Skip to main content
Northwestern School of Communication

Major in Human Communication Sciences

Human Communication Sciences (HCS) majors are passionate about making a difference in people’s lives and enjoy learning about how to help children and adults to overcome difficulties in hearing, speech, language and learning.

Most HCS students go on to medical school or to graduate programs in health/science fields such as speech language pathology, audiology, neuroscience, psychology, and dentistry. Others begin work immediately in research laboratories or for health-related businesses. The major requirements give you the flexibility to choose courses that best fit your academic and career goals.

For policies and advising, see Office of Undergraduate Programs and Advising.

Visit the major's Academic Catalog listing to see specific requirements, which include: 

  • Major requirements specify that students must take and pass 12 courses: 1 Communication Studies (COMM_ST) and 11 Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) courses.  
  • Additional requirements, including distribution requirements, elective requirements and writing proficiency. 

Honors in Human Communication Sciences is available to majors in their senior year.