Undergraduate Admission FAQs

Yes. The Office of Undergraduate Admissions and the School of Communication offer both online and on campus information sessions and tours. See current tour and school information session schedules.

The University application and admissions process is centrally managed by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Detailed application instructions can be found on its website. Students interested in one of the six (6) School of Communication undergraduate majors would indicate their preference as a part of the application process.

No. If you are applying to the Theatre Major and are interested in pursuing admittance to the Northwestern University Music Theatre Certificate Program, you are encouraged to submit an optional Music Theatre Supplement.*

Students applying to gain admission to the Dance major will do so through the regular Northwestern undergraduate application process. There is no audition for the dance major. A placement class is held during Wildcat Welcome to determine the appropriate technique level for students to take.

*This is an optional part of the application process. The Music Theatre Supplement is not required. It is a tool that the Music Theatre faculty uses to advise the admission process.

If you are interested in Music Theatre and are applying to the Bienen School of Music, you do not need to submit this Music Theatre Supplement. The MT Supplement is not considered for music majors.

There is no School of Communication based tuition or financial aid for undergraduate programs.Information regarding University funding can be found below:

• Northwestern Office of Student Finance publishes the schedule of tuition and fees for all Northwestern Undergraduate students.
• All financial aid is administered through the Northwestern Office of Undergraduate Financial Aid. Information regarding financial aid, including types, instructions and deadlines, can be found on the Office of Undergraduate Financial Aid website.
• Northwestern Office of Student Enrichment Services (SES), also provides information regarding campus resources geared to support first-generation, low income students. Admitted, matriculating undergraduate students can apply or be nominated for a wide range of university-wide and School of Communication sponsored research, travel, internships, school or departmental awards, and experiential learning support opportunities. Most funding opportunities are shared through the SES One Form portal.

Information regarding financial aid, including types, instructions and deadlines, can be found on the Office of Undergraduate Financial Aid website.

Northwestern Office of Student Enrichment Services (SES) also provides information regarding campus resources geared to support first-generation, low income students.

Undergraduate financial aid is centrally managed by the Office of Undergraduate Financial Aid. Information regarding scholarships, grants, federal work-study, loans, veteran benefits, and emergency aid can be found on their website.

Admitted, matriculating undergraduate students are also eligible to be considered for all SoC and departmental awards, which are conferred annually during The School of Communication Honors Convocation.

The School of Communication offers the option of the Bachelor of Arts (BA) or the Bachelor of Science (BS) degrees in Communication in all six majors, with the exception of Human Communication Sciences, which only offers the BS, and Radio, Television and Film, which only offers the BA. Detailed information regarding degree requirements for all SoC undergraduate academic programs can be found here on the Office of Undergraduate Programs and Advising website.

Yes, within university guidelines.

• Students in the School of Communication can choose any second major in the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences.
• School of Communication students cannot double major within the School of Communication, or any of the smaller specialized schools.
• The School of Communication does offer dual degree programs with the McCormick School of Engineering and the Bienen School of Music.

See detailed information about dual degrees and double majoring.

Study abroad opportunities are coordinated through the Northwestern Global Learning Office (GLO). School of Communication students often participate in study abroad opportunities during their undergraduate careers. SoC undergraduates are required to consult with their undergraduate academic advisor regarding the implications of study abroad on their progress towards the bachelor’s degree. Learn more about study abroad opportunities for School of Communication students.

The School of Communication and the Office of Undergraduate Research offer funded opportunities for students to participate in a wide range of research opportunities.

The School of Communication publishes a call for applicants for the SoC Early Research Awards, which provide paid opportunities for Communication Studies and Human Communication Sciences first-year majors to work in a Comm Studies or Communication Sciences and Disorders faculty lab.