Undergraduate
Communications
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- Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
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- Durham GTA
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- Paid Co-op Available
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- Fall & Winter & Summer
- Humanities & Social Sciences (Arts)
At a glance:
- Degree Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
- Campus Durham GTA
- Work Experience Paid Co-op Available
- Program is Offered Fall & Winter & Summer
- Study Options Part time/Full time
- OUAC Codes ROC - Durham GTA ROL - Durham GTA co-op
- Apply Now Stay in Touch
The Trent Advantage
Build your future in communications at Trent’s Durham GTA campus in this program featuring paid co-op, specialized career pathways and community-based projects that put your skills to work in a field that is integral to every industry.
Develop the communication skills employers value while discovering where your interests can take you. At Trent Durham GTA, you’ll learn alongside faculty experts in a supportive, close-knit community where you can explore your goals and shape your studies around them. Build practical skills in strategic communication, professional writing, digital storytelling, public speaking, research and project management, preparing you to communicate effectively across industries and career paths.
- Make your degree your own by specializing in Business Communication or Public Relations.
- Benefit from personalized learning in small classes, with dedicated faculty providing one-on-one support, providing more opportunities to participate, network and build confidence.
- Put your writing and communication skills into practice through paid co-op and a final-year capstone addressing a real-world communication question or strategy with a local business.
- Broaden your perspective beyond Communications by selecting courses in other areas of study, developing knowledge and skills you can draw on throughout your career.
Program Possibilites
Specialize your studies in Communications with a focus on a specific field within your degree
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Business Communication
With this practical specialization, you will develop the tools needed to effectively communicate messages across organizations and through multiple channels. Learn how to tailor your writing to your target audience, create strategies to effectively share ideas, and master the latest communications tools – skills highly sought after by all employers.
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Public Relations
Behind the scenes of most news are the media relations people who work with journalists to bring these stories to light. In this specialization, you will learn to keep your finger on the pulse of the media to pitch stories that help build brand credibility and reputation. Develop a critical eye towards what you see in the news as you discover a better understanding of how it’s created and consumed and develop the foundation for a successful career in media relations, agency work, and public relations.
Add an Option to your Communications degree to explore an additional area of interest
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Climate Communication
Leveraging Trent’s academic and research strengths in arts-based and environmental education, the Option in Climate Communication blends courses across disciplines to teach you a new storytelling approach that examines how to better understand media's effect on audiences’ morals, values, and behaviours. Equipped with this knowledge, this new offering at Trent University aims to use more effective climate change communications and environmental storytelling to foster a more sustainable and equitable world where our collective well-being is at the heart.
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Leadership
What does it mean to be a leader? How does one learn to lead? In this option you will learn all about the importance of building relationships and directing people to work together to achieve common goals and objectives. With opportunities to learn from Trent University’s Jarislowsky Chair in Trust and Political Leadership, and take courses from across disciplines, you will develop comprehensive perspectives on leadership and earn a formal designation that signals your leadership capacity to future employers.
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Marketing
Enhance your business acumen by gaining a basic understanding of core concepts and marketing principles in addition to learning the fundamentals of business, advertising, market research and beyond.
Career experience while you learn
Every Communications student has a guaranteed route to paid, credited experience before they graduate.
Paid Co-op Available
- Graduate with paid work experience completing three 12–16-week work terms in the summer of years two and three, and the fall of year four, all as part of your four-year degree.
- Work in fields such as media, public relations, social marketing, advertising, fundraising, business development, education, and public services.
Research Opportunities
- Put your research skills to work through a final year capstone project, investigating a communications question for an organization. Past projects include developing an electric vehicle strategy for the Municipality of Clarington.
- Take your research into the community, working with local partners to investigate communications questions and contribute to their projects and initiatives.
Field Schools and Hands-On Courses
- Spark your creativity through hands-on learning, with opportunities to produce podcasts, plan events, develop social media strategies, and explore other communication formats in courses such as Public Speaking and Events Management.
Study Abroad
- Take your Trent education global. Spend a semester or year studying at one of Trent’s 50+ international partner universities, participate in a summer field course, or gain international experience through a placement or internship.
- With opportunities in more than 35 countries, you can broaden your academic perspective, experience new cultures, and build skills that prepare you for a global career.
Placements
- Build experience for your future career through a 144-hour field placement, applying your communications skills in the workplace while making professional connections and preparing for job applications and interviews.
Internships
- Gain professional experience through a communications internship, with opportunities in areas such as public relations, marketing communications, social media and content creation, event coordination, copywriting and web content.
Career Paths
- Public Relations Specialist
- Communications Strategist
- Social Media Manager
- Publicist
- Event Planner
In Their Own Words
Completing my communications placement with the town of Whitby Mayor's Office was an incredibly valuable part of my experience at Trent. It gave me the chance to network with industry professionals beyond Trent and build strong connections in the workforce.
Carmen Tullio
Trent Durham GTA alum
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
- ENG4U with a minimum of 60%
| Admission Requirements | Recommended Admission Requirements | Estimated Admission Average | Co-op Admission Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| ENG4U | 70-75% | 80-85% |
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.
Tuition Estimate
Estimate your tuition, ancillary fees, and potential entrance scholarships based on your program, residency status, and academic average.
Tuition
Base Tuition Fee
$6,240.85
Ancillary Fees
Ancillary Fees (non-tuition costs supporting student services, such as athletics, campus safety, college fees, etc.)
$2,122.22
Total:
$ 8,363.07
* The tuition details and scholarships listed are for domestic students only. International applicants should contact the financial aid office directly for equivalent guidance.
Scholarships
If you’re a top scholar with an average of 80% or higher, you qualify to automatically receive an entrance scholarship to Trent. Scholars with 95% or higher? You earn free first-year tuition – no application required.
| Entrance Average | Maximum Scholarship Potential | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 95%+ | $18,241 | $6,241 first year Full Tuition + $4,000 x 3 years |
| 90-94.9% | $12,000 | $3,000 x 4 years |
| 85-89.9% | $8,000 | $2,000 x 4 years |
| 80-84.9% | $6,000 | $1,500 x 4 years |
* Available to Domestic students only. Based on 2026/27 tuition for a general arts and science program
Explore additional funding for domestic and international students
- Robert Paehlke Scholarship
- Vanhaverbeke Family Prize in Communication and Journalism