The Bachelor of Arts (Communication Studies) program

What shape does communication take in today’s world? How do we define the media in an everchanging technoscape? Do the media threaten society or strengthen it? Does anyone control the media? Is it possible to influence audiences? How do we interpret information? Can we imagine alternative ways of organizing our patterns of communication? Communication Studies addresses these questions, as it critically examines the role and development of communication in modern society.

As a student in this program, you will choose from courses that cover the past, present and future of communication; 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, stats, images and rhetoric.

The capital advantage

Carleton University’s prime Ottawa location places you at the centre of Canadian decision making on communication policies and regulations. It also offers you unparalleled access to government policymakers, public and private agencies, hearings, lobby groups and outstanding research facilities.

When you graduate from our program, you will have a solid foundation in communication studies, allowing you to assess critically and to intervene effectively in the society where you live.

The Carleton advantage

Co-op opportunities

Integrating study with practical experience is a powerful formula for creating the professionals of tomorrow. Vigorous academic study, combined with applied leading-edge skills, give Carleton students a marketable advantage when they graduate. As a second- or third-year Honours student, 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.

Choosing the right program

Bachelor of Arts (Honours)

The Communication Studies program at Carleton, which was formerly called the Mass Communication program, is offered as a four-year Honours program.
Nine of the 20.0 credits required for the Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree must be in Communication Studies.

All students in the program are required to take the Introduction to Communication Studies (COMM 1101) course in 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 senior years. This course focuses on the role of communication in contemporary society and introduces the philosophical and theoretical concerns that underpin the study of communication.

Eight of your remaining 11.0 credits must be chosen from disciplines outside Communication Studies.

In second year, you will need to take Communication Research (COMM 2001). This course will provide you with important statistical and qualitative research tools appropriate to the scientific investigation of communication, including public opinion, image management and audience measurement.

Communication Studies: Theories and Foundations (COMM 2101) is also required in second year. This course builds on the concepts introduced in first year, emphasizing the development of communication institutions and theories. In this course, you will develop an understanding of the economic, political and social interplay between communication institutions and other industries, governments and legal and regulatory structures.

In your third year, you will take 1.0 credit in a required theoretical course. You can choose from Image, Politics and Persuasion (COMM 3106) or Media Industries and Institutions (COMM 3108) or Communication and Identity (COMM 3109). Each one of these courses provides an understanding of the major assumptions and ideas that have contributed to our understanding of the relevant aspects of communication.

You will then choose five other credits from a list of available Communication Studies courses.

A partial list includes:

• Media in a Global Context (COMM 3405)
• Advertising: A Critical Perspective (COMM 3308)
• Media and Gender (COMM 3601)

In fourth year, there are no required courses. Instead, students choose from a broad menu of courses covering special topics that change fairly frequently.

Concentrations

A new feature of the program is the option of pursuing one of three concentrations beginning in your third year. Course selection in your senior years will then depend on which of the following three concentrations you have chosen:

Image, Politics and Persuasion examines the place of communication in aspects of social life such as marketing, advertising, public relations, politics, conflict and community.

Media Industries and Institutions addresses issues of technology, regulation, entertainment and other facets of media operations, in Canada and internationally.

Communication and Identity examines the relationship of communication to topics including nation, gender, children, race and diaspora.

Combined Honours

If you are in the Communication Studies program, you can combine Sociology, Political Science, Economics or most other disciplines with Communication Studies for a Combined Honours degree. Students in the Bachelor of Journalism program can combine their studies in Journalism and Communication Studies for a Bachelor of Journalism Combined Honours.

A Combined Honours degree requires 20.0 credits.

You must have 7.0 credits in Communication Studies and you must meet the requirements of the other discipline. The remaining credits are free electives or credits not in the two disciplines pursued.

Minor in Communication Studies

If you are not majoring in Communication Studies but are pursuing a BA (General) or BA (Honours) in another discipline, you may choose to complete a minor in Communication Studies. For the minor, you will need 4.0 required credits in Communication Studies.

Your first-year experience

First-year Seminar

First-year BA students are strongly 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 of no more than 30, to discuss and debate topics with your classmates and your professors. You will also get early and frequent feedback on class assignments and instruction in research, writing and study skills. Although some FYSMs count as courses leading to a major, you do not have to choose a FYSM in your major discipline. See the Carleton University Undergraduate Calendar at carleton.ca/cuuc for a complete listing and a description of the First-year Seminars (FYSMs) offered.

A sample first year

• 1.0 credit in Introduction to Communication
  Studies (COMM 1101)
• 1.0 credit in Introduction to Political Science
  (PSCI 1000)
• 1.0 credit in Europe in the 20th Century
  (HIST 1002)
• 1.0 credit in a First-year Seminar
• 1.0 credit in a second language

Future opportunities

The workplace

Communication industries are major growth areas.

Globalized media markets and audiences, image management, international trade agreements and public opinion formation are only some of the areas that require skilled workers with an understanding of the structure and context of modern communication.

Since part of the success of major corporations is linked to communication in terms of promotion and public image, those educated in the intricacies and complexities of communication are in increasing demand.

Graduates of Carleton’s communication studies program have found employment in such areas as:

• communication research
• public policy
• audience measurement
• advertising and public relations

Graduate studies

Graduates of any of our Honours programs in Communication Studies are generally well qualified to go on to graduate studies in a variety of fields, including communication, sociology, anthropology, Canadian studies and political science.

If you think that you may wish to pursue an advanced degree, you are encouraged to investigate graduate programs early in order 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 wellrounded applicants from a variety of backgrounds to apply.

Communication Studies will provide a strong foundation for such programs, and you are encouraged to pursue interests you may have in these fields after completing an undergraduate degree in Communication Studies.

FAQs

1. Why would I choose an Honours program?
Honours or four-year programs have many advantages including offering more courses in your chosen field and access to co-op and internship opportunities where available, as well as preparing you for graduate studies, professional programs and employment.

2. When do I have to declare a major?
You will need to choose a major by the end of your first year. Course registration is generally easier for students who have declared a major, so even if you are not 100 per cent certain, it is best to choose a major upfront and change it later if you need to.

3. Where can I go for academic advice?
Once you are studying at Carleton, you can consult the Undergraduate Supervisor for Communication Studies in the School of Journalism and Communication, as well as visit our Student Academic Success Centre (SASC). SASC offers a range of services including academic advising and free study-skill development workshops. Friendly academic advisors are available by appointment year-round to assist you with your educational planning needs.

International Exchange Program

Undergraduates may also register in the International Exchange Program. It sends approximately 5 students per year to complete a term of study at a university in one of several countries (England, Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, etc.). The Exchanges are also highly competitive and may not accept everyone. Contact Carleton International for application procedures and partner universities.

Continuation Requirements

Some students may be admitted to second year if they transfer from another university or another department if they have an overall CGPA of A- (80%) or better. Such transfers, however, are rare, are based solely on academic qualifications, and may depend upon the availability of spaces.