1. 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.