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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 elective (3rd year, from list below, can be taken in fall or winter)
  • COMM elective (3rd year, from list below, can be taken in fall or winter)
  • COMM elective (3rd year, from list below, can be taken in fall or winter)
  • FSSH elective (2000-level or higher, not COMM)

Winter

  • COMM 2411U - Governing Communication and Creativity: Policy for an era of Digital Disruption 
  • COMM elective (3rd year, from list below, can be taken in fall or winter)
  • COMM elective (3rd year, from list below, can be taken in fall or winter)
  • COMM elective (3rd year, from list below, can be taken in fall or winter)
  • FSSH elective (2000-level or higher, not COMM)

3rd-year Communication electives

  • COMM 3710U Media, Identity and Intercultural Communication (fall)
  • COMM 3740U – Video Games, Media and Culture(fall)
  • COMM 3751U – Media, War and Conflict (fall)
  • COMM 3250U – Pop Culture and Entertainment (winter)
  • COMM 3350U - Environmental Communication: Media and Tech for Sustainability (winter)
  •  COMM 3410U – Designing Hits: Storytelling in the Digital Age (winter)
  • COMM 3510U – Work in the Creative and Tech Industries (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

*COMM 4710U is not running this year and is replaced (below) with a COMM Elective.

Fall

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

Winter

  • COMM 4610U –  The Struggle is Real: Transformation for Communication, Conflict and Peace
  • COMM 4420U – Political Communication, Digital Media and Democracy
  • One of:
    • COMM 4130U – Capstone Creator Project or
    • SSCI 4201U – Honours Thesis II
  • COMM Elective (4th year, from list below, can be taken fall or winter)
  • 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 (winter) 
  • COMM 4140U – Ways of Seeing: Immersive Communication and AI (winter)
  • CRMN 4032U – Mediation and Conflict Resolution (winter)
  • 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 2270U – Entertainment Goes Global: from Hollywood to the World (fall)
  • COMM 2530U – Advertising as Social Communication (fall)
  • COMM 3710U – Intercultural Communication (fall)
  • COMM 3740U – Video Games, Media and Culture(fall)
  • COMM 3751U – Media, War and Conflict (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 (Fall)
  • COMM 2220U – The Media, Creativity and Culture in Canada (winter)
  • COMM 2240U – Television (winter)
  • COMM 3250U – Pop Culture and Entertainment (winter)
  • 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 4140U – Ways of Seeing: Immersive Communication and AI (winter)
  • COMM 4420U – Political Communication Digital Media and Democracy (winter)
  • COMM 4610U – The Struggle is Real: Transformation for Communication, Conflict, and Peace (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 4261U – Online Creator-Entrepreneurs: Youtubers, Influencers and Streamers
  • COMM Specialization electives (see list below)

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 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 2270U – Entertainment Goes Global: from Hollywood to the World
  • COMM 3740U – Video Games, Media and Culture
  • COMM Specialization electives (see list below)
  • FSSH Elective
Winter 
  • COMM 2240U – Television
  • COMM 2411U – Governing Communication and Digital Creativity: Policy for an era of Digital Disruption
  • COMM 3250U - Pop Culture and Entertainment
  • COMM 3510U – Work in the Creative and Tech Industries
  • COMM 4140U – Ways of Seeing: Immersive Communication and AI

COMM Specialization Electives

  • COMM 2530U – Advertising as Social 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 (fall)
  • COMM 4610U – The Struggle Is Real: Communication of Transformation, Conflict, and Peace (winter)

If you are entering year 2 or 3 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 (see list below)

Winter

  • COMM 2410U – Social History of Communication and Media Technologies
  • COMM 3720U – Knowing your Audience: Audience Studies for Media Professionals and Creators
  • COMM Specialization elective
  • FSSH Elective (Not COMM)
  • General Elective

COMM Specialization 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 2530U - Advertising as Social Communication
  • COMM 3710U – Media, Identity and Intercultural Communication
  • COMM Specialization elective (see list below)
  • FSSH Elective (not COMM)

Winter

  • COMM 2411U – Governing Communication and Digital Creativity: Policy for an era of Digital Disruption 
  • COMM 3350U – Environmental Communication: Media and Tech for Sustainability
  • COMM 4420U – Political Communication, Digital Media and Democracy
  • COMM Specialization elective (see list below)
  • FSSH Elective (not COMM)

COMM Specialization Electives

Fall

  • COMM 2270U - Entertainment Goes Global
  • COMM 3740 Video Games, Media and Culture
  • COMM 4120 AI, Ethics and Communication
  • COMM 4210U – Special Topics in Communication and Digital Media
  • COMM 4261 Online Creator-Entrepreneurs: YouTubers, Influencers and Streamers
  • COMM 3751U - Media, War and Conflict (formerly POSC 3751U)

Winter

  • COMM 2220U – The Media, Creativity and Culture in Canada 
  • COMM 2240U – Television 
  • COMM 3250U – Pop Culture and Entertainment 
  • COMM 3410U – Designing Hits: Storytelling in the Digital Age 
  • COMM 3510U – Work in the Creative and Tech Industries