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Transfer Options
The Mass Communication 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.
Mass Communication Transfer Pathway Curriculum
| Course Code | Title | Course Outlines | Goal Areas | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| COMM 1010 | Fundamentals of Public Speaking and | View-COMM 1010 | n/a | 3 |
| COMM 1310 | Intercultural Communication and | View-COMM 1310 | n/a | 3 |
| COMM 1610 | Introduction to Mass Communication and | View-COMM 1610 | n/a | 3 |
| COMM 2610 | Introduction to Public Relations and Strategic Communication and | View-COMM 2610 | n/a | 3 |
| ENGL 1800 | Introduction to Journalism | View-ENGL 1800 | n/a | 3 |
Course Subject: COMM
Course Number: 1010
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: 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 Subject: COMM
Course Number: 1310
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: 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 Subject: COMM
Course Number: 1610
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 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 Subject: ENGL
Course Number: 1800
Course Title: Introduction to Journalism Goal Areas: 09,01 Credits: 3
Course Description: This course provides an introduction to writing in standard journalism modes, which may include news, features, editorials, sports, reviews, and blogs. Contemporary practices, issues, and ethics of the profession are also covered.
Course Title: Introduction to Journalism Goal Areas: 09,01 Credits: 3
Course Description: This course provides an introduction to writing in standard journalism modes, which may include news, features, editorials, sports, reviews, and blogs. Contemporary practices, issues, and ethics of the profession are also covered.
Course Subject: COMM
Course Number: 2610
Course Title: Introduction to Public Relations and Strategic Communication Goal Areas: 01,09,02 Credits: 3
Course Description: This course examines the principles, evolution, practice, and ethics of strategic communication and public relations. Student will learn to analyze and critique different public relations and strategic communication campaigns across different contexts, cultures, and communities. Students will engage in the campaign creation process through research, message and narrative creation, and evaluation of strategic communication.
Course Title: Introduction to Public Relations and Strategic Communication Goal Areas: 01,09,02 Credits: 3
Course Description: This course examines the principles, evolution, practice, and ethics of strategic communication and public relations. Student will learn to analyze and critique different public relations and strategic communication campaigns across different contexts, cultures, and communities. Students will engage in the campaign creation process through research, message and narrative creation, and evaluation of strategic communication.
| Course Code | Title | Course Outlines | Goal Areas | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ART 1270 | Digital Video Production or | View-ART 1270 | n/a | 3 |
| ART 2561 | Web Design I or | View-ART 2561 | n/a | 3 |
| BUS 1620 | Advertising and Sales Promotion or | View-BUS 1620 | n/a | 3 |
| COMM 1550 | Video Game Entertainment or | View-COMM 1550 | n/a | 3 |
| COMM 1810 | Introduction to Health Communication or | View-COMM 1810 | n/a | 3 |
| TFT 1270 | Digital Video Production | View-TFT 1270 | n/a | 3 |
Course Subject: ART
Course Number: 1270
Course Title: Digital Video Production Goal Areas: 06 Credits: 3
Course Description: This course introduces basic video production concepts and techniques with an emphasis on using the elements of motion and sound as creative artistic tools. Students will critically analyze video in terms of genre, context, meaning, visual language and form and then produce and edit their own short projects that explore creative and experimental applications of the medium rather than the traditional mass communication form. Students are encouraged to use their own computer for editing if possible. Basic knowledge of the computer is helpful.
Course Title: Digital Video Production Goal Areas: 06 Credits: 3
Course Description: This course introduces basic video production concepts and techniques with an emphasis on using the elements of motion and sound as creative artistic tools. Students will critically analyze video in terms of genre, context, meaning, visual language and form and then produce and edit their own short projects that explore creative and experimental applications of the medium rather than the traditional mass communication form. Students are encouraged to use their own computer for editing if possible. Basic knowledge of the computer is helpful.
Course Subject: TFT
Course Number: 1270
Course Title: Digital Video Production Goal Areas: 06 Credits: 3
Course Description: This course introduces basic video production concepts and techniques with an emphasis on using the elements of motion and sound as creative artistic tools. Students will critically analyze video in terms of genre, context, meaning, visual language and form and then produce and edit their own short projects that explore creative and experimental applications of the medium rather than the traditional mass communication form. Students are encouraged to use their own computer for editing if possible. Basic knowledge of the computer is helpful.
Course Title: Digital Video Production Goal Areas: 06 Credits: 3
Course Description: This course introduces basic video production concepts and techniques with an emphasis on using the elements of motion and sound as creative artistic tools. Students will critically analyze video in terms of genre, context, meaning, visual language and form and then produce and edit their own short projects that explore creative and experimental applications of the medium rather than the traditional mass communication form. Students are encouraged to use their own computer for editing if possible. Basic knowledge of the computer is helpful.
Course Subject: COMM
Course Number: 1550
Course Title: Video Game Entertainment Goal Areas: 06,01 Credits: 3
Course Description: This course will examine the development of the video game industry and research on social effects of video game play. Issues discussed include video game violence, effects of gender and cultural representation, visual messages in gaming, pro-social relationships, and emerging technologies in gaming.
Course Title: Video Game Entertainment Goal Areas: 06,01 Credits: 3
Course Description: This course will examine the development of the video game industry and research on social effects of video game play. Issues discussed include video game violence, effects of gender and cultural representation, visual messages in gaming, pro-social relationships, and emerging technologies in gaming.
Course Subject: BUS
Course Number: 1620
Course Title: Advertising and Sales Promotion Goal Areas: n/a Credits: 3
Course Description: This course is a study of the principles and practices of promotion for the business organization. Students will study the components and the interrelationships of the promotional mix: advertising, sales promotion, personal selling, direct marketing, and public relations. Topics include: an integrated marketing communications strategy, creative techniques of advertising, media strategies, and the evaluation of promotional plans.NOTE: Bus 1600 recommended
Course Title: Advertising and Sales Promotion Goal Areas: n/a Credits: 3
Course Description: This course is a study of the principles and practices of promotion for the business organization. Students will study the components and the interrelationships of the promotional mix: advertising, sales promotion, personal selling, direct marketing, and public relations. Topics include: an integrated marketing communications strategy, creative techniques of advertising, media strategies, and the evaluation of promotional plans.NOTE: Bus 1600 recommended
Course Subject: COMM
Course Number: 1810
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 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 Subject: ART
Course Number: 2561
Course Title: Web Design I Goal Areas: n/a Credits: 3
Course Description: This course explores the foundations of interactive design for the (world-wide) web. Using industry-relevant tools, students will learn the fundamentals of designing and building a website. Students will be introduced to the concepts of user interface (UI) design, user experience (UX), and front-end development. Experience with digital photography and image editing (Photoshop) is suggested. Students will demonstrate and incorporate the techniques and theories of web design in design projects, build websites incorporating appropriate file formats, file sizes, functionality, site plan and organizational concepts, develop skill in web design and proficiency using the tools of web design software in design projects, critically and competently evaluate and analyze web projects, creatively solve web design problems and work on a web portfolio.
Course Title: Web Design I Goal Areas: n/a Credits: 3
Course Description: This course explores the foundations of interactive design for the (world-wide) web. Using industry-relevant tools, students will learn the fundamentals of designing and building a website. Students will be introduced to the concepts of user interface (UI) design, user experience (UX), and front-end development. Experience with digital photography and image editing (Photoshop) is suggested. Students will demonstrate and incorporate the techniques and theories of web design in design projects, build websites incorporating appropriate file formats, file sizes, functionality, site plan and organizational concepts, develop skill in web design and proficiency using the tools of web design software in design projects, critically and competently evaluate and analyze web projects, creatively solve web design problems and work on a web portfolio.
| 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 and | View-ENGL 1203 | n/a | 2 |
| PSYC 1150 | General Psychology and | View-PSYC 1150 | n/a | 3 |
| SOC 1110 | Introduction to Sociology and | View-SOC 1110 | n/a | 3 |
| Natural Science - 2 courses, 7 credits from 2 different disciplines, one must be a lab course and | ||||
| Mathematics/Logical Reasoning (Goal Area 4) - 3 credits and | ||||
| History the Social Behavioral Sciences (Goal Area 5) - 3 credits | ||||
| Humanities Fine Arts - 2 courses, 6-9 credits, from at least 2 different disciplines (ART 1050, ART/TFT 1270, ART/COMM 1550, MUSC 1350, MUSC 1370, TFT 1250, TFT 1320) and | ||||
| People the Environment - 3 credits (ANTH 1020 GEOG 1010 Recommended) and | ||||
| Health Exercise Science - 2 credits | ||||
Course Subject: SOC
Course Number: 1110
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: 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 Subject: PSYC
Course Number: 1150
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: 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 Subject: ENGL
Course Number: 1200
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: 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 Subject: ENGL
Course Number: 1201
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 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 Subject: ENGL
Course Number: 1202
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 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 Subject: ENGL
Course Number: 1203
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.
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.
History and the Social and Behavioral Sciences (Goal Area 5) - 3 credits: ANTH1010(3), ANTH1130(3), ANTH1140(3), ECON1050(3), ECON1060(3), ECON1070(3), GCST1501(3), GCST1504(3), GCST1505(3), GCST1964(4), GWS1501(3), GWS1504(3), GWS1505(3), HIST1010(3), HIST1020(3), HIST1030(3), HIST1110(3), HIST1120(3), HIST1130(3), HIST1140(3), HIST1200(3), HIST1210(3), HIST1220(3), HIST1230(3), HIST1240(3), HIST1270(3), HIST1700(3), HIST1800(3), HIST1900(1), HIST2500(3), HIST2600(3), HIST2700(3), POLS1100(3), POLS1140(3), POLS1600(3), POLS1700(3), POLS2130(3), PSYC1110(3), PSYC1150(3), PSYC1160(4), PSYC1165(3), PSYC1170(3), PSYC1210(3), PSYC1220(3), PSYC1250(4), PSYC2110(3), PSYC2320(3), PSYC2330(3), PSYC2340(3), PSYC2350(3), SOC1110(3), SOC1710(3), SOC1750(3), SOC2110(3), SOC2200(3), SOC2210(3), SOC2410(3), SOC2730(3), SOC2750(3)
| Total Credits Required | 60 |
2024-2025
The Mass Communication AA at NHCC helps students develop knowledge and skills to participate in an ever-changing, multidisciplinary media environment. Our program emphasizes the core values of ethics, creativity, cultural diversity, socialization, and representation in the media and prepares students with the foundational skills to continue on to a 4-year degree or enter the workforce in a digital or social media position.
NHCC's Mass Communication program directly transfers to designated bachelor's degree programs at Minnesota State Universities. All courses in the Transfer Pathway associate degree will directly transfer and apply to the designated bachelor's degree programs in a related field.
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
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