Communication Studies (BA)

BA Communication Studies (Major)
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 MyConcordia portal. 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 MyConcordia portal. 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 the MyConcordia portal. Further instructions below.

INSTRUCTIONS

STAGE 1

For Fall 2021 admissions to both BA programs in the Department of Communication Studies, all the supporting documents (essay, transcript) for your application must be submitted online. Upload your short essay as one PDF file using the Upload Document feature within your application or in the Student Centre in the MyConcordia portal.

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
• Transcript (see FAQ below)
   

SHORT ESSAY

This year’s essay question is in three parts, and 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 ONE PAGE about ONE of the following pieces of media. We suggest reviewing all three before deciding which one to answer.
  
  Black, Hannah (2020). Go Outside: Hannah Black’s year in review.
  [ARTFORUM, December.]
  artforum.com/print/202009/hannah-black-s-year-in-review-84376
  
  Monkman, Kent (2015, 3 mins). Sisters and Brothers.
  [A film using archival film from the NFB; music by a Tribe Called Red.]
  nfb.ca/film/sisters_brothers/
  
  Nakamura, Lisa (2019). The Internet is a Trash Fire. Here’s How to Fix it.
  [TED Salon, November.]
  ted.com/talks/lisa_nakamura_the_internet_is_a_trash_fire_here_s_how_to_fix_it
  
  Black’s magazine column, Monkman’s short film, and Nakamura’s public talk each makes an argument using a different medium to do so. Identify and describe the argument being made by Black, or Monkman, or Nakamura, and deliberate its strengths (if any) and weaknesses (if any). Make sure it's clear to the reader which one of the three you've chosen. (1 page.)
  
  
• PART 2
  Black, Monkman, and Nakamura reclaim different spaces (public space, the colonial archive, social media platforms) by recognizing how they contribute to conditions that are oppressive and unjust towards people based on gender, race and class. Each of them proposes reversing these injustices by being in these spaces differently: rioting as a collective reclaiming of public spaces (Black), remixing as a reclaiming of the colonial image (Monkman), and holding platforms accountable for ineffective and unresponsive moderation (Nakamura).
  
  Tell us about a media project you’ve worked on, or that was made by someone else, that addresses social injustice. What social injustice is the work fighting against and how? How does it imagine the world differently? You may wish to link the media work back to the text/film/talk you focused on in Part 1. (If you’re writing about someone else’s work, take care with their names, the title of the work, and when it was produced.)
  
  
• PART 3
  If you haven’t already done so, please review the undergraduate courses we offer in the department concordia.ca/academics/undergraduate/calendar/current/sec31/31-070.html#courses and some of the research interests of our professors concordia.ca/artsci/coms/about/faculty.html and explore.concordia.ca. Then tell us why one of our two programs (BA Communication Studies or BA Communication & Cultural Studies) would be a particularly good fit for you personally. (1 page)
   

Technical guidelines:

Short Essay in three parts: one page per part, plus 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/21), 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 application.support@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, 2021, 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, 2021 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 1 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.

STAGE 2

BA Communication Studies and BA Communication & Cultural Studies

Admissions Day: Please note due to our current Health and Safety regulations that have been put into place by Concordia University as a response to COVID-19, Admissions Day will not be held this year.

For further information about our undergraduate programs, check our website or contact the Undergraduate Program Assistant at 514-848-2424, ext. 5055 or by email at ugradcoms@concordia.ca.

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. In addition, due to COVID-related restrictions regarding social gatherings, we will not be holding our Admissions Day. In summary, our process for Fall 2021 admissions will be entirely online.
3. Who do I address my application package to?
   All applications must now be submitted via the University’s online application system. Please look for the "Appy Now" button on the top right side of this page. We no longer accept application materials submitted by any other means.
4. What is the application deadline?
   Applications will be accepted from December 1^st, 2020, to March 1^st, 2021, at 11.59 pm.
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?
   An unofficial copy of your CEGEP grades must be included as part of your dossier. CEGEP applicants must also 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 part of their dossier.
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, there is no 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.