The Trent advantage
Get career-ready as you work alongside faculty experts who will equip you with the key skills needed in the careers of today: in communication, critical thinking, and writing.
Program Description
Communications at Trent Durham GTA is a program that emphasizes personal support and a strong sense of community, providing you with in-demand skills and a strong knowledge base. In this program you'll be empowered to identify your interests and goals as you experience opportunities to develop the skills and abilities required to pursue them.
You’ll gain breadth and depth of knowledge as you combine selections from the program with courses from other areas of study to develop a broad knowledge base. With experiential learning a key feature of this program, you’ll learn to apply your knowledge in the workplace to further develop your communication, critical thinking, and writing skills. The program culminates with a final-year capstone project where you’ll work in a group to help a local business with a communication question or strategy.
Distinguish your Communications degree at Trent by specializing in Business Communication or Public Relations. When you graduate, you’ll have an academic and work record that will stand out to employers in almost every industry.
Popular courses
- Becoming Digital
- Communication Theory
- Intro to Public Speaking
- Event Management: Crisis Communications
- Write in Time
- Workplace Communication
- Capstone Project Course
Program Details
- Where can I study?
- Durham GTA
- Paid Co-op Available
- Durham GTA
- Degrees offered
- Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
- Bachelor of Arts - Honours (B.A. Honours)
- Specialization
- Business Communication
- Public Relations
- How can I study?
- Part time/Full time
- When can I start?
- Fall
- Winter
- OUAC Codes
- ROC - Durham GTA
- ROL - Durham GTA Co-op
Paid Co-Op
Graduate with your degree and 12 months of paid work experience in as little as four years!
Trent's paid co-op is an opportunity for you to gain work-integrated experiential learning that will help you get a head start on your career. The Communications co-op assists graduating students in achieving a competitive edge while generating experience within a wide range of sectors.
Specifically, paid co-op gives you a chance to obtain 12 months of practical experience on the job, develop or enhance technical skills, explore career options, network with a variety of individuals and organizations, learn from mentors, enhance communication and presentation skills, and develop technical writing skills.
Traditionally there are three co-op work terms of paid employment, each four months long, 35 hours/week, giving students the opportunity to manage well-defined special projects at an organization. With the Communications co-op, students are encouraged to combine two work terms back-to-back creating an eight-month opportunity with one employer.
Co-opportunities
As a co-op student in Communications you can explore employment opportunities including:
- Content/Social Media
- Creation Copywriter/Technical Writer
- Marketing Support/Coordination
- Event Coordination/Planning
- Website Development/Web Content Creator
Career Experience While You Learn
Gain career experience while earning academic credit with guaranteed experiential learning during your program.
You don't have to wait until after you graduate to put your education to work. Every program includes experiential learning opportunities where you will get hands-on professional experience in your field of study.
Featured Experiences
- Graduate with 12 months of work experience (and income) through the four-year co-op stream, which features three full-time paid work terms as part of your degree, working in fields such as media, public relations, social marketing, advertising, fundraising, business development, education, and public services, to name a few
- Apply your skills to a real-world challenge through the final-year capstone project, designed to help you develop and refine crucial communications, team-building, and critical thinking skills, all while making a meaningful contribution to our community. Past projects have included developing an electric vehicle strategy for the Municipality of Clarington and working with the City of Oshawa to help the City’s cultural sector respond to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic
- Go beyond traditional assignments and explore your creativity producing podcasts, planning events, developing social media strategies, or exploring another communication format of your choosing
Opportunities
- Community Research Project
- Field Experience
- Paid Internships
- Study Abroad
- Volunteer Opportunities
Did you know?
Trent is #2 in Canada for Overall Reputation
Trent is #1 in Ontario for Highest Quality
95% of Trent Grads are Employed Within Two Years
Admissions
Whether you're graduating from an Ontario high school, looking to study in Canada, or training for a second career, Trent has clear pathways for students to apply and be admitted to study at either of our campuses.
Requirements
If you are coming straight from high school in Ontario or are a recent grad, the general admission requirements are:
- Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD)
- A minimum of six Grade 12 4U or 4M courses, including program specific prerequisites
- A minimum 70% overall final average
- ENG 4U with a minimum of 60%
Program requirements for admittance into co-op:
- A minimum 80% overall final average
Requirements
Students from across Canada can use their grades from their home province to apply to Trent.
Requirements
International students from outside Canada can apply based on the curriculum of their home country.
Requirements
Mature students can apply to Trent based on previous education and professional or volunteer experience.
Requirements
With many transfer agreements and flexible pathway options, Trent University makes it easy for students to make the most of the credits you have already earned.
Career Paths
A Trent degree opens doors to a rewarding and exciting future, as you use your newfound knowledge to launch your professional career.
Your Communications degree, along with guaranteed career experience while you learn, prepares you for many possible career paths in a wide range of industries, including:
- Public Relations Specialist
- Communications Strategist
- Social Media Manager
- Publicist
- Event Planner
Featured Career
Communications Specialist
Communications specialists analyse, develop and implement communication and promotion strategies and information programs, analyse advertising needs and develop appropriate advertising and marketing plans, publicize activities and events, and maintain media relations on behalf of businesses, governments and other organizations, and for performers, athletes, writers and other talented individuals.
They are employed by consulting firms, advertising agencies, corporations, associations, government, social agencies, museums, galleries, public interest groups, and cultural and other organizations, or they may be self-employed.
Did you know?
FULL TUITION FOR 95%+
If you’re a top scholar in Canada entering with 95% or higher you qualify for full first-year tuition!
Scholarships
At Trent University, we believe in rewarding academic excellence. That's why we have recently increased all of our renewable entrance scholarships.
Whether you are coming to Trent from within Canada or across the world, all students are automatically considered for entrance scholarships based on your academic achievement – no application required. Canadian students entering with an average of 95%+ earn full tuition. 80% or higher? You qualify for scholarships valued at over $18,000, with recipients of our most prestigious scholarships earning up to $30,000 over four years. International students are eligible for scholarships valued at up to $12,000 over four years, renewable annually throughout your degree.
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