A Media Education Foundation Sets the Base for Success

If you’re looking for a media education foundation that includes skills for basic communications, media knowledge, terminology and English language development for growth required to succeed in specialized programs and fields such as advertising, journalism or broadcasting and film, look no further than Centennial College’s Communications and Media Foundations program. In this offering, students who may lack the foundation or credentials needed to enter specialized programs, gain a solid knowledge base while examining issues of communicating in their role as global citizens. To apply for this communication program, students are required to have completed at minimum an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent, or mature applicant status (19 years or older). In addition, it should be noted that students must complete the Centennial College English skills assessment before registering for this program. A minimum score of 130 or 131 is required to begin.

Once accepted, students enter a media education foundation offering that serves to provide a pathway for pursing further post-secondary education in Centennial College’s three-year Advertising, Broadcasting and Film and three-year Journalism programs. This is achieved by teaching students a wide variety of skills that will be the base for their expertise. Among the skills students take away from this communication program are: creating and maintaining a forum in social media networks using rich media applications; applying theoretical principles to produce practical, focused written communications and media solutions; using appropriate vocabulary, terminology, basic numeracy and communicative strategies necessary in the communications and media environment; applying developed English language skills to a presentation portfolio; writing and presenting in basic narrative formats for a variety of media platforms; examining one’s roles and responsibilities as a global citizen in personal and professional life; examining beliefs, values and behaviours that form individual and community identities and the basis for respectful relationships; and applying knowledge of communications and media workplaces, environments and practices to develop one’s job search strategies and early career success strategies.

There are 13 specific media education foundation courses in which students participate during their time in the program. Among these communication program courses are: Introduction to Media, Success Skills, Developing Communications Portfolio Skills, Exploring Digital Culture as well as Essential English Skills (upgrades students’ language skills in reading, vocabulary acquisition, writing, speaking and listening to college level); Tools and Processes for Communicators (introduces students to the School of Communications environment, and teaches the use of many tools available to them in a systematic and intelligent way. They are made aware of the appropriate communications etiquette or code of conduct that is expected within the industry and beyond); Media Theory Workplace and Issues (introduces students to ideas and research that will help them understand the structure of Canada’s broadcasting industry and the issues and trends facing it); and more.

Once students have completed this one-year communication program, they receive an automatic acceptance into their media or communications program of choice.