Bachelor of Arts in Professional Communication

Program Description

The BA in Professional Communication can be completed as a 4-year degree program or an intensive degree-completion program (12 month on-campus or 2 year online) which enables you to complete your third and fourth years of study with cutting-edge program content that balances academic education, professional experience, creativity and practical skills. The program combines a comprehensive overview of communications as an academic field with courses in digital communication, professional writing, public persuasion, visual communication, multimedia storytelling, global communication, media and cultural studies, sustainability communication, crisis communication management, Indigenous contexts, and much more.

As a BAPC student, you will have the opportunity to benefit from a perspective-shifting experience by studying a semester abroad at any of our partner universities in Korea, India, Austria, Germany, Chile, or Vietnam. This program component will provide you with customizable study option to expand your international experience and cultural relevancy.

Common Foundations

Through challenge-based learning, you'll receive an interdisciplinary foundation for the first two years of your undergraduate program. You'll be immersed in world issues while acquiring the key knowledge and skills essential for today's careers. Working in teams, you'll design sustainable solutions for local challenges while learning transferrable skills, such as leadership, communication, critical thinking and collaboration. Visit the common foundations page to learn more about challenge-based learning in the first two years of this program.

Degree Completion (years 3 & 4)

The degree completion program is delivered in two formats: as a 12-month on-campus model (combines years' three and four into an intensive 12-months) and as a 24–month blended model which incorporates online learning with two short on-campus residencies. There are four terms in the 12-month program which are comparable to full-time university semesters. The terms include four to six courses over a time frame of approximately ten weeks, with an additional week at the end of the last term for final papers and exams. Students are expected to be on campus every day.

Both models offer 60 credits of coursework, and are equivalent to years' three and four of the BA, enabling successful students to graduate with a four-year BA degree.

Courses

Year 1

• ECOL110 Ecology (3)
• ENGL110-A Academic Writing: Part A (1.5)
• ENGL110-B Academic Writing: Part B (1.5)
• GEOG110 Human Geography (3)
• HIST160 History of Human Rights (3)
• ICBL (P/F) Introduction to Challenge-based Learning
• INDS110-A Theories of Interdisciplinarity: Part A (1.5)
• INDS110-B Theories of Interdisciplinarity: Part B (1.5)
• ITAI: Introduction to Academic Integrity (P/F)
• LEAD110-A Leading self and others: Part A (1.5)
• LEAD110-B Leading self and others: Part B (1.5)
• MATH160 Statistics for Social Science (3)
• SOSC160A Applied Research I (A) – Literature review (1.5)
• SOSC160B Applied Research I (B) Empathic and Ethnographic Research (1.5)

Year 2

• ECON260 Ecological Economics (3)
• ECON265Welfare Economics and Development (3)
• ENGL210-A Communication and Persuasion: Part A (1.5)
• ENGL210-B Communication and Persuasion: Part B (1.5)
• ENGL260Literature of the Anthropocene (3)
• ENGL265 Women and Literature (3)
• HLSC260 Determinants of Health (3)
• INDS210-A Systems Thinking: Part A (1.5)
• INDS210-B Systems Thinking: Part B (1.5)
• LEAD210-A Leading for change: Part A (1.5)
• LEAD210-B Leading for change: Part B (1.5)
• POLI260 Development and Political Change (3)
• PSYC260 Psychology of Well-being (3)
• SOCI260 Human Interaction (3)
• SOSC260A Applied Research II (A) Advanced Qualitative Methods (1.5)
• SOSC260B Applied Research II (B) Advanced Quantitative Methods (1.5)

Graduates of the BA in Professional Communication will be effective communicators who understand communication is a creative, intellectual, professional activity. They will appreciate the international and intercultural frameworks and ethical parameters of socially responsible communication. They will be professionals with an understanding of communication as a human activity and be ready to enter the workforce as effective practitioners, decision-makers and supporters of communication. Finally, they will be able to function in environments that require team-work, public speaking, professional writing and publishing skills, basic computer-mediated communication, and problem-solving skills.

The field of communications spans across many industries, including:

Advertising

• Advertising Specialist, Marketing Specialist, Copy Writer, Account Executive Manager.
• Media Planner, Creative Director, Public Researcher.

Broadcasting

• Station Manager, Director of Broadcasting, Community Relation Director, Unit Manager.
• News Writer/Manager, Technical Director, Advertising/Marketing, Announcer/Presenter.
• Disc Jockey, News Manager, Casting Director, Producer, Business Manager.

Business

• Management, Personnel Recruiter, Human Resources, Trainer, Public Information Officer.
• Industrial Relation, Negotiator/Mediator, Customer Service, Editor, Human Resources.

Communication And Health Care/Social Services

• Communication Director, Public Relations, Social Worker, Marketing Director
• Research Analyst, Communication Analyst, Public Administrator, Human Rights Officer
• Community Affairs Liaison

Government/politics

• Public Information Officer, Legislative Assistant, Campaign Director, Research Specialist, Program Coordinator, Elected Official

High technology industries

• Television/Film Producer/Director, Systems Analyst, Technical Copywriter

International Relations and Negotiations

• Trade Negotiator/Mediator, Corporate Representative, Translator, Diplomat

Journalism (Print or Electronic)

• Reporter, Editor, Newscaster, Author, Copy Writer, Script Writer.
• News Service Researcher, Technical Writer, Acquisitions Editor, Media Interviewer.

Public relations

• Publicity/Advertising Manager, Marketing Specialist, Lobbyist Account Executive.
• Corporate Public Affairs Specialist, Development Officer, Sales Manager, Creative Director.
• Media Analyst, Media Planner, Public Opinion Researcher.

Theatre/Performing Arts

• Performer, Script Writer, Arts Administrator, Costume Design, Stage Manager, Casting Director.