The Communication and Media Studies program supports a number of options for Carleton students: select our flagship Bachelor of Communication and Media Studies (B.CoMS) degree as your major; add work placements to your degree in the Co-operative Education program; combine Communication and Media Studies with another discipline as a Combined Honours degree or a minor; or take the Global Media and Communication specialization if you have registered in the Bachelor of Global and International Studies (BGInS) program.

Bachelor of Communication and Media Studies (B.CoMS) Honours

  • Four-year, 20-credit program.
  • Of the 20.0 credits required, nine credits must be in Communication and Media Studies.
  • Eight of the remaining 11.0 credits are from disciplines outside Communication and Media Studies.
  • The three remaining credits are free electives.

Year 1

  • All students are introduced to fundamental concerns of the program through COMS 1001: Foundations in Communication and Media Studies and COMS 1002: Current Issues in Communication and Media.
  • First-year B.CoMS students may also take a First-year Seminar (FYSM). These seminars will get you out of the lecture hall and into a small class and will focus on preparing you for success in all of your university courses by teaching skills in research, writing, and public speaking, among others.

Check out this video on what COMS students can expect in their first year.

Year 2

  • Required: 1.0 credit in COMS 2003: Theoretical Foundations in Communication and Media Studies and COMS 2004: Introduction to Communication Research.

Years 3 and 4

  • Take more advanced courses in Communication and Media Studies.
  • Continue to build research skills, study theory, explore debates in the field, and gain experience in courses that provide hands-on training in areas such as digital media practice and data mining and analytics.
  • Honours Research Essay: Available to 4th-year B.CoMS Honours students with a 10 GPA or higher.
    • Conduct independent and original research, supervised by a faculty member. Please contact the Undergraduate Supervisor if you are interested in this opportunity and meet the GPA requirement.

Further Details

Co-operative Education

Co-operative Education provides students with opportunities to develop professional skills and experience, explore career options, and graduate with meaningful workplace experience. Check out the Top Ten reasons to choose Carleton’s Co-op program.

Co-op work terms are paid, full-time, positions in a professional setting in the field of communication and media. Our students have placements with the provincial and federal governments, in private industry, university departments, and the media industry. Positions include roles such as communication analyst, marketing associate, outreach and communications officer, project manager, web developer, marketing and communications specialist, social media analyst, and broadcast media assistant.

Students admitted to the Co-op program begin their first work term placement on completion of year two (with a minimum of 10 credits completed) in the B.CoMS program. Students must maintain a GPA of 9.0 to participate in Co-op. Work terms are normally four months in duration and students must complete three work terms. Please visit the Co-operative Education website for detailed information.

Combined Honours

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

Minor in Communication and Media Studies

If you are not majoring in the B.CoMS program, but are pursuing a BA (General) or BA (Honours) in another discipline, you may choose to complete a minor in Communication and Media Studies.

BGInS (Global Media and Communication)

Students in the Bachelor of Global and International Studies (BGInS) program may elect to complete the Specialization in Global Media and Communication.

In addition to completing core courses in BGInS and CoMS, you will explore global media and communication in historical and contemporary contexts, drawing on a range of perspectives that will provide the knowledge and skills necessary for working in global and international settings as communicators, researchers, analysts or advocates. For more information about the BGInS program, please visit their site.

Bachelor of Arts (Communication Studies)

This program is no longer offered to new students. However, if you are continuing in the Bachelor of Arts Communication Studies degree please see the archived calendar for Communication Studies program requirements. For specific questions, please visit the Student Resources page for information about how to get help.

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