Bachelor of Arts in Professional Communication (Third Year Entry)

at Royal Roads University Canada

Throughout the Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Innovation and Sustainability program, you’ll work with a variety of stakeholders on specially selected client projects. This hands-on experience will help you to develop practical skills in real time, while tackling important issues facing organizations and society. It will also inspire you as a changemaker, giving you a deeper understanding of the complexity and far-reaching impact of social and environmental issues.

Royal Roads BBA offers you project-based learning that lets you earn a degree and make a difference in the community at the same time. In this program, you will:

• Gain contemporary business knowledge and job-relevant competency within core business subjects
• Develop leadership, adaptability, and collaboration skills to help you work and communicate effectively with a variety of stakeholders
• Apply creative approaches and hone your critical thinking skills through complex problem solving
• Contribute to context- and community-responsive projects focused on social and environmental sustainability
• Foster a unique sense of purpose and vision that will make you career-ready, position you to make meaningful changes in society, and enhance your personal fulfillment
• Build a deep portfolio of project work to showcase your learning, skill development, and contribution to the community while you were in the program
• Pursue a capstone or internship option that helps you integrate and polish your skills

How is the program designed and delivered?
The Royal Roads BBA in Innovation and Sustainability is designed to give you the solid business knowledge base you expect from a BBA degree. But beyond this, we know you need opportunities to directly apply that knowledge to develop practical career-ready skills and context-specific awareness.

Working on a variety of projects throughout the program will help you to recognize real opportunities for business and social innovation. You’ll also be equipped to meet the 21st-century career demands for adaptability, complex problem-solving, decision-making under uncertainty, collaboration, and digital and technological literacy.

For each project, you will work with real clients and use modern tools and technologies. Project facilitators, who will take the place of more traditional lecture-oriented instructors, will provide you with coaching and support through every project. Learn more about the program design.

The Master of Arts in Intercultural and International Communication program at Royal Roads University is an innovative personal, professional, and academic development program, designed for students who want to pursue a communication career in our increasingly diversified and globalized world.

Catering to the growing demand for strategic and independent-thinking communication professionals able to assist organizations to respond to the rapidly changing global environment, graduates will develop the skills necessary to communicate effectively in complex circumstances, making use of diverse media and communication genres, and engaging different audiences across multiple cultural settings. Students will explore intercultural and international communication theory, academic writing and communication, media relations in a global context, public affairs and advocacy, social marketing.

Course themes include:

• Intercultural and International Communication
• Intercultural Competence
• Media Relations in a Global Context
• Public Affairs and Advocacy
• Social Marketing
• Sport for Society
• Communication for Health and Well-Being

The BA in Professional Communication can be completed as a 4-year degree program or an intensive degree-completion program (12 month on-campus or 2 year online) which enables you to complete your third and fourth years of study with cutting-edge program content that balances academic education, professional experience, creativity and practical skills. The program combines a comprehensive overview of communications as an academic field with courses in digital communication, professional writing, public persuasion, visual communication, multimedia storytelling, global communication, media and cultural studies, sustainability communication, crisis communication management, Indigenous contexts, and much more.

As a BAPC student, you will have the opportunity to benefit from a perspective-shifting experience by studying a semester abroad at any of our partner universities in Korea, India, Austria, Germany, Chile, or Vietnam. This program component will provide you with customizable study option to expand your international experience and cultural relevancy.

The BA in International Hotel Management (BAIHM) is a leading-edge program that builds professional credentials and advances careers in the hotel industry.

In an unknown climate, we need leaders in hospitality able to spearhead change and innovate the way we do business. Not everything can be planned for. Learn about the skills you need to build resilience, respond, innovate, pivot quickly and lead change in the industry.

From day one you will meet future hoteliers from all over the world. Look at the industry through the lens of technology, entrepreneurship, globalization and cultural diversity. Learn alongside seasoned industry experts and a cohort of peers, who provide an invaluable professional support network while you launch your career higher. Seize the opportunity to explore international cultures by studying for a semester abroad at partner universities and enjoy field study to some of British Columbia’s legendary resort and urban hotel destinations. You’ll unite your theoretical learning with applied skills through a three-month internship placement anywhere in the world that you choose.

The BA in International Hotel Management (BAIHM) program sets students up for a successful career in hotel management. The cohort is truly international with students coming from all over the world to study the latest in hospitality thinking and practices. As an international student you’ll feel right at home in the diverse cohort. As a domestic student, what better way to have a global experience and build your international network while studying at home?  

Students will study on-campus from September to April and have the summer off to travel or build their resume through working in the hospitality industry. This will be followed by another eight months in school (September to April) and a final summer internship course prior to graduation. 

Experiential learning is a key component of the program. Part of this learning includes multiple on-site hotel visits in one of Canada's leading tourism destinations, Victoria B.C. and field schools in places such as Vancouver and Whistler, providing students the opportunity to interact with multi-national hotel brands and innovative boutique properties.

BAIHM students have the opportunity to benefit from a perspective-shifting experience of studying one or two semesters abroad at any of our partner universities in Korea, India, Austria, Germany or Chile. This program component provides students a customizable study option and a chance to expand their international experience.

In year four, students apply their skills through a compulsory three-month internship. Students work with a dedicated team of faculty and staff to find their work placement, which can take place anywhere in the world, and they benefit from one-on-one faculty guidance and support throughout their placement.  In the past, students have secured internships in locations throughout Canada, China, Dubai, Korea, Australia and more. Positions have ranged from front line, to heart-of-the-house, to management trainee positions.  Internships enable students to launch their careers and find exceptional opportunities for employment around the world while expanding their network.  

Additional opportunities available to BAIHM students include scholarships, attending industry-related conferences and representing the School of Tourism and Hospitality Management at events such as the annual Young Hoteliers Summit in Lausanne, Switzerland and high-profile tourism case competitions around British Columbia.

Who It's For
The program is designed for individuals who want to pursue an international career in the rapidly expanding field of hotels with opportunities ranging from working in a flagship chain, boutique hotel, cruise ship or resort, to hostels, shared economy lodgings, and inns.  This program is best suited for driven and self-motivated candidates with a related 2-year diploma. BAHIM students must possess an outgoing, friendly yet professional nature, with a life-calling towards customer service, and a passion for other cultures. 
 

Positive social change requires practical justice service capabilities, and your ability to use alternative dispute resolution techniques. The BA in Justice Studies program at Royal Roads University provides you with the theoretical and real-world foundations necessary to use effective critical thinking skills to assess issues related to justice. Upon graduation from your program, you will have a comprehensive understanding of the justice system, including criminal justice, social justice, human rights, advocacy, conflict resolution, and mediation.

This program is designed to prepare you for a career in a justice-related institution or agency, including government, for-profit/non-profit, and international organizations.

In an unknown climate, we need leaders in tourism and hospitality able to spearhead change and innovate the way we do business. Not everything can be planned for. This program will expose you to the opportunities, trends and issues in the global tourism and hospitality industry, and will equip you with the tools and knowledge to succeed within it. You will learn the entrepreneurship, leadership, and management skills to contribute to community resilience and business development. And if the idea of working internationally excites you, then our Bachelor of Arts in Global Tourism Management will help you go fa.
The Bachelor of Arts in Global Tourism Management (BAGTM) program ­focuses on global tourism opportunities, trends and issues that will ensure you’ll have the tools and knowledge to advance your career in tourism and hospitality anywhere in the world. You will not only learn to use entrepreneurship, leadership, and management skills to contribute to community and business development, you will come away with a distinct competitive advantage. Now more than ever, the world needs leaders spearheading changing, building resilience and innovating the way we do business. 

Not everything can be planned for. Learn the skills you need to respond, pivot quickly and lead change. Experiential learning is an important component of this program; you will be taken out of the classroom and exposed to actual tourism operations and situations through a 1-week field trip course. Here you will explore some of the best that Vancouver Island has to offer, including the beaches of Tofino and slopes of Mount Washington. You will meet tourism entrepreneurs and professionals to better understand the issues and realities faced by the tourism industry. You will learn the practical aspects of travel management and tour operations while travelling to different destinations on Vancouver Island.  At the same time, you will be given the opportunity to participate in a variety of activities including skiing, snowboarding, whale watching, surfing and stand-up paddleboarding.

As a BAGTM student, you will have the opportunity to benefit from a perspective-shifting experience by studying a semester abroad (when conditions permit) at any of our partner universities in Korea, India, Austria, Germany, Chile, or Vietnam. This program component will provide you with customizable study option to expand your international experience and cultural relevancy.

A key aspect of our program is the internship. Cap your education by applying and expanding your tourism knowledge in a three-month professional work placement.  You will be mentored by a supervisor and guided by an RRU advisor as you learn about your chosen career in the tourism and hospitality industry.  Internships can be completed anywhere in the world, and will provide you with an opportunity to expand your network and turn your internship position into a profession.  Previous internships have occurred in organizations across Canada and internationally (e.g. China, Korea), in areas such as music festival coordinators, management trainees, front-line workers, and tour leaders.

In the Bachelor of Arts in Professional Communication program, you'll become adept at professional writing, public relations, journalism, public speaking and digital communications.

You'll learn to persuade through words, graphics and storytelling. You'll know what communication tools are available to you and how to use them.

All of this you'll study within a larger framework of media and cultural studies, sustainability, Indigenous contexts and globalization. As a graduate, you'll have an education that balances classroom learning, professional experience, creativity and practical skills.

Advance your environmental career or move into a new exciting career in the environmental professions. The environmental practice programs at Royal Roads University can help you develop the skills, knowledge, and connections you need to succeed.

The BA in Environmental Practice program (BAEP) is a third and fourth year, 60-credit degree-completion option delivered entirely online. You can take from one to three courses at a time enabling you to complete the program at your own pace.

This BAEP is a flexible program that allows you to personalize your learning experience based on your personal and professional interests. Study sustainable and interdisciplinary approaches to environmental policy, management, community development, and more, so you can implement and inspire effective change.

This program and the Bachelor of Science in Environmental Practice are developed in partnership with ECO Canada (Environmental Careers Organization of Canada). The Bachelor in Environmental Practice curriculum aligns with established environmental career paths and fulfills the academic requirements for Environmental Professional (EP) certification consistent with National Occupational Standards. Upon graduation, you will be eligible for certification as an Environmental Professional in-training (EPt).

The Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Practice (BAEP) is a third- and fourth-year degree completion program delivered online. Design your curriculum to meet your career and personal goals within a framework that meets the needs of Canada’s rapidly expanding environmental careers market.

Acquire a practical, workplace-ready environmental skillset grounded in critical thinking and theory. Build your expertise in practical knowledge and real-world solutions. This is the approach throughout the Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Practice program.

The BAEP is also offered as a 4-year undergraduate degree for students typically entering from high school (or equivalent) for an interdisciplinary first and second year on campus. Visit the common foundations page to learn more about challenge-based learning in the first two years of this program.

The Master of Arts in Environment and Management (MEM) is designed for those of you who want to make a difference in your community, in your professional practice, through your work to a more sustainable world for all, and not just some.

MEM is a 2-year integrated program that combines leading-edge research with on-the-ground practices and theory to enhance your existing skills while increasing your knowledge about how to solve modern society’s complex challenges. Our delivery options allow you to get your degree on your terms. You can choose to do the MEM program on campus, or through a blended delivery combining online learning with short on-campus residencies

Climate pollution and biodiversity loss are only two of the modern-day issues you’ll explore. You’ll also focus on reconciliation and accelerating the take-up of social and community innovations and the nature of change. Ultimately, you’ll be prepared to excel and lead change in your life-long career trajectory in multiple sectors — government, private and public as well as non-government organizations.
The Master of Environment and Management (MEM) at Royal Roads is designed for working professionals, like yourself, who are deeply interested and involved in practical environmental issues. The program is designed to enhance strategic decision making in the environmental field. It emphasizes teamwork and focuses on technical and policy questions using systems and sustainability perspectives.

In the MEM program, you’ll expand your knowledge in theory and practice of systems, sustainability and the understanding of the inter-relationships between human, social and ecological systems as well as critical management concepts. You’ll take a deep dive into reconciliation and accelerating the take-up of social and community innovations. Frameworks from a wide diversity of research will be applied to this critical problem solving grounded in the international sustainable goals for the globe. 

The program is designed to prepare you for a leadership role in your environmental career.

• The Master of Global Management will prepare you to manage international complexities in business.
• You'll learn about the nuances of leading a business with global reach.
• You'll leverage your cultural knowledge to develop a global mindset that helps you navigate business functions across borders.
• You'll use an international lens in your approach to leadership, change management and ethics.
• And, you'll study how cultural complexities, like political geography and international economics, inform business practices.
• As a graduate of the Master of Global Management, you'll be prepared to perform with agility and sensitivity in the global workplace.

Who it's for
The MGM is designed for professionals who are:

• Seeking a global business perspective to complement existing skills
• Motivated to develop competencies in international business
• Curious about the world
• Interested in education that complements industry affiliations, e.g., FITT, PMI, and CMC 
• Interested in leveraging their multicultural background

Program completion options
You'll choose one of four program completion options in your Royal Roads MGM:

• Global management project
• Internship research project

You can choose the option that works best for your goals.

Option 1: Global management project
In the global management project, you'll examine a global management issue in the industry of your choice.

You can complete the project in one of two ways:

1. an applied research project on a topic or organization that you choose, for example, an issue you've encountered in your career
2. a consulting project, in which you'll work with an organization to explore an issue

If you choose the consulting project, you can use it to qualify for a Certified Management Consultant (CMC) designation, offered by the Canadian Association of Management Consultants.

The global management project is a good fit for students with previous business experience. You'll be able to select an issue you've faced in your career and explore it in depth using the skills, knowledge, and competencies you’ve learned in the MGM program.

Option 2: Internship research project

• In the internship research project, you'll spend 420 hours with an organization and draft a report to help with a management issue.
• You'll start your internship after you've completed the MGM's 12 months of coursework. After spending a minimum of 12 weeks with the client, you'll have 11 weeks to work on the written component of your project.
• The internship research project is a good fit for students looking for practical experience in Canada and abroad. It's a great way to try out a new industry.
• We'll help you through the process of finding an internship in your preferred industry. You'll attend workshops for career development and work search skills. Learn more about our internship support.