The Diploma in Communications, Culture, and Journalism Studies (CCJS) is a two-year interdisciplinary diploma that foregrounds a critical analysis of the mass media as contemporary society's most pervasive agent of political and cultural transformation. Students will explore the social, political, and economic functions of news and communications media, the history of journalism, and cultural policy & theory. Particular attention will be paid to questions of social justice, as well as of identity and constructions of gender, race, class, sexuality, and nationality.

Housed in the Department of Communications, CCJS offers students foundational courses in media theory, writing-intensive courses in Communications and English, and a selection of elective breadth courses from a range of departments --including Anthropology, History, Philosophy, Geography, Political Science, Sociology, and Women's Studies.

While students may proceed directly to potential entry-level careers in communications, journalism, public relations, marketing, advertising, research, writing, publishing, consulting or new media, especially in small markets and independent digital environments, completion of this program is intended primarily to provide students with the liberal arts education necessary for further study.

The Diploma in Communications, Culture, and Journalism Studies will be granted upon the successful completion of 60 prescribed compulsory and elective credits: eighteen credits in Communications credits, nine credits in English, fifteen Breadth credits, nine Arts Electives credits, and nine Science credits.

This program is intended primarily to provide students with the education necessary for further study. After transfer and additional study, career options include:

Journalist
Communications Coordinator
Public Relations Specialist
Marketing Coordinator
New Media Consultant
Social Media Manager

Program Outline

Year One - Foundational courses

All of:

• CMNS 100 Introduction to Communications
• CMNS 110 Introduction to Mass Communication
• CMNS 120 Introduction to Journalism Studies
• ENGL 100 University Writing
• ENGL 153 Critical Writing and Reading: Narrative

Breadth Courses

Three of:

• ANTH 121 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
• CMNS 160 Introduction to Film Studies or CMNS 130 Introduction to Digital Media GEOG 128 Human Geography: Space, Place and Community or GEOG 129 Human Geography: Resources, Development and Society
• HIST 122 Canada Since 1867
• or HIST 125 Contemporary World from World War II to the Present
• INDG 100 Introduction to Indigenous Studies
• PHIL 114 Introduction to Logic and Critical Thinking I
• POLI 101 Introduction to Politics
• or POLI 111 The Government of Canada
• SOCI 1112 Introduction to Sociology I
• GSWS 100 Introduction to Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies