Bachelor of Professional Arts, Communication Studies Major
The Bachelor of Professional Arts program is a four-year program designed for students who have completed an Athabasca University (AU) approved two- or three-year diploma or 60 credit equivalent from an accredited university, college, or institute of technology. Some students may qualify to earn additional credits through prior learning assessment.
If you have any questions, please contact Advising Services.
Communication Studies Major
The Bachelor of Professional Arts, Communication Studies Major (BPA-CMNS) is offered by AU's Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. The program encourages students to apply their professional knowledge within a national and international context of mass media and communication.
Planning your program
Online program plans assist students in selecting the courses needed to fulfill their program requirements.
AU has also developed program learning outcomes that describe the career options that may be available to you upon graduating.
Enrolment route
- Post-Diploma (PD) Transfer
- University Transfer
- Prior Learning
Enrolment requirements
Full enrolment into the Communication Studies Major requires 60 credits. The BPA Communication Studies Major is available to:
- graduates of an approved two- or three-year diploma (60-90 credits), two 30-credit certificate programs, or one 30-credit certificate and 30 transferable credits;
- graduates of an undergraduate university degree in a discipline other than Communications or Communication Studies;
- applicants with a minimum of 60 credits of university-level coursework;
- applicants with a minimum of 60 AU Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) credits; or,
- applicants with a combination of PLAR credits combined with university-level course credits to reach at least 60 credits.
Coursework and credentials must have been obtained from an accredited college, university, or institute of technology approved by Athabasca University. Individuals who have questions about the eligibility of their previous education for enrolment are strongly encouraged to contact Advising Services.
Pre-enrolment status
Applicants are granted pre-enrolment status if they have 6 or more credits, but less than the 60 credits required for enrolment. They can complete the remaining credits at AU for full enrolment.
Note: Those in the pre-enrolment category might consider completing an AU certificate or diploma credential that serves as a building block toward the degree, such as the 30-credit certificates or a diploma such as the 60-credit University Diploma in Arts. The courses within the 30-credit University Certificate in Public Administration (UC-PADM), for example, can be applied to both enrolment and to satisfy BPA major requirements, however, credits can only be used once. Contact Advising Services for more information about how you can earn the UC-PADM credential to fulfill major requirements, or to satisfy both entry and major requirements.
English language assessment
In addition to meeting the stated enrolment requirements, applicants must also complete AU’s English Language Assessment (ELA) prior to being enrolled in the program. Based upon the applicant’s ELA results, a recommendation will be made as to which writing skills’ course is appropriate. Those applicants whose ELA suggests they would benefit from skill building courses at the 100-level will be allowed to register in ENGL 155: Developing Writing Skills; ENGL 177: English for Academic Purposes; or PHIL 152: Basics in Critical Thinking, Reading and Writing. The 100-level skill building course can be counted as a Junior Option in the Major.
Program requirements
Students must complete the regulations that are in effect at the time they enrol in the program.
Students are strongly encouraged to register in their English courses early in their program.
Program structure
| Total credits in the program | 120 |
| Enrolment requirement | 60 |
Minimum credits required beyond the college diploma
| Common Core credits | 12 |
| Major and elective and/or option credits | 48 |
| Total | 60 |
| Residency requirement: A minimum of 30 credits must be obtained through Athabasca University | 30 |
| Graduation with Distinction or Great Distinction. At least 24 credits must be obtained through Athabasca University in order to be considered. | 24 |
Within the degree students are required to earn for degree completion
| Minimum credits required at the senior (300/400) level | 48 |
| Minimum credits required at the 400 level | 18 |
| Maximum credits allowed at junior (200) level* | 12 |
| *see English Language Assessment section; this could include an ELA recommended 100-level writing skills course. |
Common core
(12 credits)
All BPA programs require students to take a common core of courses which can be taken at any time. Students are encouraged, however, to complete the common core courses early in their program. The common core addresses skills and knowledge that will help students succeed with the remaining degree requirements. When choosing courses in the common core please consult Advising Services.
| 1. Take one of the following writing skills courses: | |
| ENGL 255 Introductory Composition or PHIL 252 Critical Thinking | (3) |
| NOTE: Students who have taken a course deemed equivalent to one of these courses must take the other course. All students are strongly encouraged to complete their writing skills course(s) early in their programs. | |
| 2. Take one of the following Indigenous cultural competency courses: | |
| INST 203 Indigenous Studies I or INST 205 Indigenous Studies II | (3) |
| NOTE: Students who have taken a course deemed equivalent to one of these courses must take the other course. | |
| 3. A senior (300/400) level professional ethics course, such as: | |
| CMNS 455 Media Ethics or PHIL 333 Professional Ethics or PHIL 334 Professional Ethics in Heritage Resources Management or PHIL 335 Biomedical Ethics or PHIL 337 Business Ethics or PHIL 371 Ethics, Science, Technology, and the Environment | (3) |
| 4. A research methods course, such as: | |
| SOSC 366 Research Methods in the Social Sciences or ANTH 390 Community-Based Research Methods | (3) |
Communication Studies – specific requirements
| Common Core credits | 12 |
| Major Courses credits (made up of Required Major Courses and Electives) | 30 |
| Required Major Course credits | 12 |
| Elective credits | 18 |
| Options credits | 18 |
| Minimum CMNS credits allowed | 18 |
| Minimum credits required at the 400 level, 12 credits of which must be CMNS courses | 18 |
| Maximum credits allowed at the 200 level (which may include 3 credits at the 100 level if recommended by the ELA. See English Language Assessment section above). | 12 |
| Residency requirement. A minimum of 30 credits must be obtained through Athabasca University. | 30 |
| Graduation with Distinction or Great Distinction. At least 24 credits must be obtained through Athabasca University in order to be considered. | 24 |
| Maximum Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) credits | *see Prior Learning above |
Major courses (30 credits)
Required major courses
(12 credits)
| CMNS 301 | Communication Theory and Analysis | (3) |
| CMNS 302 | Communication in History | (3) |
| CMNS 401 | Cultural Policy in Canada | (3) |
| ANTH 362 or INST 369 | First Peoples of Canada or Indigenous Peoples in Canada Since 1830 | (3) |
Elective courses
Select 18 credits from the following list:
*Note: Students may use any CMNS course to meet the 18 credits required in this area.
| CMNS | All CMNS courses | |
| POEC 302 | Theories and Approaches to Political Economy | (3) |
| POEC 393 | Canada and the Global Political Economy | (3) |
| POLI 309 | Canadian Government and Politics | (3) |
| SOCI 435 | Theories of Social Change | (3) |
| GOVN/LGST/CRJS 377 | Issues in Access to Information and Privacy Protection | (3) |
Options
(18 credits)
18 credits from any discipline*
* Students whose ELA results recommend preparatory skill development via ENGL 155, ENGL 177, or PHIL 152, may count one of these 3-credit 100-level courses towards the Option requirement.Note: Courses that are cross-listed with courses on the major or elective list will meet the requirements. Students are advised to plan their program of study carefully using a program planner, and to consult with Advising Services to ensure that they meet all of the degree requirements.
Updated July 25, 2024 by Office of the Registrar (calendar@athabascau.ca)