Transfer Options
The Communication Studies Transfer Pathway AA will transfer to any of the following Minnesota State universities:
- Bemidji State University
- Metropolitan State University
- Minnesota State University Mankato
- Minnesota State University Moorhead
- Southwest Minnesota State University
- St. Cloud State University
- Winona State University
Paying For College
NHCC's tuition is among the most affordable in Minnesota.
Financial Aid
- Scholarships are money you don't have to repay
- Grants are money you don't have to repay
- North Star Promise - Free College Tuition for eligible students
Program Roadmaps
Program roadmaps provide students with a guide to understand the recommended course sequence to complete their degree.
Communication Studies Transfer Pathway Curriculum
Course Code | Title | Course Outlines | Goal Areas | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|
COMM 1010 | Fundamentals of Public Speaking | View-COMM 1010 | n/a | 3 |
COMM 1110 | Principles of Interpersonal Communication | View-COMM 1110 | n/a | 3 |
COMM 1210 | Small Group Communication | View-COMM 1210 | n/a | 3 |
COMM 1310 | Intercultural Communication | View-COMM 1310 | n/a | 3 |
COMM 1910 | Argumentation and Public Advocacy | View-COMM 1910 | n/a | 3 |
Course Title: Fundamentals of Public Speaking Goal Areas: 01 Credits: 3
Course Description: This course provides instruction and practical experience in the basics of public speaking. This course has a performance component: students are expected to create and deliver informative, persuasive and other types of speeches.
Course Title: Principles of Interpersonal Communication Goal Areas: 01,07 Credits: 3
Course Description: This introductory course looks at communication in one-to-one relationships in friendships, families, the workplace, and elsewhere. Students will be challenged to discover and assess their own communication strengths and weaknesses as they define and discuss what it means to be a competent interpersonal communicator. Course content includes both theory and practice (skill development).
Course Title: Small Group Communication Goal Areas: 07,01 Credits: 3
Course Description: This course examines communication in small groups. Students will participate in and analyze how small groups function, how leadership roles evolve, how decisions are made and how conflicts can be resolved. Students will work in small groups, complete group projects, and analyze group interaction.
Course Title: Intercultural Communication Goal Areas: 08,07 Credits: 3
Course Description: The influence of culture is an especially important and sensitive issue facing us today. A person's culture strongly influences his/her identity, beliefs, expectations, and communication style. This course explores communication across culture as defined by nationality, gender, and ethnicity while concentrating on effective use of communication in all of these areas.
Course Title: Argumentation and Public Advocacy Goal Areas: 01,02 Credits: 3
Course Description: This course is intended to develop critical and analytical skills for creating persuasive messages to audiences in formal, oppositional settings. Students will discuss and apply various communication strategies to evaluate the effectiveness of evidence, gain experience in a more formal debate setting, and evaluate and craft arguments ethically and responsibly. These assignments will prepare students for debate in a range of contexts, from interpersonal and small group settings to larger discussions of public and social policy in American culture. Prerequisite: COMM 1010
Course Code | Title | Course Outlines | Goal Areas | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|
Students may choose one more of the following courses. These courses will show in additional electives. It is not required but recommended to choose one course. | ||||
COMM 1410 | Human Communication Theory | View-COMM 1410 | n/a | 3 |
COMM 1610 | Introduction to Mass Communication | View-COMM 1610 | n/a | 3 |
COMM 1810 | Introduction to Health Communication | View-COMM 1810 | n/a | 3 |
Course Title: Human Communication Theory Goal Areas: 01 Credits: 3
Course Description: This introductory course examines a selection of theories of human communication. The emphasis of the course will be to provide students with the ability to understand theorizing in general and then to apply this understanding to particular theories. Students will be challenged to explore different types, contexts, and aspects of human communication as they relate to their own lives. Course content will include theory relating to the communicator, the message, the relationships, the media and theculture.
Course Title: Introduction to Mass Communication Goal Areas: 01,09 Credits: 3
Course Description: This introductory course is intended to develop critical and analytical skills for understanding mass media; for recognizing messages, making deliberate choices about them, and evaluating the effects of these messages in both an individual and societal context. Students will examine the history, evolution, and societal impact of a wide variety of media, including print, film, and social media and will develop skills to make informed, ethical evaluations of the mediated messages they receive.
Course Title: Introduction to Health Communication Goal Areas: 01,09 Credits: 3
Course Description: This introductory course is intended to develop critical and analytical skills for understanding human communication in the health care industry. Students will discuss and apply various communication strategies in a variety of contexts, including patient care, between healthcare professionals, and with a larger public in the form of healthcare advocacy campaigns. The impact of cultural diversity and ethics in decision-making will be examined in the context of healthcare professions.
Course Code | Title | Course Outlines | Goal Areas | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|
College Writing I | ||||
ENGL 1200 | Gateway College Writing or | View-ENGL 1200 | n/a | 4 |
ENGL 1201 | College Writing I | View-ENGL 1201 | n/a | 4 |
ENGL 1202 | College Writing II or | View-ENGL 1202 | n/a | 2 |
ENGL 1203 | College Writing II with Workshop | View-ENGL 1203 | n/a | 2 |
SOC 1110 | Introduction to Sociology | View-SOC 1110 | n/a | 3 |
1 course from PSYC1150, PSYC1160 | ||||
PSYC 1150 | General Psychology or | View-PSYC 1150 | n/a | 3 |
PSYC 1160 | Introduction to Psychology | View-PSYC 1160 | n/a | 4 |
Course Title: Introduction to Sociology Goal Areas: 05,07 Credits: 3
Course Description: This course is a study of social and cultural aspects of human behavior. Topics include society and culture, roles and norms, groups and organizations, deviance, inequality, social and cultural change, and research methods.
Course Title: General Psychology Goal Areas: 05 Credits: 3
Course Description: This course provides an overview of topics in psychology. Topics may include history of psychology, research methods, physiological psychology, sensation and perception, consciousness, learning, memory, motivation and emotion, personality, stress and coping, abnormal behavior, therapy, and social psychology. Students are strongly encouraged to check with an advisor to determine if this is the appropriate course for their degree/program. You must meet perquisites or obtain instructor permission to take this course.
Course Title: Introduction to Psychology Goal Areas: 09,05 Credits: 4
Course Description: This course provides an in-depth introduction to psychology. Topics may include history of psychology; research methods; physiological psychology; sensation and perception; consciousness; learning; memory; cognition; motivation; emotion; personality; stress, health and coping; abnormal behavior, therapy; social psychology; human development; sexuality; and gender. Students are strongly encouraged to check with an advisor to determine if this is the appropriate course for their degree/program. You must meet perquisites or obtain instructor permission to take this course.
Course Title: Gateway College Writing Goal Areas: 01 Credits: 4
Course Description: This class provides extended practice in critical reading, writing, and thinking skills. Students will develop an effective writing process and work to achieve college-level competence in reading and responding to texts, visuals, events, and ideas in a variety of written formats, with an emphasis on the academic essay. Audience awareness, interpretation and analysis, logical reasoning, and persuasive and argumentative skills will be developed. MLA style documentation of primary sources will be included.
Course Title: College Writing I Goal Areas: 01 Credits: 4
Course Description: This class provides extended practice in critical reading, writing, and thinking skills. Students will develop an effective writing process and work to achieve college-level competence in reading and responding to texts, visuals, events, and ideas in a variety of written formats, with an emphasis on the academic essay. Audience awareness, interpretation and analysis, logical reasoning, and persuasive and argumentative skills will be developed. MLA style documentation of primary sources will be included.
Course Title: College Writing II Goal Areas: 02,01 Credits: 2
Course Description: This class focuses on the research process, textual analysis of primary and secondary sources, rhetorical strategies for argument and persuasion, and successful integration of sources into a longer academic paper utilizing MLA (or other, as appropriate) documentation format. The class may be disciplinary, interdisciplinary, or topical in content.
Course Title: College Writing II with Workshop Goal Areas: 01,02 Credits: 2
Course Description: This class focuses on the research process, textual analysis of primary and secondary sources, rhetorical strategies for argument and persuasion, and successful integration of sources into a longer academic paper utilizing MLA (or other, as appropriate) documentation format. The class may be disciplinary, interdisciplinary, or topical in content.
Natural Science (Goal Area 3) - 2 courses, 7 credits from 2 different disciplines, one must be a lab course and | ||||
Mathematical/Logical Reasoning (Goal Area 4) - 1 course, at least 3 credits | ||||
Highly Recommended- MATH 1010, 1130, 1140 | ||||
History the Social Behavioral Sciences (Goal Area 5) - 1 course, 3 credits | ||||
Humanities Fine Arts (Goal Area 6) - 3 courses from 2 different disciplines, 9 credits | ||||
Ethical Civic Responsibility (Goal Area 9) - 1 course, at least 3 credits | ||||
Very Highly recommended courses-COMM 1610, COMM1810 | ||||
People the Environment (Goal Area 10) - 1 course, at least 3 credits | ||||
Highly recommended - ANTH 1020, GCST 1040 | ||||
Additional Electives, if needed, to reach 40 total MnTC credits | ||||
Natural Science - 2 courses, 7 credits from 2 different disciplines, one must be a lab course and |
Health Exercise Science - 2 credits |
15 Credits must be earned at NHCC |
Total Credits Required | 60 |
2024-2025
The Communication Studies Transfer Pathway Degree is designed to provide students a broad background in theory and skills development in the study of communication. This program will 1) prepare students to transfer to a baccalaureate program in Communication Studies and 2) prepares students for entry level positions in a variety of careers. The program emphasizes the development of communication skills in presentation, promotion, conflict management, persuasion, debate, and campaign communication.
Minnesota State Universities: Bemidji State University, Metropolitan State University, Minnesota State University Mankato, Minnesota State University Moorhead, Southwest Minnesota State University, St. Cloud State University, Winona State University.
Upon completion of this degree, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate knowledge of the transactional nature of communication and identify the core principles of communication studies. (ELO 1 & 3)
- Demonstrate knowledge of the role of context in the communication of effective self-presentation, audience analysis, and relational maintenance and development. (ELO 1 & 2)
- Effectively structure and deliver oral presentations, including identification of appropriate organizational structure, selection and citation of supporting content, and anticipation and refutation of opposing arguments. (ELO 2 & 4)
- Demonstrate intercultural knowledge and flexibility in communication across a variety of audiences across cultures. (ELO 2 & 3)
Program roadmaps provide students with a guide to understand the recommended course sequence to complete their degree.
Information on careers, including career descriptions, salary data, and employment outlook is available on the Bureau of Labor Statistics website and O*Net Online website.
If you are planning on transferring to another institution, follow the guidelines available on our transfer resources web page to help you plan the process: Transfer Information
The Associate of Arts (A.A.) is awarded for successful completion of 60 credits and is designed to constitute the first two years of a liberal arts bachelor degree program. An A.A. degree includes the entire 40 credit Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MnTC) as the general education requirement. Students may also choose to concentrate in a particular field of study in preparation for a planned major or professional emphasis at a four year college by following the pre major requirement of the desired transfer institution in addition to the MnTC and A.A. requirements.
A student shall:
- Earn a minimum of 60 semester credits.
- Earn a grade point average of 2.00 (C) or higher in courses taken at North Hennepin Community College.
- Earn a minimum of 20 semester credits of the 60 semester credits required for the A.A. Degree at NHCC.
- Complete the general education distribution requirement listed in the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum. The student shall select general education (MnTC) courses numbered 1000 or above to complete a minimum of 40 credits.
- Have four years in which to complete their work under the terms of the catalog in effect at the time of their first enrollment.
- Students taking more than four years to complete their graduation requirements may follow any catalog in effect during the four year period preceding their date of graduation.
Required A.A. Degree Course Distribution:
- Complete 40 credits in the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum satisfying the requirements for each of the 10 goal areas.
- Complete at least 2 credits for the Wellness requirement from either Health (all courses) or Physical Education (all courses).
If the student intends to transfer, he/she is encouraged to work with an advisor to fulfill requirements for transfer to the other institution.
Completion of an A.A. degree fulfills the Goal Area 2 requirement of the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MnTC).
Developmental Courses Some students may need preparatory course(s) in Math and/or English. Courses numbered below 1000 will not apply toward a degree.
Equal Opportunity Employer and Disability Access Information North Hennepin Community College is a member of Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system and an equal opportunity employer and educator. This document is available in alternative formats to individuals with disabilities by calling 7634930555 or through the Minnesota Relay Service at 18006273529.
North Hennepin Community College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org), an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
30 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 2400
Chicago, IL 60602-2504
1-800-621-7440