Communication and Media Studies Honours

Carleton University

Film, Media and Journalism: blue ink subject illustration

4 years
Duration (years)
4 years
Carleton Communication and Media Studies Honours undergraduate admissions
Co-op option
Work experience
Co-op option
Carleton Communication and Media Studies Honours co-op eligibility
75%
Published threshold
Published eligibility threshold: 75%. Fall 2027. Carleton publishes this degree-level cut-off for Ontario high-school applicants. It does not give a separate figure for this degree variant.
Carleton 2027 Viewbook · Ontario minimum cut-offs, printed page 58

Deadlines

October 2026

Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun
			1	2	3	4
5	6	7	8	9	10	11
12	13	14		16	17	18
19	20	21	22	23	24	25
26	27	28	29	30	31

Next deadlineThursday, October 15, 2026

Application: January 2027 term, international transcripts
2026 entry
Verbatim: "Deadline for international students to apply for the January 2027 term (students whose transcripts originate outside of Canada or the US)."
Official deadline

Other deadline details

No single OUAC deadline, deadlines are set by each university and sometimes by programOUAC Undergraduate application, applicants who are not Ontario high school students (Group B)2026 entry

No single OUAC deadline, deadlines are set by each university and sometimes by program
No single OUAC deadline
University, program, transcript, portfolio, interview, and audition dates still apply

Full source wording

Verbatim: "There is no specific Undergraduate application deadline if you are a Group B applicant. Deadlines vary at each university and sometimes depend on the program. Visit the university websites or contact the universities directly for their deadlines. If you are interested in a program but the deadline has passed, you may contact the university's admission office for help. Be aware of university-specific deadlines for submitting transcripts and portfolios, if required, and for arranging interviews and auditions. You must ensure the OUAC has enough time to process your choices before the universities' program deadlines." OUAC defines Group B as anyone who does not meet the Group A criteria, e.g. not currently taking an Ontario high school course, a Canadian outside Ontario, an international applicant, a postsecondary transfer student, or a mature applicant.

SourceChecked Aug 14, 2026

Requirements

Admission requirements

High-school prerequisites

ENG4U / EAE4UEnglish or equivalent Anglais

Complete an Ontario Secondary School Diploma or equivalent with at least six Grade 12 4U or 4M courses.
The calendar permits an English-language proficiency test to satisfy the English prerequisite where it is used to satisfy the university English-language proficiency requirement.

Application steps

Step 1Check the admission requirements
- Check the published entry route for your applicant category.
Carleton Senate revised 2027–28 Communication and Media Studies Ontario admission regulationCarleton Senate revised 2027–28 Communication and Media Studies Ontario admission regulation
Step 2Apply through OUAC
- Create your application and select this program.
OUACOUAC
Step 3Academic documents listed in Carleton360
- Upload the records requested in Carleton360. If Admissions requests an official physical document, have it sent directly to the office rather than treating an applicant upload as official.
Carleton transcripts and academic documentsCarleton transcripts and academic documents
Step 4English translations for other-language documents
- Records in a language other than English need a certified English translation or notarized translation copy, matching the original's course and grade information.
Carleton translation requirementsCarleton translation requirements

Applicant pathways

Fall 2027 Ontario high school prerequisites

Ontario high school applicants for Fall 2027

Complete an Ontario Secondary School Diploma or equivalent with at least six Grade 12 4U or 4M courses.
Include Grade 12 English (ENG4U) or equivalent Anglais.
The calendar permits an English-language proficiency test to satisfy the English prerequisite where it is used to satisfy the university English-language proficiency requirement.

Alberta, Nunavut and Northwest Territories

High-school applicants educated in Alberta, Nunavut and Northwest Territories

Complete high school with five courses numbered 30 or 31.
Complete ELA 30-1.

British Columbia and Yukon

High-school applicants educated in British Columbia and Yukon

Complete high school with four Grade 12 academic courses.
Complete English 12 or English First Peoples 12.

Manitoba

High-school applicants educated in Manitoba

Complete high school with five courses at the 40 level.
Complete ELA 40S.

New Brunswick

High-school applicants educated in New Brunswick

Complete high school with five academic Grade 12 courses.
Complete English 122.

Newfoundland and Labrador

High-school applicants educated in Newfoundland and Labrador

Complete high school with 10 credits at the 3000 level.
Complete ELA 3201.

Nova Scotia

High-school applicants educated in Nova Scotia

Complete high school with five Grade 12 academic or advanced courses.
Complete English 12.

Prince Edward Island

High-school applicants educated in Prince Edward Island

Complete high school with five academic courses at the 611 or 621 level.
Complete English 621.

Saskatchewan

High-school applicants educated in Saskatchewan

Complete high school with six courses numbered 30.
Complete ELA A30 or B30.

Degree requirements

Grades and academic standing

Complete 20.0 credits. The standard Honours route counts 9.0 credits in the major CGPA and has 8.0 electives outside COMS plus 3.0 free electives.

References

Foundation requirements

The major includes the two first-year foundations, two 2000-level foundations and methods courses, and three advanced theory and methods courses.

References

Credits and degree requirements

Complete at least one of the nine designated COMS courses in the calendar’s additional graduation requirement.

References

Required courses and electives

Complete at least 1.0 credit in three of the four published breadth areas. Students admitted with a completed university degree are exempt.

References

Program facts

Published threshold75%

Carleton publishes this degree-level cut-off for Ontario high-school applicants. It does not give a separate figure for this degree variant.

Co-opCo-op option

Check work experience options

Majors & specializations

Government and Professional Communication

BCoMS

Study professional communication, policy, and communication by governments and organizations.

Published requirements

Courses

Published requirements in the 2026–27 calendar. Choice and prerequisite rules remain attached to their requirement group. 2026–27 standalone B.Co.M.S. Honours requirements and official first-year advising.

Communication and Media Studies B.Co.M.S. Honours (20.0 credits) · A. Credits Included in the Major CGPA (9.0 credits): · 1. 1.0 credit in:2 listed

COMS 1001Foundations: Media History0.5 credits
COMS 1002Foundations: Contemporary Communication and Media0.5 credits

Communication and Media Studies B.Co.M.S. Honours (20.0 credits) · A. Credits Included in the Major CGPA (9.0 credits): · 2. 1.0 credit in:2 listed

COMS 2003Theoretical Foundations in Communication and Media Studies0.5 credits
COMS 2004Introduction to Communication Research0.5 credits

Communication and Media Studies B.Co.M.S. Honours (20.0 credits) · A. Credits Included in the Major CGPA (9.0 credits): · 3. 1.5 credits in:3 listed

COMS 3001Quantitative Research in Communication0.5 credits
COMS 3002Qualitative Research in Communication0.5 credits
COMS 3500Current Issues in Communication and Media Theory0.5 credits

Communication and Media Studies B.Co.M.S. Honours (20.0 credits) · A. Credits Included in the Major CGPA (9.0 credits): · 4. 2.5 credits from the following, including at least 1.0 credit at the 3000-level:33 listed

FYSM 1217Selected Topics in Communication and Media Studies0.5 credits
COMS 1003Digital Skills for Media Studies0.5 credits
COMS 1004Writing and Reading Skills for Media Studies0.5 credits
COMS 2005Introduction to Communication Practice0.5 credits
COMS 2200Big Data and Society0.5 credits
COMS 2300Communication as Propaganda0.5 credits
COMS 2400Climate Change and Communication0.5 credits
COMS 2401Media Law and Ethics in a Digital World0.5 credits
COMS 2500Communication and Science0.5 credits
COMS 2504Language and Communication0.5 credits
COMS 2600Communication and Culture0.5 credits
COMS 2700Global Media and Communication0.5 credits
COMS 3003Media and Crime0.5 credits
COMS 3100Introduction to Political Management0.5 credits
COMS 3108Media Industries and the Network Society0.5 credits
COMS 3109Communication, Culture and Identity0.5 credits
COMS 3110Comic Books and Graphic Novels0.5 credits
COMS 3111Racism and Digital Media0.5 credits
COMS 3302Political Communication0.5 credits
COMS 3308Critical Studies in Advertising and Consumer Culture0.5 credits
COMS 3310Critical Perspectives of Public Relations0.5 credits
COMS 3311Media and Communication in Regional Contexts0.5 credits
COMS 3400Ethical Controversies in Media and Communication0.5 credits
COMS 3401Communications Regulation in Canada0.5 credits
COMS 3403Communication, Technology and Culture0.5 credits
COMS 3406Media Audiences and Users0.5 credits
COMS 3407Comparative Media Studies0.5 credits
COMS 3410Visual Media and Communication0.5 credits
COMS 3411Media and Social Activism0.5 credits
COMS 3412Communication and Health0.5 credits
COMS 3600Communication and Community Service Learning0.5 credits
COMS 3601Communication Strategies0.5 credits
COMS 3800Special Topic in Communication and Media Studies0.5 credits

Communication and Media Studies B.Co.M.S. Honours (20.0 credits) · A. Credits Included in the Major CGPA (9.0 credits): · 5. 2.5 credits from:30 listed

COMS 4001Sport and/as Media0.5 credits
COMS 4002Media Fandom0.5 credits
COMS 4004Communication and Discourse0.5 credits
COMS 4302Music Industries and Histories0.5 credits
COMS 4305Media and Religion0.5 credits
COMS 4306Media and Conflict0.5 credits
COMS 4311Environmental Communication0.5 credits
COMS 4312Crisis and Risk Communication0.5 credits
COMS 4313Screen Studies0.5 credits
COMS 4315Communication and the Built Environment0.5 credits
COMS 4316Indigenous Media in Global Contexts0.5 credits
COMS 4317Digital Media and Global Network Society0.5 credits
COMS 4401Global Internet Policy and Governance0.5 credits
COMS 4403Digital Media Industries0.5 credits
COMS 4405The Networked Self0.5 credits
COMS 4406Open Government and Communication0.5 credits
COMS 4407Communication and Critical Data Studies0.5 credits
COMS 4408Creative Work0.5 credits
COMS 4410Mobile Media0.5 credits
COMS 4411Artificial Intelligence and Algorithmic Cultures0.5 credits
COMS 4412Game Studies0.5 credits
COMS 4602Children, Youth and Media0.5 credits
COMS 4603Diaspora and Communication0.5 credits
COMS 4604Media, Gender and Sexuality0.5 credits
COMS 4605Media, Race and Ethnicity0.5 credits
COMS 4606Global Media and Popular Culture0.5 credits
COMS 4607Communication and Food0.5 credits
COMS 4608Sound Studies0.5 credits
COMS 4800Special Topic in Communication and Media Studies0.5 credits
COMS 4908Honours Research Essay1 credits

Communication and Media Studies B.Co.M.S. Honours (20.0 credits) · A. Credits Included in the Major CGPA (9.0 credits): · 6. 0.5 credit from:7 listed

COMS 4501Digital Media Production0.5 credits
COMS 4502Storytelling in the Digital Age0.5 credits
COMS 4503Platform Practices and Analytics0.5 credits
COMS 4504Engaging the Public: Stakeholders, participation & consultation0.5 credits
COMS 4505Professional Writing and Speaking0.5 credits
COMS 4506Event Management and Community Partnerships0.5 credits
COMS 4507Professional Communication Research0.5 credits

Recommended first-year COMS elective1 listed

The faculty also suggests its first-year seminar if offered.

COMS 1003Digital Skills for Media Studies0.5 credits
Uses practice-based work to build familiarity with digital tools used in media studies.
Carleton 2026–27 Communication and Media Studies course definitions