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School of Communication
K9673Shrum Science Centre, 778.782.3595 Tel, 778.782.4024 Fax, , gradcmns@sfu.ca
Director
M. Laba BA (York, Can), MA, PhD (Nfld)
Graduate Program Chair
J. Marontate BA (York, Can), MSc, PhD (Montr)
Faculty and Areas of Research
For a complete list of faculty, see “School of Computing Science” on page 76.
P.S. Anderson – telecommunication and broadcasting policy; communication technology; communication to mitigate disasters/emergency communications
R.S. Anderson – international development; negotiation and dialogue in conflict and intervention; community economic development
E. Balka – politics, design, implementation and use of health information technologies; women and information technologies; technology assessment; participatory design of technology; information technology and work; technology and social movements; technology and occupational health
A.C.M. Beale – Canadian and global cultural policy; feminist political economy of communication; history of communication thought; film and video
P. Chow-White – new media and technology; race; culture; information society; genomics
K.A. Cross – critical communication theory; political communication; news and democracy; elections and campaigns; ideology and discourse; political economy; cultural studies; strategic communications for social and development movements; global news trends
Z. Druick – documentary film; film history and theory; technology and popular culture; narrative, semiotic and aesthetic theory; critical social and cultural theory
A.L. Feenberg – critical theory of technology; technology studies; Marcuse and the Frankfurt School; Heidegger; online community; online education; software development for online discussion forums
R.S. Gruneau – popular culture and media; communications and cultural theory
S. Gunster – advertising and consumer culture; critical cultural theory; political discourse; environmental communication
R.A. Hackett – political communication; journalism and media studies; news and ideologies; media and social movements
L.M. Harasim – computer mediated communication and collaboration; telelearning and telework; social network design and evaluation
D.Y. Jin – political economy of culture and media; telecom policy and industry; globalization; Asia media and culture; new media
S. Kline – advertising; children’s media and culture; audience research; public communication campaigns; non-broadcast video designs and uses
M. Laba – media analysis; popular culture; social issues communication; social advertising
B.S. Lewis – film and video studies, comparative broadcast and film policy
R.M. Lorimer – publishing; mass communication
J. Marontate – technology and culture; art worlds; science studies; innovation; cultural heritage; interdisciplinary networks and critical theory
K. McAllister – cultural studies and visual culture; memory and trauma studies; racialization; (post) colonialism, refugee studies; Asian Canadian studies; photography; memorials; fieldwork
G. McCarron – history and theory of communication; history and theory of rhetoric; discourse analysis; film studies; advertising; cultural theory
D.C. Murphy – media production: documentary and advocacy video production; sound design; video post-production processes (motion graphics, compositing, keying and aesthetic design); media production as a pedagogical process; social implications of media. Educational design: interactive pedagogical media, web-based interfaces; media production facility design.
C.A. Murray – cultural participation and creative labor; cultural infrastructure and creative cities; cultural industries and broadcast policy; communication rights and global trade; research design in policy evaluation
S. Poyntz – children, media and digital culture; history of media literacy; theories of the public sphere; film and historical representation
R.K. Smith – management of technological change
B.D. Truax – acoustic and electroacoustic communication; soundscape studies; audio aspects of media and advertising; electroacoustic and computer music
Y. Zhao – political economy of international communication; relationship between communication, development and democracy in transitional societies; media and information industries in China
Adjunct Faculty
S. Braham – communications/computing systems, planetary explorations, space communications
N. Duxbury – Canadian cultural planning and policy-making; cultural indicators; cultural infrastructure
J.A.D. Holbrook – science, technology and regional innovation systems; evaluation of research networks; return on investment in research and innovation
Communication is a comparatively new discipline that builds on traditional social science disciplines. It focuses on analysis of the context and means in which information in its diverse forms is created, packaged, circulated, interpreted, and controlled. As an applied science, communication is important in the creation and critical evaluation of legal and public policies in broadcasting, telecommunications, and community and international development. The study of communication has also become prominent in the professions, notably in law, education, community medicine, counselling, and mental health, and in business administration, and broadcasting.
The school draws on a variety of perspectives, but it is most readily distinguished by the fact that it treats communication as a humanistic social science with both theoretical and applied dimensions. Students explore communication theory and practice and are encouraged to apply research and theory to issues and problems in contemporary societies and cultures.
The school offers graduate programs leading to an MA degree or PhD degree.
Fields of Study and Research
Faculty resources provide for graduate studies in the following general areas of interest. Students may wish to specialize in one or more of these general areas, or to select related aspects from two or more.
• theoretical foundations in communication studies
• communication in history
• broadcasting and telecommunication regulation, policy and practice
• communication, development and environment
• the information society/economy
• computer mediated networks and virtual environments
• publishing
• international communication, inter-cultural communication
• science and technology policy, technology-transfer, communication of science
• media and cultural studies
• cultural policy and cultural politics
• acoustic environments and communication
• management of technology
• telework, telelearning, distance education
• political communication
• communication in conflict and intervention
• crisis/emergency communication
Research and Training Facilities
Assessment of Technology in Context Design Laboratory
Graduate Resource Centre
Interactive Media Lab (network and multimedia studies)
Media Analysis Laboratory
Sonic Research Studio and Soundscape Archives
Telematics Laboratory
Admission Requirements
Admission requires a bachelor’s degree in communication (with at least a good second-class standing) or an equivalent degree in an interdisciplinary or humanities program, in one of the social sciences, or in socially oriented information systems, or biological sciences. However, qualified students will be accepted only if the communication graduate studies committee finds a suitable senior supervisor. Besides applications from communication students, the school encourages applications from those with experience in humanities, social or biological sciences, and interdisciplinary studies.
All applications should be directed to the graduate studies committee and, in addition to general university requirements, should include the following.
• an online application along with the application fee
• all official post-secondary transcripts
• a three to five page succinct statement of interests and goals, together with an account of relevant academic and personal background
• two samples of scholarly and/or other written work relevant to the applicant’s objectives and any tapes, films, etc. the applicant considers relevant
• three references, at least two of whom should be familiar with the applicant’s academic work.
The application deadline is December 15. The committee announces decisions before the last week of April. Students enter the program in fall term.
The school recognizes working individuals’ special needs. The graduate program is approved for part-time students but University regulations require all MA students to complete studies within 12 full-time equivalent terms or six years, whichever is shorter.
As a condition of entry into the program, students with undergraduate degrees in disciplines other than communication may be required to complete up to two additional courses to complete their MA. These conditions, if applicable, will be specified in the letter of offer as determined by the admissions committee on an individual basis.
Advising and Supervision
Each new student is assigned an interim advisor upon program admission. The student selects a senior supervisor and, in consultation with this faculty member, selects one or two other faculty to serve on a supervisory committee by the beginning of the student’s third term. Although the graduate studies committee (GSC) will endeavor to provide interim advisors with expertise in the student’s stated area of research interest, there is no obligation to select the interim advisor as senior supervisor.
Degree Requirements
The program may be completed through extended essay, or project or thesis. Each is equivalent. Each requires the completion of the same number of courses, is research based and is subject to external examination. Students determine which option is suitable for their research in consultation with their senior supervisor and supervisory committee.
The thesis represents a longer form of research and is normally between 80 to 100 pages, inclusive of all bibliographies and appendices.
The extended essays requires completion of two essays of not more than 40 pages, which may be on related fields, but which may not substantively duplicate papers presented in course work.
A student may present an alternative format such as a CD-ROM, website, video or audio documentary, on-line software development, or other technologically based formats. All projects need to be documented in a written form, not to exceed 40 pages, and be determined in consultation with the senior supervisor. This documentation should include the rationale behind the project, a description of the research undertaken, as well as a description and evaluation of the project itself.
All thesis and essay options will be deposited in the University library. Procedures for the supervision and examination of extended essays and projects are the same as those for theses:
All master’s students present, discuss and defend their MA thesis, project and essay options in an exam before their supervisory committee and external examiner as required by graduate regulation 1.9.
Extensive guidelines for each option are found on the School of Communication’s graduate website:
Supervision: a supervisory committee should be approved by the graduate studies committee at the beginning of the third term.
Formal review: graduate degree candidates will have an annual formal review of their academic progress by the graduate studies committee.
Graduate courses are in six groups. Group 1 contains survey courses that define and map the field and expose students to faculty interests and research programs. Group 2 contains research methods and methodology courses that help with research projects. Group 3 contains the school’s various research area courses. In group 4 courses, students complete field work, or work and study in a professional setting. In group 5 courses, students perform research and/or reading under faculty member supervision. Group 6 refers to the course designations for work on theses, projects, extended essays, or dissertations in process, for colloquia where students present such work, and for comprehensive examinations.
Course Requirements
At least four graduate courses (normally completed before beginning a thesis, a project, or two extended essays) which must include the following, unless otherwise stipulated as a condition for admission:
• one course from group 1
• one course from group 2
• two additional courses, at least one of which is selected from within the school. No more than one may be completed with the same instructor, except by permission of the graduate studies committee.
Group 1 Courses: Surveys of History and Theory
CMNS 800, 802, 804
Group 2 Courses: Research Design and Methods
CMNS 801, 805
Group 3 Courses: Research Area Courses
CMNS 815, 830, 840, 845, 855, 856, 857, 858, 859
Group 4 Courses: Research Internship and Fieldwork
CMNS 881, 882
Group 5 Courses: Directed Readings and Studies
CMNS 850, 851, 880
Group 6 Courses: Colloquia and Theses
CMNS 860, 898
The co-operative education program combines professional work experience with academic studies. After the first two terms of the program, students may alternate work and academic terms. All work positions are in paid study related jobs and may lead to the communications project or extended essay in lieu of a master’s thesis. Application for the co-op program is made through the school’s co-op co-ordinator and the co-operative education office.
The school will offer PhD students the opportunity to choose from the fields of study and research listed above under Faculty and Areas of Research and Fields of Study and Research.
Admission Requirements
Admission requirements will normally include a master’s degree or an exceptional record of undergraduate and/or graduate work in a relevant area of study. Enrolment is strictly limited.
For general university admission requirements, see “Graduate General Regulations” on page 219. In addition, applicants are asked to provide
• an online application along with the application fee.
• a two to three page succinct account of their past academic experience, which would include scholarly work, research accomplished or in progress, relevant teaching experience and degree of responsibility for course content
• samples of scholarly writing, research reports, or other material
• three references (at least two of whom should be familiar with the applicant’s academic work)
• a brief outline of the applicant’s research objectives, with representative bibliographical references and other source material, where applicable, including a statement of interest with an explanation or account of how they see their research objectives fitting in with the School of Communication and potential supervisors.
The application deadline is December 15. The committee announces its decisions before the last week of April. Students enter in the fall term.
Degree Requirements
Doctoral candidates complete course work, comprehensive exams, a dissertation proposal, and submit a dissertation which demonstrates an original contribution to the field of communication. Candidates normally satisfy the following requirements.
Course Work
Students complete a minimum of nine graduate courses for those with a bachelor’s degree (including CMNS 860), or five graduate courses for those with a master’s degree. The graduate studies committee may require additional courses depending on the student’s background and dissertation project. These courses are normally completed before completing the comprehensive examinations, or beginning a dissertation, and will include the following:
• two courses from group 1
• one course from group 2
• a minimum of two additional five-unit courses for those entering with a master’s degree, at least one of which is selected from within the school, and may include other courses from groups 1 and 2. A minimum of six additional courses is required of PhD students without a master’s degree. A minimum of four of these must be completed from the school’s course offerings. For all students, a maximum of two courses may be completed from groups 4 and 5. No more than two of group 4 or 5 may be completed with the same instructor, except with graduate studies committee permission.
• students will be required by the communication graduate studies committee to demonstrate adequate command of any language essential to the completion of their dissertations
Group 1 Courses: Surveys of History and Theory
CMNS 800, 802, 804
Group 2 Courses: Research Design and Methods
CMNS 801, 805
Group 3 Courses: Research Area Courses
CMNS 815, 830, 840, 845, 855, 856, 857, 858, 859
Group 4 Courses: Research Internship and Fieldwork
CMNS 881, 882
Group 5 Courses: Directed Readings and Studies
CMNS 850, 851, 880
Group 6 Courses: Colloquia, Theses and Comprehensives
CMNS 860, 895, 899
The Comprehensive Examination
In consultation with their supervisory committee, students must apply to complete the comprehensive examination following completion of required course work and normally no later than the sixth term. Upon passing, the student is admitted to full degree candidacy. The examination may be retaken once.
To prepare for the comprehensive exam, students select and design two comprehensive fields which may be related to the dissertation topic itself or carve out an area of potential teaching competence. At least one examination shall survey a range of theoretical or methodological frameworks within the study of communication to meet a breath requirement.
The student submits definition papers, including bibliography, on each of the fields in preparation for both a written and oral examination.
Dissertation Proposal
Students enrol in CMNS 899 in the term immediately following completion of the comprehensives, and will present a full dissertation proposal to their supervisory committee. Specific comprehensive examinations and dissertation proposal guidelines are available from the graduate program co-ordinator.
An Original Dissertation
PhD students complete a doctoral dissertation that demonstrates an ability to make an original contribution to the field of communication.
Advising and Supervision
Students are advised to read section 6 of the General Regulations and the school’s Guidelines for Supervisory Committees.
Upon admission, students are assigned an interim advisor. The student selects a senior supervisor and, in consultation, selects two or three other faculty for a supervisory committee by the beginning of the third term. Although the graduate studies committee endeavors to select interim advisors with expertise in the student’s research area, there is no obligation to choose the interim advisor to be senior supervisor.
Students have the right to discuss their programs and status with the graduate program chair, to ask for a review of any recommendation or grade, and to appeal committee, supervisor or faculty decisions.
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