Welcome to Carleton and your Bachelor of Communication and Media Studies degree program
Bachelor of Communication and Media Studies
Media and communication are fundamental to the way we live, and vital to nearly every human relationship, industry sector and professional field. The Bachelor of Communication and Media Studies degree provides a strong foundation for understanding the challenges facing contemporary society. Students learn how to evaluate the constant flow of messages from all directions, to understand the past, present and future of media technology and its role in our lives, and how media and communication industries and infrastructures shape the economy, politics, and public life.
The Bachelor of Communication and Media Studies (B.CoMS) degree is a four-year Honours program. Of the 20.0 credits required for the B.CoMS degree, 9.0 credits must be in Communication and Media Studies. Eight of your remaining 11.0 credits must be chosen from disciplines outside Communication and Media Studies. The three remaining credits are free electives.
First Year
All students are required to take COMS 1001 (Foundations in Communication and Media Studies) and COMS 1002 (Current Issues in Communication and Media). These courses will orient you to the fundamental questions and issues that are the central concerns of the program. Students learn about the history and structure of mass media, their relationship to social and cultural change, and basic issues in communication and cultural policy. They also explore and develop a critical understanding of contemporary controversies and ethical dilemmas in communication, such as online privacy and surveillance, the power of propaganda, and the pervasiveness of visual media in our lives.
First year students are encouraged to take a First Year Seminar (FYSM), a small seminar course that only first year students can take. A list of current FYSMs can be viewed at the FYSM webpage.
Digital Media Skills
We also recommend that students take an elective course, COMS 1003 (Digital Media Skills Development), designed to build on and reinforce digital skills and strengthen students’ capacity to navigate and adapt to different digital requirements in courses across our B.CoMS program. Course modules are centred on active, experiential tutorials, alongside practice assignments that address how to make the most of features and functions across a range of apps and digital services. The course also explores data and databases, emerging technologies, productivity software, multiplatform social network technology and responsible use.
Breadth
By the time you graduate, you must show at least one credit from three of the following four groupings of university courses: Culture and Communication; Humanities; Science, Engineering and Design; and Social Sciences. You may select your Breadth courses more appropriately by examining the Breadth section outlined in the Undergraduate Calendar.
Contact
Phone number: 613-520-7408
Email: communication@carleton.ca
Location: 4306 Richcraft Hall
Academic Advising: https://carleton.ca/sjc/communication/undergraduate-studies/help-current-students
Website: http://carleton.ca/sjc/communication/