About the Program
The Mass Communication program of the School of Journalism and Communication offers a program of studies leading to a Master of Arts degree in Communication. Courses covering four areas of concentration are offered:
- the history of communication and media systems
- communication/information technologies and society
- communication and social relations
- communication policy and political economy
Additional information may be obtained by consulting the supervisor of graduate studies.
Academic Regulations
- See the General Regulations section of this Calendar.
- A standing of B- or better must be obtained in each credit counted towards the master's degree.
Admission Requirements
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The minimum requirement for admission to the master's program is a B.A.(Honours) degree or the equivalent, with high honours standing in communication or a related discipline. Related disciplines may include sociology, political science, film studies, and Canadian studies.
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Applicants without a background in communication studies may be required to take certain designated courses from the undergraduate mass communication program in addition to their regular program.
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Possession of the minimum entrance standing is not in itself, however, assurance of admission into the program.
- Applicants who lack an Honours degree but who have a 3-year degree with honours standing (a minimum B standing overall) may be considered for admission to a qualifying-year program. Students who complete the qualifying year with high honours standing may be considered for admission to the master's program in the following year. Refer to the General Regulations section of this Calendar for regulations governing the qualifying year.
Program Requirements
- Each student, in consultation with the supervisor of graduate studies, will be required to follow a thesis, non-thesis, or a course-only program for a total of 5.0 credits. Two of the four areas of concentration must be chosen.
- In selecting their program of studies, all students will be required to take MCOM 5101 and MCOM 5605. Students in the M.A. program are restricted to one directed studies course, MCOM 5808 (0.5 credit). Students may take one optional course (0.5 credit) outside the program, with permission of the supervisor of graduate studies.
All master's students are required to complete:
- MCOM 5101 (1.0 credit)
- MCOM 5605 (0.5 credit)
- a thesis (2.0 credits) and 1.5 credits from the list of optional courses below, or a research essay (1.0 credit) and 2.5 credits chosen from the list of optional courses, or 3.5 credits chosen from the list of optional courses
Optional Courses
- MCOM 5200
- MCOM 5202
- MCOM 5203
- MCOM 5204
- MCOM 5206
- MCOM 5208
- MCOM 5210
- MCOM 5212
- MCOM 5214
- MCOM 5216
- MCOM 5218
- MCOM 5509
- MCOM 5808
Note: students may take up to 0.5 credit outside the program with permission of the supervisor of graduate studies.
