Research
40+
research labs and centers
See Our Labs & CentersA lab for artistry,
expression, and experimentation
Seriousplay
Learn by Doing
The School of Communication advances the arts, sciences, and practices of human communication through experimentation, exploration, and collaboration.
On stage and screen, in labs and studios, and in classrooms and out in the world, our students apply knowledge, curiosity, and rigor to their creative and scholarly pursuits—all in service of creating real impact in the real world.
Explore Our Work
We advance the arts, science, and practices of human communication.
Scholarship
180+
faculty members
See Our ScholarshipPerformance
50+
performances each year
See Our ShowsClinical Services
8,000
clinical patients served annually
See Our ClinicsMeet Our People
Our people are what make us exemplary.
Award-Winning Faculty
KO
KO (they/them) is a Tony Award-winning associate professor in the School of Communication's Department of Theatre and the Donald G. Robertson Director of Music Theatre. They are most widely known for their acting work that spans the last 25 years on Broadway and TV.
At Northwestern KO works with other professors to enrich the culture of the program with the goal of making a more equitable space for students to explore how they think when they create art.
Impactful Alumni
Farhan Arshad ('10)
Farhan Arshad (GC10) is a television writer and producer with an MFA in Writing for the Screen and Stage from the School of Communication. He has written for shows like CBS’s Man with a Plan and The McCarthys, as well as ABC’s Dr. Ken. He was also both a writer and co-executive producer for the Frasier reboot starring Kelsey Grammer on Paramount+. He was a supervising producer on Amazon Freevee’s The Pradeeps of Pittsburgh.
A Pakistani American who grew up in Davenport, Iowa, Arshad has pitched and worked on projects that feature characters who resemble him and reflect his experiences. “[I'm] in a unique situation, where millions of people tune into our work,” Arshad explains. “Telling inclusive stories is important.”
Talented Students
Mel McDaniel, Human Communication Sciences Major
When Mel McDaniel came to Northwestern, she thought it would be interesting to work with people with aphasia or work on language with kids with autism and other learning disabilities.
“Then I learned what a wide range there is in speech-language pathology, with all the different populations you can treat. I can go in all different directions,” says McDaniel. “I love the diversity of being able to treat different populations and getting to know a lot of different fields.”
McDaniel is currently enjoying her work in the Early Intervention Research Group, a lab led by Professor Megan Roberts, who received a grant to study early communication interventions in toddlers with hearing loss.
Performances & Events
Join us for the opportunity to see work by some of the greatest writers, composers, and choreographers in the world presented by some of the most exciting artists of tomorrow.