Bachelor of Communication and Media Studies

We live in a media society, but what exactly does this mean? How does a world, saturated by media images, technologies, and texts, influence how we live and work? How is the ever-changing mediascape affecting our understanding of society and our ability to shape its future? These are some of the fundamental questions that a degree in Communication and Media Studies (BCoMS) will help you to answer.

The Carleton advantage

As a Carleton student, you will choose from courses that cover the past, present, and future of media; the uses and abuses of technology; the economics, politics, and regulation of communication; the media in local and global contexts; the interface between culture, communication, and identities; and the analysis of texts, images, and rhetoric.

Co-op opportunities

Integrating study with practical experience is a powerful formula for creating the media and communication professionals of tomorrow. At the end of your second year, you may be eligible to be placed in a paid communication-related position for four to twelve months. Past employers have included the CBC, the Department of Canadian Heritage and the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC)—the independent agency responsible for regulating Canada’s broadcasting and telecommunications systems. In addition to working in government agencies, students have also benefited from employment opportunities with technology companies, ad agencies, independent media companies, and NGOs.

The capital advantage

Carleton University’s prime Ottawa location places you at the center of Canadian decision making about communication and media policies and regulations. Ottawa is a window to the world: it’s bilingual, vibrant, and is the center of public life in Canada. Studying in the capital city also provides you with access to government policy-makers, public and private agencies, non-governmental organizations, cultural institutions, and world-class research facilities.

The program

Bachelor of Communication and Media Studies (Honors)

The Communication and Media Studies program at Carleton (previously the BA in Communication Studies) is offered as a four-year Honors program.

Year 1

All students in the program are required to take the Introduction to Communication and Media Studies course in the first year, which is designed to orient you to the questions and issues that are the central concerns of the program and which become fully elaborated in your upper years.

Year 2

In the second year, every student will take Introduction to Communication Research. This course provides you with a strong foundation in methodological literacy: what are the common approaches to research that have shaped the field of communication and media studies? How do you design an original research project? What are the common ethical dilemmas that face communication and media researchers today?

Students will also take Theoretical Foundations in Communication and Media Studies. This course builds on the foundational concepts introduced in the first year, and focuses on the field’s major “schools of thought.” It also provides students with a theoretical foundation for understanding the development of communication and media practices, institutions, technologies and regulations, which will prepare them for upper-year courses.

Year 3

In the third year, you will take a small number of required fundamentals courses that cement your expertise and knowledge of the field. Current Issues in Communication and Media Theory explores major theoretical issues with which the field is grappling today. You will also take Quantitative Research in Communication and Qualitative Research in Communication, which builds on the second year “methodological literacy” course.

Your remaining credits will be selected from a wide variety of exciting third-year courses. The choice of courses varies from year to year but will typically explore key issues such as the impact of advertising, marketing and public relations on politics and public life, visual media and communication, globalization, digital technologies, political communication, and media industries, policies, and infrastructures.

Year 4

In the fourth year, you will select one course from a menu of hands-on professional workshops that will prepare you for the job market today. Options include workshops in digital media practice, for example in podcasting or digital photography; data mining and analytics; professional writing and public speaking; public engagement and consultation; and event management and community partnerships. Other courses address a range of topics that reflect current and cutting edge debates in communication and media studies.

First-year experience

First-year BCoMS students are encouraged to include a First-year Seminar (FYSM) in their first-year course load. First-year Seminars will get you away from the lecture hall and give you the chance, in a small class setting, to discuss and debate topics with your classmates and professors. You will also get early and frequent feedback on class assignments and instruction in research, writing and study skills.

Combined Honors

You can combine Sociology, Political Science or most other BA disciplines with Communication and Media Studies for a Combined Honors degree. Students in the Bachelor of Journalism program can combine their studies for a Bachelor of Journalism Combined Honors with Communication and Media Studies.

Minor in Communication and Media Studies

If you are pursuing a BA (General) or BA (Honors) in another discipline, you may choose to complete a minor in Communication and Media Studies.

BGInS specialization

Students who enroll in the Bachelor of Global and International Studies (BGInS) program have the option of selecting a specialization in “Global Media and Communication.” This will provide you with access to a suite of courses in the BCoMS program that focus on key issues, events and debates relevant to global and international studies of media and communication infrastructures, policies, and practices, and how they shape politics, social networks, communities, and identities.

Future opportunities

The workplace

Careers in communication and the media industries are rapidly expanding. Our graduates have rewarding and productive careers in a variety of fields, from advertising and public relations to law, market research, policy development, teaching and more. They work as political advisors to members of parliament; communication strategists with state agencies, NGOs, and corporations; entrepreneurs; and media industry and cultural policy analysts. As a graduate of our program, you will have a solid foundation from which to intervene critically in discussions about the media, its impacts in and across a variety of sectors, and the role communication plays in fostering a more just and equitable society.

Graduate studies

Graduates of our Honors programs are generally well qualified to go on to graduate studies in a variety of fields, including communication, information science, science and technology studies, sociology, anthropology, public policy, legal studies, and political science. If you think that you may wish to pursue an advanced degree, you are encouraged to investigate graduate programs early to ensure that your program is suited to meet the relevant graduate-level requirements.

Professional programs

Many professional programs, including law, teaching, and business (MBA), encourage well-rounded applicants from a variety of backgrounds to apply. Communication and Media Studies provides a strong foundation for such programs, and you are encouraged to pursue interests you may have in these fields after completing your undergraduate degree in our program.

Careers

• Advertising
• Communications
• Education
• Law
• Non-Governmental Organizations
• Policy Analysis
• Public Relations
• Research

What students are saying about Communication and Media Studies

"My interest in the field of public relations quickly led me to discover the Communication and Media Studies program at Carleton. The university’s self-contained campus is the perfect place to study, and the co-op program has allowed me to combine academic training with paid, hands-on work experience. My placements in both the government and private sector have given me experience writing press releases, creating search engine advertising campaigns, and evaluating social media advertisements. Thanks to the skills I gained in the Communication and Media Studies program, I hope to pursue a career as a strategic communications consultant."

Amanda Chouinard, Communication and Media Studies student

Welcome to Carleton University, Canada’s Capital University!

Carleton University, Canada’s Capital University, is a dynamic and innovative university with a strong commitment to teaching, research and learning. Our academic programs, campus community, capital location and global possibilities provide countless opportunities for learning to happen both inside and outside of the classroom.

Carleton University is located in Ottawa, a G7 capital city, which offers opportunities you won’t find anywhere else. Known primarily as the seat of Canada’s federal government, Ottawa is that and so much more. It is home to over 130 embassies and high commissions from around the world, as well as numerous national organizations and museums. A large percentage of Canada’s major medical, clinical and life sciences research centres are located in the Ottawa area, as well as a technology industry comprised of over 1,900 companies.

Ottawa is also one of the most beautiful capitals in the world, with a great number of neighbourhood parks and tranquil green spaces, waterways that wind through the city, and historical and architectural landmarks. The magnificent Gatineau Park, which features 165 km of hiking trails, is located in the National Capital Region.

Situated on a beautiful campus just minutes from downtown, Carleton has earned a reputation as one of the foremost universities in the fields of international affairs, commerce, journalism, and high technology. The wide range of nationally and internationally renowned programs offer the flexibility to choose the degree that suits your interests.

The best learning environments unite theory and practice. Research shows that experiential learning contributes to student engagement, deeper learning, improved academic outcomes, and enhanced work and life skills. At Carleton, we strive to provide students with real-life experiences that bring the classroom to the world and the world to the classroom. We emphasize hands-on research, community engagement, work experience and immersive learning.

Many of our programs feature co-op or practicum options, allowing students to develop their skills in a workplace environment. We also encourage undergraduate research, entrepreneurship initiatives and Community Service Learning. Having the paid "real-world" experience serves to complement all that is taught in the classroom and opens doors of opportunity upon completion of the undergraduate degree.

Carleton has a long history of attracting international students to our welcoming and inclusive campus. Today the university has approximately 4,500 international students from 150 countries, creating a diverse and supportive academic community. We are committed to giving back through education while pursuing contributions to the common good. These founding values are at the heart of the university’s focus on research, community partnerships and teaching excellence.