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Communication and Digital Media Studies

The following are program maps for the Communication and Digital Media Studies program for those entering second, third or fourth year. Please refer only to the information for the year you are entering.  

Please keep in mind that if you are out of sequence, these maps may not be right for you. Please review your full Program Map, along with your academic transcript, to guide your registration. We are happy to assist anyone who is unsure of their degree progression or requirements for degree completion. Please feel free to contact the Social Science and Humanities Academic Advising office at SSHadvising@ontariotechu.ca

To view course descriptions and prerequisites, please visit the course descriptions section of the Ontario Tech Academic Calendar.

PLEASE NOTE: As of Fall 2023 many of the COMM courses titles have changed. These are NOT new courses, as the course codes (ex. COMM 3410U) remain the same (please keep this in mind to avoid duplication). 

Year 2

Fall

  • COMM 2110U – Communication and Digital Media Theory: Keyworks
  • COMM 2210U – Researching Communication and Digital Culture
  • COMM 2620U – Professional Communication
  • COMM Elective (2nd year, from list below, can be taken fall or winter)
  • FSSH Elective (any year level, not COMM)

Winter

  • COMM 2410U – Social History of Communication and Media Technologies
  • COMM 3720U – Knowing Your Audience: Audience Studies for Media Professionals and Creators
  • COMM Elective (2nd year, from list below, can be taken fall or winter)
  • FSSH Elective (any year level, not COMM)
  • General Elective

2nd-year Communication electives

  • COMM 2220U – The Media, Creativity and Culture in Canada (winter)
  • COMM 2240U – Television (winter)
  • COMM 2270U – Entertainment Goes Global: from Hollywood to the World (fall)
  • COMM 2530U – Advertising as Social Communication (fall)

Communication electives and general electives are interchangeable by term, provided the number of electives listed above are taken over the two terms.

Year 3

Fall

  • COMM 3110U – Communication Ethics: Making Media for the Social Good
  • COMM 3710U – Media, Identity and Intercultural Communication
  • COMM elective (3rd year, from list below, can be taken in fall or winter)
  • FSSH elective (2000-level or higher, not COMM)
  • FSSH elective (2000-level or higher, not COMM)

Winter

  • 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 3610U –  Strategic Communications for Influence: Rhetoric, Persuasion and Propaganda
  • General Elective

3rd-year Communication electives

  • COMM 3740U – Video Games, Media and Culture(fall)
  • COMM 3350U - Environmental Communication: Media and Tech for Sustainability (winter)
  • LGLS 3520U – Law and Technology (winter)

Communication electives and general electives are interchangeable by term, provided the number of electives listed above are taken over the two terms.

Year 4

Fall

  • COMM 4261U – Online Creator-Entrepreneurs: YouTubers, Influencers, and Streamers
  • One of:
    • COMM 4120U – AI. Ethics and Communication or
    • SSCI 4101U – Honours Thesis I
  • COMM 4510U - Public Relations: Social Power, Social Media Platforms, and Social Responsibility
  • COMM Elective (4th year, from list below, can be taken fall or winter)
  • FSSH Elective (2000-level or higher, not COMM) 

Winter

  • One of:
    • COMM 4130U – Capstone Creator Project or
    • SSCI 4201U – Honours Thesis II
  • COMM 4610U –  The Struggle is Real: Transformation for Communication, Conflict and Peace
  • COMM 4710U – Global Media, the Internet and International Relations
  • COMM Elective (4th year, from list below, can be taken fall or winter)

4th-year Communication electives


  • COMM 4210U – Special Topics in Communication Arts and New Media: Popular Music Oshawa 1964-79 (fall)
  • COMM 3350U Environmental Communication: Media and Tech for Sustainability
  • POSC 4000U – International Politics and Policy (winter)
    • Note: This course is available to students who have previously successfully completed POSC 2000U, or POSC 2100U or POSC 2200U
  • SSCI 4098U – Practicum (fall or winter)
  • SSCI 4103U – Internship (fall or winter) 
    • Note: SSCI 4098U and 4103U require a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher and pre-approval. Please contact ssh.elo@ontariotechu.ca for more information. 

Communication electives and general electives are interchangeable by term provided the number of electives listed above are taken over the two terms.

 Advanced Entry -CDMS

The information below is general 4th year information. However based on course selection and availability in previous years not all students completed the standard 3rd year requirements. Please review your full Program Map, along with your academic transcript, to guide your registration.  Feel free to reach out to sshadvising@ontariotechu.ca if you have any questions. 

Year 4

Fall

  • COMM 3110U Communication Ethics: Making Media for the Social Good
  • COMM Elective
  • COMM Elective
  • COMM Elective
  • COMM Elective

Winter

  • COMM 4130U Capstone Creator Project
  • COMM 3720U Knowing Your Audience Studies for Media Professionals and Creators
  • COMM Elective
  • COMM Elective
  • COMM Elective

COMM electives

  • COMM 2220U – The Media, Creativity and Culture in Canada (winter)
  • COMM 2240U – Television (winter)
  • COMM 2270U – Entertainment Goes Global: from Hollywood to the World (fall)
  • COMM 2530U – Advertising as Social Communication (fall)
  • COMM 3250U – Pop Culture and Entertainment (winter)
  • COMM 3310U – Communication Ethics (fall)
  • COMM 3350U - Environmental Communication: Media and Tech for Sustainability (winter)
  • COMM 3410U – New Media Theory and Practice (winter)
  • COMM 3510U – Work in the Information Age (winter)
  • COMM 3710U – Intercultural Communication (fall)
  • COMM 3740U – Video Games, Media and Culture(fall)
  • COMM 4120U – AI. Ethics and Communication (fall)
  • COMM 4210U – Special Topics in Communication Arts and New Media (fall)
  • COMM 4261U – Online Creator-Entrepreneurs (fall)
  • COMM 4510U - Public Relations: Social Power, Social Media Platforms, and Social Responsibility
  • COMM 4420U – Political Communication Digital Media and Democracy (winter)
  • COMM 4610U – Communication and Conflict Resolution (winter)
  • COMM 4710U – International Communication (winter)

If you are entering year 2 and would like to declare the Creativity, Digital Arts and Entertainment Industries specialization, please complete the Change of Specialization form. 

Year 2

Fall

  • COMM 2110U – Communication and Digital Media Theory: Keyworks
  • COMM 2210U – Researching Communication and Digital Culture
  • COMM 2620U – Professional Communication
  • COMM 4216U – Online Creator-Entrepreneurs: Youtubers, Influencers and Streamers
  • COMM Specialization electives

Winter

  • COMM 2220U – The Media, Creativity and Culture in Canada
  • COMM 2410U – Social History of Communication and Media Technologies
  • COMM 3410U – Designing Hits: Storytelling in the Digital Age
  • COMM 3720U – Knowing your Audience: Audience Studies for Media Professionals and Creators
  • General elective

COMM Specialization Electives

  • COMM 2530U – Advertising as Social Communication (fall)
  • COMM 3310U - Communication for Social Change, Community and Development (fall)
  • COMM 3710U – Media, Identity and Intercultural Communication (fall)
  • COMM 3350U - Environmental Communication: Media and Tech for Sustainability (winter)
  • COMM 3710U - Media, Identity and Intercultural Communication (fall)
  • COMM 4120U – AI, Ethics and Communication (fall)
  • COMM 4210U – Special Topics in Communication and Digital Media Studies (fall)
  • COMM 4420U – Political Communication and Digital Media Democracy (winter)
  • COMM 4510U - Public Relations: Social Power, Social Media Platforms, and Social Responsibility
  • COMM 4610U – The Struggle Is Real: Communication of Transformation, Conflict, and Peace (winter)
  • COMM 4710U – Global Media, the Internet and International Relation (winter)

If you are entering year 2 and would like to declare the Strategic Communication, Social Media and Society specialization, please complete the Change of Specialization form. 

Year 2

Fall

  • COMM 2110U – Communication and Digital Media Theory: Keyworks
  • COMM 2210U – Researching Communication and Digital Culture
  • COMM 2620U – Professional Communication
  • COMM 4510U - Public Relations: Social Power, Social Media Platforms, and Social Responsibility
  • COMM Specialization electives

Winter

  • COMM 2410U – Social History of Communication and Media Technologies
  • COMM 3720U – Knowing your Audience: Audience Studies for Media Professionals and Creators
  • General Elective
  • FSSH Elective
  • COMM Specialization elective

COMM Specialization Electives

  • COMM 2220U – The Media, Creativity and Culture in Canada (winter)
  • COMM 2240U – Television (winter)
  • COMM 2270U – Entertainment Goes Global (fall)
  • COMM 3250U – Pop Culture and Entertainment (winter)
  • COMM 3410U – Designing Hits: Storytelling in the Digital Age (winter)
  • COMM 3510U – Work in the Creative and Tech Industries (winter)
  • COMM 3740U - Video Games, Media and Culture (fall)
  • COMM 4120U – AI, Ethics and Communication (fall)
  • COMM 4210U – Special Topics in Communication and Digital Media Studies (fall)
  • COMM 4261U - Online Creator-Entrepreneurs (fall)