Dean's Welcome

Dr. Wisdom Tettey, Professor and Interim Dean.


Thanks for visiting the Faculty of Communication and Culture online. Let me take this opportunity to welcome you to our Faculty and to acquaint you with what we are about.

Human interactions, institutions, worldviews, processes, and their connections to the non-human elements in our world constitute culture. The relational dynamics that shape these social formations are reflective of particular communicative practices which can, themselves, be affected by cultural dynamics at particular moments in time. In order to appreciate and contribute to our world, therefore, it is imperative that we understand the interplay between culture and communication. Our various programs share this perspective on our world, and it is encapsulated in the name of our Faculty.

The Faculty is uniquely situated within the University of Calgary because of its specific mandate to offer interdisciplinary programs.  Consequently, we do not have discipline-based departments. Rather, what we have are programs which have, as a common characteristic, an orientation towards exploring issues and solutions from diverse, yet integrated, perspectives. This means that in our teaching, scholarly work, and interaction with various communities, we provide an environment,  and promote perspectives, which allow us to engage with the multiple factors that shape the realities within which we live and examine the rich array of solutions to our common challenges. 

We offer both undergraduate and graduate programs.  The undergraduate programs are divided into majors and minors. The major programs are: Canadian Studies; Communication Studies; Development Studies; East Asian Studies; Film Studies; Latin American Studies; Law and Society; Science Technology and Society; and Women's Studies. Students may also pursue minor programs in these areas, as well as in other fields such as African Studies, Architectural Studies; and Museum and Heritage Studies.

Administratively, these programs fall under two Divisions -- the Culture Division and the Communication Division -- each of which has a Head. Programs in the Culture Division are: African Studies; Canadian Studies; Development Studies; Latin American Studies; Law and Society; Museum and Heritage Studies; and Women's Studies. The Communication Division is composed of the following programs: Communication Studies; Film Studies; and Science Technology and Society.

We have two graduate programs, offering degrees at the masters and doctoral levels. One is in Communication Studies and the other is in Culture and Society. The Communication Studies program has a longstanding focus in the Social Context of Technology and an emerging strength in Media Studies.   The program in Culture and Society has strengths in the areas of Development Studies, Social and Global Justice, and Heritage and Identities. These programs are supported by a group of established, nationally and internationally recognized experts and several emerging scholars who are making their mark in their various fields.

Our Faculty is committed to programs which promote human development, foster an ethos of global citizenship, and build bridges across the globe.  This commitment has been amply demonstrated by the contributions that our faculty, students, staff and alumni have made, and continue to make, towards positive change in communities around the world -- at the local, national and international levels. We invite you to be part of this vibrant, dynamic, and exciting intellectual and socially active community. Enjoy your journey through our website and feel free to contact relevant people if you have any questions or need any assistance.