Program Overview

Introduction to the Communication and Media Studies Program

The Communication and Media Studies program offers students a comprehensive liberal education with the opportunity to specialize in various fields of study. This program explores the complex world of communications, its dynamics, and its impact on contemporary societies and cultures. Students will gain the knowledge to communicate ideas effectively to a variety of audiences and investigate communication across a range of media, including speech, writing, and digital media.

Program Details

• The Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication and Media Studies is offered as either a B.A. or B.A. (Honours), both requiring the completion of 120 units and normally four years of full-time study.
• As a Communication and Media Studies graduate, students will be prepared for career opportunities in areas such as the civil service, the non-profit sector, and the business world.
• A degree in Communication and Media Studies can also be used as a stepping-stone to graduate studies or another professional degree such as law, medicine, veterinary medicine, or education.

Courses Required in the First Year

• Fall semester:
  • Communications and Media Studies 201 or Open Option
  • Science Option or Open Option
  • Open Option
  • Open Option
  • Open Option
• Winter semester:
  • Communications and Media Studies 201 or Open Option
  • Communications and Media Studies 203
  • Science Option or Open Option
  • Open Option
  • Open Option
  • Note: Film Studies 201 is a recommended option.

Enhancing the Bachelor of Arts Program

• Co-op and Internship: Students can gain valuable work experience in their industry through co-operative education and internship opportunities.
• Study Abroad: The University of Calgary offers exchanges and study abroad programs in 61 different countries, allowing students to experience different cultures and gain a better understanding of world issues.
• Community Service-Learning: Students can combine classroom learning with volunteer work that achieves community goals, seeing firsthand how academic learning relates to social issues.
• Arts and Science Honours Academy: This unique program combines collaborative study, global opportunities, and academic challenge, bringing together high-achieving students to learn and study in distinct scholars courses.

Faculty and Program Information

• Studying for a Bachelor of Arts degree means that students are part of the Faculty of Arts.
• The program chosen refers to the subject area the Bachelor of Arts degree will focus on (e.g., Bachelor of Arts, major in History).
• Students can view their program by logging into their online Student Centre and checking under the Admissions menu and within the "My Applications" box.

Transfer Credit and Registration

• Students with Advanced Placement credit or International Baccalaureate credit will follow the same registration process as any first-time university student.
• Transfer credit can be viewed in the online Student Centre, and students may contact the academic advisor in their faculty for advice on course selection.
• Generally, students must complete 18 units at the junior (200-level) before they are allowed to register in 300-level courses, but IB or AP credit for a 200-level course may allow students to take the 300-level course that has the 200-level course listed as a prerequisite.