Communication Major

QUICK FACTS

• Credential: Bachelor of Arts
• Duration: 4 years
• Options: Major
• Start date: September
• Location: Abbotsford campus
• Cost: Fees and costs

FEATURES

• Practicum provides work experience and industry contacts.
• Co-op semester(s) provide paid work experience in your field of study.
• Intercultural communication course develops skills in relating to diverse peoples.
• Courses include a focus on Indigenous communication methods and ways of knowing.
• Program eligible for financial aid.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Employers across disciplines and industries in British Columbia and Canada emphasize the importance of communication skills. In an era dominated by technology and information, the ability to convey messages through various media is indispensable. Whether it be through emails, presentations, articles, or marketing materials, effective communication is crucial to engage the intended audience.

The Communication major at the University of the Fraser Valley is designed to provide a comprehensive foundation in both theoretical and practical aspects of communication. Students engage in a practicum, co-op placement, or a project management course, which helps develop job-ready skills. The program also allows for specialization in courses aligned with individual interests, paving the way for careers such as social media manager, advertising copywriter, public relations manager, technical writer, and more.

DECLARATION OF MAJOR

Students may formally declare a Communication major after completing at least thirty credits in their program with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00. It is also necessary to meet the declaration requirements specific to the subject discipline, and students are encouraged to consult an advisor when declaring their major.

CAREER EXPECTATIONS

What do communication professionals do?

Communication professionals are tasked with the creation and dissemination of messages within or between individuals, organizations, and the public. They play a crucial role in delivering ideas to varied audiences, whether in a private or public context.

What industries/fields require communication professionals?

Communication roles are essential in organizations that interact with the public or clients, including sectors such as corporate management, governmental management, policy production, and non-profit organizations. Professionals in corporate and organizational communication facilitate internal messaging across departments.

What does a communication career involve?

Those in communication shape both the public and internal narratives of organizations across various platforms, which may include written content, web design, audiovisual materials, and public engagement.

ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS

Composition Placement Test (CPT)

The CPT, an assessment designed to evaluate writing and grammar skills, may fulfill the prerequisite for many UFV courses in place of English 12. More information is available through Assessment Services.

OTHER ADMISSION CATEGORIES

This program welcomes applications from international students.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Graduates of the Communication major are expected to achieve the following learning outcomes:

1. Demonstrate proficiency in creating professional communication materials that leverage a diverse array of media to serve specific goals and audiences.
2. Apply effective communication skills within interpersonal, team, organizational, and culturally diverse settings.
3. Engage in, interpret, and report on research.
4. Employ industry-standard document design techniques across various workplace contexts.
5. Apply rhetorical principles to the construction of oral, print, visual, and digital communication.
6. Collaborate effectively with peers and mentors in community-based work-integrated learning settings.
7. Utilize visual communication principles to create targeted visual content with diverse technological tools.
8. Strategically respond to changing and dynamic communication scenarios in industry and community contexts.
9. Uphold ethical standards of accuracy, credibility, fairness, transparency, accountability, and personal integrity in all communication practices.
10. Establish relationships within communities and businesses locally through experiential learning.

The University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) is a fully accredited, public university located in the beautiful Fraser Valley of British Columbia, Canada, just east of Vancouver. Enrolling approximately 15,000 students per year across campuses in Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Mission and Hope, as well as a growing presence in Chandigarh, India, UFV is a comprehensive university that combines the variety of a large institution with the small class sizes and personal connections of a community-focused one. Students come to UFV to learn in a hands-on environment where they know their instructors and are known in return.

UFV is situated in the traditional territory of the Stó:lō peoples. The Stó:lō have an intrinsic relationship with what they refer to as S'olh Téméxw (Our Sacred Land), and UFV expresses its gratitude and respect for the honour of living and working in this territory.

Changemaking

At UFV, changemaking is not a slogan; it is the organizing principle of the university's identity. As a designated Ashoka U Changemaker Campus, UFV prepares students to lead collaboratively, think critically and contribute to stronger communities through innovation, reciprocity and a shared commitment to positive social change. Changemaking at UFV means turning knowledge into action, connecting learning to the real challenges facing communities in the Fraser Valley, British Columbia and the world beyond.

Academic structure

UFV is organized across six colleges, faculties and a school:

• College of Arts
• Faculty of Education, Community, and Human Development
• Faculty of Applied and Technical Studies
• Faculty of Health Sciences
• Faculty of Business and Computing
• Faculty of Science
• School of Graduate Studies

Programs

UFV offers more than 100 programs across academic, vocational, continuing education and trades pathways, including three master's degrees, 21 bachelor's degrees with majors, minors and extended minors in more than 35 subject areas, four graduate certificates, and more than a dozen trades and technology programs. Programs are available across a wide range of disciplines:

• Arts, humanities and social sciences: Bachelor of Arts in History, English, Philosophy, Communications, Political Science, Indigenous Studies, Global Development Studies, Latin American Studies, Peace and Conflict Studies, and more
• Business and management: Bachelor of Business Administration, Business Administration Diploma and Certificate, Agriculture Management BBA, Trades Management BBA, Accounting Certificate, Marketing and Sales Certificate
• Computing and technology: Computing Science BSc, Computer Information Systems (Bachelor, Diploma, Certificate), Automation and Robotics Technician Diploma, Engineering Physics Mechatronics Diploma, Engineering Common Core Certificate
• Creative arts and design: Bachelor of Fine Arts, Graphic and Digital Design BFA and Diploma, Creative Writing BA and BFA.
• Education: Bachelor of Education, Adult Education Degree, Early Childhood Education Certificate and Diploma, TESL Certificate, Master of Education (Educational Leadership and Mentorship)
• Health sciences: Nursing BSc, Practical Nursing Diploma, Certified Dental Assistant Certificate, Child Life and Community Health Graduate Certificate
• Social work and human services: Bachelor of Social Work, Master of Social Work, Child and Youth Care BA, Social Service Worker Diploma (Indigenous Focus)
• Trades: Carpentry, Electrician, Plumbing and Piping, Welding, Automotive Service, Automotive Collision Repair, Cabinetmaking, Heavy Mechanical Trades Foundation, Electronics Technician, and Culinary Arts Certificates
• Indigenous studies: Indigenous Studies BA, Stó:lō Studies Certificate, Social Service Worker (Indigenous Focus) Diploma
• Upgrading and access: Adult Basic Education, English Language Studies, Workplace TASK for adults with disabilities

Campuses

• Abbotsford (main campus): 33844 King Road, Abbotsford, BC, V2S 7M8 — the largest campus, home to the majority of UFV's faculties, research institutes, library, athletics facilities, housing and student services
• Chilliwack: a full-service campus offering a wide range of programs in the eastern Fraser Valley
• Mission: delivering programs and services for Mission-area students
• Hope: outreach and programming for the Hope community
• Chandigarh, India (UFV India): UFV's international campus, extending the university's reach to South Asia

Sustainability

UFV has achieved a Gold sustainability rating from AASHE (the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education), recognising its performance across environmental, social, and governance sustainability dimensions. Sustainability is embedded across campus operations, curriculum and community engagement, and UFV's Peace and Reconciliation Centre has earned international recognition for its work in restorative justice and reconciliation.

Open education

UFV is a leader in open education in British Columbia, committed to making learning more affordable and accessible through open textbooks, open educational resources and flexible learning models. Students who take courses using open textbooks save significantly on the cost of materials, reflecting UFV's belief that quality education should be accessible to everyone regardless of financial means.

Indigenous UFV

Indigenous affairs and reconciliation are woven through UFV's institutional identity. The Indigenous Affairs office, the Indigenous Student Centre, and dedicated programs in Indigenous Studies and Stó:lō Studies reflect a deep commitment to supporting Indigenous students, honouring Indigenous knowledge and advancing reconciliation with the Stó:lō peoples on whose territory the university stands. UFV is actively engaged in implementing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action in its academic programs and institutional culture.

Research

UFV is an active research university, with faculty engaged in applied and community-focused research across all disciplines. The Centre for the Social Sciences and Humanities, the Peace and Reconciliation Centre, the Centre for Indo-Canadian Studies, and multiple research chairs bring structured research activity to the Fraser Valley community. UFV's research approach emphasises community engagement and real-world impact, consistent with its Changemaker Campus identity. Alumni have gone on to achieve notable research and professional milestones, including the development of North America's first mobile, modular soil-washing facility by a UFV alumnus in 2026.

Student life and housing

UFV offers a full range of student services, housing, and co-curricular programming to support student success and wellbeing. The new EverGreen residence on the Abbotsford campus offers modern suites and social spaces. A shuttle bus service connects campuses. Cascades Athletics supports varsity and recreational sport. CIVL Radio gives students a student-run campus radio station. The Academic Advising Centre, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Human Rights Office, and a dedicated Safe Student Community programme round out UFV's student support offer.

Contact

• Main address: 33844 King Road, Abbotsford, BC, Canada V2S 7M8
• Phone: 1-604-504-7441
• Toll-free: 1-888-504-7441
• Email: info@ufv.ca

Why UFV

1. A fully accredited Canadian public university enrolling approximately 15,000 students, offering more than 100 programs from trades certificates through to master's degrees
2. A designated Ashoka U Changemaker Campus, preparing graduates who lead collaboratively, think critically and contribute to positive social change
3. Small class sizes with accessible, dedicated faculty across campuses in Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Mission and Hope, plus a growing international campus in Chandigarh, India
4. A Gold AASHE sustainability rating and a nationally recognised Peace and Reconciliation Centre, reflecting UFV's commitment to environmental and social responsibility
5. A leader in open education in British Columbia, making learning more affordable through open educational resources across all programs
6. Deep Indigenous roots, with dedicated Indigenous Affairs and Indigenous Student Centre offices, Indigenous Studies and Stó:lō Studies programs, and active reconciliation commitments on Stó:lō territory
7. Located in the Fraser Valley, one of Canada's most scenic and economically dynamic regions, with easy connections to metropolitan Vancouver