phd in communications canada

Université de Montréal / Faculty of Arts and Science Department of Communication

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Doctorate (PhD) in Communication

This multidisciplinary, bilingual and in-depth training in communication will equip you to pursue cutting-edge research or teach in this field.

A  PhD in Communication  lets you expand your knowledge in one of the following 6 areas:   

• Information and communication technologies (ICT) and society
• Media and cultural studies  
• Discursive theories and analysis  
• Organizational communication and communication networks
• International communication and development
• Media creation, design and practices
• Fall admission
• Daytime classes
• Full and part time
• 90 credits  

This PhD program is offered jointly with UQAM and Concordia University.

Questions about this program?

Thierry Bardini : 514 343 6111, ext. 29837 Josée Duranleau : 514 343-6111, ext. 5419

Find a thesis supervisor

Program description (in french), financial support (in french), international (in french), departmental form for choosing a director for your doctorate (phd) in communication (in french), information on the application procedure (in french), doctoral exam (in french), the + of this phd in communication.

• The  only inter-university program of its kind in North America , with a unique feature: one of the challenges of the program – and also one of its strengths – is its  bilingual nature .
• An exciting program combining the talents of close to  50 professors  and about 100 students from 3 institutions: Université de Montréal, Concordia University and UQAM.
• Media and cultural studies 
• Discursive theories and analysis 
• Since the program was launched, close to 200 students have earned a PhD in Communication. Most of them are now working at universities, in government or public and private organizations in Canada and around the world.
• Lectures and roundtable discussions  organized by the student association and led by renowned communication experts.
• Internationally renowned expertise : Our Department of Communication is an acknowledged leader in organizational communication, political communication, and communication, media and technologies.
• According to the firm QS, the Université de Montréal ranks among the top 100 universities in the world in communication and media studies.

International Student Scholarship Program

Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies

The Université de Montréal is a French-language institution. This English website contains only the most frequently consulted pages from our French website.

QS University Rankings

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Joint PhD program 

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Interdisciplinary programs

Specialized Graduate Diploma (D.E.S.S.) in Journalism (in French)

Specialized Graduate Diploma (D.E.S.S.) in Arts, Creation and Technologies (in French)

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Communication (PhD)

Program overview Program structure Admission requirements Application process Tuition & funding

Program overview

The PhD in Communication provides students with advanced training in media and cultural analysis. Communication academics pursue a range of different inquiries at the crossroads of humanities and social science research. Our faculty members are scholars, artists, and media-makers who have extensive experience in graduate supervision and who have published award-winning books and articles in internationally leading journals, as well as producing innovative projects in time-based media and other non-textual formats. You will study areas as varied as game studies, representations of gender and race, digital media, feminist media studies, and research-creation. You will have the opportunity to work on a variety of research projects and benefit from Montreal’s fertile media arts environment.

Program structure

Degree requirements, degree requirements.

Fully-qualified candidates are required to complete a minimum of 90 credits.

Please see the Communication Studies Courses page for course descriptions.

Communication PhD (90 credits)

Communication phd electives (12 credits), admission requirements, admission requirements.

• MA in Communication or its equivalent.
• A thoroughly articulated research project outline.
• Proficiency in English. Applicants whose primary language is not English must demonstrate that their knowledge of English is sufficient to pursue graduate studies in their chosen field. Please refer to the English language proficiency page for further information on requirements and exemptions.
• Language Requirements. Applicants should have a level of competence that would allow them to read technical material and follow lectures and discussions in English. Students may participate in discussions, write reports, examinations and theses in English or French, as they choose.

Application process

Application deadlines.

Priority will be given to complete applications submitted by the deadline. In some cases, programs may continue to accept applications as long as there is space available.

International students: Considering the waiting period involved in meeting the entry requirements to Canada and Quebec , we strongly encourage international applicants to apply early and submit supporting documents prior to the deadline.

Tuition & funding

Tuition and fees.

Tuition and fees of the program may depend on your student status, among other key factors. Estimate these costs based on the most common situations.

Awards and funding

Funding packages are generally available for students in thesis-based programs. They come in the form of awards, teaching and research assistantships are offered at the time of admission to most students to allow them to focus on their research and studies. Research and thesis-based students are automatically considered for all entrance graduate awards when they apply to Concordia, provided they meet eligibility criteria. No separate application is required.

The Quebec and Canadian governments offer a number of competitive graduate scholarships. We encourage you to apply for these awards at the same time you are preparing your application.

Other programs of interest

Communication studies (grdip) course-based.

Join a diverse body of young scholars and professionals working to expand their personal qualifications with an intensive and hands-on introduction to the field of communication.

Department of Communication Studies

Faculty of Arts & Science

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The majority of graduate programs are NOT impacted by recent government announcements about tuition increases. PhD students from the rest of Canada will continue to pay Quebec fees. International PhD fees will see the same 3% increase as Quebec fees.

Communication Studies (PhD)

Program description.

The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Communication Studies offered by the Department of Art History & Communications in the Faculty of Arts is a research-intensive program that emphasizes advanced and stimulating learning opportunities. The program's objective is to equip students with skills in resourceful thinking, literature synthesis, and scientific communication to pursue professional opportunities in academia or industry.

The program may also be taken with an as the Gender and Women's Studies option where students focusing their coursework and research on gender and women's studies, and issues in feminist research and methods. The student's doctoral thesis must be on a topic centrally relating to issues of gender and/or women's studies.

Unique Program Features

• The program offers in-depth training in the critical, historical, and theoretical analysis of communication in culture, communication technology, and communication policy;
• The program offers a balance of humanities and social sciences approaches to the analysis of communications, and its orientation is primarily qualitative (rather than quantitative) in nature;
• Students benefit from the resources and activities of Media @ McGill, a hub of research and public outreach on critical issues in media, culture, and emerging technology;
• Graduates have gone on to become Canada's leading communications scholars.

University-Level Admission Requirements

• An eligible Bachelor's degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA out of a possible 4.0 GPA
• English-language proficiency

Each program has specific admission requirements including required application documents. Please visit the program website for more details.

Visit our Educational credentials and grade equivalencies and English language proficiency webpages for additional information.

Program Website

PhD in Communication Studies website

Department Contact

Graduate Program graduate.ahcs [at] mcgill.ca (subject: PhD%20in%20Communication%20Studies) (email)

Available Intakes

Application deadlines.

Note : Application deadlines are subject to change without notice. Please check the application portal for the most up-to-date information.

Application Resources

• Application Steps webpage
• Submit Your Application webpage
• Connecting with a supervisor webpage
• Graduate Funding webpage

Application Workshops

Consult our full list of our virtual application-focused workshops on the Events webpage .

Department and University Information

Graduate and postdoctoral studies.

Programs and courses

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Doctorate in Philosophy Communication

The Department of Communication at the Faculty of Arts offers an MA program in Communication with thesis or with research paper, a Master of Communication (MC) by coursework to which a co-op option can be added, and a PhD in Communication.

The Department of Communication, in collaboration with the University of Ottawa’s Co-op office, offers a co-op option to a limited number of students in the MC program. Students must request this option in their admission file. The co-op option provides the opportunity to acquire practical work experience by completing two one-term paid work placements.

The School is one of the participating units in the collaborative program in Science, Society and Policy (master's level only).

The PhD in Communication program is designed for students with academic and professional training.

The program focuses on two fields of research:  media studies and organizational communication. The media studies field examines the content and the modes of operation of traditional and emerging media in their social, cultural, economic, political and regulatory contexts.

Organizational communication focuses on interpersonal and group interactions in the workplace; planning for internal and external communication in private, public, and nonprofit organizations; risk/crisis communication, public relations, ICT’s uses within organizations, etc.

The program aims to develop in graduates the following skills:

• Evaluate critically the theories, concepts and assumptions underlying media studies or organizational communication with particular attention to their chosen research interest.
• Demonstrate an ability to identify and work with the varying epistemological traditions developed by French-speaking and English-speaking scholars in communication studies.
• Contribute to the development of skills, theories, approaches, and materials for both academics and professionals.
• Analyze data and communicate research results to diverse audiences, including scholars, policymakers, and professionals in communication studies.

The master's programs are offered on a full-time or on a part-time basis. The PhD program is offered full-time. The master's programs are offered in English and in French whereas the PhD program is offered in bilingual (English-French) format.

In accordance with the University of Ottawa regulation, students have a right to produce their work, their thesis, and to answer examination questions in French or in English.

The programs are governed by the general regulations  in effect for graduate studies.

For the most accurate and up to date information on application deadlines, language tests and other admission requirements, please visit the  specific requirements  webpage.

For an application to be considered, the applicant must:

• Hold a master’s degree with thesis or research paper in communication, or in a related discipline.
• Have obtained a minimum average of 75% (B+) calculated according to graduate studies guidelines.
• Provide two confidential letters of recommendation.
• Provide a CV and a statement of interest outlining career goals.
• Provide the name of at least one faculty member of the program whose research interests match their own.
• Provide an outline of the proposed research project.

Candidates with a master’s degree in a field related to communication and who have not taken any basic course in communication (i.e. theory or research) will have to fill this gap by completing one or two (undergraduate or master’s) courses prior to admission. To find out which courses to take, applicants should contact the Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of Communication.

Language Requirements

This program is bilingual: students must take courses in English and courses in French. The program's structure is such that 50% of courses are offered in English and 50% in French.

Applicants must demonstrate an active knowledge of either French or English and the ability to read and understand the other language. To demonstrate his/her active knowledge whether of French or English, the applicant must provide evidence that he/she has studied for at least three years (full-time) in a school, college or university in Canada or elsewhere, where the language of instruction is exclusively English or French; that his/her mother tongue is English or French; that he/she has at least one full year of professional work experience in English or in French. Candidates who are unable to provide satisfactory evidence of their proficiency in English and/or in French must complete one of the following language tests and obtain the specified minimum grade :

• A minimum TOEFL score of 625 (5 in the written); a minimum score of 107 (24 in the written) in the IBT (Internet Based TOEFL).
• A minimum IELTS score of 7 (International English Language Testing System).
• An average score of 5 in listening/reading and a writing score of 4.5 in the CanTEST (for English) or TESTCan (for French), administered by the University of Ottawa.
• A minimum DALF (Diplôme approfondie de langue française) score C2.

The Admissions Committee reserves the right to interview candidates and impose a language test the outcome of which will determine whether the applicant must take a course in French or English (e.g. FLS 2513 / ESL 2113 ) to enhance their competence.

Transfer from Master’s to PhD

Students enrolled in the MA program in Communication at the University of Ottawa have the opportunity to go directly to the PhD program without having to write the thesis provided the following conditions are met:

• Have an average of A- in the last two years of undergraduate studies;
• Have successfully completed four courses of the MA program (12 units) with an average of at least A-;
• Have shown satisfactory progress in their research;
• Have a letter of recommendation from the proposed doctoral thesis supervisor;
• Have the approval of the Graduate Studies Committee of the Department of Communication.

The student must make a written request to transfer to the PhD program no later than the beginning of the fourth term of enrolment and must enrol in the doctoral program in the fifth term at the latest. Once the transition is made, all the requirements of the doctoral program must be met. The total number of course units required is 27 (12 at the master’s level, plus 15 at the doctoral level).

The requirements of the PhD program include successful completion of 15 units of coursework, a comprehensive exam, a thesis proposal and a thesis. Students must take at least one course in English and one in French. The courses are offered either in French, or in English and not simultaneously in both languages.

With permission of the director of graduate studies, students may select an optional course from the general list of graduate courses in communication or from the graduate courses offered by another program.

The comprehensive exam allows the student to demonstrate the theoretical, methodical, and epistemological concepts in communication. It includes a written and an oral component. The examination must be taken in the fourth term. A student who fails must take the exam again in the next term. A second failure in either the written or the oral will result in a withdrawal from the program. Procedures for the comprehensive exam can be found under under “Graduate Student Guide” on the website of the Department of Communication.

The thesis proposal must be submitted to the thesis advisory committee for review and approval before the end of the sixth term. A student who fails may submit and defend it again in the next term. A second failure will result in a withdrawal from the program. In cases where the thesis research involves human subjects, approval of the Ethics Committee must be obtained prior undertaking any independent data collection.

Duration of the Program

The requirements of the program are usually fulfilled within four years. The maximum time permitted is six years from the date of initial enrollment in the program, or seven years in the case of students fast-tracked from the master’s to the doctorate.

Minimum Standards

The passing grade in all courses is 70% (B). Students who fail two courses (equivalent to 6 units), the comprehensive exam, the thesis proposal, the thesis or whose progress is deemed unsatisfactory must withdraw from the program.

Thesis Advisory Committee

Upon initial enrollment, an interim advisor is assigned to those students who do not already have a thesis supervisor. During the first term of enrollment, an advisory committee is set up in consultation with the student. The committee is composed of the thesis supervisor and three other professors, at least two of whom must be members of the Department of Communication. By the end of the first year, the composition of the committee must be confirmed and the thesis topic must be enrolled officially.

Research Fields & Facilities

Located in the heart of Canada’s capital, a few steps away from Parliament Hill, the University of Ottawa is among Canada’s top 10 research universities.

uOttawa focuses research strengths and efforts in four Strategic Areas of Development in Research (SADRs):

• Canada and the World
• Molecular and Environmental Sciences

With cutting-edge research, our graduate students, researchers and educators strongly influence national and international priorities.

Research at the Faculty of Arts

The Faculty of Arts is proud of the state of the art research conducted by its professors. In the spirit of showcasing its research to the university community as well as to the general public, the Faculty has created three activities: Dean's Lecture Series, Treasures of the Library, and Excellence Lectures.

Facilities, Research Centres and Institutes at the Faculty of Arts

• Centre de recherche en civilisation canadienne-française ,
• Institute of Indigenous Research and Studies , 
• Institute for Science,   Society  and Policy ,
• Official Languages and Bilingualism Institute (OLBI)
• Morisset Library .

For more information, refer to the list of faculty members and their research fields on Uniweb . 

IMPORTANT: Candidates and students looking for professors to supervise their thesis or research project can also consult the website of the faculty or department of their program of choice. Uniweb does not list all professors authorized to supervise research projects at the University of Ottawa.

Please consult the schedule to know the courses offered at each term.

CMN 5100 Research Methods (3 units)

Research design and methods relevant to the Master's thesis or research paper project.

Course Component: Seminar

CMN 5105 Contemporary Communication Issues (3 units)

State of the art of the discipline. Exploration of major domains of communication research, along with contemporary issues being addressed by scholars in these fields of specialization.

CMN 5108 Health Communication Seminar (1.5 unit)

Seminar in the field of health communication. Patient/providers communication, patient-centred communication strategies, health literacy and communication strategies, communication challenges with elderly, vulnerable or marginalized people, intercultural communication in healthcare.

CMN 5109 Digital Health Seminar (1.5 unit)

Seminar on digital health and the use of digital health technologies (e.g. telemedicine, telemonitoring, mobile health applications, wearable sensors, social robots, Artificial Intelligence). Digital strategies for health communication, digital health and self-management, telemedicine and patient/providers communication, the use of digital health technologies by elderly, vulnerable and marginalized populations.

CMN 5110 Social History of Communication Technologies (3 units)

Exploration of the social, political, economic, cultural and ethical ramifications of communication technologies as they have evolved over time. Relationship between innovation in new communication technologies and social and cultural change.

CMN 5115 Communication Ethics (3 units)

Emphasis on the significance of ethical principles and responsibilities of public communicators, as well as sanctions faced when communicators fail to uphold these principles. Critique of self-regulation of the media. Analysis of argumentation. Study of legal precedents with respect to defamation.

CMN 5120 Public Communication Campaigns: Theories and Applications (3 units)

Theories and applications relevant to campaigns that promote issues and causes in the public interest. Strategies and techniques. Cases studies in the areas of health, environment, education and other public domains.

CMN 5130 Diversity in the Workplace: Communication Challenges (3 units)

Theories and pragmatics of intercultural communication as applicable to various forms of communication (verbal and nonverbal) between and among individuals of different ethnicities, races, cultures, age groups, sexual orientations, genders, classes, abilities, language, religion, and value orientations. Focused on workplace interactions.

CMN 5131 Organizational Communication Theories (3 units)

Different approaches (e.g., interactionnist, narrative, critical) to organizational communication research, with a focus on benchmark studies and key researchers. Role of theories in understanding communication challenges faced by contemporary organizations. Issues related to communication networks, organizational learning, management of diversity, computerization of organizations, and management of risks, among others.

CMN 5132 Theories and Effects of the Media (3 units)

Critique of traditional (e.g., cultivation, social learning, and dependency), interpretive (e.g., narrative and genre), and critical/ cultural (e.g., political economy) theories of the mass media. Contemporary research directions in the field of mass and emerging communications. Study of the effects on audience behavior.

CMN 5133 Health Communication Theories (3 units)

Concepts, research, and theories regarding health communication issues at the micro level (e.g., interactions between patient and healthcare provider), mezzo level (e.g., role of information in healthcare organizations) and macro level (e.g., role of media in shaping public perceptions of health and illness). Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-method research, with a stress on interdisciplinary approaches to health communication and public health research.

CMN 5135 Communication Management (3 units)

Role of communication in organizational development, team development, and corporate/institutional positioning. Internal and external communication in public and private organizations. Case studies of Canadian and international organizations.

CMN 5136 Virtual Work Teams: Communication Issues (3 units)

Theoretical and practical issues raised by the integration of mediated and distance communication into the work place, including those specific to the functioning of virtual teams (e.g., E-leadership, cohesion, communication, and trust).

CMN 5140 Communication, Globalization and Change (3 units)

Impact of information and communication technologies and political, cultural, and global dynamics on organizations. Theoretical and critical reflections on the strategic management of change in organizations, the transformation of organizational cultures, and intervention practices. Case studies of hybrid cultures.

CMN 5141 Government Communication (3 units)

Issues and concerns of particular relevance to the public service communication community. Preparation of a consultation report that focuses on a specific communication challenge faced by professional communicators.

CMN 5142 Risk and Crisis Communication (3 units)

The role of communication in general and mass media and the Internet in particular in high risk situations such as conflict, war, disaster, emergency, and acts of terrorism (including biological threats) in a variety of cultural contexts. Characteristics of modern risk societies, risk identification and management, the relationship between risk and crisis communication, and crisis management strategies. Case studies.

CMN 5150 Knowledge Management (3 units)

Research directions in organizational learning, collective intelligence and information architecture, situated in the technical context of the general digitization of communication and the socio-cultural context of knowledge societies and human development policies. Interdisciplinary perspectives. Case studies from the work place, education, health, and cultural industries.

CMN 5155 Advanced Research in Traditional and Emerging Media (3 units)

Empirical and critical studies of traditional and emerging media in various social contexts: organizational, domestic, educational, etc. Emerging research trends (qualitative and quantitative).

CMN 5160 Political Uses of Media (3 units)

Critical review of key aspects of contemporary theory, research, and practice in political communication. Uses of traditional and emerging media by governments, politicians, and civil society (NGOs, activist groups and citizens) to communicate with their publics, influence public and policy agendas, effect social and political change, monitor public opinion, manage their reputation, and/or build networks of resistance. Impact of changing communication technologies on government media relations. Case studies.

CMN 5161 Construction of Social Reality by the Media (3 units)

Study of the media strategies that aim to create the verisimilitude of everyday life. Analysis of the contemporary production of authenticity (or its simulation) in media genres such as televised reality shows, mock news shows, cringe comedy, and polemical documentaries.

CMN 5162 Sociotechnical Dynamics of Algorithmic Cultures (3 units)

Examination of cultural, economic, historical, and political forces shaping the making of AI and how its outputs reflect and produce social relations and understandings of the world around us.

CMN 5165 New Directions in Journalism (3 units)

Theoretical and empirical studies of recent trends and changes in journalistic practices. Impact of social, economic and technological factors on journalism (e.g., commoditization of information, concentration of ownership, and digital media convergence). New socio-critical practices. Audience research.

CMN 5170 International Communication (3 units)

Contemporary approaches to international communication. The role of traditional and emerging media, international institutions, governmental agencies, and NGOs. Analysis of problems related to participatory communication and alternative models.

CMN 5190 Media, Identity and Diversity (3 units)

Study of identity issues as seen through the prism of the media and relating to ethnicities, races, cultures, age groups, sexual orientations, genders, classes, abilities, language, religion, and value orientations. Study of the representations and challenges posed by "otherness" and diversity in an era of globalization and accelerated circulation of information.

CMN 5195 Special Topics (3 units)

In-depth examination of a topic in Communication.

CMN 5500 Méthodes de recherche (3 crédits)

Différentes étapes de l'élaboration du projet de thèse ou du mémoire de maîtrise.

Volet : Séminaire

CMN 5505 Enjeux contemporains en communication (3 crédits)

Étude des avancées les plus récentes de la discipline. Exploration des principaux domaines de recherche en communication et des enjeux contemporains étudiés par les spécialistes oeuvrant dans différents champs de la discipline.

CMN 5508 Séminaire en communication et santé (1.5 crédit)

Séminaire dans le domaine de la communication et santé. Communication patient/soignant, stratégies de communication dans un contexte de soins centrés sur le patient, littératie en santé et communication, enjeux de communication en santé avec des personnes âgées, des populations vulnérables ou marginalisées, communication interculturelle dans un contexte de soins.

CMN 5509 Séminaire en santé numérique (1.5 crédit)

Séminaire sur la santé numérique et sur l’usage des technologies numériques de santé (ex. : télémédecine, télésuivi, applications mobiles de santé, capteurs sensoriels intelligents, robots sociaux, Intelligence Artificielle). Stratégies numériques en communication et santé, santé numérique et auto-suivi, télémédecine et communication patient/soignant, design et usage des technologies numériques de santé, usages des technologies numériques de santé par des populations âgées, vulnérables et marginalisées.

CMN 5510 Histoire sociale ces technologies de communication (3 crédits)

Exploration de l'évolution historique des ramifications sociales, politiques, économiques, culturelles et éthiques du développement des technologies de communication. Étude des liens entre les innovations en matière de technologie de communication et les changements sociaux et culturels.

CMN 5515 Éthique de la communication (3 crédits)

L'accent sera mis sur la signification des principes éthiques et de la responsabilité des communicateurs publiques ainsi que sur les sanctions auxquelles s'exposent les communicateurs qui ne respectent pas ces principes. Critique de l'autorégulation des médias. Analyse de l'argumentation. Étude de la jurisprudence en matière de diffamation.

CMN 5520 Campagnes de communication publique : Théories et applications (3 crédits)

Théories et pratiques relatives aux campagnes de communication faisant la promotion d'enjeux ou de causes d'intérêt publique. Stratégies et techniques. Études de cas dans les secteurs de la santé, de l'environnement et d'autres domaines.

CMN 5530 Diversité au travail : Défis communicationnels (3 crédits)

Théories et pratiques de communication interculturelle en milieu de travail. Étude des différentes formes de communication (verbale et non verbale) impliquant des individus de culture, d'âge, d'orientation sexuelle, de genre, de langue, de religion et de compétences différents. Les cas présentés dans le cours se concentreront sur les interactions en milieu de travail.

CMN 5531 Théories de la communication organisationnelle (3 crédits)

Revue de diverses approches en communication organisationnelle (interactionniste, narrative, critique). L'accent sera mis sur les études et les principaux chercheurs qui représentent des points de référence dans le domaine. Le rôle des théories dans la compréhension des défis auxquels font face les organisations modernes. Enjeux reliés aux réseaux de communication, à l'apprentissage organisationnel, à la gestion de la diversité, à l'informatisation des organisations, à la gestion du risque, et autres.

CMN 5532 Théories et effets des médias (3 crédits)

Analyse critique des théories classiques des médias de masse (cultivation, apprentissage social et conditionnement), interprétatives (narrative et identité sexuelle), critique et culturel (l'économie politique). Nouvelles perspectives de la recherche dans le domaine des médias de masse traditionnels et émergents. Étude des effets sur le comportement des récepteurs.

CMN 5533 Théories de la communication et de la santé (3 crédits)

Théories, concepts et recherches reliés au domaine de la communication et de la santé au niveau micro (interactions entre le patient, le médecin et les dispensateurs de soins), au niveau intermédiaire (rôle de l'information dans les organisations de soins de santé) et au niveau macro (le rôle des médias dans la construction des représentations sociales de la santé et de la maladie). Analyse quantitative, qualitative et mixte avec accent sur les approches interdisciplinaires et les recherches en santé publique.

CMN 5535 Gestion des communications (3 crédits)

Rôle de la communication dans le développement organisationnel, dans le développement des équipes et dans la projection de l'image de l'organisation. Communication interne et externe dans les organisations publiques et privées. Études de cas d'organisations canadiennes et internationales.

CMN 5536 Équipes virtuelles : Enjeux communicationnels (3 crédits)

Différentes problématiques théoriques et pratiques soulevées par l'intégration de modes de communication médiatisée et à distance au sein des collectifs de travail, incluant des problématiques spécifiques liées notamment au fonctionnement d'équipes virtuelles (e.g., E-leadership, cohésion, communication et confiance dans les équipes virtuelles).

CMN 5540 Communication, mondialisation et changement (3 crédits)

Influence des technologies d'information et de communication, de la dynamique politique, culturelle et globale sur les organisations. Réflexions théoriques et critiques portant sur les stratégies de gestion du changement dans les organisations, sur la transformation des cultures organisationnelles et les interventions pratiques. Études de cas de cultures hybrides.

CMN 5541 Communication gouvernementale (3 crédits)

Enjeux et préoccupations spécifiques à la communauté des communicateurs d'agences publiques. Préparation d'un rapport de consultation qui met l'accent sur un défi particulier qu'ont à relever les communicateurs professionnels.

CMN 5542 Communication de crise et du risque (3 crédits)

Le rôle de la communication en général, des médias de masse et d'Internet en particulier, dans des situations de crise comme la guerre, les désastres naturels, les urgences et les actes terroristes (incluant les menaces biologiques) dans une variété de contextes culturels. Caractéristiques des sociétés modernes à haut risque, identification et gestion des risques et des crises, relations entre les risques et la communication de crise, étude des stratégies de gestion de crise. Études de cas.

CMN 5550 Gestion des connaissances (3 crédits)

Principales orientations de la recherche sur l'apprentissage organisationnel, l'intelligence collective et l'architecture de l'information, situées à la fois dans le contexte technique de la numérisation généralisée de la communication et dans le contexte socioculturel de la société de la connaissance et des politiques de développement humain. Une perspective interdisciplinaire sera privilégiée. Des études de cas en milieu de travail, en éducation, en santé et dans les industries culturelles.

CMN 5555 Recherches avancées sur les médias traditionnels et ceux en émergence (3 crédits)

Études empiriques et critiques des médias traditionnels et en émergence dans différents contextes : monde du travail, vie quotidienne, éducation, etc. Nouveaux courants de recherche (qualitative et quantitative).

CMN 5560 Usages politiques des médias (3 crédits)

Revue critique des principaux aspects de la théorie contemporaine, de la recherche et des pratiques de communication politique. Usage des médias traditionnels et émergents par les gouvernements, les politiciens et la société civile (agences non gouvernementales, groupes de militants et de citoyens) pour communiquer avec leur public respectif, pour influencer leur public et pour promouvoir leur cause et provoquer le changement social et politique, évaluer l'opinion publique, gérer leur réputation et/ou développer des réseaux de résistance. Influence des technologiques de communication sur les relations entre le gouvernement et les médias.

CMN 5561 Représentation et simulation de la réalité par les médias (3 crédits)

Étude des stratégies médiatiques de construction des effets de réel. Analyse de la production contemporaine de l'authentique (ou de sa simulation) dans les genres médiatiques comme la téléréalité, les parodies de bulletin d'information et les documentaires polémiques.

CMN 5562 Dynamique sociotechnique des cultures algorithmiques (3 crédits)

Analyse des enjeux culturels, économiques, historiques et politiques qui façonnent la fabrication de l'IA et la manière dont il reflète et produit à la fois les relations sociales et notre compréhension du monde.

CMN 5565 Nouvelles orientations en journalisme (3 crédits)

Études théoriques et empiriques des plus récentes tendances et transformations des pratiques journalistiques. Incidence des facteurs sociaux, économiques et technologiques sur le journalisme (ex. : marchandisation de l'information, concentration de la propriété, convergence des médias et numérisation). Nouvelles pratiques sociocritiques. Études des récepteurs.

CMN 5570 Communication internationale (3 crédits)

Approches contemporaines de la communication internationale. Le rôle des médias traditionnels et des nouveaux médias, des institutions internationales, agences gouvernementales, ONGs. Analyse de questions spécifiques telles que la communication participative et les modèles alternatifs.

CMN 5590 Médias, identité et diversité (3 crédits)

Étude des problématiques identitaires liées aux diversités ethniques, culturelles, religieuses, générationnelles, sexuelles, économiques et autres vues à travers le prisme des médias. Étude des représentations de l'identité et de l'altérité à l'ère de la mondialisation et de la circulation accélérée de l'information.

CMN 5595 Thèmes spéciaux (3 crédits)

Étude approfondie d'un sujet en communication.

CMN 5900 Études dirigées en communication / Directed Studies in Communication (3 crédits / 3 units)

Étude d'une problématique particulière ou approfondissement de ses connaissances dans un domaine des communications. Le sujet de recherche est déterminé et développé en consultation avec le professeur responsable. Le projet doit être différent de ce qui a pu étre soumis dans d'autres cours. Limite d'un cours d'études dirigées par étudiant. / Opportunity to study an area of particular interest or to pursue an interest in greater depth. Research topic to be selected and developed in consultation with the supervising professor. Should not repeat work submitted in other courses. Maximum of one directed studies course per student.

Volet / Course Component: Recherche / Research

Permission du Département est requise. / Permission of the Department is required.

CMN 5910 Stage pratique / Internship (3 crédits / 3 units)

Stage supervisé dans un organisme externe. Application des connaissances acquises. Rédaction d'un rapport de stage. Noté S (Satisfaisant) ou NS (Non-satisfaisant). / Supervised apprenticeship at an agency or organization Students will undertake tasks designed to draw upon their studies in communication. Written report.Grade: S (Satisfactory) / NS (Not Satisfactory).

Volet / Course Component: Stage / Work Term

CMN 5995 Thèmes spéciaux en communication / Special Topics in Communication (3 crédits / 3 units)

Étude approfondie d'un sujet en communication. / In-depth examination of a topic in Communication.

Volet / Course Component: Séminaire / Seminar

CMN 6990 Proposition de recherche / Research Proposal

Rédaction d'une proposition de thèse ou de mémoire conformément aux lignes directrices du département de communication. La proposition doit comprendre une recension critique, préparée en consultation avec le directeur ou la directrice de thèse ou de mémoire, des principaux travaux consacrés au sujet. Il faut défendre la proposition devant un comité consultatif constitué de la directrice ou du directeur et d'un autre professeur (pour le mémoire) ou de deux autres professeurs (pour la thèse). L'étudiant doit normalement satisfaire à cette exigence en une session. Si la proposition n'est pas terminée et/ou acceptée lors de cette première inscription, l'étudiant pourra s'inscrire à nouveau à la session suivante pour la terminer et/ou la présenter une deuxième fois. Si la proposition n'est pas approuvée lors de la deuxième soumission, une note de « non satisfaisant » sera attribuée pour la proposition et un retrait du programme s'imposera. Le cours est noté S (satisfaisant) ou NS (non satisfaisant). / Preparation of an MA thesis or research paper, based on guidelines established by the department of communication. The proposal should include a thorough and critical review of literature on the research topic, prepared in consultation with the supervisor of the thesis or research paper. The proposal must be defended before an advisory committee consisting of the supervisor and one other professor (research paper) or two other professors (thesis). Students must normally satisfy this requirement in one session. If the proposal is not completed and/or accepted during the first session of registration, the student may register for it again the following session to complete and/or submit it a second time. Failure to obtain approval on the second attempt leads to a grade of "not satisfactory" for the proposal and a mandatory withdrawal from the program. Graded S (Satisfactory) / NS (Not satisfactory).

Préalable: CMN 5500 / Prerequisite: CMN 5100 .

CMN 6997 Mémoire - projet majeur de fin d'études / Research Paper - Major Capstone Project

Application des connaissances sur une problématique pratique et professionnelle en communication et santé. Ce mémoire peut prendre la forme d’une étude de cas pratique, d’une analyse de protocole, analyse d’une stratégie de communication, analyse d’un projet spécifique ou d’une initiative, etc. Il peut être effectué en partenariat ou au sein d’une organisation de santé. Noté S (satisfaisant) ou NS (non satisfaisant). / Application of knowledge to a practical and professional problem in health communication. This research paper can take the form of a case study, a protocol analysis, an analysis of a communication strategy, an analysis of a specific project or initiative, etc. It can be carried out in partnership or within a health organization. Graded S (Satisfactory) / NS (Not satisfactory)

CMN 6998 Mémoire / Research Paper

Le mémoire compte environ 50 pages. Après avoir été approuvé par le superviseur, le mémoire doit être évalué et noté par un autre professeur. Le mémoire consiste en l'approfondissement d'une question reliée à l'un des cours. Ce travail pourra être mené soit de façon théorique (à partir d'une analyse documentaire) ou de façon appliquée (à partir d'observations ou d'études de cas) dans le champ de spécialisation choisi. Noté S (satisfaisant) ou NS (non satisfaisant). / The research paper is approximately 50 pages long and is evaluated by another professor once the student's supervisor has approved it. The research paper analyses and broadens one of the topics discussed in the courses. The work surrounding the research paper can be theoretical in nature (for instance, based on a literature review) or can adopt a more empirical approach (based on observation or on a case study). The subject matter will relate to the student's chosen field of specialization. Graded S (Satisfactory) / NS (Not satisfactory).

Préalable: CMN 6990 / Prerequisite: CMN 6990

CMN 8101 Research Methods I (3 units)

Epistemology and research methods in communication studies. Critical analysis of the various epistemological stances in communication. Review of various intellectual tools with a view to gaining an in-depth understanding of the various steps involved in a communication research process (from the research question to the selection of a methodological approach). Review of various research techniques (interviews, observations, life stories, focus groups, surveys, etc.).

CMN 8102 Research Methods II (3 units)

Review and in-depth examination of various steps in the analysis of qualitative and/or quantitative data (from the transcription/coding of data to their visualisation/presentation). Emphasis on methods of analysis specific to qualitative data (discourse analysis, conversation analysis, semiotic analysis, etc.) and/or quantitative data (descriptive analysis, computer-assisted data analysis, web cookies analysis, etc.). Students are also led to develop critical thinking on the use of different methods of analysis in the area of communication research, and ultimately to take a position with regards to them.

Prerequisite: CMN 8101

CMN 8111 Theories in Media Studies (3 units)

In-depth investigation of the epistemological underpinnings of both classical and contemporary theories in media studies in order to explore the potential problematics related to the student's research program. One of the key aspects of this exercise in theoretical thinking consists in establishing a link among the different methodological approaches as well as with the research experience and expertise of the Department's faculty members. Upon conclusion of the course, students will be in a position to grasp the theoretical specificities of the discipline and to have developed a high degree of comfort with the various concepts and theories related to media studies.

CMN 8112 Advanced Theories in Organizational Communication (3 units)

In-depth investigation of the epistemological underpinnings of both classical and contemporary theories in organizational communication in order to explore the potential problematics related to the student's research program. One of the key aspects of this exercise in theoretical thinking consists in establishing a link among the different methodological approaches as well as with the research experience and expertise of the Department's faculty members. Upon conclusion of the course, students will be able to grasp the theoretical specificities of the discipline and will have developed a high degree of comfort with the various concepts and theories related to organizational communication.

CMN 8130 Special Topics in Media Studies (3 units)

Advanced examination through reading, group research, and class discussion of a particular area in media studies.

CMN 8131 Special Topics in Organizational Communication (3 units)

Advanced examination through reading, group research, and class discussion of a particular area in organizational communication.

CMN 8501 Méthodes de recherche I (3 crédits)

Épistémologie et méthodologies de la recherche en sciences de la communication. Réflexion critique sur les différents positionnements épistémologiques en communication. Étude des outils intellectuels dans l'objectif d'acquérir une compréhension en profondeur des différentes étapes d'un processus de recherche en communication (de la problématisation au choix d'une approche méthodologique). Étude des différentes techniques de recherche (entrevues, observations, récits de vie, focus group, sondage, etc.).

CMN 8502 Méthodes de recherche II (3 crédits)

Revue et étude approfondie des différentes démarches d'analyse de données qualitatives et/ou quantitatives (de la transcription/codage des données à leur visualisation/présentation). Un accent particulier est mis sur les méthodes d'analyse de données qualitatives (analyse de discours, analyse de conversations, analyse sémiotique, etc.) et/ou quantitatives (analyse descriptive, analyse statistique assistée par ordinateur, analyse de traces web, etc.). Les étudiants sont aussi amenés à développer une réflexion critique sur l'usage de ces différentes méthodes d'analyse dans le domaine de la recherche en communication, et éventuellement à se positionner par rapport à celles-ci.

Préalable : CMN 8501

CMN 8511 Théories en études des médias (3 crédits)

Examen approfondi des fondements épistémologiques des théories classiques et contemporaines en études des médias dans le but d'explorer les problématiques potentielles en lien avec le programme de recherche de l'étudiant. Un des aspects importants de cet exercice de réflexion théorique consiste à créer un lien avec les différentes approches méthodologiques ainsi qu'avec l'expérience et l'expertise de recherche des professeurs du département. Au terme du cours, les étudiants seront en mesure de saisir les singularités/spécificités théoriques de la discipline et de s'approprier les différents concepts et théories propres aux études des médias.

CMN 8512 Théories avancées en communication organisationnelle (3 crédits)

Examen approfondi des fondements épistémologiques des théories classiques et contemporaines en communication organisationnelle dans le but d'explorer les problématiques potentielles en lien avec le programme de recherche de l'étudiant. Un des aspects importants de cet exercice de réflexion théorique consiste à créer un lien avec les différentes approches méthodologiques ainsi qu'avec l'expérience et l'expertise de recherche des professeurs du département. Au terme du cours, les étudiants seront en mesure de saisir les particularités, singularités/spécificités théoriques de la discipline et de s'approprier les différents concepts et théories propres à la communication organisationnelle.

CMN 8530 Thèmes choisis en études des médias (3 crédits)

Examen approfondi de problématiques spécifiques aux études des médias. Lectures, recherches communes et discussions de groupe.

CMN 8531 Thèmes choisis en communication organisationnelle (3 crédits)

Examen approfondi de problématiques spécifiques à l'étude de la communication organisationnelle. Lectures, recherches communes et discussions de groupe.

CMN 8902 Séminaire de doctorat / Doctoral Seminar (3 crédits / 3 units)

L'objectif de ce séminaire est de favoriser l'émergence d'une communauté de chercheurs au sein du programme de doctorat. Le séminaire sert de tribune aux étudiants, qui présentent une première ébauche de leur projet de thèse, et il favorise les échanges de points de vue théoriques et méthodologiques au sein des deux volets du programme (études des médias et communication organisationnelle). / The objective of the seminar is to promote the emergence of a research community within the doctoral program. The seminar will be a forum where students will present and discuss a first draft of their thesis proposal. The seminar will encourage both theoretical and methodological exchanges in the two streams of the program (media studies and organizational communication).

CMN 8930 Thèmes choisis en communication / Special Topics in Communication (3 crédits / 3 units)

Examen approfondi de problématiques en communication. / In-depth study of communication issues.

CMN 9997 Projet de thèse / Thesis Proposal (6 crédits / 6 units)

Préalables: CMN 8902 , CMN 9998 / Prerequisites: CMN 8902 , CMN 9998

CMN 9998 Examen de synthèse / Comprehensive Examination (6 crédits / 6 units)

Préalables: CMN 8501 , CMN 8502 , ( CMN 8511 ou CMN 8512 ), ( CMN 8530 ou CMN 8531 ) / Prerequisites : CMN 8101 , CMN 8102 , ( CMN 8111 or CMN 8112 ), ( CMN 8130 or CMN 8131 )

Undergraduate Studies

For more information about undergraduate studies at the University of Ottawa, please refer to your faculty .

Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies

For more information about graduate studies at the University of Ottawa, please refer to your academic unit .

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The objectives of the PhD program include:

Providing experience and training in advanced research, and developing critical and analytical skills.

Preparing candidates for a career in teaching, or research in cultural industries or nonprofit organizations.

Providing a broad knowledge of the fields of Communication Studies and Cultural Studies with an emphasis on two of the program’s three fields (Media and Culture, Policy and Practice and Technology in Practice).

Facilitating the acquisition of autonomy in conducting research, through the dissertation as well as such avenues as conference papers, scholarly publications, policy consulting, and creative exhibitions.

Students have full access to academic facilities and services at both universities. The required MA and PhD core courses are normally offered both at York and Toronto Metropolitan University. All other courses are offered usually at the campus where the instructor has her or his primary appointment. There are two Graduate Program Directors, one at each university. For administrative reasons, students must directly apply to either York or Toronto Metropolitan University. There are minor differences in ancillary fees, student support and regulations between the two universities. Only York has graduate residences. 

The commute between the two campuses takes about one hour by TTC and 40 minutes to one hour by car.  

There are academic and applied courses offered at both universities. Please see the Course Listings section for more details.

Since moving to the Technology Enhanced Learning building, ComCult at York has access to more technical equipment than ever before. However, access is not always available because of budgetary constraints and competition with undergraduate requirements. The program's mandate is academic and critical, and the applied aspect of the program is meant to supplement the theoretical aspect. In particular, we have limited capacity to train students in media making.  

At York, the program is most closely associated with Communication Studies in the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies. Faculty are drawn from Environmental Studies, Humanities, Political Science, Cinema & Media Studies, Visual Arts & Art History, Design, Osgoode Hall Law School, the Schulich School of Business, among others. At Toronto Metropolitan University, faculty are drawn from Image Arts, Radio and Television Arts, Journalism, Information Technology Management, English, Political Science, Sociology, among others.

The York & Toronto Metropolitan University Joint Graduate Program in Communication & Culture at York is an exciting environment to pursue innovative, socially engaging, career-ready education.

Connect with Communication & Culture @ York

Communication - Graduate Studies

Program overview, creative minds.

At both the masters and doctoral levels, the Department of Communication offers students the opportunity to deepen their knowledge and critical thinking skills while refining their ability to identify, analyze, and resolve complex issues. Our students deepen their understanding of the social, political, cultural, regulatory, technological, and economic aspects of contemporary society. Our programs offer challenging, dynamic and bilingual seminars for advanced research in the field of communication.

We offer an MA program (with thesis or research paper) and an MC program (with or without co-op option).

Master of Arts (MA)

The MA is research-based: students must take a certain number of compulsory and optional courses (4 for the thesis option, 6 for the research paper). Students then submit a research proposal in collaboration with a professor from the Department of Communication. The proposal is evaluated by one or more members of the faculty, after which students undertake their thesis (collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data, writing up results, etc.). The MA program (which serves as a gateway to eventual doctoral studies) represents a unique opportunity to develop an area of expertise and specialization by doing original research. Students enrolled in this program develop skills related to data analysis and interpretation, methodology, the communication of results, etc.

• Master of Arts Communication

NEW! MA in Communication with a concentration in Health Communication

The University of Ottawa’s department of communication has an internationally recognized expertise in the field of communication and health. Students in this program have the opportunity to develop knowledge and expertise by exploring issues such as patient /healthcare provider communication; crisis and risk communication (e.g. health crises, public health crises); healthcare services in the context of telemedicine and telehealth; the design and use of digital health technologies; health communication strategies(such as for vulnerable populations); public health communication campaigns; and much more.

• Courses and seminars with research project (18 months)
• Basic courses in communication and health
• Digital health seminar: digital strategies, self-management, telemedicine and patient/provider communication, etc.
• Risk and crisis communication seminar, such as Covid-19
• Internship (optional credits)

Master of Communication (MC)

Students in this program have the option of participating in a co-op program. In both the co-op and conventional options, students must take 10 courses. This program provides an opportunity for students to deepen their knowledge by participating in challenging and dynamic seminars. Students can also apply through the University of Ottawa’s co-op office for a limited number of co-op placements. This option makes it possible for selected students to gain work experience by completing two paid internships related to their field of study, for a period of one semester (four months) each. These internships will help them become more familiar with the labour market and develop a network with communication professionals.

• Master of Communication

These programs are offered in Canada’s two official languages, English and French.

The advantage of a Dual Master's Degree!

• The international experience
• Presentation of the program
• Key Features
• How to register

An international component into your Graduate program in communication

Are you interested in adding an international component into your Graduate program in communication, doing an internship abroad, improving your knowledge of both official languages, and obtaining two degrees from highly reputed universities?

Starting in September 2018, students enrolled in the University of Ottawa's Master of Arts in Communication can take part in a brand new option:

The Dual Degree: Master of Arts in Communication (University of Ottawa) and Master in Multilingual Communication (Catholic University of Louvain in Belgium)

The Department of Communication at the University of Ottawa recently signed an agreement with the Louvain's Communication Department to allow students to study in Belgium as part of their graduate program.

The  Faculty of Philosophy, Arts and Literature at the Université catholique de Louvain  and the Faculty of Arts of the University of Ottawa have joined forces to offer a new double degree program that enhances strengths of two of their flagship programs:

• the Master’s in Multilingual Communication (UCL) and
• the Master of Arts in Communication (UO)

The UCL program will allow you to acquire and develop specialized language skills in English and French (and in other languages) in the field of business communication in different organizational settings.

The University of Ottawa’s program will allow you to explore different facets of the world of organizational communication and media through a rich and varied course offering in a dynamic and stimulating bilingual environment.

• Earn a dual Master's degree in just 2 years
• Improve your language skills ​​in an international and multilingual professional context
• Put your theoretical knowledge and language skills into practice
• Develop your abilities to adapt to the particular context of your organization
• Develop your soft skills and your background in intercultural communication
• Develop an international professional network

Given the limited number of students that can take part in this new option, we invite you to contact the coordinator of this new option, to obtain all the information to submit your application, contact the  Director of Graduate Studies , Department of Communication (University of Ottawa).

The Department of Communication

The program focuses on two fields of research:  media studies and organizational communication.

The media studies field examines the content and the modes of operation of traditional and emerging media in their social, cultural, economic, political and regulatory contexts. 

Organizational communication focuses on interpersonal and group interactions; planning for internal and external communication in private, public, and non-profit organizations; risk/crisis communication; public relations; uses of information communication technologies within organizations, and so on. 

The program aims to develop in graduates the following skills: 

• Evaluate critically the theories, concepts and assumptions underlying media studies or organizational communication with particular attention to their chosen research interest.
• Demonstrate an ability to identify and work with the varying epistemological traditions developed by French-speaking and English-speaking scholars in communication studies.
• Contribute to the development of skills, theories, approaches, and materials for both academics and professionals.
• Analyze data and communicate research results to diverse audiences, including scholars, policymakers, and professionals in communication studies.

This is a high-level, fully bilingual research program, although students need only a passive understanding of their second language, and they may submit work in the language of their choice, English or French.

It is designed to allow students to work with internationally renowned scholars and to be involved in exciting research in a department with a strong culture of research.

• Doctorate in Philosophy Communication

Guidelines to write the letter of intention

Master of Arts in Communication

Master in Communication

• Ph.D. in Communication

Guidelines for writing your letter

• Font times new roman 11.
• Single line
• Margins should be 2 cm minimum.
• Maximum of 500 words.

Please describe with references to scholarly work a description of your proposed research (for a research paper or thesis) which will allow the select ion committee to assess your candidacy better.

The letter of intent must include: 

• Your motivations to pursue graduate studies in communication.
• The problem or question you are interested in.
• The objectives of your research.
• Context: Locate your research in the context of relevant literature, explain the relevance and originality of your research and the likely contribution to the field of communication, and also specify the theoretical approach and framework.
• The methodology: specify your methodological approach.
• The selection of a potential supervisor in the Department of Communication (you can choose a maximum of two names). Please include any other information that might help the selection committee to assess your application better. Please write in a clear, structured way using simple language.

Specify any other information that may help the selection committee to better evaluate your application.

Please write in a clear, synthetic and structured manner.

In order to facilitate the Selection Committee to assess your file and application, please explain your motivations in applying. Please describe your motivations, your previous experience especially work experience and your career plans and paths in the short and long term. 

Please include any other information that might help the selection committee to assess your application better.

Please write in a clear, structured way using simple language.

Ph.D. in Communication - Letter of intention

• Font times new roman 11
• Margins should be 2 cm minimum
• Maximum of 1000 words

Please describe with references to scholarly work a description of your proposed research which will allow the select ion committee to assess your candidacy better. If academic works are cited in your letter of intent, please include a separate "Works Cited" which should be no longer than 1 page.

The letter of intent must include:

• Your motivations to pursue graduate studies in communication
• The problem or question you are interested in
• The objectives of your research
• Context: Locate your research in the context of relevant literature, explain the relevance and originality of your research and the likely contribution to the field of communication, and also specify the theoretical approach and framework
• The methodology: specify your methodological approach
• The selection of a potential supervisor in the Department of Communication (you can choose a maximum of two names, indicating why you want to work with them and if you have already reached them)
• A demonstration of an active knowledge of either French or English and the ability to read and understand the other language. To demonstrate his/her active knowledge whether of French or English, the applicant must, following the brief of the program, provide evidence that he/she has studied for at least three years (full-time) in a school, college or university in Canada or elsewhere, where the language of instruction is exclusively English or French; that his/her mother tongue is English or French; that he/she has at least one full year of professional work experience in English or in French.

Please include any other information that might help the selection committee to assess your application better.

Please write in a clear, structured way using simple language.

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Department of Communication

Graduate studies Desmarais Hall, room 8159 55 Laurier Avenue East Tel.: 613-562-5800 ext. 5439  Fax: 613-562-5340 [email protected]

FACULTY OF HUMANITIES

Communication studies & media arts.

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PhD Program in Communication, New Media & Cultural Studies

The PhD in Communication, New Media and Cultural Studies (CNMCS) is an innovative transdisciplinary joint program between the Departments of Communication Studies and Media Arts (CSMA) and the Department of English and Cultural Studies (ECS).

The benefit of a Humanities degree is that it truly prepares you for the working world

Cassandra D’Ambrosio '15

Combined Honours Communication Studies and Multimedia

I was greeted with a nurturing love of reading and learning. It was the ability to sit down, focus and construct an argument or opinion. Reading is a superpower.

Tristan Toye '14

Through my Multimedia major, I learned technical skills that have made me invaluable in the workplace.

Kaitlynn Jong '16

About the Program

The challenges we face today—social and environmental injustice, climate change, precarious work, surveillance and a shrinking public sphere—are complex and multifaceted. Among their many other dimensions, they are questions of communication and culture, which demand urgent engagement. The PhD in Communication, New Media and Cultural Studies (CNMCS) is for creative students who embrace complexity, love difficult questions and believe that the problems we face today are, fundamentally, problems of communication and culture. Learning to read , critique and create culture, media and communication is critical to seeing things, and doing things, in new ways.

The PhD in Communication, New Media and Cultural Studies (CNMCS) is a joint program between the Departments of Communication Studies and Media Arts (CSMA) and the Department of English and Cultural Studies (ECS) . Our many complementary strengths are in areas including new media arts, performance, policy, visual culture, digital culture, music/sound, gender and sexuality, critical race studies, Indigenous studies, postcolonial and diasporic studies, transnational culture and international communications, critical environmental studies, political economy, professional communication, and media analysis and strategy. The program draws faculty members from CSMA and ECS as well as other departments in the Humanities to act as supervisors of CNMCS doctoral students.

Admission Requirements

The PhD Degree Program normally entails four years of study. The admission requirement is a completed MA, MSc, MFA or Master of Communication Management (MCM.) degree in a relevant field (e.g. Communication Studies, Cultural Studies, New Media, etc.). We also welcome applications from students with a Master’s degree in a related field (e.g. Music, Digital Humanities, Visual Culture, Visual and Fine Arts, Sociology, Anthropology, Women’s and Gender Studies, English, Philosophy, Interdisciplinary Studies, etc.) who have focused on research germane to the program and can demonstrate, in their letters of application, how their graduate work to date has prepared them for a PhD in Communication, New Media and Cultural Studies. While students must have expertise in at least one of New Media, Communication or Cultural Studies, the committee will look particularly favourably on students who have demonstrated fluency in two or more program areas. A successful applicant from an MA program with a coursework component will have grades of at least A- in two-thirds of their courses. Students whose training has not included graded coursework are encouraged to submit a dossier of work completed during their Master’s program.

Language Requirements

For applicants who do not hold a post-secondary degree from a program whose language of instruction was English, you will be required to provide an official record of the Test of English as a Foreign Language. A TOEFL score of 600 on the paper-based test, 250 on the computerized test, and 100 on the Internet-based test is required. If you are submitting the IELTS test, a score of 7 is required.

Application Process

The deadline for submission of completed applications (including supporting documentation) for September entry into the PhD program is January 14th. The online application system will open on November 15th for September admission. Application fees are not refundable.

Only completed applications (including supporting documentation) will be reviewed. Your application materials and supporting documents must be uploaded to the application system. Supporting documents can also be sent directly to the Department of Communication Studies and Media Arts via email to the Graduate Administrator at [email protected] .  If sending supporting documentation directly to the Department, please send them as PDF files in one email per the instructions listed below with the subject line “Last Name, First Name: Supporting Documents” (your name should be listed as it appears in your online application).  Alternatively, you may mail your application materials to the following address (DO NOT USE STAPLES):

Department of Communication Studies and Media Arts

c/o Graduate Administrative Assistant

Togo Salmon Hall 332

McMaster University

1280 Main Street West

Hamilton, ON  L8S 4M2

Documents Required:

• A completed Online Application
• Application Fee (submitted during the online application process). This fee is non-refundable and must be paid in Canadian dollars by means of a credit or debit card payment.
• Two (2) academic recommendations from instructors most familiar with your work . Recommendations may be submitted directly via email from the referees to [email protected] , or provided via the online application system. If submitting the references by postal mail or in person, please ensure that referees have signed across the seal of the envelope. NOTE: THE ONLINE APPLICATION SYSTEM WILL PROMPT YOUR REFEREES TO SUBMIT REFERENCES. IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE YOUR REFERENCES ARE SUBMITTED BY THE APPLICATION DEADLINE, AND TO REQUEST THOSE LETTERS PERSONALLY, IN TIME FOR LETTERS TO BE SUBMITTED BY THE DEADLINE.  PLEASE REQUEST ALL LETTERS WELL BEFORE YOU SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION.
• One ( 1 ) official transcript of all academic work completed to date (including undergraduate and graduate if applicable). Upload a scan of your transcript to the application system, and arrange to have an official transcript sent directly to the Department of Communication Studies and Media Arts from the issuing institution.  If you have had the transcripts mailed to you, or you picked them up yourself from the issuing institution, they must come in a sealed envelope with the  original university seal .  If the final transcript does not show that a completed degree has been conferred, an official copy of your diploma is also required.  Please submit your official sealed transcripts by mail to the address listed above, or by secure e-transcript from the issuing institution to [email protected]. 
• A 500-word (two pages, double-spaced) statement of interest. The statement of interest plays an important role in our assessment of your application.  It is an opportunity to outline the thesis you propose to undertake and to present your theoretical interests, areas of critical or creative engagement, and your particular fields of emerging expertise. Your statement of interest should include the following:
• The thesis model you propose to produce;
• A traditional thesis , which will normally be between 200 and 250 pages (not including bibliography);
• A research-creation or project-based thesis , which will consist of a body of work and written commentary on that work of between 100 and 150 pages; such a thesis may involve arts based research, or it may involve the creation of such things as tool kits, social interventions, learning platforms, databases, new media archives, documentary films or podcasts; or
• A sandwich thesis , which, in accordance with McMaster’s Thesis Preparation Guide, must consist of a minimum of three scholarly works on a unified theme, either previously published or exhibited, submitted for peer-review, or prepared for publication/exhibition but not yet submitted (in CNMCS, these works may include journal articles submitted for peer review, or art/media/performance pieces submitted for peer-adjudication); these works must be accompanied by substantial introductory and concluding chapters, addressing the methodologies, theories and approaches that unify and inform the research. If the sandwich thesis is used for a series of research creation projects, the student will present an explanatory narrative that connects the projects and argues for their significance. The typical length of a sandwich thesis will be about 200 pages, plus bibliography.
• The objectives of your critical or creative research, including the question, problem, or issue you are interested in addressing;
• The critical debates, theoretical frameworks, creative models, artistic concepts, primary works and/or methodological approaches that will inform your thesis;
• One or more faculty members who you think might be suitable supervisors for your thesis;
• A brief reflection upon activities or experiences relevant to your research and to contributing to an engaged and engaging PhD program (i.e. community engagement activities, knowledge mobilization activities, previous experience as a research assistant or teaching assistant);
• Your motivations to pursue this program.
• Important: please list the names of your two referees and their email addresses at the end of your statement. Please submit your statement of interest to the online application system. You may also send your statement of interest as a PDF file via email to [email protected] .
• A sample of your academic writing. You should submit a copy of an academic essay that you’ve written for a graduate course; the essay should demonstrate your writing abilities and your ideas. Ideally, it should be no longer than 20 pages double-spaced. Please submit your sample of writing to the online application system. You may also submit your sample of writing as a PDF file via email to [email protected] .
• A sample (or samples) of your multimedia work (if applicable). Students with a Media Arts background are strongly encouraged to submit a sample of their creative work. P lease upload your sample or work or links to your sample of work to the application system. You may also submit links to your samples of work in one PDF file to [email protected] . 
• A current Curriculum Vitae (CV), preferably no longer than 2 pages.
• Evidence of competency in English: Applicants whose native language is not English will be required to provide an official record of the Test of English as a Foreign Language. A TOEFL score of 600 on the paper-based test, 250 on the computerized test, and 100 on the Internet-based test is required. If you are submitting the IELTS test, a score of 7.0 is required. Please upload your unofficial result to the application system and arrange to have your official score report sent by mail to the address listed above.

For any additional information about the application process, contact us at [email protected] .

Program Timelines & Milestones

Students of the program must complete 18 units of approved coursework by the end of the second year, including: 4 courses, for a total of 12 units, to be completed in year 1; and two 3-unit doctoral seminars, taken in year 1 and year 2. As part of the 4 courses to be completed in year 1, students must take at least one of either CULTR ST 732 or CMST&MM 700 (unless they have taken either course or a direct equivalent during a previous degree program). With the permission of the CNMCS Ph.D. Advisory Committee, students may take 3 units of electives from graduate courses offered by programs other than CNMCS.

Comprehensive Examination

Students in the program will be required to take the Comprehensive Examination in the area of their intended thesis research. This will involve writing two papers, a Field Survey and a Topic Paper, and defending both in an oral examination. The Field Survey should show broad expertise in the wider field of knowledge the candidate’s research will engage, i.e. one or more of the fields of Communication Studies, Cultural Studies or New Media/Media Arts. The Topic Paper describes how the candidate’s thesis intervenes in the chosen field(s) and the particular contribution it will make. Both papers are to be researched and written concurrently by the candidate, are to be between 25 and 30 double-spaced pages in length, and are due in February of the second year of study. The Oral Examination of both papers will follow within 10 days of submission. The candidate’s mark in the Comprehensive Examination will be calculated on the average of the grades for the Field Survey, the Topic Paper and the Oral Examination.

Qualifying Dossier

Over the course of their graduate study, students in the program will develop a qualifying dossier in consultation with their supervisory committee. Possible components of the qualifying dossier, of which the student will complete at least six, include:

• a grant application;
• presentation of a conference paper or artist talk;
• a revision and submission of an article or artistic piece for peer-reviewed publication or juried exhibition;
• a research ethics proposal;
• a syllabus and a teaching philosophy statement;
• an op-ed or other knowledge translation project (e.g., a blog, performance, artwork, website, new media project, etc.)
• Education 751 (offered by McMaster’s MacPherson Institute for Leadership, Innovation and Excellence in Teaching)
• participation in four professionalization workshops (academic or non-academic), offered by ECS, CSMA, or the Faculty of Humanities
• a published book review/exhibition review in a scholarly journal
• a community-engagement project
• a guest lecture
• participation in conference organizing

Work completed as part of course requirements may be included in the dossier at the discretion of the supervisory committee.

The candidate will complete a thesis in one of the following forms:

• A traditional thesis , which will normally be between 200 and 250 pages (not including bibliography).
• A research-creation or project-based thesis , which will consist of a body of work and written commentary on that work of between 100 and 150 pages; such a thesis may involve arts-based research, or it may involve the creation of such things as tool kits, social interventions, learning platforms, databases, new media archives, documentary films, or podcasts;
• By March 1 of year 1 of the program, students will submit a short proposal (1000 words plus bibliography) for the thesis, identifying the area of their intended thesis research, for the approval of the Admissions and Review Committee. 
• With the guidance of their supervisory committee and their peers in the year 2 doctoral seminar, students will develop a long proposal (10-15 pages plus bibliography), to be submitted for approval by August 31 of year 2.  
• Years 3 and 4 of the degree will be dedicated to the completion of the thesis, which must be defended in an oral examination.

Tuition & Program Fees

Visit Graduate Studies to learn more about tuition, supplementary fees and everything you need to know about being paid as a Teaching or Research Assistant. Tuition fees are assessed on a term by term basis, depending on the number of courses a student takes or if they are paying by term.

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR GRADUATE SUPERVISORS

Research your passion in Communication and New Media with supervision from our world-class faculty.

SEE OUR CURRENT AND FORMER GRAD STUDENTS

Learn about our PhD program students.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

PhD Course Listings

The following is a list of all courses included as potential offerings in CNMCS. Aside from the required courses, course offerings change regularly from one academic year to the next.

• CNMCS 700 / Doctoral Seminar in Communication, New Media and Cultural Studies 1 (required)
• CNMCS 701 / Doctoral Seminar in Communication, New Media, and Cultural Studies 2 (required)
• CMST&MM 702 / Media and Social Issues
• CMST&MM 703 / New Media Studio Topics
• CMST&MM 705 / Digital Media and Cultural Exchange
• CMST&MM 706 / Technologies of Communication
• CMST&MM 707 / Theoretical Issues in Media, Culture and Communication
• CMST&MM 708 / Selected Topics in Communication and New Media
• CMST&MM 710 / International Communication
• CMST&MM 714 / Feminism, Technology and Science
• CMST&MM 715 / Cultural Memory, the Media, and “Us”
• CMST&MM 716 / Critical Perspectives on Documentary
• CMST&MM 717 / Youth, New Media and Culture
• CMST&MM 718 / Critical Approaches to Communication Policy & Law
• CMST&MM 719 / Media and Mimesis: Installation and Performance Media
• CMST&MM 720 / Data Cultures
• CMST&MM 721 / Alternative Media Forms in Africa
• CMST&MM 722 / Beyoncé Studies: Creativity, Celebrity, and Activism
• CMST&MM 723 / Islam, Feminisms and Global Media
• CMST&MM 724 / Visions of Extinction: What the End Looks Like From Here
• CMST&MM 725 / Theory, Race, and Power
• CMST&MM 726 / Media, Sustainability, and Climate Justice
• CMST&MM 727 / Cultural Production and the Environment
• CMST&MM 728 / Critical Hope in Times of Protracted Crises
• CMST&MM 731 / Crisis Management and Communication
• CULTR ST 708 / Selfie/Culture
• CULTR ST 710 / Decolonial, Anti-Racist, and Anti-Oppressive Pedagogies: Teaching and Learning Otherwise
• CULTR ST 711 / Celebrity/Culture
• CULTR ST 712 / Queer, Two-Spirit, & Trans- Indigenous Writings
• CULTR ST 716 / Bob Dylan and American Culture: Memory, Consciousness and Meaning
• CULTR ST 717 / Global Sex
• CULTR ST 721 / Writing, Land, and Place
• CULTR ST 725 / Romanticism, War, and Peace
• CULTR ST 729 / Cultural Studies and the Politics of Cultural Pedagogy
• CULTR ST 730 / Indigenous Literature of North America
• CULTR ST 731 / Anxiety Disorders: The Cultural Politics of Risk
• CULTR ST 734 / Appropriation and Canadian Literature: History, Theory, Controversies
• CULTR ST 742 / Mapping South Asian Masculinities
• CULTR ST 743 / Reimagining Nature: Science and Empire in the Long Eighteenth Century
• CULTR ST 746 / American Counterculture Literature, 1950-1990: Beat, Hippie, Punk
• CULTR ST 747 / Discourses of Empire 1700-1820
• CULTR ST 748 / Last Things: Life and Death in the Anthropocenes
• CULTR ST 749 / Getting and Spending: The Birth of Consumer Culture
• CULTR ST 750 / Gothic, Sensation and Victorian Discourses of the Body
• CULTR ST 752 / Trans-Atlantic Indigeneity: Indigenous Literary Presence in Europe
• CULTR ST 755 / Neoliberalism and the Limits of the Social
• CULTR ST 756 / The Secret Life of Things in the Eighteenth Century
• CULTR ST 757 / Gender, Civility, and Courtliness in Early Modern Europe
• CULTR ST 758 / Literature as Witness
• CULTR ST 759 / Victorian Natures
• CULTR ST 761 / Framing CanLit
• CULTR ST 762 / Queer Historicisms and British Cultural Memory
• CULTR ST 765 / Biopolitics: An Introduction
• CULTR ST 767 / Regarding Animals: Theories of Non-Human Life
• CULTR ST 770 / Queer Caribbean Writing: Sex, Gender, Politics
• CULTR ST 773 / “Revolt and Remember”: Resilience in the Postcolonial Environmental Humanities
• CULTR ST 775 / Topics in South Asian Literature and Culture
• CULTR ST 776 / Community Engaged Narrative Arts
• CULTR ST 779 / The Times We Live In
• CULTR ST 780 / Engendering the (Queer, Trans, Non-Binary) Transnational Early Modern Stage: Then and Now
• CULTR ST 781 / Public Mourning in Canada: What Makes a Life Grievable?
• CULTR ST 782 / Seed Stories of Black and Indigenous Survivance
• CULTR ST 785 / Migratory Routes: Indian Diasporic Fiction and Film
• CULTR ST 791 / Rethinking Politics: Thinking Past War, Democracy, and Terror

Course Outlines

Graduate course outlines will be posted at the beginning of the semester, where possible. In cases where current outlines are not available, outlines from previous offerings have been posted. Please note that the content and format of a course may vary significantly from one semester to another. Course offerings rotate regularly and therefore some elective courses may not have recent course outlines available.

Graduate Course Timetables

The timetables for graduate courses in the Department of Communication Studies and Media Arts are generally finalized over the summer, in order to accommodate teaching assistant schedules and other logistical requirements. Please note that the schedule may be subject to change, particularly in the case of instructors who are teaching virtual courses.

Students admitted to the MA and PhD Programs in Communication and New Media generally receive an entrance scholarship and a Teaching Assistantship, or funding-in-lieu of the TAship. Entrance scholarship amounts vary and are normally determined by the MA or PhD Graduate Committee at the time of admission.

The university also has various bursaries and scholarships. Graduate students are encouraged to apply.

Graduate students wishing to travel to research, exhibit, perform, or present at academic conferences may be eligible for financial support from the the Graduate Students Association (GSA), Communication Studies and Media Arts department, their supervisor, and/or other travel funds, awards, bursaries, and scholarships, subject to the availability of funds. For more information, contact your supervisor and [email protected] .  Also, visit the School of Graduate Studies Scholarship information page and click on ‘travel’ for a list of available resources

Students considering graduate school are encouraged to research scholarships well in advance because some external scholarship applications are due even before the student has been accepted to graduate school. Depending on a student’s area of interest, grades and overall profile, external scholarships may be available through a variety of sources, including government agencies and the private sector. The scholarships listed below are the ones most commonly held by MA and PhD students in Ontario. 

Ontario Graduate Scholarship

Note that applications must be submitted directly to the institution(s) where you plan to pursue graduate studies. The deadline is normally in the fall, before the application deadline for graduate school in Canada.

Canada Graduate Scholarships-Master’s Program

Graduate Scholarship – As with OGS, applications for the Canada Graduate Scholarship must be submitted through an eligible institution. The deadline is usually December 1, before the application deadline for graduate school.

McMaster Graduate Studies Scholarship Information

The School of Graduate Studies provides funding to our graduate students so they can devote their time and energy to the successful completion of their studies.

Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Doctoral Fellowship

The deadline for SSHRC applications is usually in the fall. Applications can be made directly to SSHRC or through your institution.

• Program Handbook
• Thesis Defence
• Graduate Calendar
• School of Graduate Studies Graduate Resources

All students admitted to the MA in Communication and New Media and PhD in Communication, New Media and Cultural Studies are awarded a teaching assistantship or a financially-equivalent award (e.g. a research assistantship). The teaching assistantship is not only a significant part of the funding package for our students but also an important opportunity for professionalization. There are training sessions for TAs at the start of the academic year, and both TAs and RAs gain ongoing mentorship from their faculty supervisors. 

Students are usually assigned two TAships: one in the fall term and the other in the winter term. Each TAship is 130 hours (averaging 10 hours per week). Assignments are based on students’ interests and experience (as communicated in a questionnaire distributed over the summer), and the department’s teaching needs. Faculty supervisors are responsible for the design and delivery of the course; the responsibilities of TAs include leading tutorials, meeting with students, and participating in assessment. Some TAs have a “marker” role; markers do not lead tutorials but, rather, assist with other aspects of content delivery and evaluation. 

A research assistantship is an excellent way for students to enhance their learning about the research process and to work closely with a faculty mentor.

There are two kinds of research assistantships for MA and PhD students. The first is an RA-in-lieu, which is given in place of a TAship. RA-in-lieu positions are for the same number of hours as a TAship (130 hours per semester in the fall and winter terms) and paid at the same rate as a TAship.

The second type of research assistantship is supplemental to a student’s main TAship or RAship. Students may be hired for a supplemental RAship on an ad hoc basis, usually to assist with faculty research. These supplemental RAships are sometimes offered to incoming students or are advertised to current students. The rate of pay and duties are set out in a contract, and RAs must submit hours of work forms on a bi-weekly basis. One final note: the number of hours that graduate students may work per year is capped at 505 hours; the hours worked for both the standard TAship/RA-in-lieu and any supplemental RAship count toward this number.

The PhD Teaching Fellowships are an exciting opportunity for PhD students in the Humanities to develop and teach their own undergraduate course. Teaching Fellows also participate in mentoring at both the faculty and departmental level.

PhD students become eligible for a teaching fellowship after they successfully submit their long thesis proposal. Usually, they are able to apply at the end of their third year to teach a course in their fourth year.

Near the end of winter term, available courses are shared with eligible students. Applications should include a cover letter explaining their experience and abilities for teaching the course; a maximum two-page explanation of their approach to teaching the course and a CV.

Teaching assistants are key partners in the classroom who benefit from, and contribute to, ongoing training in pedagogy. In recognition of the fact that the learning environment is constantly changing, our Instructional Committee maintains a course shell on Avenue that contains information regarding resources on campus, rights and responsibilities of TAs as well as supervisors, diversity and inclusion, approaches to managing questions and challenges in the classroom, grading and more. Current teaching assistants all have access to this course shell. An initial orientation is also held before classes commence.

McMaster is home to a vibrant student body, including highly engaged graduate students. The Graduate Students Association serves and represents graduate students across campus, providing a number of resources and services. Graduate students are encouraged to get involved with the GSA and to participate in the many events they organize throughout the year.

Many scholarly associations also have special committees or student groups that organize events, offer discounted fees or provide conference funding specifically for graduate students. One example is the  Canadian Communication Association  but there are many others, nationally and internationally.

The PhD in Communication, New Media and Cultural Studies equips students with skills that are crucial for our digital, knowledge-based economy. These include advanced research skills appropriate for work in the policy, not-for-profit and education sectors; high-level cultural, social and digital literacies; knowledge of and ability to innovate in modes and methods of communication; and the capacity for analyzing and engaging complex systems and problems.

CNMCS can prepare students for work in a wide range of sectors not only including education, but also the public service, the arts and the private sector. Since our founding in 2016, each cohort has been diverse in terms of background and interests, and accordingly, we expect that our graduates will follow very different paths.

PAST PhD THESIS PROJECTS

Stay tuned for when our first cohort of PhD students will graduate!

Department Life

Our program benefits from the close interaction between faculty, graduate students and undergraduate students. Graduate students participate in many aspects of departmental life, as teaching assistants and sometimes as assistants in research initiatives headed by faculty members. Graduate students are encouraged to attend events by visiting speakers across the university and are given opportunities, where possible, to perform and deliver guest lectures, and attend invited talks.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Graduate Certificates and Diplomas

Students in our doctoral program are eligible to participate in the Gender Studies and Feminist Research Graduate Diploma. Application for the Graduate Diploma (PhD) in Gender and Social Justice is normally made after the first year of doctoral study for entry into the program during the student’s second year of the PhD Program. Occasionally, students may be allowed to begin the Graduate Diploma in their third year of the PhD, but no later.

Available Gender Studies and Feminist Research Graduate Diploma

Students in our doctoral program are eligible to participate in the Graduate Diploma (PhD) in Gender and Social Justice. Application for the Graduate Diploma is normally made after the first year of doctoral study for entry into the program during the student’s second year of the PhD Program.  Occasionally, students may be allowed to begin the Graduate Diploma in their third year of the PhD, but no later.

Find a Humanities Expert

Research-focused and student-centered. Humanities researchers promote interdisciplinary approaches to local and global leadership. Learn more about our researchers by searching by name or keyword.

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Media and communications

Parent category, sub-categories, graduate degree programs in media and communications.

Doctor of Philosophy in Cinema and Media Studies (PhD)

The Ph.D. program offers students the opportunity to pursue Cinema and Media Studies through coursework, comprehensive exams, a viva, and a dissertation project. Students are expected to give primary attention to an area of expertise of their choice while training in the broader theoretical,...

Master of Arts in Cinema and Media Studies (MA)

The two-year M.A. program offers students the opportunity to pursue Cinema and Media Studies through coursework and an M.A. thesis project. Students are expected to give primary attention to an area of expertise of their choice while training in the broader theoretical, critical, and historical...

Master of Digital Media (MDM)

The Master of Digital Media (MDM) is a 16-month (including 12-months of work integrated learning) professional graduate degree that emphasizes collaborative, project-based learning where you will get hands-on experience developing digital media products. Informed by industry mentors and diverse...

Master of Fine Arts in Film Production (MFA)

Please note that applications for the MFA in Film Production are accepted on a biennial basis.  Applications for Fall 2024 will open in late September 2023. Film Production is a major component of Vancouver’s economy, as well as in cities across the globe. UBC has an over 45-year history of...

Master of Fine Arts in Film Production and Creative Writing (MFA)

Please note that the applications for the MFA in Film Production and Creative Writing are accepted on a biennial basis.  Applications for Fall 2024 will open in late September 2023. Film Production is a major component of Vancouver’s economy, as well as in cities across the globe. UBC has an over...

Master of Journalism (MJ)

Journalists have traditionally sought to provide news and information in an accurate, timely and accessible manner to enable the public to make informed decisions. Yet journalism is in flux, with the digital age blurring boundaries of news production and consumption between professionals, citizens...

Master of Public Policy and Global Affairs (MPPGA)

UBC’s professional Master of Public Policy and Global Affairs (MPPGA) program equips future policy makers with a profound understanding of policy-making processes through a solid foundation of rigorous knowledge acquisition, policy analysis, career development, and experiential learning. With a...

UBC Researchers conducting research in Media and communications

Dobson, teresa, department of language & literacy education, faculty of education.

Faculty (G+PS eligible/member)

Media and communications; Literary Education; Digital Literacy; Digital Humanities; Text Visualization

Donner, Simon

Department of geography, institute for resources, environment & sustainability, institute for the oceans and fisheries, faculty of arts.

Atmospheric sciences; Oceanography; Other media and communication; Climate Science; climate change impacts; Climate policy; Coastal Ecosystems; Marine Environment; Climate modelling and prediction; Science communication; Net-zero emissions; Coral reefs

Drljaca, Igor

Department of theatre & film, faculty of arts.

Creative writing; Film, television and digital media; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Documentary FIlm; Film Production; Narrative Film; Screenwriting; Virtual Reality; Video and New Media

Fong, Anthony

Faculty of medicine.

Faculty (non-G+PS member)

Medical, health and life sciences; Media and communications; disaster medicine; health journalism

Frackman, Kyle

Department of central, eastern & northern european studies, faculty of arts.

Cinema studies; Media studies (except social media and digital media); Literature and literary studies; Cultural studies; queer studies; German studies; media studies; history of sexuality; sexuality; sexuality studies; East Germany; film; Gender Studies; history of science; literature; Media; Media Types (Radio, Television, Written Press, etc.); Scandinavia

Marshall, Christopher Warren

Department of ancient mediterranean and near eastern studies, faculty of arts.

Cinema studies; Classical Greek and Ancient Rome history; Classical archaeology; Classical linguistics; Film, television and digital media; Religion and religious studies; Literary or Artistic Works Analysis; Performance and Theatrical Productions

Nathan, Lisa

School of information, faculty of arts.

Media and communications; Critical studies of technology; Climate Justice; Indigenous-led Information Initiatives; Collapse | Adaptive Informatics; Values & Design; Information Ethics & Policy

Santos, Alessandra

Cinema studies; Film, television and digital media; Latin American history; Latin American literatures; Spanish language; Artistic and Literary Analysis Models; Artistic and Literary Theories; Arts and Cultural Traditions; Arts and Technologies; Brazilian Literature and Culture; Comparative Literary and Cultural Studies; Latin American Literatures and Cultures; Modern and Contemporary Literatures and Cultures

Stack, Michelle

Department of educational studies, faculty of education.

Adult and continuing education, and community education; Educational policy; Media studies (except social media and digital media); Community Engaged Research; Knowledge translation; Cooperatives and Social Solidarity Economies; University Rankings and Equity; Disability studies; anti-racism; media education

Student & Alumni Stories in Media and communications

Gerrit Krueper

Dialectical Stream Studies - Social(ist) Participatory Media Consumption on Twitch

Susanna Cassisa

Master of Arts in Germanic Studies (MA)

Moral panic and anti-gay rhetoric in East German print media (1950-1955)

Hoda Amal Hamouda

Doctor of Philosophy in Library, Archival and Information Studies (PhD)

Incorporating the view of archival diplomatics into the authentication practices of citizen journalists videos captured during historically significant events

Wesley (Wes) Regan

Planning in the infodemic: the impacts of digital misinformation and anti-government conspiracism on urban sustainability planning

Visual research on multigenerational, transnational migration experiences of the Hong Kong diaspora in Vancouver, BC Canada

Michael Yin

Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science (PhD)

Supporting and extending virtual entertainment experiences

Gabrielle Berry

[♪♪♪]: The Sonic Resonances of Captions

Olivia Dreisinger

Doctor of Philosophy in English (PhD)

Diagnosis grad school: A podcast series

Program Specializations in Media and communications

Cinema and media studies, digital media, film production, film production and creative writing, academic units in media and communications, department of theatre & film, school of creative writing, school of public policy and global affairs, french name, french description, follow these steps to apply to ubc graduate school.

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• Reimagining Graduate Education
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Communication and Culture (MA, PhD)

Joint Program with York University  

Program Overview

Format : Full-time (MA, PhD), Part-time (MA)

Degree Earned : Master of Arts (MA) or Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

This unique partnership between two universities combines expertise and opportunities for advanced study of media and cultural technologies, as well as communication politics in practice and theory. The two-year, full- or part-time MA program combines academic and professional work through independent research in theory-building, media practice or policy implications. The full-time PhD program provides a thorough grounding in theory and method, and the practices, processes and technologies of contemporary, media-immersed cultures.

At a Glance

Admissions information.

• Completion of a four-year undergraduate (or equivalent degree) from an accredited institution
• Minimum grade point average (GPA) or equivalent of 3.33/4.33 (B+) in the last two years of study
• Statement of research interest
• Transcripts
• Two letters of recommendation
• English language proficiency requirement
• Writing sample
• Completion of a master’s degree from an accredited institution
• Minimum grade point average (GPA) or equivalent of 3.33/4.33 (B+)

More information on  admission requirements . Due to the competitive nature of our programs, it is not possible to offer admission to everyone who applies that meets the minimum entrance requirements for the program. 

Program-specific requirements

Financing Your Studies

For detailed graduate tuition and fees information please visit  Fees by Program .

For information on scholarships, awards and financing your graduate studies visit  Financing Your Studies.

Research Areas

• Media and Culture: the confluence of media and culture and their relationships within social systems.
• Politics and Policy: the critical role of the state and civil society in the development of communication systems, the production and distribution of culture, and issues of societal power.
• Technology in Practice: the development, application, and influence of historical, current and emerging communication technologies in cultural production, both personal and organizational.

Sample Courses

• Accelerating Technicity
• Activist Video Making
• Advanced Communication Technology
• Advanced Research Methodologies
• Armed Conflict, Peace and Media
• Asian Studies Perspectives
• Bodies in Technology
• Body and Culture Of Modernity
• Cinema and Media: Key Concepts
• Communication and Culture: An Interdisciplinary Approach
• Communication and the Sociotechnical
• Contemporary Theory In Visual Arts
• Cultural Policy
• Cultural Production Workshop
• Culture and The Environment
• Cultures of Sexuality and Gender
• Design and Research Theory
• Digital Games and Learning
• Field Placement (MA)
• Future Cinema
• History of News
• Media Democracy
• Media Ethics
• Media History
• Perspectives in Communication and Culture
• Photographic Vision and Practice
• Political Economy of Media
• Politics of Aesthetics
• Popular Music Studies
• Reading Film
• Reading Television
• Research Methodologies
• Social and Cultural Implications of New Media
• Social Theory and Communication Processes
• Visual Culture
• Centre for Digital Humanities
• Infoscape Research Lab
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Admissions information and how to apply

Graduate Studies Admissions Office 11th Floor, 1 Dundas Street West Toronto, ON Telephone: 416-979-5150 Fax: 416-979-5153 E-mail:  [email protected]

For information specific to programs please see the program contact information below.

Program Contacts

Dr. Miranda Campbell  Graduate Program Director Telephone: 416-979-5000 ext. 553519 Email: [email protected]

Sarah Edmonds Graduate Program Administrator Telephone: 416-979-5000 ext. 554837 Fax: 416-979-5153 Email:  [email protected]

“This program has enabled me to tap into a unique community of passionate scholars and creative thinkers who have sharpened my research and artistic practice.” Dave Colangelo, PhD alumnus

Student Profile:  Indigenizing Fashion  (external link) 

Riley Kucheran (communication and culture PhD student) explores clothing and assimilation in Indian Residential Schools

Find curriculum, course descriptions and important dates for Communication and Culture (MA, PhD).

Once you’ve made an informed choice about which program(s) you are going to apply to, preparing your application requires careful research and planning.

At Toronto Metropolitan University, we understand that pursuing graduate studies is a significant financial investment. Funding comes from a combination of employment contracts (as a teaching assistant), scholarships, awards and stipends. There are a number of additional funding sources – internal and external – available to graduate students that can increase these funding levels.

As an urban innovation university, Toronto Metropolitan University offers 60+ cutting-edge, career-oriented graduate programs, as well as 125+ research centres, institutes and labs, in a wide range of disciplines. Our close connections with industry, government and community partners provide opportunities to apply your knowledge to real-world challenges and make a difference.

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PhD in Media Studies (PhD MS)

Critical media studies in FIMS

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Media studies at the doctoral level

Meet our media studies students.

Mars Noorani

MA Media Studies candidate.

Jelena Belenzada

Zak Bronson

PhD Media Studies candidate.

Chandell Gosse

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Tuition and Fees 

Tuition and fees payable to SFU for our MA and PhD programs are the same for Canadian and for international students.

Please  see here for SFU's current tuition and fees . Our MA and PhD programs are listed under "Regular Programs," "Faculty of Communication, Art, and Technology".

Financial Support 

All admitted applicants are considered for all forms of funding available through SFU. Applicants are also strongly encouraged to apply for external funding wherever possible. 

Graduate students in the School of Communication or normally supported by a combination of teaching assistantships, research assistantships, and/or scholarships. Specific funding packages are outlined in our admissions offers to successful applicants. 

Canadian citizens and permanent residents should apply for funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC).

Please  see here for complete information  on awards and funding available to SFU graduate students.

Jason Congdon

Graduate programs coordinator  (ma and phd).

T: 778-782-3595 E:  [email protected] Room: K9669

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Doctor of Philosophy in Communication - Political Economy

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Hamilton , Canada

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Doctor of Philosophy in Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) and Smart Se...

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Edmonton , Canada

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Vancouver , Canada

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Calgary , Canada

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Toronto , Canada

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