Communication Studies

A student looking up and talking through a microphone stand on a stage.

Testing 1, 2, 3. Testing 1, 2, 3.

Overview

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In these two exciting, highly interactive majors, you’ll explore how our everyday forms of communication create meaning and shape our perspective of the world. The majors are unique within Canada for our experience-based study of verbal, non-verbal, visual, and digital communication practices.

Over the course of your degree, you’ll hone your written and oral communication skills while developing expertise in teamwork, research, visual and digital literacy, and critical analysis — just the kind of skills that employers are hungry for. Choosing the co-op version will provide insights into possible careers and paid work experience along the way.

Faculty:
Faculty of Arts

Degree:
Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies or Communication Arts and Design Practices

Choose one of two majors

In Communication Arts and Design Practice, enhance and apply your knowledge of effective communication with hands-on digital design projects.

With a greater focus on visual communication and rhetoric, this major is a great fit if you're interested in careers in digital media design.

In Communication Studies, you'll focus on the art of speaking and communicating to audiences and in group settings.

This major is broader and has more courses related to general business than the Communication Arts and Design Practice major.                                                    

What courses will you take in Communication Studies?

First-year courses

As an Arts student, you’ll choose your major at the end of first year. You’re encouraged to explore a second major in first year to discover potential new interests.

You will also take an Arts First course in either the fall or winter term of your first year. In this course, instead of going to a lecture hall, you and your classmates will work together to respond to an intriguing challenge. With only 25 students in this course, you might address topics such as The Science of Happiness, Are We Erasing History?, Games and Culture, and Writing About Poems and Songs.

You can choose to study Communication Studies through Honours Arts or Honours Arts and Business.

Honours Arts

September to December

  • One course from
  • Arts First Requirement or elective
  • Prospective major #2
  • Two electives

January to April

  • One course from
  • Arts First Requirement or elective
  • Prospective major #2
  • Two electives

This is a sample schedule. Courses or when a course is offered may change depending on availability.  

Honours Arts and Business

September to December

  • ARBUS 101 – Introduction to Business in North America
  • ECON 101 – Introduction to Microeconomics
  • Arts First Requirement or elective
  • Prospective major #2

Plus one course from

January to April

  • ARBUS 102 – Accounting Information for Managers
  • ARBUS 202 – Professional and Business Ethics
  • Arts First Requirement or elective
  • Prospective major #2

Plus one course from

This is a sample schedule. Courses or when a course is offered may change depending on availability. 

After first year

40% of the classes you’ll take will be in your major. With your remaining classes, you can choose electives from many of the 100 subject areas at Waterloo.

Sample upper-year courses

COMMST 323 – Speech Writing
COMMST 325 – Organizational Communication
COMMST 420 – Persuasion
COMMST 430 – Communication and Social Justice
COMMST 431 – Crisis Communication

Customize your degree

You can add additional areas of expertise by including one or more of the minors available to all Waterloo students.

Popular choices include Fine Arts Studio, Digital Arts Communication, Theatre and Performance, Human Resource Management, French, and Political Science.

What courses will you take in Communication Arts and Design Practices?

First-year courses

As an Arts student, you’ll choose your major at the end of first year. You’re encouraged to explore a second major in first year to discover potential new interests.

You will also take an Arts First course in either the fall or winter term of your first year. In this course, instead of going to a lecture hall, you and your classmates will work together to respond to an intriguing challenge. With only 25 students in this course, you might address topics such as The Science of Happiness, Are We Erasing History?, Games and Culture, and Writing About Poems and Songs.

You can choose to study Communication Arts and Design Practices through Honours Arts or Honours Arts and Business.

Honours Arts

September to December

  • One course from
  • Arts First Requirement or elective
  • Prospective major #2
  • Two electives

January to April

  • One course from
  • Arts First Requirement or elective
  • Prospective major #2
  • Two electives

This is a sample schedule. Courses or when a course is offered may change depending on availability.  

Honours Arts and Business

September to December

  • ARBUS 101 – Introduction to Business in North America
  • ECON 101 – Introduction to Microeconomics
  • Arts First Requirement or elective
  • Prospective major #2

Plus one course from

January to April

  • ARBUS 102 – Accounting Information for Managers
  • ARBUS 202 – Professional and Business Ethics
  • Arts First Requirement or elective
  • Prospective major #2

Plus one course from

This is a sample schedule. Courses or when a course is offered may change depending on availability.

After first year

40% of the classes you’ll take will be in your major. With your remaining classes, you can choose electives from many of the 100 subject areas at Waterloo.

Sample upper-year courses

DAC 302 – Digital Storytelling Design
DAC 309 – User Experience Design
COMMST 339 – Media, Images, and Communication
THPERF 374 – Sustainability in Design
THPREF 379 – Mixed Reality Design

Customize your degree

You can add additional areas of expertise by including one or more of the minors available to all Waterloo students.

Popular choices include Fine Arts Studio, Digital Arts Communication, Theatre and Performance, Human Resource Management, French, and Political Science.

Available as a co-op program?
Yes

Available as a regular program?
Yes

Available as a minor?
Yes

Career-relevant workshops. Our professional development workshops give you a head start on careers in public relations, digital design, politics, marketing, teaching, or broadcasting.

Make lasting connections. Enjoy small classes that range from 15 to 35 students and have the chance to really connect with your classmates and professors.

Co-op = relevant paid work experience

By alternating school terms and paid co-op work terms throughout your degree, you can explore different career areas and types of employers as your career interests evolve.

Sample co-op job titles

  • Marketing communications associate
  • Media and publications associate
  • Research analyst
  • Business analyst
  • Human resources co-op
  • Media relations specialist
  • Logistics assistant

Co-op work-study sequence

Starting in second year, you'll normally alternate between school and work every four months, integrating your classroom learning with real-world experience. You can return to the same employer for a couple of work terms to gain greater knowledge and responsibility or work for different employers to get a broad range of experience.

If you choose to study Communication Studies through Arts and Business, your first work term will be halfway through second year (January - April 2027).

Year September to December (Fall) January to April (Winter) May to August (Spring)
First Study Study Off
Second Study Co-op Study
Third Co-op Study Co-op
Fourth Study Co-op Co-op
Fifth Study Study -

or after second year (May to August 2027) if you choose to study Communication Studies through Honours Arts.

Year September to December (Fall) January to April (Winter) May to August (Spring)
First Study Study Off
Second Study Study Co-op
Third Study Co-op Study
Fourth Co-op Study Co-op
Fifth Co-op Study -

Learn more about co-op → 

What can you do with a communication degree?

With the explosion of information in recent decades, a degree in communication has never been more valuable. Our program will set you up for an exciting range of careers in marketing, public relations, advertising, teaching, the media, and human resources. Graduates work in a variety of settings — including interpersonal, organizational, and public — for businesses, non-profit organizations, universities, technology companies, and financial institutions.

Learn more about what you can do with a communication degree.

Recent graduates

  • Marketing Coordinator — Deloitte
  • Junior Integrated Marketing Communications Manager — Microsoft Canada
  • English Teacher — EF Education First
  • Strategic Planning Officer — Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC)
  • Enterprise Account Executive — Shopify Plus
  • Customer Experience Specialist — Tesla Canada

Learn about the future of careers in the humanities, social sciences, languages, and creative arts.

Tuition fees

First-year tuition

Type of fees Tuition (8 months of school)
Domestic (Ontario residents) $9,000
Domestic (Out of province students) $9,000
International (visa students) $57,000
 
  • Estimated amounts listed include incidental fees. Fees based on 2024-25 tuition rates.
  • Visit our financing page to learn about scholarships, estimate your total expenses, and see how co-op can help pay for your education.

Admissions

Apply to Honours Arts or Honours Arts and Business and choose Communication Studies or Communication Arts and Design Practice as your major at the end of first year.

Ontario students: six Grade 12 U and/or M courses including

  • Any Grade 12 U English (minimum final grade of at least 70%)

Admission average: Low 80s (co-op and regular)

Not studying in Ontario? Search our admission requirements for Honours Arts or Honours Arts and Business.

Related programs

English

Global Business and Digital Arts

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