Creativity, Digital Arts and Entertainment Industries

Program Overview

Ontario Tech University's Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Digital Media Studies - Creativity, Digital Arts and Entertainment Industries program explores the intersection of creativity, business, law, and technology. It emphasizes the digital arts and entertainment industries, preparing students for careers in communication, media, and the creative sector. The program's curriculum includes courses in communication theory, research, ethics, strategic communication, audience studies, and digital media production.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

Overview:

The Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Digital Media Studies (CDMS) - Creativity, Digital Arts and Entertainment Industries program at Ontario Tech University explores creativity and its intersection with business and entrepreneurship, law, politics and policy, and new technology. This specialized program focuses on the digital arts and entertainment industries in relation to the social environment that shapes them. Students will learn about the political economy of the creative industries, the legal, policy, and regulatory environment that supports and sometimes stymies what digital media creators do and say on the internet, and how to design and communicate ideas, images, and stories to resonate with audiences and have a social impact.

Objectives:

The program's high-quality and socially relevant curriculum provides a strong foundation in the theory, research, analysis, and professional practice of communication and digital media, with an emphasis on creativity, digital arts, and entertainment industries. The program aims to open pathways to thousands of new and emerging 21st-century careers.

Outline:

Program Content:

The program covers various aspects of communication and digital media studies, including:

• The creative industries: ideas, art, tech, money, power
• Researching communication and digital culture
• Communication ethics: making media for the social good
• Strategic communications for influence: rhetoric, persuasion, and propaganda
• Knowing your audience: audience studies for media professionals and creators
• Capstone creator project
• The media, creativity, and culture in Canada
• Television
• Entertainment goes global: from Hollywood to the world
• Advertising as social communication
• Science communication: media for creative, fun, and effective STEM communication
• Pop culture and entertainment
• Communication for social change, community, and development
• Environmental communication: media and tech for sustainability
• Designing hits: storytelling in the digital age
• Work in the creative and tech industries
• Media, identity, and intercultural communication
• Video games, media, and culture
• AI, ethics, and communication
• Ways of seeing: visual communication arts and new media
• Special topics in communication and digital media studies
• Online creator-entrepreneurs: YouTubers, influencers, and streamers
• Political communication, digital media, and democracy
• Public relations: social power, social media platforms, and social responsibility
• Media activism and protest cultures
• The struggle is real: transformation for communication, conflict, and peace
• Global media, the internet, and international relations
• Media, war, and conflict

Course Schedule:

The program typically follows a four-year course schedule, with each year consisting of two semesters. The specific course schedule for each year may vary, but students can expect to take a combination of core courses, elective courses, and experiential learning opportunities.

Individual Modules with Descriptions:

• COMM 1100U - Introduction to Communication and Digital Media Studies: This course provides an overview of the field of communication and digital media studies, including its history, theories, and methods.
Students will learn about the different types of communication media, the impact of digital technologies on communication, and the ethical implications of communication in the digital age.
• COMM 1320U - Public Speaking and Multimedia Presentation for Web 3.0: This course introduces students to the principles and practices of public speaking and multimedia presentation in the context of Web 3.0.
Students will learn how to develop and deliver effective presentations using a variety of digital tools and technologies.
• COMM 1420U - Living Digitally: Social Media, Culture & Society: This course examines the impact of social media on our lives, culture, and society.
Students will learn about the different types of social media platforms, how they are used, and the effects they have on our relationships, identities, and social interactions.
• SSCI 1910U - Writing for the Social Sciences: This course introduces students to the principles and practices of academic writing in the social sciences.
Students will learn how to write clear, concise, and persuasive essays, research papers, and other academic documents.
• CRMN 1000U - Introduction to Criminology and Justice: This course provides an overview of the field of criminology and justice, including its history, theories, and methods.
Students will learn about the different types of crime, the causes of crime, and the criminal justice system.
• LGLS 1000U - Foundations of Legal Studies: This course introduces students to the fundamental principles of law and the legal system.
Students will learn about the different types of法律, the structure of the legal system, and the role of law in society.
• POSC 1000U - Introduction to Political Science: This course provides an overview of the field of political science, including its history, theories, and methods.
Students will learn about the different types of political systems, the causes of political conflict, and the role of politics in society.
• POSC 1200U - Introduction to Democracy in Theory & Practice: This course examines the concept of democracy, its history, and its different forms.
Students will learn about the different theories of democracy, the challenges to democracy, and the prospects for democracy in the 21st century.
• PSYC 1000U - Introductory Psychology: This course provides an overview of the field of psychology, including its history, theories, and methods.
Students will learn about the different areas of psychology, the different types of psychological research, and the applications of psychology to everyday life.
• COMM 2110U - Communication and Digital Media Theory: Keyworks: This course introduces students to the key theories and concepts in communication and digital media studies.
Students will learn about the different ways that communication and digital media have been theorized, and they will apply these theories to analyze real-world examples of communication and digital media.
• COMM 2210U - Researching Communication and Digital Culture: This course introduces students to the methods of research used in communication and digital media studies.
Students will learn how to design and conduct research studies, and they will apply these methods to analyze real-world examples of communication and digital media.
• COMM 2311U - The Creative Industries: Ideas, Art, Tech, Money, Power: This course examines the creative industries, including film, television, music, and video games.
Students will learn about the history of the creative industries, the different types of creative industries, and the economic and social impact of the creative industries.
• COMM 2410U - Social History of Communication and Media Technologies: This course examines the social history of communication and media technologies, from the invention of the printing press to the rise of the internet.
Students will learn about the ways that communication and media technologies have shaped our societies and cultures.
• COMM 2411U - Governing Communication and Digital Creativity: Policy for an era of Digital Disruption: This course examines the policy and regulatory environment that governs communication and digital creativity.
Students will learn about the different types of communication and digital media policies, the challenges of regulating communication and digital creativity in the digital age, and the prospects for future policy development.
• COMM 2620U - Professional Communication: This course introduces students to the principles and practices of professional communication.
Students will learn how to write, speak, and present effectively in a variety of professional settings.
• COMM 3110U - Communication Ethics: Making Media for the Social Good: This course examines the ethical issues that arise in communication and digital media.
Students will learn about the different ethical theories, the challenges of applying ethical principles to real-world situations, and the role of communication and digital media in promoting social good.
• COMM 3610U - Strategic Communications for Influence: Rhetoric, Persuasion, and Propaganda: This course examines the principles and practices of strategic communication for influence.
Students will learn about the different types of strategic communication, the challenges of developing and implementing effective strategic communication campaigns, and the role of strategic communication in shaping public opinion and policy.
• COMM 3720U - Knowing Your Audience: Audience Studies for Media Professionals and Creators: This course introduces students to the principles and practices of audience studies.
Students will learn how to conduct audience research, analyze audience data, and develop audience-centered communication and digital media content.
• COMM 4130U - Capstone Creator Project: This course provides students with an opportunity to develop and implement a creative project that combines their knowledge and skills in communication and digital media studies.
Students will work with a faculty mentor to develop their project, which may take the form of a film, video game, website, or other creative work.
• COMM 2220U - The Media, Creativity and Culture in Canada: This course examines the role of media in Canadian culture.
Students will learn about the history of Canadian media, the different types of Canadian media, and the impact of Canadian media on Canadian culture and identity.
• COMM 2240U - Television: This course examines the history, theory, and practice of television.
Students will learn about the different types of television programs, the different ways that television is produced, and the impact of television on society.
• COMM 2270U - Entertainment Goes Global: from Hollywood to the World: This course examines the globalization of the entertainment industry.
Students will learn about the different ways that entertainment is produced, distributed, and consumed around the world, and the impact of globalization on the entertainment industry.
• COMM 2530U - Advertising as Social Communication: This course examines the role of advertising in society.
Students will learn about the different types of advertising, the different ways that advertising is produced, and the impact of advertising on society.
• LBAT 2413U - Science Communication: Media for creative, fun, and effective STEM communication: This course introduces students to the principles and practices of science communication.
Students will learn how to communicate scientific information to a variety of audiences, using a variety of media.
• COMM 3250U - Pop Culture and Entertainment: This course examines the role of pop culture in society.
Students will learn about the different types of pop culture, the different ways that pop culture is produced, and the impact of pop culture on society.
• COMM 3310U - Communication for Social Change, Community and Development: This course examines the role of communication in social change, community development, and international development.
Students will learn about the different ways that communication can be used to promote social change, and they will apply these principles to real-world case studies.
• COMM 3350U - Environmental Communication: Media and Tech for Sustainability: This course examines the role of communication in environmental sustainability.
Students will learn about the different ways that communication can be used to promote environmental sustainability, and they will apply these principles to real-world case studies.
• COMM 3410U - Designing Hits: Storytelling in the Digital Age: This course examines the principles and practices of storytelling in the digital age.
Students will learn about the different types of storytelling, the different ways that stories are told in the digital age, and the impact of storytelling on society.
• COMM 3510U - Work in the Creative and Tech Industries: This course examines the different types of careers in the creative and tech industries.
Students will learn about the different skills and knowledge required for different careers, and they will develop a career plan for their own future.
• COMM 3710U - Media, Identity and Intercultural Communication: This course examines the role of media in shaping our identities and our relationships with others.
Students will learn about the different ways that media represent different cultures, and they will explore the challenges and opportunities of intercultural communication in the digital age.
• COMM 3740U - Video Games, Media and Culture: This course examines the role of video games in media and culture.
Students will learn about the history of video games, the different types of video games, and the impact of video games on society.
• COMM 4120U - AI.
Ethics and Communication: This course examines the ethical issues that arise in the development and use of artificial intelligence (AI). Students will learn about the different ethical theories, the challenges of applying ethical principles to real-world situations, and the role of communication in promoting ethical AI development and use.
• COMM 4140U - Ways of Seeing: Visual Communication Arts and New Media: This course examines the principles and practices of visual communication arts and new media.
Students will learn about the different types of visual communication arts, the different ways that visual communication arts are produced, and the impact of visual communication arts on society.
• COMM 4210U - Special Topics in Communication and Digital Media Studies: This course provides students with an opportunity to explore a specific topic in communication and digital media studies in depth.
The topic of the course will vary from year to year, depending on the interests of the instructor.
• COMM 4261U - Online Creator-Entrepreneurs: YouTubers, Influencers, and Streamers: This course examines the rise of online creator-entrepreneurs, such as YouTubers, influencers, and streamers.
Students will learn about the different types of online creator-entrepreneurs, the different ways that they make money, and the impact of online creator-entrepreneurs on society.
• COMM 4420U - Political Communication, Digital Media and Democracy: This course examines the role of political communication in democracy.
Students will learn about the different types of political communication, the different ways that political communication is used to influence public opinion and policy, and the challenges and opportunities of political communication in the digital age.
• COMM 4510U - Public Relations: Social Power, Social Media Platforms, and Social Responsibility: This course examines the role of public relations in society.
Students will learn about the different types of public relations, the different ways that public relations is used to manage public opinion and reputation, and the challenges and opportunities of public relations in the digital age.
• COMM 4530U - Media Activism and Protest Cultures: This course examines the role of media in activism and protest cultures.
Students will learn about the different ways that media is used to support activism and protest, and the challenges and opportunities of media activism in the digital age.
• COMM 4610U - The Struggle is Real: Transformation for Communication, Conflict, and Peace: This course examines the role of communication in conflict and peacebuilding.
Students will learn about the different ways that communication can be used to promote conflict resolution and peacebuilding, and the challenges and opportunities of communication in conflict and peacebuilding.
• COMM 4710U - Global Media, the Internet and International Relations: This course examines the role of global media and the internet in international relations.
Students will learn about the different ways that global media and the internet are used to shape international relations, and the challenges and opportunities of global media and the internet in international relations.
• POSC 3751U - Media, War and Conflict: This course examines the role of media in war and conflict.
Students will learn about the different ways that media is used to cover war and conflict, the impact of media on war and conflict, and the challenges and opportunities of media in war and conflict.

Assessment:

The program utilizes various assessment methods to evaluate student learning, including:

• Exams: Written or oral exams to assess students' knowledge and understanding of the course material.
• Essays: Written assignments that require students to research and analyze a specific topic or issue.
• Projects: Creative or research-based projects that allow students to apply their knowledge and skills to real-world scenarios.
• Presentations: Oral presentations where students demonstrate their communication and presentation abilities.
• Participation: Active involvement in class discussions, workshops, and other learning activities.

Teaching:

The program employs diverse teaching methods to facilitate student learning, such as:

• Lectures: Instructor-led presentations of course material.
• Seminars: Small-group discussions and workshops to promote critical thinking and engagement.
• Tutorials: Smaller group sessions that provide individualized support and guidance.
• Workshops: Hands-on activities and skill-building exercises.
• Guest speakers: Presentations from industry professionals or experts in the field.

Careers:

The program prepares graduates for a wide range of careers in the communication and digital media industries, including:

• Advertising and marketing
• Public relations
• Journalism
• Social media management
• Content creation
• Digital marketing
• Entertainment
• Media production
• Creative industries
• Non-profit organizations
• Government communications