Strategic Communications, Social Media & Society specialization
What is the Strategic Communications, Social Media & Society specialization?
Communications and digital media are everywhere and in everything. Journalists, public affairs officers, content creators, entertainment makers, branding experts, digital storytellers, social media influencers, consumers, activists and citizens use all kinds of media every day to create, send, and receive messages and images about the world, with the goal of changing it in some way. In the Specialized Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Digital Media Studies (CDMS) - Strategic Communication, Social Media and Society, students learn about the fast-changing strategic and social media communications environment in which a wide range of communicators, from companies to governments to militaries to political parties to non-profit advocacy and activist movements, use social media platforms such as Twitter, TikTok and YouTube to inform, influence and change society. Strategic communication encompasses PR, public affairs, advertising, propaganda, media activism and online influence, and represents how all organizations, groups and individuals in our digital society undertake purposeful goal-oriented communication to effect change. In the Strategic Communication, Social Media & Society specialization, you will analyze strategic communications in relation to the economics, politics, technologies, and cultures of the Internet and social media platforms, and hone knowledge and skills linked to thousands of new 21st century careers. Check out our postcard for a snapshot of what you will learn and possible careers.
How can I apply and be admitted to the CDMS program?
Although admission to the CDMS - Strategic Communication, Social Media and Society program is competitive, the specific grade average required for admission varies from year to year and preference will be given to applicants with the best qualifications. At a minimum, current Ontario secondary school student applicants to the program must complete the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) with six 4U or 4M credits including English (ENG4U), and demonstrate proof of English-language proficiency. To learn more about the admissions process and apply, visit our Undergraduate Admissions website.
Experiential Learning: Internships, Practicums, and Community Engagement
To learn more about the CDMS - Strategic Communication, Social Media and Society program’s experiential learning opportunities (including the practicum, the internship, and community engagement projects), check out the Faculty of Social Science and Humanities’ Experiential Learning Office.
What courses will I experience to earn my CDMS degree?
Your Academic Advising team and professors will be there to support you as you map and take your learning journey through the CDMS - Strategic Communication, Social Media and society courses toward your degree! To earn the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree in CDMS, you must complete the courses outlined below (for a total of 120 credits).
1 writing course
[3 credit hours]:
SSCI 1910U – Writing for the Social Sciences and Humanities
+
All of
[39 credit hours]:
COMM 1320U – Public Speaking and Multimedia Presentation for Web 3.0
COMM 1100U – Introduction to Communication and Digital Media Studies
COMM 1420U – Living Digitally: Social Media, Culture & Society
COMM 2311U – The Creative Industries: Ideas, Art, Tech, Money, Power
COMM 2620U - Professional Communication
COMM 3610U – Strategic Communications for Influence: Rhetoric, Persuasion and Propaganda
COMM 2110U – Communication and Digital Media Theory: Keyworks
COMM 2210U – Researching Communication and Digital Culture
COMM 2410U – Social History of Communication and Media Technologies
COMM 3720U - Knowing Your Audience: Audience Studies for Media Professionals and Creators
COMM 2411U – Governing Communication and Creativity: Policy for an era of Digital Disruption
COMM 3110U – Communication Ethics: Making Media for the Social Good
COMM 4130U – Capstone Creator Project
+
9 specialization courses
[27 credit hours]:
COMM 2530U – Advertising as Social Communication
COMM 3310U – Communication for Social Change, Communities and Development
COMM 3350U – Environmental Communication: Media and Tech for Sustainability
COMM 3710U – Media, Identity and Intercultural Communication
COMM 4420U – Political Communication, Digital Media and Democracy
COMM 4510U – Public Relations: Social Power, Social Media, and Social Responsibility
COMM 4530U - Media Activism and Protest Cultures
COMM 4610U – The Struggle is Real: Communication for Transformation, Conflict, and Peace
COMM 4710U – Global Media, the Internet and International Relations
+
6 of
[18 credit hours]:
COMM 2240U - Television
COMM 2220U – The Media, Creativity and Culture in Canada
COMM 2270U – Entertainment Goes Global: From Hollywood to the World
COMM 2413 - Science Communication: Media for creative, fun, and effective STEM communication(*** proposed)
COMM 3250U – Pop Culture and Entertainment
COMM 3410U – Designing Hits: Storytelling in the Digital Age
COMM 3510U – Work in the Creative and Tech Industries
COMM 3740U – Video Games, Media and Culture
COMM/ POL 3751 Media, War and Conflict
COMM 4120U - AI, Ethics and Communication
COMM 4140U – Ways of Seeing: Visual Communication Arts and New Media
COMM 4210U – Special Topics in Communication and Digital Media Studies
COMM 4261U – Online Creator-Entrepreneurs: YouTubers, Influencers, and Streamers
COMM 4420U – Political Communication, Digital Media and Democracy
+
2 of
[6 credit hours]:
CRIM 1000U – Introduction to Criminal Justice
LGLS 1000U – Foundations of Legal Studies
POSC 1000U – Introduction to Political Science
PSYC 1000U – Introductory Psychology
+
3 courses above the 1000-level (outside of CDMS major program, in CRMN, FPSY, INDG, LBAT, LGLS, POSC, PSYC, SOCI, SSC)
[9 credit hours]:
(please click here for list of courses)
+
3 courses at any level from CRMN, FPSY, INDG, LBAT, LGLS, POSC, PSYC, SOCI, SSCI
[9 credit hours]:
(please click here for list of courses)
+
3 courses from any program or faculty at OTU, including COMM
[9 credit hours]:
(please click here for list of courses)
*Not all courses will be offered every term, and some courses have prerequisites.
** A limited number of courses from the above lists of required and optional courses may be substituted with courses required in other curricular maps for joint CDMS specializations and minors with other programs inside and outside of the FSSH.
***For an additional fee, students may choose to enrol in the following "Creativity and Design" courses offered in partnership between Ontario Tech University and OCAD University. Please contact Continuous Learning for more information and if interested in enrolling in these courses: Intellectual Property Strategy for Industrial Design; Basic Design Principles; Introduction to Digital Photography; Introduction to AutoDesk Revit BIM; Introduction to Sketchup; Intermediate SketchUp; Introduction to Video Editing ; Introduction to Web Design; Introduction to Adobe Design; Intermediate Adobe Illustrator; Intermediate Adobe Photoshop
