Please note:
To view the Spring 2024 Academic Calendar, go to www.sfu.ca/students/calendar/2024/spring.html.
Global Communication Double Degree
This award-winning two-year double degree program, jointly developed by Simon Fraser University (SFU) and the Communication University of China (CUC), offers students the opportunity to acquire two graduate degrees from two outstanding communication programs. Graduates will receive a master of arts (MA) degree from SFU, and a master of arts (MA) degree from CUC in Beijing. All students will spend their first academic year at SFU and the second academic year at CUC, during the standard academic terms of each institution.
The language of instruction in this program at both SFU and CUC is English. A Chinese language background is not required for admission to the program.
According to Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China (PRC), passport holders of PRC, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan are required to pass the CUC's national graduate entrance exam and to become a CUC regular graduate student before applying to this program through CUC as the home university.
Admission Requirements
Students will apply directly to the program through an admissions committee at SFU chaired by the GCMA 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 Simon Fraser University are called SFU 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, SFU 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 CUC standard admission requirements Grade 8 Mandarin requirement and national and local entrance exams will be waived for SFU students.
For specific admission requirements and timeline, see program website.
Program Requirements
Students must complete 30 units at SFU and 38 units at CUC (SFU and CUC units are not equivalent).
At SFU students must complete
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" – are analyzed in relation to enduring patterns and emerging dynamics in global communications.
and one of the courses from Group 1, 2 or 3
and all of
Examines communicative responses to transforming global communications systems and shifting structures of global economic and cultural power. Considers how communicators and producers of knowledge and culture interact with and produce these systems and structures and the implications of these processes for social justice. Note: Priority will be given to students enrolled in Global Communication Double MA Degree program. Students with credit for CMNS 858 (Special Topics: CMNS & Global Social Justice) in Spring 2014 & Spring 2015 may not take this course for further credit.
Development of capstone topic and question choice, theory, method, audience, research ethics, writing and presenting. Students share emerging drafts of extended essay for critical review by course supervisor and fellow students. Enrollment restricted to Global Communication Graduate Double Degree Program MA students. Graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis.
MA Extended Essay (for SFU-CUC double degree students). Graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis.
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 current debates in media and cultural studies, including hegemony, biopower, affect, subjectivity, cultures of capitalism and cultures of resistance.
The governance of communication and culture in Canada and globally. Issues in and approaches to communication and cultural policies as a field of international scholarly inquiry in cultural and communication studies.
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.
Specialized one-time graduate course offerings on topics related to the current research of school faculty of visiting professors.
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.
Program Length
Students are expected to complete the entire program at both institution within six SFU terms or two years.
Other Information
Areas of Study
At SFU: 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.
SFU Transfer
Only under extraordinary circumstances, and with the approval of the SFU Communication Graduate Studies Committee, can a student admitted by SFU to the GCMA Program be considered to transfer to the SFU MA Communication Program.
Supervisory Committee
Each student will be supervised by a supervisory committee consisting of a supervisor from either university and at least one faculty member from the other university.
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 SFU and the spring term at CUC, students will make oral presentations based on their essays. There is no requirement for an oral examination of extended essays. A summer colloquium (CMNS 860) at SFU 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 SFU, students complete the extended essay requirement by enrolling in CMNS 894. Extended essay completed at SFU is examined by two readers and is required to be submitted to the library upon completion.
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 SFU, students complete the field placement requirement by enrolling in CMNS 881.
SFU Mandarin Language Requirement
All students admitted to SFU as “home” university must complete two terms of non-credit instruction in conversational Mandarin during their year at SFU. 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.
Academic Requirements within the Graduate General Regulations
All graduate students must satisfy the academic requirements that are specified in the Graduate General Regulations, as well as the specific requirements for the program in which they are enrolled.