HONOURS B.A. IN SOCIAL COMMUNICATION

Introduction to theoretical approaches in the Humanities and to the methods that are applied to interpret the multiple expressions of human experience, particularly those expressed in important works of art and literature.

Social and ecological challenges facing humanity today, and related issues of social justice. These questions will be examined from a perspective of community building and efforts towards ecological and social transformations for a hopeful future.

Development of abilities to critically read and understand academic works. Focus on formal writing skills: techniques of clear expression and construction of texts, argument development and organization. This course also includes a library laboratory component with focus on research skills, citations, and academic integrity.

Indigenous and non-Indigenous perspectives on the First Peoples of Canada, cultural diversity, traditional practices and beliefs, relationship with the environment, changing roles and structures influenced by colonization. Contemporary issues faced by First Nations, Métis and Inuit, including cultural genocide and trauma.

Historical and critical survey of communication medium (oral, print and digital cultures). Examination of social, economic, geographic, political and cultural forces shaping communication throughout time. The course addresses multiple trajectories in the history of communication, situating Western histories alongside non-Western, Indigenous, and Global South perspectives.

Introduction to academic work methods and to the first stages of research work in social communication, including the selection and use of document resources, bibliography management, critical reading, and the formulation of research questions. The course distinguishes between argumentation, theoretical, and empirical approaches, introduces qualitative and quantitative methods, and emphasizes reflexive practice and self-evaluation.

Definition of an organization. Usual approaches to communication within the organizations: functionalist, strategic, critical, and cultural. The change management issue. Impact of technology.

Constitutive elements of ethical behavior. Basic ethical criteria in media communication. Rights in communication situations. Deontology codes in use in several institutions. Case analysis in media praxis: persuasion communication and fiction.

Initiation to the language of communication. Main concepts. Most usual models in communication studies. Functions of communication. Communication scales from the personal interactions to mediated communication.

Initiation to news gathering. Verification procedures. Initiation to writing for electronic media. Initiation to news presentation. Initiation to radio and TV interview.

Rules in information writing. The course will clarify the links between the apprenticeship of press writing and press reading. The course will also present the press writing rules in a broader theoretical context. Basic techniques concerning news gathering, story processing and diffusion of information in written press. News, reportage and editorial. Lectures and praxis.

Definition of campaign elements, including objectives, target audience, channels, public environment, etc. Planning of strategic actions in various social, cultural and organizational contexts. Introduction to the development of a communication plan, evaluation methods and project management.

Main theories and techniques of analysis in the process of interpersonal communication. Conditions for successful interpersonal communication. Experiential learning in professional contexts as in other situations. Non-verbal communication.

Introduction to the political economy of the media and to the regulation of communication. Overview of major theoretical traditions (critical political economy, cultural industries, platform studies). Main models of media industry structure: ownership concentration, public and private funding, digital platforms with a focus on Canadian and international regulatory frameworks. Links between economic structures, political power and information production.

Study of a topic from a specific analytical or theoretical perspective.

Initiation to the use of basic tools required for successful strategic communications. Research and analysis tools. Writing messages and integrating them to images, photographs and video. Press and media relations. Exhibits and promotional items. Use of social media.

Theories on the nature and the psychological, social and cultural influence of mediated communication. Introduction to the understanding of “magic ball” theories, of selective influence, of social differentiation, of indirect influence, of social organization, of the social construction of reality, etc.

Introduction to the principles of marketing and their application to influencing behaviour for social good. Examines core concepts such as segmentation, social behaviour, and strategic communication. The course considers the use of these techniques to address public health, environmental, and social issues. It addresses the ethical dimensions and limitations of social marketing. Through case studies, students assess the effectiveness of behaviour-change initiatives. Upon completion, students will be able to apply marketing frameworks to contemporary social issues.

Thematic course with variable content addressing contemporary issues related to democracy, communication rights and political action. Topics may include the public sphere, deliberation, disinformation, polarization, political participation, freedom of expression and communication rights. Emphasis on critical analysis of media artefacts and communication practises across different political regimes, applying research methods in communication (data collection, analysis, interpretation and presentation). Part of the Democracy, Rights and Political Action thematic area.

Professional Ethics in Communication Overview of approaches to professional ethics covering different subject areas of social communications including: news journalism, public relations, advertising and marketing. Ethical codes and regulation. Case studies.

Introduction to theoretical approaches in postcolonial and decolonial communication. Analysis of the role of media in the reproduction and contestation of racial and colonial inequalities. Analysis of power relations, media representations, dominant narratives, and discourses through critical frameworks drawn from decolonial, postcolonial, Indigenous, Black and Global South studies. Introduction to antiracist and decolonial communication practices.

Fundamentals of multimodal storytelling across visual and audio media platforms. From concept development to production and distribution: ideation, scriptwriting, storyboarding and multiplatform strategy. Emphasis on ethics and representation in media creation.

Introduction to the language of images within the study of communications. Expressive value of the image and communication. Cultural iconic codes. Semiology of the image. Image as a language in relation to discourse and the weight it carries in a media context.

Different theories and techniques to analyze content. Critical study of different types of messages: information, entertainment, advertising, etc.

Thematic course with variable content addressing contemporary social, ethical and political issues raised by communication technologies (including artificial intelligence, digital platforms, social media, and video games). Topics may include, but are not limited to, the ethics of technologies, algorithmic justice, technology governance, data labour, and digital sobriety. Theoretical and ethical examination of media artefacts and communication practises. Part of the Technology and Society thematic area.

Practical application of acquired knowledge. Activities monitored by a supervisor in a professional communication setting. Writing of practicum report. Graded S/NS.

In depth presentation of several theories. Particularly on the following: technologies and their impacts; networks and systems; culture and symbolism; conflicts and ideologies; critical theories; contributions from neurosciences.

Evolution and future of great media. Commercial logic and business models. Understanding media issues in specific social contexts. National media reality and globalization.

History and basic models of public relations. Main approaches, tools, audiences, work environment. Management, marketing, advertising, public affairs. Case studies.

Journalism in the Internet age. Traditional journalism and new intermediaries of information. Integration of new means of collecting, processing, selecting, prioritizing and broadcasting information.
Prerequisite: ISC2326

Elements of the theory of argumentation. Concept of arguments in communication. Writing and public intervention exercises.

Advanced thematic course with variable content addressing contemporary social, ethical and political issues raised by communication technologies (including artificial intelligence, digital platforms, social media, and video games). Topics may include, but are not limited to, the ethics of technologies, algorithmic justice, technology governance, data labour, and digital sobriety. Theoretical articulation and collaborative practical engagement (case analyses, intervention strategies, design of communication practises, etc.). Part of the Technology and Society thematic area.

Historical clashes between the media and religious traditions. Culture, religious traditions and the media. Possible divergences and convergences. Religious traditions and new technologies.

Evolution of the concept of sustainable development and its different definitions. Role and responsibility of social communications in sustainable development. Communication strategies for implementation.

Thematic course with variable content addressing contemporary issues related to democracy, communication rights and political action. Topics may include the public sphere, deliberation, disinformation, polarization, political participation, freedom of expression and communication rights. Emphasis on critical analysis of media artifacts and communication practises across different political regimes, with a focus on civic engagement (citizen intervention projects, analysis of political communication, or the design of democratic mediation practises). Part of the Democracy, Rights and Political Action thematic area.

Notions of culture and socialization. Myths and rituals. Imagination and rationality. Social construction of meaning. Types of human being in media culture, types changed through modern experience of social communication. Institutionalized communication.

Practical application of acquired knowledge. Activities monitored by a supervisor in a professional communication setting. Writing of practicum report. Graded S/NS.

Individual or small group study on a topic corresponding to the needs or particular interests of students. Record of accomplishments. Possibility of recognizing a relevant professional activity in the communication or information sectors.