The media industry offers diverse opportunities, from journalism and broadcasting to animation, television production and more. Ontario college media programs expose students to all of these areas and give them a foundation for choosing which direction they’d like to go in. There are also numerous programs available for those who already have a direction in mind.
Whether you’re ready to pursue a specific career in media or you simply want to learn more about the many career opportunities in the industry, here’s what you need to know. More
Media Courses
Media programs consist of fundamental courses in one or many areas of media, but no matter the focus area, students gain strong research, writing and computer skills. Media programs usually fall into one of these areas:
- Broad. Media fundamentals, media foundation and other similar programs consist of courses focused on multiple media disciplines, such as journalism, public relations, television production, communications, animation and more. These courses give students a foundation to pursue many opportunities and directions in the media industry, or to continue their education in more specific media programs. A sample of course subjects includes writing for the media, website development, visual design and audio production techniques.
- Specific. In these programs, students gain specialized knowledge in one specific area of media. Courses will concentrate on refining skills related to that focus area - for example, journalism programs are made up of courses in photojournalism, storytelling and writing different types of news stories.
Many students choose to take a broad media program to help decide on a specific field or to help them prepare for programs in their chosen specialization.
Media Program Requirements
Entry-level media programs typically require an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent, which includes a grade 12 English credit. Post-graduate certificate programs require a diploma or degree in a related media field, or proof of significant relevant work experience. Program requirements vary due to the wide range of media programs available, so be sure to check the details carefully.
Media Jobs and Salaries
Because of the wide range of skills they offer, media programs at Ontario colleges can lead to diverse career opportunities across almost every industry. Depending on which field you decide to go into, job titles may include (but aren’t limited to):
- Print Journalist
- Web Designer
- Communications Associate
- New Media Specialist
- Television or Radio Producer
Graduates of broad media programs who don’t go on to further their education have an average starting salary of around $23,000 per year. Those who specialize will see higher salaries, starting between $25,000 and $40,000. The average starting salary for all specific media program graduates roughly $30,000.
Ontario Colleges Offering Media Programs
Use the left-column navigation to refine your search by College, Program Availability, Program Start Date and more, or see the table below for a complete list of media programs at Ontario colleges. Less
