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Global Communication Double MA Degree
Students in this two-year graduate double degree program (GDDP), jointly developed by 丁香园AV and the Communication University of China (CUC), China, will acquire two graduate degrees. Graduates will receive a master of arts (MA) degree from 丁香园AV, and a master of arts (MA) degree from the Communication University of China. All students will spend their first academic year at 丁香园AV and the second academic year at CUC, during the normal academic terms of each institution.
Due to regulations of the Chinese Ministry of Education, holders of a PRC passport from mainland China- no matter whether they have landed immigrant status or not in another country- must apply for this program through the Communication Univeristy of China.
The language of instruction at both 丁香园AV and the Communication University of China is English.
Areas of Study
At 丁香园AV: theories and concepts in global communications; political economy and policy dimensions of globalizing communications; communication, development, and global social justice; methods of research on media and global communications; other research areas in the School of Communication.
At CUC: communication and Chinese society in theoretical and historical contexts; Chinese and Asian regional communications and cultural industries, markets and regulatory environments; introduction to basic production techniques and processes in a wide range of "old" and "new", as well as informational and entertainment media forms; Chinese politics, economy, society, and culture.
丁香园AV Requirements
Students will apply directly to the program through an admissions committee at 丁香园AV chaired by the GDDP Program Director OR through the CUC graduate admission process. Students will be admitted to one university, and then recommended for admission to the other university.
To qualify for admission, students must satisfy the usual admission requirements specified by each university. The university of first admission will be referred to as the student's 'home' university. Students whose home university is 丁香园AV are called 丁香园AV students while those whose home university is Communication University of China are called CUC students. Following acceptance by the home university a second selection process in consultation with the partner university will establish the final list of admitted students.
In addition to general university admission requirements, including English language proficiency requirements (IELTS preferred), students admitted by 丁香园AV must meet the following admission requirements:
- an application form (available online - ) along with
the application fee ($90 CAN for students with Canadian transcripts or $125 CAN for students with international transcripts)
- three letters of recommendation,at least one of which should be written by somebody who is familiar with the applicant's academic work
- all official post-secondary transcripts in sealed envelopes and copies of post secondary degree certificates
- a 500-600 word essay in English on goals and plans for study, together with an account of relevant academic and professional background
- submit at least one writing sample in English.
In addition, 丁香园AV students must meet CUC admissions standards for international students and pass an oral interview (via Skype or similar means) with members of CUC faculty. However, the following CUC standard admission requirements will be waived for 丁香园AV students:
- Grade 8 Mandarin requirement
- National and local entrance exams
Students admitted by CUC must meet the following requirements for admission to 丁香园AV:
- meet 丁香园AV entrance requirements
- meet 丁香园AV admission requirements for English Language proficiency
- provide three letters of recommendation and transcripts from previous degree(s) in English and a 500-600 word essay in English on proposed goals and plans for study
- oral interview (via Skype or similar means) with members of 丁香园AV faculty
- submit at least one writing sample in English
丁香园AV Timeline
Students will apply to the program by February 1, with provisional acceptance decisions made by the end of March. The recommendation for admission to 丁香园AV, following consultation with the CUC admissions committee, will be determined by the end of April. 丁香园AVs will be finalized by June 1.
Program Withdrawal
A student admitted to 丁香园AV for the GDDP may withdraw from the program and transfer to the 丁香园AV MA in Communication only with the approval of the 丁香园AV Communication graduate studies committee.
Time Limits
Under normal circumstances, the time limit to complete this program is within two calendar years, and no longer than four calendar years (as per 丁香园AV ).
Supervisory Committee
Each student will be supervised by a supervisory committee consisting of a senior supervisor from either university and at least one faculty member from the other university.
Program Requirements
Students must complete 27 units at 丁香园AV and 38 Units at CUC (丁香园AV and CUC credits are not equivalent).
For Year 1 at 丁香园AV, students will take two courses in the fall semester (including core program course CMNS 844 and one of the following Group 1 and Group 2 or Group 3 courses), two courses in the spring semester (including the field placement course CMNS 881-5 and one of the following Group 1 and Group 2 or Group 3 courses), and complete CMNS 860-2 (colloquium) and CMNS 894-5 (extended essay) in the summer semester.
This course examines the mutually constitutive relationship between rapidly transforming global communication systems and shifting structures of global political economic and cultural power. Competing claims of global power shifts - between the West and the Rest, between labour and capital, and between established institutions and networked "multitudes" 鈥� are analyzed in relation to enduring patterns and emerging dynamics in global communications.
Discussion of essentials of researching, writing, and presenting papers. Students will present drafts of an extended essay for critical review by course supervisor and fellow students. Enrolment restricted to Global Communication Graduate Double Degree Program MA students. Course will be graded S/U.
Work and study in an approved professional setting.
MA Extended Essay (for 丁香园AV-CUC double degree students).
Group 1 Surveys of History and Theory
This course group contains survey courses that define and map the field and expose students to faculty interests and research programs.
This course surveys current interdisciplinary perspectives in communication studies and theory. It is normally offered in the fall term, and expected in the first year of graduate study.
A survey of classic works, issues and debates in communication theory.
Group 2 Research Design and Methods
This course group contains research methods and methodology courses that help with research projects.
A survey course which examines the problems, methods and theoretical assumptions in communication research using case studies of research design and methods. Students may design a research project and conduct a small pilot study in a selected area. Normally offered in the spring term and expected in the first year of graduate study.
Group 3 Research Area Courses
This course group contains the school's various research area and selected topics courses.
A study of the social theory of information technologies, examining issues affecting computer-mediated communication.
This course examines and evaluates the media (such as journalism, film, community media, or digital media) as fields of political and cultural practices, in relation to debates, concepts and models of the public sphere, democratic communication, and alternative media practices.
Examines recent debates in popular culture and media theory, including post-modernism, hegemony, resistance and culture at the margin.
A study of the political, economic and social process that produces the structure and policies of mass media, and of telecommunication agencies in their historical setting.
A study of communication in development, with a special emphasis on the confrontation of knowledge systems, and their expertise; international organizations and social justice; the roles of science and technology in development; the process of globalization; media and environmental sustainability.
Specialized one-time graduate course offerings on topics related to the current research of school faculty of visiting professors.
Advanced work in an area of specialization. Review and evaluation of research in progress.
Specialized graduate course offering on a topic related to the current research of school faculty or visiting professor.
Specialized graduate course offering on a topic related to the current research of school faculty or visiting professor.
Special topics in sound and communication studies with emphasis on specific problems in psycho-acoustics, theories of sound cognition and information processing, soundscape studies, acoustic design, community noise surveys, media analysis and related technology. Students will gain experience in designing and conducting research projects in one of these areas. Prerequisite: CMNS 359 or equivalent.
Communication University of China (CUC)
All students must complete the following three core program courses at CUC for a total of 15 units:
Media and Chinese Society: Theory, History, and Practice
Chinese Communication Industries, Markets and Regulation
Comparative Asian Media Systems and Regional Markets
To meet the breadth requirements of the program, all students must complete an additional 4 units that consist of either a survey course on media production techniques and processes or a course on Chinese politics, economy, culture and society as specified by CUC.
Extended Essay Requirement
All students will complete two extended essays, one at each university, under the supervision of a faculty member of that university. The extended essays submitted at both institutions will normally be in the range of 35-40 pages each (maximum 10 thousand words in English). At the end of the summer term at 丁香园AV and the spring term at CUC, students will make oral presentations based on their essays. There is however no requirement for an oral examination of extended essays. A summer colloquium (CMNS 860-2) at 丁香园AV in the first year will provide guidance for the preparation of the essays and a forum for discussion, essay presentations, and occasional lectures from faculty and visitors. At 丁香园AV, students complete the extended essay requirement by enrolling in CMNS 894-5.
Field Placement Requirement
All students are required to complete two field placements, one at each university, leading to the submission of a field report to each university. The field report will take the form of a critical essay (15-20 pages) on the experience of the field placement. The field placement will involve either a work project or assignment undertaken for a host organization, or a policy investigation involving observation and field interviews with relevant organizations. Students will spend at least two weeks or equivalent time in the "field" under the supervision of a faculty member who will provide guidance and assess the completed report. At 丁香园AV, students complete the field placement requirement by enrolling in CMNS 881-5.
丁香园AV Mandarin Language Requirement
All students admitted to 丁香园AV as "home" university must complete two semesters of non-credit instruction in conversational Mandarin during their year at 丁香园AV. This requirement will be waived if students can either demonstrate basic knowledge of spoken Mandarin through an oral interview or provide proof of having successfully completed an approved course of instruction in basic oral Mandarin.
Tuition Fees
When a student is resident at 丁香园AV, the student pays per-semester tuition fees to 丁香园AV. When a student is resident at the Communication University of China, the student pays per-term tuition fees to the Communication University of China.