Communication and Media Studies

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The Bachelor of Communication and Media Studies (BCoMS) gives you the knowledge and tools you need to understand complex media environments and make your voice heard.

Program Details

Media and communication are central to rapid changes currently unfolding in politics, culture and economics. Now more than ever, employers, institutions, and social movements need dynamic and effective communicators. The Bachelor of Communication and Media Studies (B.CoMS) provides transferable skills that help you understand these changes and stay on the cutting edge.

Foundations for Success

Core classes provide a strong understanding of media industries, users, technologies, and policies. As a BCoMS student, you will develop the critical thinking, research and communication skills to be an informed and effective user of media in your professional and personal life. You’ll develop knowledge and skills to launch your career through experiential learning, community-engaged courses and hands-on media practice workshops like digital media production, social media analytics, public engagement and event management.

Tailor Your Program

Our flexible curriculum allows you to take a range of courses on topics from sports, streaming platforms, and videogames to urgent social issues like crime, public health, climate change and digital disinformation. We help you understand the past, present and future of media technologies you encounter every day. You can further customize your Honours degree by adding the Certificate in Science Communication or a minor.

Work Experience

Our co-op program helps you get a head start on your career. Co-op work terms allow you to develop key employability skills, explore your career options, and graduate with tangible workplace experience. You might also consider the opportunity to work closely with a faculty member on an independent research project, or go on an international exchange.

Exceptional Resources and Student Life
The BCoMS program is a vibrant community for you to develop personally, academically and professionally. Join the student-led Carleton Communications Society to make friends and connect with future colleagues. Take advantage of opportunities across campus and in the community. Our prime location in the nation’s capital puts you at the centre of decision-making about Canada’s communication and media landscape.

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Career Outcomes

Explore your passions, refine new skills and discover the career that’s right for you.

Communication and Media Studies graduates thrive in careers as communication strategists and advisors in government, NGOs and corporations; market researchers; media industry policy analysts; entrepreneurs and more!

Communication and Media Studies students in the Carleton University Art Gallery.

Sample Courses

COMS 1001 - Foundations: Media History

An exploration of media history, patterns of change, and key approaches to their study.

COMS 4001 - Sport and/as Media

A critical exploration of the culture and political economy of sport including cultural norms and questions of representation in and around sports across an array of media.

Visit the Undergraduate Calendar to view a comprehensive list of course offerings for this program and discover the exciting things Carleton students are learning in the classroom!

View more courses for this program

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In Communication and Media Studies, you have so many choices to combine your personal interests with things that you’ve never even heard of or thought you’d be interested in before. It’s really cool to get that bigger perspective. Like science for example — I knew I always had a knack for biology and environmental sustainability, but I never thought I'd be able to add it to my university studies, especially through a communications and media framework.

Imani, Communication and Media Studies student
Imani
Communication and Media Studies student