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Communication and Business

Overview

FIC offers a unique pathway to enter the second year of studies at SFU in the Communication and Business Minor programs.
International Year One (UTP Stage II): Communication and Business is equivalent to the first year of SFU’s Bachelor of Arts degree awarded by the Faculty of Communication, Art, and Technology (FCAT). The program will provide you with the necessary foundation to understand and excel in such an exciting program.

KEY INFORMATION

Duration

  • 3 terms

Intakes

  • January, May, September

Location

  • Vancouver

Your direct pathway to Simon Fraser University

High School
FIC
2nd year Simon Fraser University

Why Communication and Business?

  • Gain valuable knowledge in these two very popular career related fields
  • Develop key Business skills including marketing, accounting, human resource development and international business
  • Enhance your understanding of communications including: key messaging, advertising and generating effective social media engagement
  • Develop your critical thinking abilities
  • Be career ready by improving your team and independent working skills

Services and Support:

  • Guaranteed GPA to transfer to SFU
  • Supportive study environment with small classes
  • Receive ongoing support in both Communication and Business to help you choose the most relevant courses
  • Earn valuable work experience through SFU’s Co-op Education program
  • Gain support in career planning, writing, and mentorship from SFU

commsbiz

Career Opportunities:

As a Communication and Business graduate you will be able to be part of the vibrant creative economy in Vancouver and beyond. Join these exciting industries:

  • Advertising and Media
  • Marketing
  • Media and Community Relations
  • Human Resources
  • Social Media
  • Event Management
  • Arts and Culture
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* Program fees are based on 30 credits of study at C$1,148.92 per credit. Students taking more than 30 credits of study will need to pay additional fees. Not for credit transfer Academic Literacy Course is a requirement for International Year One (UTP Stage II) Direct entry.

For the most up-to-date fees and charges, please visit: https://www.fraseric.ca/admissions/fees/

Program Requirements

To transfer into the Double Minor Program in the Faculty of Communications, Arts, and Technology, and Beedie School of Business students must complete the requirements listed below, which include at least one ‘W’ and one ‘Q’ course.
-> What are ‘W’ and ‘Q’ courses?

A minimum GPA of 2.50, based on completion of 10 courses (at least 30 units, and with a grade of C- or better in all courses), will guarantee admittance to a Business minor program for successful transfer students from FIC. In addition, a cumulative GPA of 2.5 is required for admission to the university.

All (direct) students are required to take (and pass) ILS101/ILSA101 – Integrated Learning Skills and ALC101/ALAC101 – Academic Literacy Course in their first term of study unless exempted. For ALC exempted requirements, please check the English requirements page*

Please note the Business Minor cannot be changed into a major at SFU.

 

Required Courses

Please note that the required courses in the transfer pathway to the Double Minor Program in the Faculty of Communications, Arts, and Technology, and Beedie School of Business have been updated for students beginning in the Fall of 2023. Please select the relevant drop-down below for your required courses. If possible, it is recommend that students complete the newer requirements.

Page Section

Required Courses for Students Admitted Fall 2023 Onward

Required Courses

BUS200 - Business Fundamentals

Breadth-Social Sciences (Effective Fall 2016)
3 units
Beedie School of Business – This introductory course will explore the fundamentals of modern business and organizational management. Working with case studies, students will build upon the basics of revenue, profits, contribution and costs, as well as integrate advanced aspects of business models, innovation, competitive advantage, core competence and strategic analysis.

Prerequisite

No prerequisite required

BUS216 - Introduction to Essentials of Business Communications

3 units
Beedie School of Business – Students will learn and apply the fundamentals of effective English-language business writing to produce short, professional-quality business documents. By reading, analyzing, planning, and writing documents for various audiences, students will learn about the distinctive elements of business writing. Students will develop essential skills in organizing, summarizing and assessing information through experiential business writing tasks.

Prerequisite

Students with credit for BUS360 may not receive further credit for this course.

BUS251 - Financial Accounting I

Quantitative
3 units
Beedie School of Business – An introduction to financial accounting, including accounting terminology, understanding financial statements, and analysis of a business entity using financial statements. Includes also time value of money and a critical review of the conventional accounting system.

Prerequisite

Open to students who have passed 3 UTP II Classes with no grade less than a C-.
Not available to students on Academic Probation 3

CMNS110 - Introduction to Communication Studies

Breadth-Social Sciences
3 units
Faculty of Communication, Art & Technology – AThe aim of this course is to provide a general introduction to a range of theories that seek to explain why we communicate as we do. The first part of the course establishes a general overview of communication theory, from both theoretical and historical points of view. We will examine the relationship between communication and social consciousness, identity development, and communication as a symbolic and performative act. The second part of the course will focus on specific fields within the area of communication, including: the study of popular culture, media analysis, advertising, journalism, and the political economy of communication.. This course is required for a major, honors or minor in communication.

Prerequisite

No prerequisite required

CMNS120 - Creativity and Communication Across Media

Writing
3 units
Faculty of Communication, Art and Technology - Introduces students to the creative practice of multimodal writing and content creation for communication and media studies. Topics may include: creativity and idea generation; media literacy in digital environments; writing conventions for various platforms and genres; analytical writing and scholarly argumentation; audio-visual production for popular audiences. Writing.

Prerequisite

Open to students who have passed 3 UTP II Classes. ENGL112 or ENGL113 or ENGL115 or WL101 or PSYC109 with a minimum C- grade. Students with credit for ENGL101 may not take this course for further credit.

CMNS130 - Explorations in Mass Communication

3 units
Faculty of Communication, Art & Technology – An introduction to the role of mass communication (radio, television, telecommunications and the press) in Canadian society.

Prerequisite

This course is required for a major, honors or minor in communication.

ECON103 - Principles of Microeconomics

Quantitative
Breadth-Social Sciences
4 units
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences – The principal elements of theory concerning utility and value; price and costs; factor analysis; productivity; labor organization; competition and monopoly; and the theory of the firm.

Prerequisite

No prerequisite required

IAT102 - Graphic Design

3 units
Faculty of Communication, Art and Technology – Introduction to fundamental design principles for visual communication. Organized as a continual interplay of theory and practice, students will examine historical, philosophical, perceptual and semiotic approaches to understanding graphic design, and will explore principles of form, such as structure and composition, hierarchy, form, color, space, scale, typography, and legibility and readability through hands-on projects. Traditional time-based and interactive media forms will be compared and contrasted.

Prerequisite

No prerequisite required

 

Choose one course from the following list

IAT100 - Digital Image Design

This is a project-based course that introduces the theory and hands-on practice of art and design in digital media. As the introductory course in IAT, this course teaches the core fundamental principles in 2D visual design, sequential and animation design. Students learn the fundamentals of digital photography and vector image creation. The theory is contextualized in contemporary new media design practice and is broadly applicable across disciplines. Breadth-Humanities.

Prerequisite

No prerequisite required

IAT110 - Visual Communication Design

Breadth-Humanities (Effective Fall 2014)
3 units
Faculty of Communication, Art and Technology - Visual communication for art and design in digital media. Students learn the fundamentals of digital raster and vector image creation. Design principles such as form, typography and colour theory as they apply to digital media will be taught. Students will have core projects in digital photography, magazine layout, and kinetic typography.

Prerequisite

Primarily for non-SIAT majors; while SIAT majors may take the course, it does not count for credit for SIAT degree requirements.

 

Choose one course from the following list:

ENGL112 - Literature Now (Formerly ENGL101)

Writing
Breadth-Humanities (Effective Fall 2016)
3 units
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences - Introduces students to contemporary works of literature in English and/or contemporary approaches to interpreting literature. May focus on one or multiple genres. Includes attention to writing skills.

Prerequisite

Open to students who have passed 3 UTP II Classes
Students with credit for ENGL101 may not take this course for further credit.

ENGL113 - Literature and Performance

Writing
Breadth-Humanities (Effective Fall 2016)
3 units
Introduces students to plays and performance works created and adapted for the stage, and/or the performative dimensions of other literary forms. May be organized historically, generically or thematically. The course may also explore the links between literary and performance theory. Includes attention to writing skills.

Prerequisite

Open to students who have passed 3 UTP II Classes

ENGL115 - Literature and Culture (Formerly ENGL105)

Writing
Breadth-Humanities (Effective Fall 2016)
3 units
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences – An Introduction to the study of literature within the wider cultural field, with a focus on contemporary issues across genres and media.

Prerequisite

Open to students who have passed 3 UTP II Classes
Students with credit for ENGL105 may not take this course for further credit.

Page Section

Required Courses for Students Admitted Prior to Fall 2023

Required Courses

BUS200 - Business Fundamentals

Breadth-Social Sciences (Effective Fall 2016)
3 units
Beedie School of Business – This introductory course will explore the fundamentals of modern business and organizational management. Working with case studies, students will build upon the basics of revenue, profits, contribution and costs, as well as integrate advanced aspects of business models, innovation, competitive advantage, core competence and strategic analysis.

Prerequisite

No prerequisite required

BUS216 - Introduction to Essentials of Business Communications

3 units
Beedie School of Business – Students will learn and apply the fundamentals of effective English-language business writing to produce short, professional-quality business documents. By reading, analyzing, planning, and writing documents for various audiences, students will learn about the distinctive elements of business writing. Students will develop essential skills in organizing, summarizing and assessing information through experiential business writing tasks.

Prerequisite

Students with credit for BUS360 may not receive further credit for this course.

BUS251 - Financial Accounting I

Quantitative
3 units
Beedie School of Business – An introduction to financial accounting, including accounting terminology, understanding financial statements, and analysis of a business entity using financial statements. Includes also time value of money and a critical review of the conventional accounting system.

Prerequisite

Open to students who have passed 3 UTP II Classes with no grade less than a C-.
Not available to students on Academic Probation 3

CA135 - Introduction to Cinema (Formerly FPA135)

Breadth-Humanities (Effective Fall 2015)
3 units
Faculty of Communications, Arts and Technology – An introductory course designed to facilitate a fundamental understanding of film technique, style and form in order to develop the skills with which to analyze films of all genres. Through lectures and screenings it will provide an overview of the social, aesthetic and technical development of motion pictures, introducing tools for the formal analysis of the elements of cinema: cinematography and lighting, art direction, performance, editing, sound and the screenplay. The formal and historical elements of documentary, avant-garde and dramatic films will be addressed. The course will involve the screening and discussion of several complete feature films and shorts, as well as excerpts from others.

Prerequisite

No prerequisite required

CMNS110 - Introduction to Communication Studies

Breadth-Social Sciences
3 units
Faculty of Communication, Art & Technology – AThe aim of this course is to provide a general introduction to a range of theories that seek to explain why we communicate as we do. The first part of the course establishes a general overview of communication theory, from both theoretical and historical points of view. We will examine the relationship between communication and social consciousness, identity development, and communication as a symbolic and performative act. The second part of the course will focus on specific fields within the area of communication, including: the study of popular culture, media analysis, advertising, journalism, and the political economy of communication.. This course is required for a major, honors or minor in communication.

Prerequisite

No prerequisite required

CMNS130 - Explorations in Mass Communication

3 units
Faculty of Communication, Art & Technology – An introduction to the role of mass communication (radio, television, telecommunications and the press) in Canadian society.

Prerequisite

This course is required for a major, honors or minor in communication.

ECON103 - Principles of Microeconomics

Quantitative
Breadth-Social Sciences
4 units
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences – The principal elements of theory concerning utility and value; price and costs; factor analysis; productivity; labor organization; competition and monopoly; and the theory of the firm.

Prerequisite

No prerequisite required

IAT102 - Graphic Design

3 units
Faculty of Communication, Art and Technology – Introduction to fundamental design principles for visual communication. Organized as a continual interplay of theory and practice, students will examine historical, philosophical, perceptual and semiotic approaches to understanding graphic design, and will explore principles of form, such as structure and composition, hierarchy, form, color, space, scale, typography, and legibility and readability through hands-on projects. Traditional time-based and interactive media forms will be compared and contrasted.

Prerequisite

No prerequisite required

 

Choose one course from the following list

IAT100 - Digital Image Design

This is a project-based course that introduces the theory and hands-on practice of art and design in digital media. As the introductory course in IAT, this course teaches the core fundamental principles in 2D visual design, sequential and animation design. Students learn the fundamentals of digital photography and vector image creation. The theory is contextualized in contemporary new media design practice and is broadly applicable across disciplines. Breadth-Humanities.

Prerequisite

No prerequisite required

IAT110 - Visual Communication Design

Breadth-Humanities (Effective Fall 2014)
3 units
Faculty of Communication, Art and Technology - Visual communication for art and design in digital media. Students learn the fundamentals of digital raster and vector image creation. Design principles such as form, typography and colour theory as they apply to digital media will be taught. Students will have core projects in digital photography, magazine layout, and kinetic typography.

Prerequisite

Primarily for non-SIAT majors; while SIAT majors may take the course, it does not count for credit for SIAT degree requirements.

 

Choose one course from the following list:

ENGL112 - Literature Now (Formerly ENGL101)

Writing
Breadth-Humanities (Effective Fall 2016)
3 units
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences - Introduces students to contemporary works of literature in English and/or contemporary approaches to interpreting literature. May focus on one or multiple genres. Includes attention to writing skills.

Prerequisite

Open to students who have passed 3 UTP II Classes
Students with credit for ENGL101 may not take this course for further credit.

ENGL113 - Literature and Performance

Writing
Breadth-Humanities (Effective Fall 2016)
3 units
Introduces students to plays and performance works created and adapted for the stage, and/or the performative dimensions of other literary forms. May be organized historically, generically or thematically. The course may also explore the links between literary and performance theory. Includes attention to writing skills.

Prerequisite

Open to students who have passed 3 UTP II Classes

ENGL115 - Literature and Culture (Formerly ENGL105)

Writing
Breadth-Humanities (Effective Fall 2016)
3 units
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences – An Introduction to the study of literature within the wider cultural field, with a focus on contemporary issues across genres and media.

Prerequisite

Open to students who have passed 3 UTP II Classes
Students with credit for ENGL105 may not take this course for further credit.

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