Communication and Culture
Examine the relationship between communication and culture in this joint 果酱视频-York University graduate program. Through interdisciplinary research and creative practice, you鈥檒l examine how media, politics and technology shape society. The MA pathway offers professional and research flexibility through creative projects or policy work, while the PhD builds advanced expertise in research and methods. You鈥檒l graduate ready to tackle complex questions and pursue careers in academia, policy or the creative industries.
Faculty
Yeates School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies
Department
Interdisciplinary
Format
MA: Full-time (2鈥�3 years)/Part-time (4鈥�5 years)
PhD: Full-time (4 years)
Delivery
In-person 鈥� Fall start
果酱视频鈥檚 downtown Toronto campus (with access to York University)
Applications
Fall 2026: Open for MA (domestic students)
Fall 2027: Open October 2026 through January 15, 2027
Program highlights
Globally ranked excellence
Earn an internationally recognized degree. 果酱视频 and York University both ranked among the top 250 institutions globally for Communication and Media Studies in the giving you international credibility and positioning you for competitive academic and industry opportunities.
Dual university advantage
Benefit from the extensive resource network of a joint program. Tap into the combined resources of both 果酱视频 and York University, including courses, research centres, media production facilities, specialized archival collections and a network of more than 100 affiliated graduate faculty.
Flexible pathways
Customize your MA across three streams鈥擬edia and Culture, Politics and Policy, or Technology in Practice鈥攁nd choose a Thesis, Major Research Paper (MRP) or creative Project-Paper. Explore research-creation by blending critical theory with creative practice at both the MA and PhD levels.
Career possibilities
- Academic and research roles in universities and postsecondary institutions
- Policy analysts and communication specialists in government and public sector organizations
- Senior media producers, digital strategists and content creators in cultural and creative industries
- Communication and strategy roles in NGOs, advocacy groups and professional services
MA pathways
- Continue the doctoral study in Communication and Culture or related fields, such as Media Studies, Cultural Studies, Sociology or Information Studies
- Pursue professional degrees in Law, Teaching or Public Policy
Doctoral pathways
- Pursue academic appointments in teaching and research careers as professors or lecturers in higher education institutions.
- Undertake specialized fellowships and residencies with cultural archives, think tanks or media production labs
果酱视频 PhD student investigates how AI-generated images are reshaping how we see reality
Communication and Culture PhD student Cody Rooney examines how rapidly evolving digital media environments are producing unstable, shifting images that blur the boundary between perception and simulation鈥攁nd how this transformation is fundamentally reshaping how visual meaning is created, circulated and understood in everyday life.
Read more: Rabbits, Ducks, and Deepfakes
The Communication and Culture graduate program welcomes applicants from diverse social sciences, humanities, media, business, cultural production and fine arts backgrounds, including mature applicants with experience as creative industry professionals or entrepreneurs.
Program specific requirements
Academic requirements:
- Four-year honours bachelor鈥檚 degree (or international equivalent) in social sciences, humanities, fine arts, media production, communication technology or related discipline that provides some familiarity with cultural or social theory
- Minimum grade average of B+ (or equivalent) in your last two years of coursework. Note: Admission is competitive and averages above the minimum may be required.
- Demonstrated strength in academic writing, and prior training in research or cultural production.
- Evidence of academic achievement and readiness for advanced interdisciplinary study in communication and culture.
Application requirements:
- Find your supervisor.
- Submit documents to Yeates School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, including a resume/CV, transcripts, two letters of recommendation and an English Language Proficiency test (if applicable).
Academic requirements:
- Completion of a master鈥檚 degree in communication and cultural studies (or a related discipline) with foundational training in social sciences, humanities, fine arts, media production or communication technology.
- Equivalent academic background of a four-year honours bachelor鈥檚 degree (or international equivalent) plus a master鈥檚 degree in a related field. Note: Applicants without this background may be advised to consider the MA program instead.
- Applicants without a background in communications and cultural studies may be required to take master鈥檚 level courses in one or both of these fields in addition to their other doctoral courses.
- Minimum grade average of B+ (or equivalent) in your previous two years of coursework. Note: Admission is competitive and averages above the minimum may be required.
- Evidence of a high level of achievement in master鈥檚-level writing, and either research or cultural production at the master鈥檚 level.
- Demonstrated capacity to undertake advanced, independent study in communication and cultural studies.
Application requirements:
- Find your supervisor.
- Submit documents to Yeates School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, including a resume/CV, transcripts, two letters of recommendation and an English Language Proficiency test (if applicable).
Additional requirements
- Statement of research interest
- Writing sample
- 搁别蝉耻尘茅/颁痴
- Two letters of reference
- All postsecondary transcripts
- Strong English language proficiency (see English language requirements for details)
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Curriculum overview
In this joint 果酱视频-York University graduate program, you鈥檒l follow an interdisciplinary curriculum structured around three core areas of study: Media and Culture, Politics and Policy, and Technology in Practice. Courses across these streams explore a range of contemporary topics, including digital media and social justice, global communication policy, media history, and the social implications of emerging technologies, such as AI.
Through this diverse course selection, you'll engage with critical theory and applied approaches, developing the analytical and research skills needed to navigate complex questions in communication and culture.
Course delivery
All courses run 36 hours per semester. Most are delivered in-person through on-site seminars at 果酱视频 and York University, supporting active discussion and close engagement with faculty and peers. Depending on the course, delivery may also include on-line, in-class or modular formats.
MA
Ideal for students who want to deepen their understanding of communication, culture and media through interdisciplinary study, combining critical theory with research or creative practice.
PhD
Idea for students with a master鈥檚 degree seeking to undertake advanced doctoral research in communications and cultural studies, with a focus on theory, method and original contributions to the field.
Faculty
Research and experiential learning
Master your way
Customize your Master of Art鈥檚 degree to meet your academic or professional goals through three distinct pathways, ranging from traditional research to creative production. Across every path, you鈥檒l receive one-on-one supervision from experts at both 果酱视频 and York, building a portfolio that appeals to both academic admissions committees and industry employers.
- Thesis: A deep dive into a specific research question. Ideal if you are planning to pursue a PhD or a career in formal research.
- Major Research Paper (MRP): A focused scholarly paper that allows for a broader exploration of a topic within a shorter timeframe. Perfect for professional development.
- Project-Paper: A unique 鈥渞esearch-creation鈥� option where you produce a creative work (film, digital media, exhibit) accompanied by an analytical paper.
Theory in practice
Take your work beyond academia. You will build practical skills through real-world opportunities that help you translate complex research into impactful careers across industry, government and the nonprofit sector.
- MA field placements: Gain real-world experience and professional networks with Toronto鈥檚 vibrant cultural and media organizations.
- Student-led conferences: Lead and participate in annual symposia like Future Communications, gaining experience in scholarly organization and knowledge mobilization.
- Research-creation: Apply combined creative and scholarly approaches to solve contemporary challenges in media, policy and cultural sectors.
Amplify your voice
Join a supportive, student-centred environment defined by a culture of dedicated mentorship. With access to more than 150 affiliated faculty members across two universities, you can curate a supervisor committee that reflects the full breadth of your interdisciplinary interests.
- Diverse supervisory pool: Access one-on-one supervision by one of one hundred supervisors across social sciences, humanities, and fine arts at both 果酱视频 and York University.
- Professional development: Receive active support for grant applications, conference presentations and publishing your work.
- Collaborative research: Take advantage of opportunities to work alongside faculty on high-impact projects through research assistantships in specialized labs.
- Interdisciplinary guidance: Benefit from a supervisory committee that reflects the breadth of your research, bridging different fields and methodologies.
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Tuition and fees
For detailed information, visit Graduate tuition and fees.
MA
Full time (domestic): $5,940.80
Full time (international): $29,006.15
Part time (domestic - Ontario): $3,380.35
PhD
Full time (domestic): $5,854.67
Full time (international): $27,156.15
Funding, scholarships and awards
We recognize that pursuing graduate studies is a financial investment, so we offer a range of funding opportunities to support your journey, including assistantships as well as scholarships, awards and fellowships.
Depending on your academic excellence and level of study, you may qualify for university fellowships up to $16,000, along with various program-specific development grants. High-level research is supported by provincial and national scholarships with annual values up to $40,000, totalling up to $120,000 over three years.
Domestic students who apply before the Priority of Consideration deadline are automatically considered for several entrance awards. Any awarded funding will be clearly outlined within your Offer of Admission.
Student showcase
鈥淸The $20,000 International Doctoral Research Award I received to support my research on the role of community radio in developing more inclusive environmental policies in the Amazon regions of Brazil, Colombia and Ecuador] will help ensure that my research is contributing to local change and not simply extracting information from local communities.鈥�
Lorenzo Vargas
Communication and Culture PhD student
International Doctoral Research Award recipient
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Frequently asked questions
No, you do not need to have a supervisor secured when you apply to the Communication and Culture program. However, you are encouraged to identify potential faculty matches in your Statement of Interest to demonstrate your fit with the program. The formal process of assigning a supervisor typically occurs after you begin your studies.
Funding structures differ significantly based on your residency status:
- Domestic students (full time): You are automatically considered for a funding package upon admission. This typically includes a combination of 果酱视频 Graduate Fellowships, internal scholarships and opportunities for Academic Assistantships (e.g., teaching assistant roles).
- International students: Funding is limited. International applicants should be prepared to self-fund their tuition and living expenses. However, all students are eligible to apply for competitive external awards such as the Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS).
- Employment: Many Communication and Culture students help offset costs through on-campus employment. Academic Assistantships typically involve up to 10 hours of work per week (to a maximum of 390 hours per academic cycle).
You apply to a 鈥渉ome鈥� university鈥攅ither 果酱视频 or York University鈥攚hich serves as your administrative base for fees, registration and your Communication and Culture degree.
At the same time, the program is fully integrated across both institutions:
- Shared resources: You have full access to libraries, facilities and student resources at both universities.
- Joint faculty: You may take courses and choose supervisors from a pool of over 100 affiliated faculty members across both institutions.
- Collaborative community: Academic and social activities (such as the Intersections | Cross-Section conference) are organized jointly, giving you access to a broader intellectual community than a traditional single-university program.
While some PhD graduates secure tenure-track positions, the Communication and Culture program is designed to bridge theory and practice. Its interdisciplinary structure allows you to specialize in areas such as Media and Culture, Politics and Policy, or Technology in Practice, preparing you for roles across the public, private and non-profit sectors.
- Field placements: MA students have the option to complete a field placement. Past placements include organizations such as the CBC, Deloitte, the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) and various government ministries.
- Diverse career paths: Alumni work in roles including policy analysis, social media strategy, creative direction, NGO consulting and user experience (UX) research.
- Professional development: Beyond coursework, you will develop the skills to translate complex research into practical, professional applications across a range of industries.
This depends on the degree you are pursuing. The Communication and Culture program offers some flexibility, particularly at the MA level.
- MA program flexibility: The Master鈥檚 program can be completed on a part-time basis, extending the typical timeline from two years to up to four. This allows you to continue working while progressing through your coursework and research.
- PhD program commitment: The doctoral program is typically offered on a full-time basis and is not designed to be combined with full-time employment.
- Course scheduling: Most Communication and Culture seminars are held during the day at either the downtown 果酱视频 or York University Keele campus. If you are working while studying part-time, you will need sufficient flexibility in your work schedule to attend classes.
Professor, Department of English
A leading scholar whose work sits at the intersection of visual culture, philosophy, and the digital humanities, Dr. Tschofen is focused on research that explores how different media鈥攆rom literature and cinema to new media鈥攕hape our understanding of the world. She is recognized for her commitment to research-creation and interdisciplinary scholarship.
Professor and Graduate Program Director
A critical communication scholar by training, Dr. Chen鈥檚 research areas include environmental communication, risk and crisis communication, social media, transcultural political economy and critical discourse analysis. He currently serves as business manager of the Canadian Journal of Communication and as vice-chair of the Environment, Science and Risk Communication Section at the International Association for Media and Communication Research.
Student research
- Switching the narrative: an exploration of Indigenous-made Films
Student: Tiana Osborne, MA (2023)
Supervisor: Ruth Green - Girls Gotta Give Sex and Relationship Advice: Post-Feminism, Intimacy, and Self-Governance in Podcast Culture
Student: Danielle Collado, MA (2020)
Supervisor: Susan Driver - Gender construction in Muslim Tween Stories: A Discourse of Intersectionality of Religious and Gender Representations
Student: Erni Suparti, MA (2019)
Supervisor: Natalie Coulter
Next Steps
Connect with a program administrator
Dr. Sibo Chen
Graduate Program Director
Email: sibo.chen@torontomu.ca
Graduate Program Administrator
Telephone: 416-979-5000, ext. 554837
Email: comcult@torontomu.ca
Disclaimer
While every effort is made to ensure accuracy on this site, in the event of a discrepancy, 果酱视频's current Graduate Calendar is the official reference.
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