Communications
The purpose of Communications courses is to give students a grounding in workplace communication - written, oral, interpersonal and intercultural. Students acquire the knowledge and skills they will need to successfully carry out on-the-job communication tasks.
Learning activities are aimed at helping students become competent communicators. These include group work such as peer feedback exercises and collaborative assignments, writing tasks for real organizations, oral presentations, interviews and research.
Department Website
For an overview of this program, including faculty listings and frequently asked questions plus other resources, visit the departmental website.
Career/Further Educational Opportunities
Many Communications courses are transferable to other BC colleges and universities. They can contribute to an educational path that leads to degrees in Communications, Journalism, English, Business Administration and Professional Writing (see BC Transfer Guide).
Location
Communications courses are offered at the New Westminster and David Lam Campuses.
Intake Dates/Application Deadlines
**Application deadlines may be extended.
Courses are offered in the Fall, Winter, and Summer terms. See
Application Deadlines.
Prerequisite Compliance
Students who are requesting transfer credit from other institutions or submitting high school transcripts from outside of BC to satisfy prerequisite compliance are required to apply and submit those documents no later than three months in advance of the intake.
Other Information
Before enrolling in a writing-intensive course within the Communications Department, students must take the Douglas College Writing Assessment or provide a substitute or equivalent assessment.
Credentials
Most Communications courses are important requirements in College Programs, and are therefore a key component in the completion of many College diplomas and certificates: Business, Child, Family and Community Studies, Health Information Management, Hotel and Restaurant Management, Therapeutic Recreation and other programs. Some CMNS courses meet the requirements for the Associate of Arts degree and, in particular, the Associate of Arts in International/Intercultural Studies. Please refer to individual program listings.
This 30-credit certificate is made up of courses currently offered by the Communications Department and other areas of the College. The certificate allows students to focus on various aspects of the field of Communications and build their knowledge and abilities in these areas. Students take a mix of spoken and written Communication courses and choose from relevant courses in other Departments which will enhance their understanding and practice of the Communications field. Students also have the option of laddering from this certificate into an Associate of Arts degree.
The courses required for the certificate are as follows:
2 Core Courses (2 x 3 credits= 6 credits):
Plus 3 (9 credits) of the following:
- CMNS 1104, Foundations of Intercultural Communication
- CMNS 1125, Oral Presentations
- CMNS 1217, Multicultural Interpersonal Workplace Communication
- CMNS 1221, Introduction to Media and Communication Studies
- CMNS 1316, Understanding and Managing Interpersonal Conflict
Plus
- 6 credits of 1st year Social Sciences (PSYC 1100, PSYC 1200, IDST 1103, SOCI 1125, SOSC 2140)
- 6 credits of 1st year Humanities (PHIL 1101, PHIL 1102, PHIL 1122, PHIL 1201, POLI 1100, POLI 1103, 3 credits of MODL)
- 3 credits of 1st year Arts
Total= 10 courses (30 credits) * Certificate in Communications obtained
Remaining courses to obtain Associate Degree in Arts:
- 3 credits in 1st year Arts
- 18 credits in Arts in two or more subject areas
- 3 credits in Lab Science
- 3 credits in Math or Statistics or Computer Science
- 3 credits in Math or Statistics or Science
Recommended Course Sequence
For writing courses: CMNS 1099 is recommended AS NEEDED as a preparatory course for CMNS 1110, 1111, or 1115.