Understanding how and why the media work is a critical skill for the twenty-first century. For over forty years, Carleton University’s Communication and Media Studies program has trained informed, effective communicators who work in virtually every sector of the economy. Meet our faculty and explore our undergraduate and graduate programs.
News
Events
Sorry, there are no upcoming events.
Message from the Co-Director
Prof. Liam Cole Young, Co-Director of the School of Journalism and Communication and Program Head, Communication and Media Studies
Welcome to COMS at Carleton University, one of Canada’s longest standing and most highly regarded communication and media programs. Our exceptional staff and faculty have provided generations of students with a world class education and student experience for almost fifty years.
Established in 1978 as a degree in “Mass Communication,” our program has been on the cutting edge of interdisciplinary scholarship and teaching in media, communication, culture, and technology ever since. The program was reimagined as Canada’s first Bachelor of Communication and Media Studies degree in 2016 and continues to house a dynamic faculty whose members help shape debates in our field and in public life. Scholarship and teaching in COMS are academically rigourous and public-facing, and I encourage you to browse our faculty members’ profile pages to learn more about what we do.
Our students acquire transferrable skills that help them enter the workforce in almost every sector of the economy. They learn to navigate noisy media environments, apply critical reasoning to complex problems, and develop their learning and skills in ways they can apply in their communities.
With an eye to helping students be even more career ready, in 2026-27 we will launch three exciting new B.CoMS degree concentrations in
- Government and Professional Communication
- Media and Entertainment Industries
- Public Engagement and Civic Culture
These optional concentrations will provide students with structured pathways through our program and a new tool to tailor their studies according to specific areas of interest or career growth.
COMS also houses vibrant MA and Ph.D. programs. These attract leading early career scholars and provide an exciting space for exploring communication and media from a variety of intellectual and practice-based approaches.
Located in Canada’s capital city, COMS offers unparalleled access to public, private, and non-profit institutions. This proximity leads to many rich and diverse opportunities for our students both during and after their studies.
I was honoured to take up the positions of COMS Program Head and Co-Director of the School of Journalism and Communication after a decade working in this vibrant intellectual environment, and I’m excited to see what the future holds for our community.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out to learn more about our program.
Warmly,
Liam Cole Young
Program Head, Communication and Media Studies
Co-Director, School of Journalism and Communication