Communication and Cultural Studies (BA)

BA Communication Studies (Major, Specialization)
BA Communication & Cultural Studies (Major)

Choose one of the following:

1. If you are a new student applying to Concordia University, you must create an application online. You will also need to submit the supporting documents required by the Department of Communication Studies via the online application. Applicants must upload their short essay as one PDF File to the Student Centre. Further instructions below.
2. If you are already a student in a BA program at Concordia University, you will need to submit the supporting documents required by the Department of Communication Studies. Applicants must upload their short essay as one PDF file to the Student Centre. Further instructions below. You will also need to submit the online Concentration Change Form.
3. If you are already a student at Concordia University but you are not already in a BA program, you will need to apply for a Degree Transfer on the MyConcordia portal. Applicants must also upload their short essay as one PDF file to Student Centre. Further instructions below.

INSTRUCTIONS
For Fall 2023 admissions to both BA programs in the Department of Communication Studies, all the supporting documents (essay and academic assessments) for your application must be submitted online. Upload your short essay as one PDF file. You can also upload important documents for your applicartion by logging in to the Student Hub and going to My CU Account. 

When uploading, be sure to use the correct BA program name in the drop-down menu: Communication Studies Dossier or Communication & Cultural Studies Dossier.

About PDFs: ‘PDF’ stands for Portable Document Format. These kinds of files are very widely used across all sectors of education, business and the arts, including at Concordia University. Adobe developed this file format to be used with their Acrobat software, but there are lots of free PDF editors for both Mac and PC. Many word-processing applications include a PDF option in their print dialogue box. See a list of recommended free readers.  (N.B. We do not offer any warranties for third-party software.)

BA Communication Studies and BA Communication & Cultural Studies applications should comprise the following supporting documents:

• Short essay (as one PDF)
• Academic Assessments

SHORT ESSAY (as one PDF)
This year’s essay question is in two parts. Your response must of course be your own original work. Each part is designed to give you the opportunity to demonstrate your critical thinking skills, your ability to express your ideas clearly, and your particular motivation for joining either the BA Communication Studies program or the BA Communication & Cultural Studies program. (If you're not sure of the differences between them, please read up before going any further!). Take careful note of all the guidelines in terms of formatting, file type, and file naming. Good luck!

PART 1
Write a response to TWO of the following THREE questions. Each response must be no longer than 4000 characters, spaces included. We suggest reviewing the links provided for all three questions before deciding which two you will answer.

1. Review this short interview with media theorist John Durham Peters (Yale University) on the topic of ‘digital culture’:
   DCRL Questions: John Durham Peters (vimeo.com/120680714).
   
   • What, in your view, is communication studies?
   • What makes this field of study unique?
   • What are some of the most important questions that students of communication explore?
2. Watch this short film by Kent Monkman (2015, 3 mins):
   Sisters & Brothers (www.nfb.ca/film/sisters_brothers).
   
   • As a critic, how might one produce an analysis of a media text such as this film? Consider, in your answer, the relationship between the form and content of the message, and between the artist’s intentions, the audience, and the social context of the message being conveyed.
3. Watch this interview about “Queer Photographs” by the Montréal-based artist, J.J. Levine:
   JJ Levine - Photographies queers - Queer Photographs (youtube.com/watch?v=X0bYdMG5fbo).
   • In your view, how should media makers navigate between their own creative self-expression, on the one hand, and their responsibility (to participants in their work, as well as the topic being addressed), on the other? If relevant, feel free to draw on your own experience as a maker.

PART 2
If you haven’t already done so, please review the undergraduate courses we offer in the department and some of the research interests of our professors and explore.concordia.ca. Then write a short statement (maximum 4000 characters, spaces included) telling us why you believe one of our two programs (BA Communication Studies or BA Communication & Cultural Studies) would be a particularly good fit for you personally.

This statement is also your opportunity to mention any aspects of your background (academic and/or non-academic) that you would like us to take into consideration when evaluating your candidacy.

Technical guidelines:

Short Essay both parts and any references you want to add; 12pt Times New Roman font, double-spaced; any recognized citation style (eg MLA, APA, Chicago); list of references at the end, using same citation style.

Use a running head for the entire document using the same name as on your application (last name, first name), the date (MM/DD/YY), and consecutive page numbering (bottom right, including page 1).

Export as a PDF named: Lastname_Firstname_comsapp.pdf
(using your own last and first name)

NB If you’re applying to both programs you may submit the same essay for both. However, since the BA Communication Studies is the only one of the two programs that includes production courses, you might want to reflect that in your essay. In other words, if you state that you are especially interested in making media, you'll need to make it clear why you also wish to be considered for the BA Communication & Cultural Studies.

ACADEMIC ASSESSMENT FORMS
To supplement the essay, two Academic Assessment forms must be completed and successfully submitted. Former or current teachers should complete this form and email it as an attachment from their work email account directly to ugradcoms@concordia.ca. The subject line must be just the last name and first name of the applicant.

It is up to the applicant to ensure that both of their referees have sent their Academic Assessment forms by email to the correct address by the deadline. The Department of Communication Studies will not be contacting applicants if these documents are missing. Academic Assessment forms correctly submitted and received via email will be visible to the applicant (but not readable) usually within 24 hours of receipt. If both Academic Assessment forms are missing from the application at 11:59 p.m. on March 1, 2023, the applicant will be automatically disqualified from consideration for both BA programs in the Department of Communication Studies. (If only one Academic Assessment form has been received, the maximum possible score for this factor will be halved.)

Academic Assessment forms must be sent to the email address above. The Department of Communication Studies no longer accepts these forms by mail and, if received via mail, they will not be forwarded to Admissions or evaluated directly.

The Academic Assessment form is available in English and en Français.

Applications must be completed and submitted online by March 1, 2023 at 11:59 p.m., including receipt of all supporting documents: Short Essay in three parts uploaded as one PDF, plus two emailed Academic Assessment Forms.

NOTES:

• The same Academic Assessments can be used for both programs, and do not need to be submitted twice.
• After the March 1st deadline, The Department of Communication Studies will only evaluate complete dossiers, with two (minimum one) Academic Assessments. The Department will recommend successful applicants for admission and Concordia’s admissions team will provide official notification to the applicant.

1. What’s changed this year?
   We recently merged our departmental application process with the university’s online application system. Please read all the information available on the Department’s BA programs webpages, and then click on "Apply Now" button on the top right. We have also been obliged to make further important changes to our admissions process in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. 
2. Will you still be asking for portfolios and doing interviews?
   No, we no longer require portfolios and interviews.
3. To whom do I address my application package?
   All applications must now be submitted via the University’s online application system. Please look for the "Apply Now" button on the top right side of this page. We no longer accept application materials submitted by any other means, except your two Academic Assessments, which should be emailed to ugradcoms@concordia.ca. The subject line must be just the last name and first name of the applicant.
4. What is the application deadline?
   March 1, 2023, at 11.59 p.m. Late applications will not be accepted.
5. Where can I find the Academic Assessment Form?
   The Academic Assessment form is available in English and en Français as form-fillable PDFs.
6. If I am a CEGEP student, what transcripts are required for my application?
   CEGEP applicants must provide their permanent code on the online application so that the University can obtain their official transcripts (in-progress and final) from the Conférence des recteurs et des principaux des universités du Québec (CRÉPUQ) as soon as they are available.
7. If I am an out-of-province student, what transcripts are required for my application?
   Out of province students are required to submit a copy of their Grade 11 and 12 marks as a part of their online application.
8. If I am a mature student, what transcripts are required for my application?
   Mature students are required to submit a copy of their most recent academic records.
9. Can I defer my admission if I am accepted to study in the Department of Communication Studies?
   No, the Department of Communication Studies does not accept deferrals. Applicants will be expected to re-apply if they want to be considered again.
10. Can I complete this degree if I am working full-time?
    All of the core courses in Communication Studies are offered during the day. Applicants who have flexible work schedules may be able to complete this degree, but it will not be possible to only attend courses in the evening and complete this program.
11. Is there a minor in BA Communication & Cultural Studies? 
    No, we do not offer a minor in the BA Communication & Cultural Studies program. It is possible that if you are taking the Major in Communication & Cultural Studies that you could take a major or minor in another program, such as Human Relations, Fine Arts, Languages, etc., while pursuing your BA in our department.