Centre for Career and Personal Development Degree Profiles
Communication and Media Studies
Communication and Media Studies explores the ways in which communication constructs and reflects society and culture.
Key Skills & Knowledge
Public Relations: Knowledge of the role of public relations including how to develop a communications plan, write for various audiences and media; mediation between specialized areas within institutions; working under tight deadlines.
Communications Theory: Understanding of changes in communications technology over the centuries; communications media and their impact on society; development of mass media and their relevance to Canadian culture.
Communication: clear and persuasive communication; explaining, writing and presenting information succinctly; public speaking; compiling reports and essays; public speaking, debating and negotiating; technical writing; reporting and editing skills; attention to detail.
Interpersonal: Influencing and persuading individuals and groups; aptitude for leadership; cultural sensitivity with an ability to relate to people from different backgrounds.
Research: Qualitative and quantitative research; capacity to write many reports and fluctuate between reflective or persuasive style; data collection, processing and synthesis of vast amounts of data; interpretation of research and data.
Sample Job Titles
Please note some of these positions may require further training, certification or education. Check out the occupational profiles to review the full details for the occupations that interest you at alis.alberta.ca/occinfo
- Advertising Coordinator
- Announcer/Broadcaster
- Assistant Media Planner
- Campaign Manager
- Communications Consultant
- Consumer Advocate
- Copy Writer
- Development Assistant/Coordinator
- Editor
- Editorial Assistant
- Events Coordinator
- External Communications Officer
- Fundraiser
- Image Consultant
- Information Officer
- Journalist
- Market Research Analyst
- Marketing Consultant
- Media Analyst/Officer
- Media Buyer
- Multimedia Designer
- Playwright
- Policy Analyst/Researcher
- Public Relations Specialist
- Publicity Assistant
- Publisher
- Reporter
- Researcher/Research Assistant
- Stakeholder Relations Advisor
- Teacher/Professor
- Technical Writer
- Webpage Developer
- Writer
- Presenter
Potential Industries
- Art Galleries
- Broadcasting
- Communications
- Community Consultation
- Consulting Firms
- Cultural & Heritage
- Education
- Editing & Copy Writing
- Fund Development
- Government
- Health Care
- Human Resources
- Information Technologies
- Library Services
- Marketing Agencies
- Media
- Museums
- Non- Profit & NGO's
- Oil & Gas
- Policy Research
- Politics
- Public Affairs/Relations
- Publishing
- Technical Writing
- Television Production
- Writing
Aligned Majors
Associations & Professional Development
- Association of Canadian Publishers
- Association for Progressive Communications
- Calgary Chamber of Commerce
- Canadian Association of Journalists
- Canadian Authors Association
- City and Regional Magazine Association
- Editors' Association of Canada
- International Association for Public Participation (IAP2)
- International Communication Association
- International Publishers Association
- Marketing Research and Intelligence Association (MRIA)
- National Communication Association
- National Newspaper Publishers Association
- National Speakers Association – they also have a monthly publication called SPEAK
- Society for Technical Communications (STC) Alberta Chapter
- Students in Communications (SIC)
- The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP)
- The International Association of Business Communicators (IABC)
Additional Resources
Key Contacts
Faculty Contact
Arts Students' Centre
Social Sciences Building, SS102
T: 403.220.3580
E: ascarts@ucalgary.ca
W: arts.ucalgary.ca/advising
Clubs on Campus:
Centre for Career and Personal Development
MacEwan Student Centre, Room 188
T: 403.220.8020
E: csstdnt@ucalgary.ca
W: ucalgary.ca/career-personal-development
