Communication and Media Studies (COMS) Courses
COMS 5101 [1.0 credit]
Foundations of Communication Studies
Origins and traditions of modern communication studies with attention to theoretical and methodological aspects of developments and debates shaping current communication research.
Foundations of Communication Studies
Origins and traditions of modern communication studies with attention to theoretical and methodological aspects of developments and debates shaping current communication research.
COMS 5102 [0.5 credit]
Sound Studies
A critical examination of sound, listening, and audio reproduction technologies across a range of cultural and historical contexts. Topics can include the exploration of distinct listening cultures, audio media, policy, governance, and the politics of sound.
Sound Studies
A critical examination of sound, listening, and audio reproduction technologies across a range of cultural and historical contexts. Topics can include the exploration of distinct listening cultures, audio media, policy, governance, and the politics of sound.
COMS 5200 [0.5 credit]
Civic Media
The role of communication in relation to the emergence, development, and problematization of citizenship within civil society and the public sphere. Topics to be covered include the communicative strategies of NGOs, the aesthetics of protest, and alternative forms of journalism, among others.
Civic Media
The role of communication in relation to the emergence, development, and problematization of citizenship within civil society and the public sphere. Topics to be covered include the communicative strategies of NGOs, the aesthetics of protest, and alternative forms of journalism, among others.
COMS 5202 [0.5 credit]
Persuasion
Examines various efforts to discover and apply techniques of successful persuasion from classical rhetoric to scientific public opinion research with attention to contemporary political, public information, and corporate campaigns.
Persuasion
Examines various efforts to discover and apply techniques of successful persuasion from classical rhetoric to scientific public opinion research with attention to contemporary political, public information, and corporate campaigns.
COMS 5203 [0.5 credit]
Communication, Technology, Society
Critically examines the technological context of social communication in terms of human agency, medium theory, and the idea of progress.
Communication, Technology, Society
Critically examines the technological context of social communication in terms of human agency, medium theory, and the idea of progress.
COMS 5205 [0.5 credit]
Political Marketing
Using case studies and simulation exercises, the course will provide students with an understanding of political marketing strategy, market intelligence, consultation and participation, political product development and branding, and marketing practices in government.
Political Marketing
Using case studies and simulation exercises, the course will provide students with an understanding of political marketing strategy, market intelligence, consultation and participation, political product development and branding, and marketing practices in government.
COMS 5206 [0.5 credit]
Communication, Culture, Regulation
Contemporary and historical modes of regulating and governing media and communication, including policy-making, moral regulation, markets, code and so on. Topics may include the regulation of ownership, content, production, circulation, and consumption.
Communication, Culture, Regulation
Contemporary and historical modes of regulating and governing media and communication, including policy-making, moral regulation, markets, code and so on. Topics may include the regulation of ownership, content, production, circulation, and consumption.
COMS 5207 [0.5 credit]
Communication and Racialization
Provides theoretical and methodological foundations for graduate students studying the constructs of race, ethnicity, and indigeneity in communication and media contexts, particularly from a critical/cultural perspective.
Communication and Racialization
Provides theoretical and methodological foundations for graduate students studying the constructs of race, ethnicity, and indigeneity in communication and media contexts, particularly from a critical/cultural perspective.
COMS 5208 [0.5 credit]
Audiences, Consumption, Reception
How audiences and users consume, interact with, deploy and shape media; how they receive and interpret information; and the impacts of these practices on social relations and institutions. Consumerism, entertainment, and “sites” of consumption, including information technologies, space, and built environments.
Audiences, Consumption, Reception
How audiences and users consume, interact with, deploy and shape media; how they receive and interpret information; and the impacts of these practices on social relations and institutions. Consumerism, entertainment, and “sites” of consumption, including information technologies, space, and built environments.
COMS 5209 [0.5 credit]
Climate Change and Communication
The communication of climate change across a range of issues, which may include science, politics, popular culture, social movements, technology, food systems, Indigenous resurgence and societal transformation.
Climate Change and Communication
The communication of climate change across a range of issues, which may include science, politics, popular culture, social movements, technology, food systems, Indigenous resurgence and societal transformation.
Prerequisite(s): enrolment in MA or PhD Communication program, or Collaborative Specialization in Climate Change, or permission of the School of Journalism and Communication.
COMS 5212 [0.5 credit]
History, Time, Memory
Interactions among notions of time, environments, media technologies and artifacts, and the production of memory and history. Topics may include practices of memorialization through historical monuments or museums, contemporary challenges of data storage and media archiving, issues of technological obsolescence and waste, and more.
History, Time, Memory
Interactions among notions of time, environments, media technologies and artifacts, and the production of memory and history. Topics may include practices of memorialization through historical monuments or museums, contemporary challenges of data storage and media archiving, issues of technological obsolescence and waste, and more.
COMS 5214 [0.5 credit]
The Local and the Global
Communicative aspects of globalization in the context of the local. Among the areas to be addressed include global communication history, cultural imperialism, international regulation, transnational networking, cultural industries, media integration, diasporic communication, and the translocal circulation of content.
The Local and the Global
Communicative aspects of globalization in the context of the local. Among the areas to be addressed include global communication history, cultural imperialism, international regulation, transnational networking, cultural industries, media integration, diasporic communication, and the translocal circulation of content.
COMS 5218 [0.5 credit]
Special Studies of Media and Communication
Examines a specific traditional or non-traditional medium or practice of communication. Topics will vary from year to year.
Special Studies of Media and Communication
Examines a specific traditional or non-traditional medium or practice of communication. Topics will vary from year to year.
COMS 5219 [0.5 credit]
Regional Studies of Media
An exploration of the media landscape of specific region or geographical/political territory. Attention will be given to understanding specific conditions of reception, the character of media industries, and the historical development of media forms. Topics will vary from year to year.
Regional Studies of Media
An exploration of the media landscape of specific region or geographical/political territory. Attention will be given to understanding specific conditions of reception, the character of media industries, and the historical development of media forms. Topics will vary from year to year.
COMS 5220 [0.5 credit]
Visual Culture
The role of image in (re)producing culture. Diverse practices of visual communication such as photography, built environments, screen culture, and image sharing through virtual social networks.
Visual Culture
The role of image in (re)producing culture. Diverse practices of visual communication such as photography, built environments, screen culture, and image sharing through virtual social networks.
COMS 5221 [0.5 credit]
Science and the Making of Knowledge
Issues related to science and communication. Topics may include: contemporary issues such as public health risks, climate change, science as ideology, the relationship between science and politics; historical considerations of the relationship between knowledge and expertise.
Science and the Making of Knowledge
Issues related to science and communication. Topics may include: contemporary issues such as public health risks, climate change, science as ideology, the relationship between science and politics; historical considerations of the relationship between knowledge and expertise.
COMS 5222 [0.5 credit]
Cultural Intersections
Critically examines the engagement of cultures with each other in contexts such as the constructions of self and other, settler-colonial relations, postcolonial discourses, multiculturalism, cosmopolitanism, communication between groups and across borders, and the roles of media in cultural intersections .
Cultural Intersections
Critically examines the engagement of cultures with each other in contexts such as the constructions of self and other, settler-colonial relations, postcolonial discourses, multiculturalism, cosmopolitanism, communication between groups and across borders, and the roles of media in cultural intersections .
COMS 5223 [0.5 credit]
Work in the Contemporary Media Environment
Modes of media work and labour. Topics may include studies of immaterial labour, emotional labour, user-generated content and active audiences, labour and labour relations in digitizing media industries.
Work in the Contemporary Media Environment
Modes of media work and labour. Topics may include studies of immaterial labour, emotional labour, user-generated content and active audiences, labour and labour relations in digitizing media industries.
COMS 5224 [0.5 credit]
Internet, Infrastructure, Materialities
The internet as infrastructure; how the technical characteristics of the internet influence our experience and use of this medium. Questions addressing the physical structures, power and control, and ecological impacts of the internet are also considered.
Internet, Infrastructure, Materialities
The internet as infrastructure; how the technical characteristics of the internet influence our experience and use of this medium. Questions addressing the physical structures, power and control, and ecological impacts of the internet are also considered.
COMS 5225 [0.5 credit]
Critical Data Studies
Theoretical debates, research approaches and discursive regimes pertaining to the datafication of everyday life, data and living environments, and the quantified control of the future. Emphasis on the production of databased knowledge and the influence data have on the material and social world.
Critical Data Studies
Theoretical debates, research approaches and discursive regimes pertaining to the datafication of everyday life, data and living environments, and the quantified control of the future. Emphasis on the production of databased knowledge and the influence data have on the material and social world.
COMS 5509 [0.5 credit]
Gender, Sexuality, Culture
Theoretical debates and current research in the production and reproduction of gender, sexual and sexualized relations through communication processes, practices and institutions.
Gender, Sexuality, Culture
Theoretical debates and current research in the production and reproduction of gender, sexual and sexualized relations through communication processes, practices and institutions.
COMS 5605 [0.5 credit]
Approaches to Communication Research
Processes of conducting communication research in the context of writing a thesis or research essay. Topic selection, question framing, research design, the use of theory; specific methodologies such as content analysis, discourse analysis, survey research, ethnography, semiotics, and historical analysis.
Approaches to Communication Research
Processes of conducting communication research in the context of writing a thesis or research essay. Topic selection, question framing, research design, the use of theory; specific methodologies such as content analysis, discourse analysis, survey research, ethnography, semiotics, and historical analysis.
Includes: Experiential Learning Activity
COMS 5808 [0.5 credit]
Directed Studies
Directed research or readings on a topic area not covered in that year's course offerings.
Directed Studies
Directed research or readings on a topic area not covered in that year's course offerings.
COMS 5908 [1.0 credit]
Research Essay
Research Essay
Includes: Experiential Learning Activity
COMS 5909 [2.0 credits]
M.A. Thesis
M.A. Thesis
Includes: Experiential Learning Activity
COMS 6000 [1.0 credit]
Doctoral Seminar in Communication Studies
A seminar leading to the first comprehensive encompassing the program's three fields of concentration: the history of communication as object and field of study, the political economy of communication, and socio-cultural analysis of communication.
Doctoral Seminar in Communication Studies
A seminar leading to the first comprehensive encompassing the program's three fields of concentration: the history of communication as object and field of study, the political economy of communication, and socio-cultural analysis of communication.
COMS 6001 [0.5 credit]
Selected Topics in Communication
Examines a newly emerging issue, research method, or theory related to communication. Topic will vary from year to year.
Selected Topics in Communication
Examines a newly emerging issue, research method, or theory related to communication. Topic will vary from year to year.
COMS 6005 [0.5 credit]
Communication and History
The history of communication and its conceptualization from various perspectives as well as the way in which historical events arise through communication.
Communication and History
The history of communication and its conceptualization from various perspectives as well as the way in which historical events arise through communication.
COMS 6006 [0.5 credit]
Political Economy of Communication
The history of political economy with attention to applications in the field of communication.
Political Economy of Communication
The history of political economy with attention to applications in the field of communication.
COMS 6007 [0.5 credit]
Communication, Discourse, and Representation
The processes and practices of representation through which meanings arise.
Communication, Discourse, and Representation
The processes and practices of representation through which meanings arise.
Precludes additional credit for COMM 6007 (no longer offered).
COMS 6010 [0.5 credit]
Directed Studies
Directed research or readings on a topic area not covered in that year's course offerings.
Directed Studies
Directed research or readings on a topic area not covered in that year's course offerings.
COMS 6900 [1.0 credit]
Comprehensive Examination I
Examination normally conducted in May of each year in connection with COMS 6000 and covering the program's three fields of concentration: history of communication as object and field of study; political economy of communication; socio-cultural analysis of communication. Graded as Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory.
Comprehensive Examination I
Examination normally conducted in May of each year in connection with COMS 6000 and covering the program's three fields of concentration: history of communication as object and field of study; political economy of communication; socio-cultural analysis of communication. Graded as Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory.
COMS 6901 [1.0 credit]
Comprehensive Examination II
Examination by the student's thesis supervisor and committee of an approved project related to a particular field of communication research; the field may or may not be related to the student's thesis. Graded as Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory.
Comprehensive Examination II
Examination by the student's thesis supervisor and committee of an approved project related to a particular field of communication research; the field may or may not be related to the student's thesis. Graded as Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory.
COMS 6909 [0.0 credit]
Ph.D. Thesis
Ph.D. Thesis
Includes: Experiential Learning Activity
Note: Not all courses listed are offered in a given year. For an up-to-date statement of course offerings for the current session and to determine the term of offering, consult the class schedule at central.carleton.ca.
Summer session: some of the courses listed in this Calendar are offered during the summer. Hours and scheduling for summer session courses will differ significantly from those reported in the fall/winter Calendar. To determine the scheduling and hours for summer session classes, consult the class schedule at central.carleton.ca