Communication and Digital Media Studies

General information

The Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Digital Media Studies (Honours) program offers a four-year degree with a high-quality, socially relevant curriculum designed to provide students with a strong foundation in the theory and practice of communication in the 21st century. This program emphasizes digital media and social justice and equity, while providing a broad-based liberal education in communication studies in a range of courses designed to impart professionally relevant communication skills. The curriculum explores crucial developments in human communication, from oral traditions and the emergence of literacy to the development of contemporary social media, with an emphasis on how changes in communication technologies and practices shape culture and society. The courses are designed to help students not only to understand the role of communication in society, but also teach how communication can be employed to promote social justice and equity. Students are given the opportunity to develop communication skills and to relate them to developments in the economy and society, with attention to practical applications in such sectors as corporate communication and social advocacy. The curriculum provides insights into the role of communication in the Canadian and global contexts.

Admission requirements

Admission is competitive. The specific average or standing required for admission varies from year to year. Students are selected by taking into consideration a wide range of criteria including school marks, distribution of subjects taken, and performance in subjects relevant to the academic program. Possession of the minimum requirements does not guarantee acceptance. Preference will be given to applicants with the best qualifications.

Current Ontario secondary school students must complete the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) with six 4U or 4M credits including English (ENG4U). All other applicants should refer to admissions  for the requirements for their specific category of admission.

Practicum

A limited number of fourth year students are granted an opportunity to participate in a learning experience with a community organization. The Practicum course consists of 100 hours of fieldwork, several in-class seminars and a set of academic assignments. The Pre-Practicum course commences in the winter of third year. As part of the Pre-Practicum, students will be expected to acquire a Vulnerable Sector check. For additional information please refer to the course descriptions for SSCI 3098U  and SSCI 4098U .

Program details and degree requirements

The Communication and Digital Media Studies program provides students with a broad understanding of communication. Each year prior to course registration the order and timing of course offerings will be released by the faculty and communicated to students.

To be eligible for the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree in Communication and Digital Media Studies, students must successfully complete 120 credit hours, as outlined in the following program maps.

Year 1 (30 credit hours)

• One general elective* (recommend ALSU 1101U )
• COMM 1100U – Introduction to Communication Studies
• COMM 1320U – Public Speaking
• COMM 1420U – Living Digitally
• CRMN 1000U – Introduction to Criminal Justice
• LGLS 1000U – Foundations of Legal Studies
• POSC 1000U – Introduction to Political Science
• PSYC 1000U – Introductory Psychology
• SOCI 1000U – Introductory Sociology
• SSCI 1910U – Writing for the Social Sciences

Year 2 (30 credit hours)

• One general elective*
• One Communication approved elective⁺
• COMM 2110U – Communication Theory: Keyworks
• COMM 2210U – Researching Communication and Digital Culture
• COMM 2220U – The Media in Canada
• COMM 2311U – Writing and Publishing in the Digital Age
• COMM 2410U – History of Communication Technology
• COMM 2411U – Media and Information Policy
• COMM 2530U – Advertising and Society
• COMM 2620U – Interpersonal Communication

+Communication approved electives:

Must take one of:

• COMM 2230U – Screen Studies
• COMM 2240U – Television
• COMM 2270U – Entertainment Goes Global
• COMM 2310U – Advanced Professional Writing and Editing
• LGLS 2500U – Information and Privacy Law
• SSCI 2900U – Research Methods
• SSCI 2910U – Data Analysis
• SSCI 2920U – Qualitative Research Methods

• Note: Not all of the listed electives will be offered every year.

Year 3 (30 credit hours)

• Three general electives*
• One Communication approved elective⁺⁺
• COMM 3110U – Communication Ethics
• COMM 3250U – Pop Culture
• COMM 3410U – Digital Media Storytelling
• COMM 3510U – Work in the Information Age
• COMM 3610U – Persuasion
• COMM 3710U – Intercultural Communication

++Communication approved electives:

Must take one of:

• COMM 3310U – Communication, Communities and Social Change
• COMM 3720U – Communicating Identities
• COMM 3740U – From Pong to Pokémon GO: Digital Games Studies
• LGLS 3510U – Censorship and Freedom of Expression
• LGLS 3520U – Law and Technology
• LGLS 3530U – Intellectual Property

• Note: Not all of the listed electives will be offered every year.

Year 4 (30 credit hours)

• One general elective*
• Two Communication approved electives⁺⁺⁺
• COMM 4261U – Tweet, Friend and Follow Me: Understanding Social Media
• COMM 4420U – Digital Media, Politics and Democracy
• COMM 4510U – Public Relations
• COMM 4610U – Communication and Conflict Resolution
• COMM 4710U – International Communication

• One of:

• COMM 4120U – Contemporary Issues in Communication or
• SSCI 4101U – Honours Thesis I

• One of:

• COMM 4130U – Capstone Project or
• SSCI 4102U – Honours Thesis II

+++Communication approved electives:

• COMM 4140U – Visual Rhetoric
• COMM 4210U – Special Topics
• COMM 4530U – Research within Communities: Alternative Methods for Social Sciences
• CRMN 4032U – Criminal Justice Mediation
• LGLS 4010U – Communication Law and Policy
• POSC 4000U – International Politics and Policy
• SSCI 4098U – Practicum

• Note: Not all of the listed electives will be offered every year.

Electives

*General electives

General electives can be taken at/or adjoining their year level, where permission has been granted and prerequisites have been fulfilled. No more than six 1000-level elective courses can be included.

⁺Communication approved electives

See each separate year for listings of options. Courses from adjoining years can be chosen with permission of the academic advisor. Communication electives may be chosen as general electives. 

Note: Not all of the listed electives will be offered every year.

SSCI 4101U and SSCI 4102U Honours Thesis I and II

In order to be considered for the Honours Thesis I students must apply during their sixth semester to begin their Honours Thesis I  in semester seven. The course application must include a detailed statement of intent outlining the methodology, theoretical significance and the projected timelines for completion of the project. To proceed to Honours Thesis II  a student must have successfully completed Honours Thesis I with a minimum A- and prepare a written statement outlining the projected timelines for completion of the project.

Please note: only a limited number of applicants will be admitted to the Honours Thesis. Consent is required from both the instructor and the dean.