On-Campus Model (12 month)

Program Structure

While both BA models share a similar curriculum and course selection, the BA in Professional Communication on-campus option combines years three and four in an accelerated twelve-month program that uses a ‘blended’ approach to instruction. Blended learning mixes conventional classroom lectures with tutorials, workshops, web-based learning, and other technologies. Students enrolled in the 12-month on-campus option will live in or near Victoria during their degree program. 

The twelve-month program is divided into two different kinds of experiences: the integrated short residency and capstone terms at the beginning and end of the program respectively; and the three ten-week terms in the middle of the program within which the majority of the courses are taken. Each of these—the two short and the three long terms—have their own character and demands. 

Preceding the residency, is a three-week pre-residency period where students become familiar with the texts, fellow students and faculty. Students can expect to do about 15-20 hours pre-work in total for all of the courses. Following the residency, there is a two-week post-residency period in which students expand upon the practical introduction. This two-week period allows them to practice skills while increasing their knowledge base. 

During the residency period students can expect to work hard. The normal classroom schedule is Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Team meetings, homework, and readings are done outside of these hours. In addition to the educational activities, there will be a number of planned recreational events. 

The short terms are intended as highly integrated experiences. The courses in each of these terms are normally planned to complement each other in such a way as to support a group presentation or a public presentation of what has been learned in the courses. For example, the residency term may feature a case study, derived from real-world data, about which students develop a group project and then present to their peers. The knowledge and skills from the three foundations courses—professional writing, public speaking and presentation, and communication theory—are employed in the preparation of the project.  

The longer terms are similar to full-time university or college terms that may have been completed elsewhere. Featuring four courses in 10 weeks, and with an additional week at the end of each term for exams, they are busy but less demanding than the residency and capstone seminars. The variety of learning methods used in the blended approach—in-class, online, and tutorial courses—means that students will not need to be on campus every day.