studies (must be admitted to the program to enroll) | International Studies |
| Anthropology (except those that satisfy MST) | Journalism courses for non-majors |
| Asian American Studies | Latina and Latino Studies |
| Business Institutions | Legal Studies |
| Classics | Linguistics (except those that satisfy MST) |
| Economics | Middle East and North African Studies (MENA) (except Humanities topics) |
| Entrepreneurship | Philosophy (except those designated as formal studies, which are MST) |
| Environmental Policy | Political Science |
| Gender Studies | Psychology (except those that satisfy MST) |
| Global Health | Religion |
| Geography 240, 312, 313 | School of Education & Social Policy courses (all majors) (Stat 210 is MST) |
| History | Sociology |
| IEMS 225 |
Humanities/Fine Arts Distribution Area
Courses in this area examine artistic, linguistic, and cultural practices, and help students hone their creative, expressive, and analytical skills.
Courses in several of the “Studies” departments (African-American, American, Asian American, Gender, Latina and Latino) and Journalism may satisfy either Individual/Social Behavior or Humanities/Fine Arts.
| African-American Studies / Black Studies | Foreign Languages (Arabic, Chinese, Czech, French, German, Ancient Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Latin, Persian (Farsi), Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swahili, Turkish, Yiddish) |
| American Studies (must be admitted to the program to enroll) | Gender Studies |
| Art Theory and Practice | Humanities |
| Art History | Jewish Studies |
| Asian American Studies | Journalism courses for non-majors |
| Asian Languages and Cultures | Latina and Latino Studies |
| Classics | Middle East and North African Studies (MENA) (except Individual and Social Behavior topics) |
| Comparative Literature | Music (with significant exceptions; see the next section of this guide for more information) |
| English | Slavic Languages and Literature |
Music Courses for SoC Students
Not all courses in the School of Music may be applied toward the SoC degree. SoC categorizes undergraduate courses in the School of Music into several groups. Each type of course is treated differently in calculating your progress toward a degree.
View the list of music courses and categories.
Categories explained below.
| Category | Count for degree? |
| HFA or MST | An unlimited number of credits of HFA or MST courses may be applied toward the 42 for the SoC degree, and may be applied to both HFA or MST requirements and general distribution requirements. |
| Applied | Up to 3 credits may be applied toward the 42 for the SoC degree, and may be applied to both HFA and general distribution requirements. Above 3 credits, these courses may not apply toward the SoC degree. |
| Additional Distro | Up to 2 credits of independent study outside SoC may be applied toward the 42 for the SoC degree as general distribution requirements. Above 2 credits, additional credits of non-SoC independent study may be applied toward the 42 for the SoC degree as electives. |
| Elective | May be applied as electives toward the 42 for the SoC degree. |
| N/A | Not permitted to apply toward 42 credits for SoC degree. |