CMNS 125
3 credits
Communicating Professionally to Academic and Workplace Audiences
Prerequisite(s): One of the following: (C+ or better in English Studies 12, English First Peoples 12, or English 12) or (CPT score of 48) or evidence of any test score or course grade listed under the Degree/diploma-level English language proficiency standards in the UFV academic calendar at
www.ufv.ca/calendar/current/General/EnglishProficiency.htm.
Corequisite(s): None
Pre- or corequisite(s): None
This course introduces the theory and practice of professional communications for academic and workplace audiences. Emphasis is on the communication process, and on direct, indirect, and persuasive messages and presentations. Research, citation/documentation styles, document design and electronic messaging are also studied and practiced.
Note: Students with credit for CMNS 155 cannot take this course for further credit.
CMNS 126
3 credits
Communicating Visually in Organizations
Prerequisite(s): None.
Corequisite(s): None.
Pre- or corequisite(s): None.
Introduces the fundamentals of visual communication including psychological and physiological image perception, psychology of color, and principles of effective composition applied to the context of organizational communication. Students will practice using these theoretical guidelines in hands-on projects involving photography, video, computer graphics, and interactive design.
CMNS 140
3 credits
Interpersonal Skills for the Workplace
Prerequisite(s): None.
Corequisite(s): None.
Pre- or corequisite(s): None.
Focuses on interpersonal communication primarily between two people and within small groups. Students reflect on how their own behaviours and responses affect others and use their knowledge of communication theories to analyze scenarios and case studies and to inform practical application of skills.
CMNS 145
3 credits
Technical Communications for Drafting
Prerequisite(s): Acceptance into Architectural Drafting Technician certificate.
Corequisite(s): None.
Pre- or corequisite(s): None.
Introduces general principles of effective written and oral communication for students enrolled in UFV's Architectural Drafting Technician certificate program. The focus is on commonly used reports (e.g., progress, field, site investigation), technical correspondence, and presentations.
CMNS 175
3 credits
Writing for the Internet
Prerequisite(s): One of the following: C+ or better in English 12, CPT score of 48, or evidence of any test score or course grade listed under the Degree/diploma-level English language proficiency standards in the UFV academic calendar at www.ufv.ca/calendar/current/General/EnglishProficiency.htm.
Corequisite(s): None.
Pre- or corequisite(s): None.
An introduction to the theory and practice of writing professionally for the Internet. Students will study the particular challenges posed by digital communication and explore approaches and technologies that make possible effective communication to a networked audience.
Note: Students will be required to participate in global social media environments.
CMNS 180
3 credits
Introduction to Intercultural Communication
Prerequisite(s): None.
Corequisite(s): None.
Pre- or corequisite(s): None.
Students explore theory and practice relating to cross-cultural knowledge, awareness, and understanding; investigate similarities and differences among their own and other worldviews and identities; practice verbal and non-verbal intercultural skills; and learn about the importance of self-reflexivity, flexibility, and mindfulness in their intercultural interactions.
CMNS 201
3 credits
Foundations of Journalism Practice
Prerequisite(s): One of the following: CMNS 125, CMNS 175, or ENGL 105.
Corequisite(s): None.
Pre- or corequisite(s): None.
Students learn about the fundamentals of news writing and reporting as demanded by newsrooms across different forms of media. The training requires practicing foundational journalism skills. Students explore a variety of skills such as interviewing, fact gathering, image selection and caption writing, headline and lead writing, news analysis, and routine newsroom operations.
Note: This course is offered as CMNS 201 and JRNL 201. Students may take only one of these for credit.
Note: Students with credit for CMNS 300/JRNL 300 cannot take this course for further credit.
CMNS 212
3 credits
Introduction to Media and Public Relations
Prerequisite(s): One of the following: CMNS 125, CMNS 145, CMNS 175, or ENGL 105.
Corequisite(s): None.
Pre- or corequisite(s): None.
Students tailor messages to a specific target audience in today’s complex media environment, through analysis, creativity, and development of skills. This course examines the public relations history, environment, and process, as well as the increasingly diverse publics, channels, and tools used in the field.
Note: This course is offered as CMNS 212 and MACS 212. Students may take only one of these for credit.
CMNS 235
3 credits
Public Speaking
Prerequisite(s): None
Corequisite(s): None.
Pre- or corequisite(s): None.
Students examine and practice the principles and psychology of effective speaking. Specific areas include informal presentations to small groups, formal presentations, meeting management, workshop facilitation using presentation aids, developing the voice, and improving body language.
Note: Instructors require 80% attendance for this course. Regular participation and attendance at meeting speaking dates are required.
CMNS 251
3 credits
Professional Report Writing
Prerequisite(s): One of CMNS 125, CMNS 145, CMNS 175, or ENGL 105.
Corequisite(s): None.
Pre- or corequisite(s): None.
Students engage in professional writing skills for producing short to mid-length reports common for career purposes. Students learn to analyze audience and context, engage in and present research in an effective and ethical manner, practice revising and editing skills, and use principles of effective document design to organize and display information.
CMNS 257
3 credits
Environment: Science and Communications
Prerequisite(s): (One of CMNS 125, CMNS 175, or ENGL 105) and (GEOG 103 or any 100-level lab science course).
Corequisite(s): None.
Pre- or corequisite(s): None.
Introduces students to the methods of scientific inquiry and the principles of effective communication in environmental science. Students will apply the scientific method to case studies of environmental issues to highlight challenges and possible solutions at local, regional, and national scales, while exploring the interface between science, politics, and popular perceptions. Students will also use research methods and digital tools to gather and share qualitative and quantitative data with various audiences, including stakeholder groups, other scientists, policy makers, and the general public.
Note: A field trip outside of class time may be required. Please refer to the department website for scheduling information.
Note: This course is offered as GEOG 257 and CMNS 257. Students may take only one of these for credit.
CMNS 280
3 credits
Team and Small Group Communication for the Workplace
Prerequisite(s): One of the following: CMNS 125, CMNS 175, CSM 108, or ENGL 105.
Corequisite(s): None.
Pre- or corequisite(s): None.
Students apply dimensions of group and team communication with a focus on experiential learning through practice. While learning about diversity and group cohesion, students work in teams/groups to execute oral and written tasks in face-to-face and virtual contexts. Course topics include group/team development, membership, leadership, mentorship, dynamics of collaboration, and communication strategies (verbal, nonverbal, and listening techniques).
CMNS 301
3 credits
Multimedia Journalism
Prerequisite(s): CMNS 201/JRNL 201 or CMNS 300/JRNL 300 (discontinued), and one of CMNS 126, VA 119, VA 160, VA 180, FILM 260, or GD 281.
Note: Students who have taken MACS 235 or ENGL 215, or have experience in journalistic writing, can request instructor approval.
Corequisite(s): None.
Pre- or corequisite(s): None.
Students will apply foundational skills of researching, interviewing, and writing to the three most common digital reporting formats – photography, videography and sound. The course emphasizes adapting the tools and capabilities of digital technologies to produce examples of professionally crafted journalistic storytelling.
This course is offered as CMNS 301 and JRNL 301. Students may take only one of these for credit.
CMNS 310
3 credits
Professional Communication Ethics
Prerequisite(s): 45 university-level credits including CMNS 251.
Corequisite(s): None.
Pre- or corequisite(s): None.
Students learn ethical and moral decision-making strategies and skills related to professional and workplace communications. They examine and apply ethical systems and concepts from a variety of social, cultural, and theoretical backgrounds to facilitate clear and consistent choices and actions.
Note: Field trips outside of class time may be required.
CMNS 311
3 credits
Investigative Reporting
Prerequisite(s): CMNS 201/JRNL 201.
Note: Students who have taken ENGL 215 or MACS 235, or who have experience in journalistic writing, can request instructor’s permission.
Corequisite(s): None.
Pre- or corequisite(s): None.
Provides students with skills they need to enhance their journalism practice. Using the storytelling techniques of award-winning journalism, students learn how to gather primary and secondary data from a variety of sources and analyze them using journalistic tools and computer-assisted reporting. Emphasis is on Fraser Valley-based fieldwork resulting in a semester-long, publication-quality investigative project of the student’s choosing.
CMNS 312
3 credits
Public Relations Campaigns
Prerequisite(s): One of the following: CMNS 201/JRNL 201, CMNS 212/MACS 212, CMNS 300/JRNL 300 (discontinued), CMNS 316, or CMNS 360.
Corequisite(s): None.
Pre- or corequisite(s): None.
Students explore how social, political, and commercial advancements often generate public relations campaigns that in turn spark further changes. The course gives students the opportunity to strategize and plan persuasive and creative campaigns designed to gain attention, and motivate targeted audiences to take action.
CMNS 316
3 credits
Communicating for Social Media
Prerequisite(s): 45 university-level credits including CMNS 251.
Corequisite(s): None.
Pre- or corequisite(s): None.
Students will learn strategic social media planning and writing. Students will integrate communication with organizational goals and external environments. This process includes conducting ethical research for social media audits, targeting online and intercultural audiences and their communication needs, selecting relevant content strategies for different social media platforms, and measuring the impacts of social media campaigns.
Note: Students will be required to participate in global social media environments.
CMNS 320
3 credits
Editing Principles and Applications
Prerequisite(s): 45 university-level credits including CMNS 251.
Corequisite(s): None.
Pre- or corequisite(s): None.
Students will examine the types, principles, and processes of editing in a variety of contexts: journalistic, academic, technical, and business. Paying particular attention to the practice of editing in the online environment, students will gain sufficient understanding and practice to work as independent editors of small, in-house publications or alongside established editors of larger publications.
CMNS 325
3 credits
Writing for the Sciences and Technologies
Prerequisite(s): 45 university-level credits, including one of the following: CMNS 125, CMNS 145, CMNS 155, CMNS 175, or ENGL 105.
Corequisite(s): None.
Pre- or corequisite(s): None.
An introduction to advanced principles and applications of written and oral communication for the sciences. Topics covered include the ethics of scientific communication, incorporating online tools in research and writing, defining audiences, designing documents, using visual aids, and preparing presentations.
CMNS 335
4 credits
Advanced Public Speaking
Prerequisite(s): One of the following: (45 university-level credits including one of CMNS 235 or CMNS 345) or (EDUC 410, 445, and 490).
Note: As of September 2025, prerequisites will change to 45 university-level credits including one of CMNS 235 or CMNS 345.
Corequisite(s): None
Pre- or corequisite(s): None
Students build advanced skills through public delivery of presentations and analysis of landmark and contemporary speeches. Students give presentations, develop workshops, manage meetings, practice rhetorical techniques, and demonstrate leadership skills.
CMNS 340
3 credits
Storytelling for Professional Applications
Prerequisite(s): One of the following: CMNS 335, CMNS 345/ADED 345, CMNS 445/ADED 445, or (CMNS 235 and 45 university-level credits).
Corequisite(s): None.
Pre- or corequisite(s): None.
Prepares students to apply storytelling and visual communication methods as a means of communicating to influence, motivate, or persuade in a professional context. The focus is on how to combine a great story with a strong visual presentation by incorporating both narrative writing and storytelling techniques, as well as introducing the use of graphic elements to enhance professional communications.
CMNS 345
4 credits
Instructional Skills for the Workplace
Prerequisite(s): 45 university-level credits including CMNS 251 and an additional 3 credits of CMNS.
Corequisite(s): None.
Pre- or corequisite(s): None.
Students design and teach lessons to diverse audiences in three domains (psychomotor, affective, cognitive) using a variety of media and strategies. Students prepare, deliver, and debrief three short mini-lessons using a variety of instructional practices, technologies, and evaluation techniques for conducting workplace training.
CMNS 351
3 credits
Formal Research Report Writing
Prerequisite(s): CMNS 251.
Corequisite(s): None.
Pre- or corequisite(s): None.
Students learn to produce an analytical, formal research document commonly used in business, industry, information technology, the arts, the natural and social sciences, and humanities. Students propose and manage a research project in their career field and practice research skills and methods and responsible documentation of sources.
CMNS 353
3 credits
Research in Organizations
Prerequisite(s): 45 university-level credits, including CMNS 251.
Corequisite(s): None
Pre- or corequisite(s): None
Students will learn theoretical approaches to communications in organizational research. They will identify primary and secondary data sources and conduct quantitative and qualitative analyses. They will examine how to document and apply research ethically in various organizational contexts for a variety of stakeholders and audiences. Students will not conduct primary research using human subjects but will create a research plan.
CMNS 360
3 credits
Advocacy Writing
Prerequisite(s): 45 university-level credits including one of the following: CMNS 125, CMNS 155, CMNS 175, CMNS 212, ENGL 105, or MACS 212. CMNS 251 or another second year CMNS course is recommended.
Corequisite(s): None.
Pre- or corequisite(s): None.
Students will practice advocacy writing at an advanced level. The course focuses on writing persuasive requests, advocacy planning, media planning, implementing strategy, and writing advocacy campaigns for social change. This course will address the writing skills connected to larger social and political issues.
Note: Students will be required to participate in global social media environments.
CMNS 375
3 credits
Print and Digital Document Design
Prerequisite(s): One of the following: CMNS 125, CMNS 145, CMNS 175, or ENGL 105.
Corequisite(s): None.
Pre- or corequisite(s): None.
Focuses on the social, cultural, and technological issues of print and digital publication design and distribution. Students apply their knowledge to a variety of documents including but not limited to brochures, newsletters, and interactive PDFs. Students collaborate on a project to build a marketing campaign package using several types of print and digital documents.
CMNS 380
3 credits
Communicating in the Cross-Generational Workplace
Prerequisite(s): 45 university-level credits including CMNS 251.
Corequisite(s): None
Pre- or corequisite(s): None
This course is designed to provide students with the skills needed to interact and communicate within a day-to-day workplace environment and build on the potential of a cross-generational workplace. Students will learn how to use a variety of communication strategies from various world views to effectively draw on the strengths of a cross-generational team, in a variety of Canadian workplace contexts.
CMNS 385
3 credits
Language as Persuasion; Communications Theory in Action
Prerequisite(s): 60 university-level credits, including one 200-level CMNS, ENGL, MACS, or PHIL course.
Corequisite(s): None
Pre- or corequisite(s): None
Students will analyze the ways language is persuasive in the world around them. Students are introduced to a variety of communications/rhetorical theories and will use them to analyze the means of persuasion in diverse contemporary contexts such as advertising, social media, graffiti, and social movements.
This course is offered as CMNS 385 and ENGL 385. Students may take only one of these for credit.
CMNS 390
3 credits
Designing User-friendly Guides, Manuals, and Instructions
Prerequisite(s): 45 university-level credits including CMNS 251.
Corequisite(s): None.
Pre- or corequisite(s): None.
Students will learn to create effective end-user documentation in print and online formats using digital tools and communication strategies. Students will gather information following ethical sourcing principles, structure manuals and instructions for a variety of purposes, and design documentation for the needs of the end-users. The course will also teach strategies for working in teams, especially through digital collaboration on writing projects.
CMNS 399
3 credits
Special Topics in Professional Communications
Prerequisite(s): 60 university-level credits including CMNS 251 and one CMNS course 300-level and above.
Corequisite(s): None.
Pre- or corequisite(s): None.
Examines in-depth a selected topic in communication that is not addressed in current course offerings. Students focus on the development and application of professional communication skills.
Note: This course will be offered under different letter designations (e.g. C-Z) representing different topics. This course may be repeated for credit provided the letter designation differs.
CMNS 412
4 credits
Communications Practicum
Prerequisite(s): 60 university-level credits, including nine credits of upper-level CMNS and department head permission.
Corequisite(s): None.
Pre- or corequisite(s): None.
Supervised practical applied experience in community and public relations or professional writing and speaking. Students will have an opportunity to practice skills gained in prerequisite courses and will receive feedback about their competencies from both the instructor and practicum supervisor.
CMNS 420
4 credits
Virtual Team Communication
Prerequisite(s): 60 university-level credits including one of the following: CMNS 235, CMNS 251, or CMNS 280.
Corequisite(s): None
Pre- or corequisite(s): None
Virtual teams are used globally to communicate across boundaries, time zones, technologies, cultures, disciplines, and professional contexts. This course blends face-to-face instruction with virtual learning to connect students with the specialized strategies, technologies, tools, and methods to facilitate virtual teams.
Note: Students will be required to participate in global social media environments.
CMNS 430
3 credits
Communication for Project Management
Prerequisite(s): 60 university-level credits including CMNS 251.
Corequisite(s): None
Pre- or corequisite(s): None
This course prepares students to communicate as collaborative, effective, and efficient project team leaders and participants. Students will be introduced to a variety of project management documents and team roles, and will learn written, oral, and interpersonal communication strategies that enhance project success and team experience.
CMNS 445
4 credits
Facilitation Skills for the Workplace
Prerequisite(s): CMNS 345, or 60 university-level credits including one of CMNS 140, CMNS 180, CMNS 235, or CMNS 280.
Corequisite(s): None.
Pre- or corequisite(s): None.
Students will develop and apply approaches to facilitation for diverse group situations and workplace learning communities. Students will develop core competencies for managing learners, teams, groups, and committees. As facilitators, students will exemplify or display skills, guide discussions, and encourage the group to reach conclusions.
CMNS 465
3 credits
Grant and Proposal Writing
Prerequisite(s): 60 university-level credits including one of CMNS 212, CMNS 251, or CMNS 312.
Corequisite(s): None.
Pre- or corequisite(s): None.
Students will make a persuasive case in grants, proposals, letters of intent, and cover letters. Students will write and design a persuasive case document, research potential donors, prepare a budget, and articulate the ethical dimensions of grants management.
Note: Students will be required to participate in global social media environments.
Note: Students with credit for CMNS 365 cannot take this course for further credit.
CMNS 480
3 credits
Crisis Communication
Prerequisite(s): 60 university-level credits, including six credits of lower-level and three credits of upper-level MACs and/or CMNS.
Corequisite(s): None
Pre- or corequisite(s): None
Canadian and international examples are used to explore how to (and how not to) deal with crises and serious challenges to public safety. To do so, this course draws on both theoretical and practical approaches to communicating strategically with diverse audiences in crises.
Note: This course is offered as CMNS 480 and MACS 480. Students may take only one of these for credit.
CMNS 490
4 credits
Directed Studies in Communications
Prerequisite(s): 60 university-level credits including nine credits of upper-level CMNS and department head permission.
Corequisite(s): None.
Pre- or corequisite(s): None.
Students independently identify a communications issue, theme, or problem and work with a faculty supervisor to produce a substantial research project.
CMNS 499
3 credits
Special Topics in Journalism Practice
Prerequisite(s): 60 university-level credits including CMNS 201 and CMNS 251.
Corequisite(s): None.
Pre- or corequisite(s): None.
Offers students the chance to explore elements of journalistic practice or particular types of beat reporting. Topics might include data journalism, broadcast journalism, photojournalism, reporting diversity, political reporting, or advocacy journalism.
Note: This course will be offered under different letter designations (e.g. C-Z) representing different topics. This course may be repeated for credit provided the letter designation differs.
