Program Highlights

Capilano University's Bachelor of Communication Studies fuses theory and practice in a project-based curriculum in various areas of strategic communication.

Students develop expertise in:

  • public and media relations
  • publishing and cultural criticism
  • negotiation, mediation and crisis communication
  • communication policy and law
  • organisational, interpersonal and intercultural communication
  • visual communication and photojournalism.

Learn critical approaches to media, communication and culture, together with applied skills in writing, editing and public speaking.

Learning Outcomes
  • Identify, evaluate and apply major theoretical traditions in communication studies.
  • Assess and explain the development of communication media, practices and industries.
  • Demonstrate critical media literacy as both producers and consumers of communication.
  • Employ basic research methods for projects in communication and media studies.
  • Analyse the perspectives from which diverse stakeholders engage in communication.
  • Risk and crisis communication
  • Communication and Canadian culture
  • Communication law and policy
  • Events planning
  • Advocacy communication
  • Political communication
  • Social media

Intakes

CampusTermsFull/Part Time
North VancouverSpringBoth
North VancouverFallBoth

Tuition and Fees Per Year

Domestic Students
Year Tuition Fees Total
Year 1$3,986 $1,269 $5,255
Year 2$3,986 $1,269 $5,255
Year 3$5,412 $1,269 $6,681
Year 4$5,266 $1,269 $6,535
Year 5$0 $0 $0
Total$18,650 $5,077 $23,726

Note: Fees are subject to change. Some programs have fees for supplies and equipment that aren’t included in the estimate. To get an idea of what you’ll pay to study at CapU, try out our Tuition & Fees Estimator.

First Year

Total credits: 30.00

Required:
CMNS 112Introduction to Communication Studies3.00 credits
CMNS 132Explorations in Mass Media3.00 credits
CMNS 185Presentation Skills for Public Speaking3.00 credits
CMNS 190Writing for Popular Media3.00 credits
ENGL 100University Writing Strategies3.00 credits
Choose 15.00 credits of electives:
See Elective list below15.00 credits

 

Second Year

Total credits: 30.00

Required:
CMNS 220Advanced Business Writing and Editing3.00 credits
Choose 3.00 credits from the following list:
CMNS 261Interpreting Communication Documents3.00 credits
CMNS 262Qualitative Research Methods in Communication Studies3.00 credits
Choose 15.00 credits from the following list:
CMNS 209History of Media3.00 credits
CMNS 222Communication and Ideology3.00 credits
CMNS 231Cultural Industries in Canada3.00 credits
CMNS 235Understanding News3.00 credits
CMNS 236Understanding Television3.00 credits
CMNS 241Software for Magazine Publishing3.00 credits
CMNS 253Society and Digital Media3.00 credits
CMNS 255Interpersonal Communication3.00 credits
CMNS 270Visual Communication3.00 credits
CMNS 285Advanced Presentation Skills3.00 credits
CMNS 295The Culture of Advertising3.00 credits
Choose 9.00 credits of electives:
See Elective list below9.00 credits

 

Third Year

Total credits: 30.00

Required:
BADM 318Project Management3.00 credits
CMNS 360Strategic Communication3.00 credits
Choose 3.00 credits from the following list:
CMNS 261Interpreting Communication Documents3.00 credits
CMNS 262Qualitative Research Methods in Communication Studies3.00 credits
Choose 9.00 credits from the following list:
CMNS 322Videogames: Culture, Theory and Criticism3.00 credits
CMNS 330Communication Ethics3.00 credits
CMNS 331Communication Policy and Law3.00 credits
CMNS 333Conflict and Communication3.00 credits
CMNS 351Editing for Popular Media3.00 credits
CMNS 352Organizational Communication3.00 credits
CMNS 353Technology and Everyday Life3.00 credits
CMNS 355Intercultural Communication3.00 credits
CMNS 370Photography as Communication: Fact and Fiction3.00 credits
CMNS 371Foundations of Design, Layout and Production for Magazines3.00 credits
CMNS 380Applied Cultural Criticism3.00 credits
CMNS 390Publishing for the 21st Century3.00 credits
CMNS 395Public and Media Relations3.00 credits
Choose 3.00 credits from the following list:
CMNS 412Special Topics in Communication Studies3.00 credits
CMNS 431Project Group Communication Policy and Law3.00 credits
CMNS 433Project Group in Risk and Crisis Communication3.00 credits
CMNS 453Project Group in Communication and New Media3.00 credits
CMNS 490Project Group in Publishing3.00 credits
CMNS 495Project Group in Media Campaigns3.00 credits
Choose 9.00 credits of electives:
See Elective list below9.00 credits

 

Fourth Year

Total credits: 30.00

Choose 3.00 credits from the following list:
CMNS 322Videogames: Culture, Theory and Criticism3.00 credits
CMNS 330Communication Ethics3.00 credits
CMNS 331Communication Policy and Law3.00 credits
CMNS 333Conflict and Communication3.00 credits
CMNS 351Editing for Popular Media3.00 credits
CMNS 352Organizational Communication3.00 credits
CMNS 353Technology and Everyday Life3.00 credits
CMNS 355Intercultural Communication3.00 credits
CMNS 370Photography as Communication: Fact and Fiction3.00 credits
CMNS 371Foundations of Design, Layout and Production for Magazines3.00 credits
CMNS 380Applied Cultural Criticism3.00 credits
CMNS 390Publishing for the 21st Century3.00 credits
CMNS 395Public and Media Relations3.00 credits
Choose 6.00 credits from the following list:

Note: CMNS 462 is the prerequisite for CMNS 499.

CMNS 412Special Topics in Communication Studies3.00 credits
CMNS 431Project Group Communication Policy and Law3.00 credits
CMNS 433Project Group in Risk and Crisis Communication3.00 credits
CMNS 453Project Group in Communication and New Media3.00 credits
CMNS 462Advanced Communication Research Practice3.00 credits
CMNS 490Project Group in Publishing3.00 credits
CMNS 495Project Group in Media Campaigns3.00 credits
CMNS 499Communication Research Project3.00 credits
Choose 6.00 credits from the following list:

Note: Students choosing to take CMNS 499 must have completed CMNS 462 as a prerequisite and are required to complete one additional 400-level CMNS elective course from the above list to meet the total program credit requirements.

CMNS 462Advanced Communication Research Practice3.00 credits
CMNS 498Communication Practicum6.00 credits
CMNS 499Communication Research Project3.00 credits
Choose 15.00 credits of electives:
See Elective list below15.00 credits

 

Electives

Choose from the following list:

42 elective credits, no more than 18 of which are to come from any single subject area and at least 12 of which must be upper level credits. Students must take a minimum of 3 credits designated as Quantitative/Analytical.

6 credits of a single foreign language

Note: The language requirement can be satisfied in a number of ways:

1. Successful completion of a grade 12 course with a minimum B grade in an approved language other than English while at secondary school; or

2. Successful completion of a secondary immersion program or secondary school at an institution at which the primary language of instruction is not English; or

3. Successful completion of a post-secondary credential awarded by an institution at which the primary language of instruction is not English; or

4. Successful completion of 6.00 credits of post-secondary language courses in a single language other than English; or

5. Successful completion of EAP 100 or EAP 101 and 3.00 credits of lower level Arts & Science courses

Note: Only one of EAP 100 or EAP 101 to a maximum of 3.00 credits can be used as credit towards the Bachelor of Communication Studies.

Note: Students who fulfill the language requirement with options 1, 2 or 3 will be required to take 6.00 credits of 100- or 200-level courses in place of the language requirement credits.

 

Total program credits: 120.00

Program Notes

Students starting in their baccalaureate degree on or after Fall 2018 and graduating on or after June 2022 must meet Cap Core graduation requirements in addition to their program requirements.

Important Dates

Spring 2020

Application Dates

Feb 5, 2019 - Dec 3, 2019

Course Registration & Waitlisting Starts

Nov 12, 2019

Fee Payment Deadline

Dec 17, 2019 4:00 PM

Fall 2020

Application Dates

Oct 1, 2019 - Aug 4, 2020

Course Registration & Waitlisting Starts

Jul 6, 2020

Fee Payment Deadline

Aug 24, 2020 4:00 PM

Spring 2021

Application Dates

Feb 4, 2020 - Dec 1, 2020

Course Registration & Waitlisting Starts

Nov 16, 2020

Fee Payment Deadline

Dec 21, 2020 4:00 PM

Note: Dates are subject to change.

How to apply

  1. Check the admissions requirements.
  2. Check the application and document deadlines for your program.
  3. Complete and submit your application through EducationPlannerBC.
    1. Upload all your required/supporting official documents.
    2. Pay your application fee.
  4. Admissions will review your application and contact you.

Admission Requirements

Admission Notes

Please note that the admission requirements are minimum requirements. 

ENGL 100 is a required course in the Bachelor of Communication Studies. In order to enroll in any English course, students must submit the results of the English Diagnostic Test  (EDT) or the Language Proficiency Index Test (LPI) unless they meet the EDT/LPI exemptions.

For the official publication of programs, course descriptions and admission requirements please view the Capilano University Calendar (pdf).

Apply to CapU

Contact

Have questions about this program?

School of Communication


604 990 7939
cmns@capilanou.ca

Student Information Services


604 984 4900
604 984 1798 (fax)
Birch Building, room BR230
registration@capilanou.ca