Bachelor of Communications Studies - Degree Partnership with SAIT
- What is The Bachelor of Communications Studies Degree?
- Admission
- Requirements
- Courses and Suggested Sequence
- Further Requirements
- Co-op Option
- More Questions?
What is The Bachelor of Communications Studies Degree?
The Bachelor of Communications Studies is designed to develop a broad critical understanding of the cultural role of communication and to give students an opportunity to acquire professional skills that can lead to a variety of career paths.
The University of Calgary section of the program provides a broad understanding of intellectual history, cultural perspectives, rhetorical and media theory, and social aspects of media. The SAIT portion of the program complements this background with technical skills suited to students considering careers in journalism, broadcasting, new media, or in related areas such as corporate communications, public relations or administration. The SAIT portion of this diploma will be counted as eight of the twenty full-course equivalents that are required for graduation.
Note: Students interested in a broader exposure to academic study or wishing to take a minor should consider the four-year BA in Communications Studies.
Admissions
Prospective students wishing to enter the Bachelor of Communications Studies Program must meet the criteria in the section of this Calendar on “A.2 Admission Requirements at the University of Calgary.” Annual application deadlines are set in the “Applications for Admission Schedule.”
Enrolment in the Bachelor of Communications Studies program is limited. Students requesting admission to this program apply to the same quota pool as those applying to the Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications Studies. When a student is presenting a SAIT or equivalent diploma for block transfer credit to the Bachelor of Communications Studies degree, the grade point average for admission to the Communications Studies quota program will be calculated over the entire diploma.
Note: Students must apply separately to SAIT Polytechnic and meet all its admission requirements and application deadlines.
Faculty of Arts Requirements
1. Overall Program: Successful completion of 20 full-courses equivalents inclusive of eight full-course equivalents for an applicable diploma (see below).
2. Program Focus: Successful completion of the Communications Studies Requirements and Other Requirements listed below.
3. Academic Achievement:
(a) A minimum GPA of 2.00 must be achieved over all courses.
(b) A maximum of three full-course equivalent "D" or "D+" grades overall.
4. University of Calgary Study: A maximum of 10 full course-equivalents in eligible post-secondary transfer credits from other institutions may be counted toward the degree inclusive of the 8.0 full course equivalents for an applicable diploma (see below).
5. Depth: A maximum of nine full-course equivalents at the junior or 200 level (including the four full-course equivalents of junior transfer credit received as part of the diploma).
6. Breadth: A minimum of one full-course equivalent from the Faculty of Science.
7. Physical Activity Courses: A maximum of one full-course equivalent may be taken from: Dance Education Activity/Theory, Outdoor Pursuits Activity/Theory and Physical Education Activity/Theory.
Courses and Suggested Sequence
** This sequencing is just a suggestion, please check with the academic calendar or see a program advisor (SSC below).
FCE= Full Course Equivalents
Note: This is a suggested "fast track" sequence that will allow you to complete your program in exactly four calendar years. Many students prefer a slower pace, and there is room for considerable variation in the details of the course sequence.
Before April 1 of the year you intend to begin your program: Apply to the University of Calgary, Faculty of Arts, Department of Communication and Culture. Indicate the Bachelor of Communications Studies as your intended major.
Sequence 1 (for students entering the University of Calgary directly from high school)
First Year |
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Before April 1 of your first year in the program: If you have not already done so, transfer to the BCS. | |
Second Year |
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February 28: Final deadline to apply to SAIT. Apply much earlier if possible | |
| Spring/Summer after Second Year |
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| Third Year |
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| Summer after Third Year |
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| Fourth Year |
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Sequence 2 (For students who already hold an eligible diploma):
| First and Second Year |
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Third Year |
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Spring/Summer |
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| Fourth Year |
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Further Requirements
1. Intercultural Requirement to be fulfilled in one of the following two ways:
(a) Successful completion of at least 1.0 full-course equivalents from an approved post-secondary Term Abroad, Group Travel Study or Individual Travel Study program. See the Centre for International Students and Study Abroad for programs that are currently offered.
OR
(b) Successful completion of 1.0 full-course equivalents from the Domain of Intercultural Courses (see Section 3.2.18).
2. Applicable Diploma: Completion of one of the following diploma programs, or an approved equivalent, with a grade point average of 2.00 on all courses. No more than one and one-half full-course equivalents may have a "D" or "D+".
- SAIT Polytechnic: Journalism; Cinema, Television, Stage and Radio; New Media Production and Design; Radio, Television and Broadcast News; Film and Video Production; Digital Graphic Communications and Print Technology
- NAIT: Radio and Television Arts
- Lethbridge College: Print Journalism; Broadcast Journalism; Advertising/Public Relations; Multimedia
- Grant MacEwan College: Journalism; Audiovisual Communications; Digital Arts and Media
- Mount Royal University: Broadcasting
- Algonquin College: Broadcasting
- BCIT: Broadcast and Media Communications
- Confederation College: Media Arts
Co-op Option
Co-operative Education Option. You may take the BCS as a Co-op program in which you will add three or more paid work terms of four months each to your program. This will normally add an extra year to the program. See http://www.ucalgary.ca/careerservices/coopinternship for more details.
More Questions
For additional information, please contact:
Student Success Centre
(403) 220-5881, success@ucalgary.ca
(For all registration issues and program advising)
Dr. Steve Olson
Academic ChairFilm and Video ProductionRadio, Television, and Broadcast NewsSchool of Information and Communication Technologies403-284-7100403-284-7238 (fax)