Professional Communication - Bachelor of Communication Studies
Overview
In addition to the common core courses outlined in the program of study, the major in professional communication offers the opportunity for specialization in strategic communication, editing and publishing, or technical communications.
Bachelor of Communication Studies
Faculty of Fine Arts and Communications
MacEwan.ca/CommunicationDegree
In our fast-paced world of evolving and conventional media, communication is key to interpersonal, organizational and career success. The Bachelor of Communication Studies program provides students with a solid foundation in the fundamental skills of critical thinking, writing, editing, and research. Common coursework for professional communication and journalism majors builds a foundation in language, composition, visual communication, communication theory, communication law and research methods supported by a liberal arts framework. The courses in the majors offer depth, specialization, and choice. The minor provides additional scope and depth to your studies. The program offers many opportunities to integrate what you have learned in the classroom with real-life projects that engage the community and provide students with an enhanced learning experience. The field is forward-looking, and so is this program of studies.
Years one and two include common coursework for both professional communication and journalism majors that builds a foundation in language, composition, visual communication, communication theory, communication law, and research methods. Years three and four provide specialization in editing, strategic communication, technical communication or film studies (in the professional communication major), or in news gathering, digital media production, or film studies (in the journalism major).
Year three includes an ethical practice and portfolio course, followed by a professional field placement that includes BCSC 398 either/or BCSC 395. Students conclude year four with skills, experience and practical proof of their communication competency.
The Bachelor of Communication Studies program prepares students for strategic roles in business, traditional and new media, not-for-profit and public sector organizations: wherever clear, correct, and effective messages are valued. Confident in research methodology and contemporary communication theory, students are also ready for graduate studies in communication or a related field.
Career Potential
Graduates of MacEwan University’s Bachelor of Communication Studies will have competency in critical problem solving, global awareness and cultural sensitivity, creativity, information and research literacy, and ethical and professional practice. These competencies will bring career success in a variety of positions – writer, editor, researcher, journalist, reporter, marketer, client or community relations practitioner, communications advisor, communications coordinator, public information officer, producer, social media contact, reviewer, analyst, commentator – and in many roles that have yet to be created. In 2011, Statistics Canada reported a healthy demand for employment in the information and communication fields, and in 2010, the Government of Alberta reported that hiring is robust for journalists and good for writers and editors.
Technology Integration for Creative Learning (TICL)
On entering the second year of the Bachelor of Communication Studies program, students in the Journalism major will need to purchase a Mac laptop and necessary software identified by the program. For specifications, refer to the program website or contact an advisor.
Contact Information
Program of Study
| Course ID | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| BCSC 100 | Grammar and Composition Foundations | 3 |
| BCSC 101 | Communication and Human Interaction | 3 |
| BCSC 102 | Introduction to Visual Communication | 3 |
| BCSC 200 | Communication Theory | 3 |
| BCSC 202 | Online Communication | 3 |
| BCSC 203 | Introduction to Research Methods | 3 |
| BCSC 302 | Multimedia Authoring | 3 |
| BCSC 306 | Ethical Practice and Portfolio | 3 |
| BCSC 307 | Communication Law I | 3 |
| BCSC 411 | Advanced Research Methods | 3 |
| ENGL 102 | Analysis and Argument | 3 |
| Choose an ENGL course from the following: | ||
| Approaches to Literature: Trends and Traditions | ||
| Approaches to Literature: Narrative Across Media | ||
| Approaches to Literature: Contemporary Literature and Culture | ||
| Total Credits | 33 | |
Breadth Requirements – Journalism
9 Credits must be at the senior level.
| Course ID | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Humanities | 6 | |
| Social Sciences | 9 | |
| Sciences | 6 | |
| Fine Art/Performing Arts | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 27 | |
Breadth Requirements – Professional Communication
9 Credits must be at the senior level.
| Course ID | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Humanities | 6 | |
| Social Sciences | 6 | |
| Sciences | 6 | |
| Fine Arts/Performing Arts | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 24 | |
| Course ID | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Major Requirements | ||
| BCSC 204 | Foundations in Sustainability Communication | 3 |
| BCSC 215 | Applied Communications | 3 |
| BCSC 216 | Professional Communication | 3 |
| BCSC 253 | Classical and Modern Rhetoric | 3 |
| BCSC 310 | Strategic Communication Planning | 3 |
| BCSC 395 | Professional Field Placement and Practice | 3 |
| BCSC 400 | Intercultural Communication | 3 |
| BCSC 418 | Organizational Communication Theory | 3 |
| Professional Communication Major Option Courses | ||
| Select 21 credits of Option courses | 21 | |
| Journalism Minor Requirements | ||
| BCSC 201 | Foundations of Journalism | 3 |
| BCSC 210 | Introduction to News Reporting | 3 |
| BCSC 313 | Intermediate News Reporting | 3 |
| BCSC 322 | Interviewing Techniques 1 | |
| Journalism Minor Options | ||
| Choose 6 credits from the following: | 6 | |
| Canadian Press and Society | ||
| Photojournalism | ||
| Arts and Culture Reporting | ||
| Online News Reporting: Journalism in the Digital Age | ||
| Reporting on Canadian Politics | ||
| Total Credits | 60 | |
1The required Journalism minor course, BCSC 322, will also be used toward the Professional Communication major options.
The minimum passing grade for a course at MacEwan University is a D unless otherwise noted next to the appropriate course in the program of study.
Professional Communication Major Options
| Course ID | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BCSC 205 | Introduction to Film Studies and Narrative | 3 |
| BCSC 207 | Documentary Film Principles and Practices | 3 |
| BCSC 221 | Writing to be Heard | 3 |
| BCSC 223 | Introduction to Screenwriting | 3 |
| BCSC 241 | Introduction to Technical Communication | 3 |
| BCSC 260 | Substantive and Structural Editing | 3 |
| BCSC 282 | Short Written Forms | 3 |
| BCSC 303 | Popular Culture and Film Studies: Film Noir | 3 |
| BCSC 305 | Popular Culture and Film Studies: Science Fiction | 3 |
| BCSC 308 | Communication Law II | 3 |
| BCSC 322 | Interviewing Techniques | 3 |
| BCSC 326 | Rhetoric of Popular Culture | 3 |
| BCSC 328 | Documentary Screenwriting | 3 |
| BCSC 330 | Intermediate Strategic Communication | 3 |
| BCSC 331 | Corporate Narrative | 3 |
| BCSC 332 | Writing and Publishing Prose I | 3 |
| BCSC 340 | Technical Communication for Digital Applications | 3 |
| BCSC 341 | Literary Journalism | 3 |
| BCSC 342 | Writing for Periodicals | 3 |
| BCSC 343 | Introducing Creative Nonfiction | 3 |
| BCSC 352 | The Media and the Message | 3 |
| BCSC 360 | Magazine Editing | 3 |
| BCSC 361 | Book Editing | 3 |
| BCSC 362 | Print Culture Studies | 3 |
| BCSC 379 | Public Affairs Data Journalism | 3 |
| BCSC 380 | Independent Study in Communications | 3 |
| BCSC 430 | Advanced Strategic Communication | 3 |
| BCSC 431 | Advanced Seminar in Strategic Communication | 3 |
| BCSC 432 | Writing and Publishing Prose II | 3 |
| BCSC 440 | Technical Communication: Safety Standards and Policies | 3 |
| BCSC 441 | Technical Communication for Policy Writing | 3 |
| BCSC 452 | Advanced Seminar in Technical Communication | 3 |
| BCSC 461 | Publication Editing and Management | 3 |
| BCSC 462 | Advanced Seminar in Editing and Publishing | 3 |
| BCSC 480 | Advanced Independent Study in Communications | 3 |
| BCSC 499 | Innovation and Entrepreneurship: New Ventures in Digital Media | 3 |
Course Substitutions
| Credit Earned in: | May Be Substituted for Credit in Program Course: |
|---|---|
| BCSC 301 | BCSC 307 |
| BCSC 433 | BCSC 412 |
| Credit Earned in: | May Be Substituted for Credit in Program Course: |
|---|---|
| PROW 100 | BCSC 100 |
| PROW 102 | BCSC 282 |
| PROW 104 | BCSC 253 |
| PROW 115 | BCSC 203 |
| PROW 117 | BCSC 102 |
| PROW 135 | BCSC 215 |
| PROW 204 | BCSC 221 |
| PROW 205 | BCSC 301 |
| PROW 210 | BCSC 100 |
| PROW 211 | BCSC 100 |
| PROW 224 | BCSC 241 |
| PROW 226 | BCSC 340 |
| PROW 228 | BCSC 440 |
| PROW 235 | BCSC 260 |
| PROW 240 | BCSC 332 |
| PROW 250 | BCSC 216 |
| PROW 302 | BCSC 202 |
| PROW 304 | BCSC 326 |
| PROW 307 | BCSC 328 |
| PROW 308 | BCSC 223 |
| PROW 310 | BCSC 343 |
| PROW 315 | BCSC 331 |
| PROW 316 | BCSC 342 |
| PROW 317 | BCSC 352 |
| PROW 318 | BCSC 441 |
| PROW 330 | BCSC 432 |
| PROW 331 | BCSC 341 |
| PROW 335 | BCSC 360 |
| PROW 336 | BCSC 361 |
| PROW 337 | BCSC 362 |
| PROW 338 | BCSC 461 |
| PROW 343 | BCSC 310 |
Program Regulations
Students are strongly encouraged to seek advice from a faculty or university advisor about fulfilling these degree requirements.
Declaration of a Major and a Minor
Students are advised to declare a major and a minor by the time they have completed 45 credits. Majors consist of 42 credits. Students can re-declare their major or minor if required.
Breadth Requirement
Students in the Professional Communication major and Journalism minor complete 24 credits of baccalaureate-level courses as outlined in the programs of study. A minimum of nine credits must be senior-level courses. Students in the Journalism major and Professional Communication minor complete 27 credits of baccalaureate level courses as outlined in the programs of study. A minimum of nine credits must be senior level courses.
Core Field Placement Requirements
All program students must successfully complete a field placement component to their Program of Study.
Journalism major students will complete BCSC 398, which is a three-credit, full-time or part-time 180-hour field placement, after successfully completing at least 84 out of 120 credits required for the degree, as well as BCSC 327: Online News Reporting. It is highly recommended, but not required, for journalism students to also complete BCSC 412: Advanced News Reporting.
Professional Communication major students will complete BCSC 395: Professional Field Placement and Practice, which is a three-credit, full-time or part-time 250-hour field placement with an academic course component, after successfully completing at least 84 out of 120 credits required for the degree.
The program will assist students in finding field placement opportunities; however, students are ultimately responsible for securing their own work placements, and all placements must be approved by the program. Students must comply with Policy C2060 Workplace Integrated Learning regarding their field placement.
Junior- and Senior-Level Courses
Courses numbered from 100 to 199 are considered junior level and courses numbered from 200 to 499 are considered senior level.
Senior-Level Coursework Requirements
A minimum of 72 credits of the total 120 program credits must be at the senior level. Additional courses at the 100-level will be declared extra to the 120 credits required to complete the degree and will not be counted toward fulfilment of graduation requirements.
Option Requirements
Students are required to complete 21 credits of major options. Journalism and Professional Communication minors must complete 18 credits of minor course work. Journalism minors must complete 6 credits of option courses. Professional Communication minors must complete 12 credits of option courses. Students must select from a list of BCSC option courses designed for each major and minor. Not all option courses are offered each term or year. These courses must be at the baccalaureate level.
Graduation Requirements
Graduation requirements are governed by the date on which students declare their major and minor. Students who declare their major and minor up to and including February 15 are bound by the requirements of the current academic year. Those students who declare after February 15 are bound by the programs of study and degree requirements of the upcoming calendar year published in the academic calendar.
Progression of Studies
Students are responsible for ensuring they fulfill the prerequisite and/or co-requisite requirements of courses taken to complete the Bachelor of Communication Studies degree.
Minimum Transfer Grade for Credit
A minimum grade of D is required for any transfer credit granted for the program. Courses in the Program of Study require a minimum grade of C- when the course is used as a prerequisite. Transfer credit decisions are final and cannot be appealed (See Policies C2030 and E3103).