Program Overview

Program Overview

The University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) offers a minor and extended minor in Media and Communication Studies as part of a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. This program allows students to enhance their creative skills by studying the links between media, communication, and society, and complement their creative practice with a deep understanding of how people engage with media.

Program Structure

• Students can combine their minor or extended minor in Media and Communication Studies with a major in Visual Arts.
• Alternatively, students can take a double minor or extended minor in Creative Writing, Graphic Design, or Theatre.

Course Content

• Explore the complex worlds of mass media, advertising, and pop culture, from traditional forms to new media.
• Investigate how various forms of communications and media impact your life and the world around you.
• Learn how to target audiences with impactful messages.

Practical Experience

• Gain real-world experience by volunteering with CIVL radio, UFV's student radio station.
• Get published by becoming a contributor to the Cascade, UFV student newspaper.
• Take advantage of optional paid work placements with the UFV Co-operative Education program or an unpaid practicum to graduate with real work experience, a network of contacts, and references for other employment or graduate school.

Career Outlook

• A BFA with a minor or extended minor in Media and Communication Studies can help you find work with design or marketing agencies, copywriting firms, publishers, community organizations, and production companies.
• You may also work in gaming, web design, interactive media, creative writing, film production, or public relations.
• Alternatively, you may opt to pursue graduate studies.

Industry Trends

• The motion pictures and video industry is booming, with annual revenues for film, TV, and digital media adding up to $3.4 billion (Creative BC).
• The interactive and digital media sector is one of the fastest growing in B.C., at a rate of 11% per year (Creative BC).
• The industry features average salaries of $84K and $2.3 billion in sales (Creative BC).
• WorkBC lists advertising, marketing, and public relations jobs as top opportunity occupations, with median salaries of $30.77 an hour — going up to $33.65 an hour for managers — and 6,900 openings expected in B.C. from now to 2025.