Get Creative with Your Career
Calling all creatives! If you’re searching for a career that’s right for you, we’re here to help. Algonquin College has some fantastic programs to help you prepare for a fulfilling career in the creative media and communications industry. Here’s a look at just a few of the many programs you can choose from.
Public Relations
Learners in the Public Relations program learn to bridge the gap between organizations and the masses. PR pros help brands navigate complex issues and protect their reputation. This two-year program teaches students to pay attention to detail and think outside the box through hands-on learning.
Put your skills to the test
That’s right! Here, you’ll put what you’ve learned to the test through work-integrated learning at the student-run PR agency. Students will team up to apply their research and analysis to build a strategic communication plan that they’ll pitch to a real client.
Do good in school
Students can also practice their skills with the annual fundraising assignment. Every year, AC’s PR students raise money for non-profit organizations in Ottawa! Since its inception 40 years ago, the program has raised nearly $600,000 for local communities and organizations like the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre, CHEO, the Ottawa Network for Education, the Ottawa Food Bank and the African-Canadian Association of Ottawa.
Journalism
The Journalism program helps students become factual storytellers who keep communities informed. This two-year program teaches students transferable media skills as they study alongside Broadcasting – Television and Streaming Video students.
Develop hard and soft skills
Led by actual journalists and experienced professionals, students develop the journalistic skills they need to report on their areas of interest, such as people, current affairs or specialized sectors like sports, the environment, social justice, entertainment or gaming.
Read all about it (and then some)
This program blends theory with practical experience. Students can practice what they’ve learned at the award-winning, student-run newspaper: the Algonquin Times. The Algonquin Times has students hard at work finding and pitching story ideas, using research strategies, interviewing and locating knowledgeable sources, writing and editing, taking photos and shooting videos, recording and editing audio, using analytics, producing social media content, working with content management systems, and understanding media ethics and law.
Advertising and Marketing Communications Management
The Advertising and Marketing Communications Management program enables students to develop skills in campaign planning, idea conceptualization, copywriting, and advertising design. Taught by industry-connected faculty, students plan, create, and implement marketing communications for real-world clients.
Crunch time
Every year, 3rd-year students participate in the program’s Boot Camp. During this activity, students meet with a client and have 24 hours to prepare a campaign and pitch it. The winning team gets the chance to potentially share their work with the world!
Do it for real
Students get to experience the real thing by working at Dig Agency, the student-run advertising agency, Algonquin Times, the student-run newspaper, or SLiDE, the social innovation lab’s marketing department. No matter which environment they choose, students work on advertising and marketing communications with actual clients. They also gain insight and advice from alumni and industry leaders acting as guest speakers every semester.
But wait, there’s more!
On top of that, the final six weeks of the program are spent in an industry-related internship. This experience enables students to connect with working pros and learn the ropes in this fast-paced, highly competitive, and ever-evolving industry.
The sky’s the limit
Are you ready to get creative and share your ideas with the world? Explore our Creative Media and Communications programs today!
