SoC Distribution Requirement Substitution Petition

To earn a degree in the School of Communication, students must complete 18 units of credit outside the department, including units of credit from each of the three School of Communication distribution areas:


  • Math, Science, and Technology (MST)


  • Individual and Social Behavior (ISB)


  • Humanities and Fine Arts (HFA)


Distribution courses are primarily outside the School of Communication, except for a small number of Communication Science and Disorders courses which may be used to satisfy the MST distribution category for students not majoring or minoring in Human Communication Sciences.


The current Distribution categories, approved courses, and policies can be found on the SoC Distribution Courses website.


In some circumstances, students may request to apply Northwestern courses not on the approved lists to fulfill a Distribution requirement. Please note that certain types of courses may not be used in such substitutions, including college seminars and first-year writing seminars, senior thesis seminars, independent study & research courses, and professional linkage seminars. Courses in a language other than English, in which the focus is primarily on basic language skills (speaking, writing, or grammar, for example) should also not be proposed for substitutions.


Note: Study abroad courses follow a different procedure, which can be found on the Study Abroad Credit Articulate website.

Student Information

Advisor Information

To submit this petition, you must meet with your advisor to discuss your request.

Academic Advisor*
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You may not submit this form until you've scheduled a meeting with your advisor.

Course Information

A student may request a course satisfy a Distribution requirement for the following reasons:


Course without Distribution Area


Some non-SoC courses, especially new or recently-created courses, may not have been assigned a distribution area. If you've taken a course that does not have an associated SoC distribution area, you may use this petition to request it fulfill the area with which its description and learning outcomes best align.


Combined sections


Sometimes two courses are taught in one combined class, and a course not formally approved for a requirement credit is co-listed with one that is. You will only automatically receive requirement credit associated with your course of enrollment. You must submit a request to receive the credit associated with the co-listed course. If the courses are approved in different Distribution categories, you may not apply that unit of credit to both categories at the same time.


Course closely aligns with a Distribution area where it is not currently counted.


A course may occasionally align with the description and learning outcomes of a Distribution area but not be included in the approved list of subjects or courses for that area. In such cases, after carefully reviewing the Distribution area descriptions, you may petition to have the course counted in a different area.


Please enter the information of the course you are petitioning to fulfill a distribution requirement below.

Course Quarter*

E.g., 2024-2025

Distribution Area Currently Being Satisfied*
Distribution Area for which you are Petitioning*
Petition Basis*

Please see above for an explanation of each basis.


Please note that certain types of courses may not be used in such substitutions, including college seminars and first-year writing seminars, senior thesis seminars, independent study & research courses, and professional linkage seminars. Courses in a language other than English, in which the focus is primarily on basic language skills (speaking, writing, or grammar, for example) should also not be proposed for substitutions.

Why should this course fulfill the distribution requirement you've selected. Please be detailed and specific.

Please share the syllabus for the class for which you are petitioning.

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