Concordia disciplines rank among world's best
Concordia University’s renowned communication studies programs have clinched a spot in the top 100 such programs worldwide in the latest edition of the QS World University Rankings by Subject. Two other disciplines broke through to the prestigious higher-education rankings’ top 150 while two others held their spot (jointly in one category) in that elite group. A sixth program also ranked in the global top 200 again this year.
The education and English programs rose in the rankings this year while accountancy and finance held steady in their top 150 spot since last year, and sociology retained its spot in the top 200.
The QS World University Rankings by Subject are based on several factors including academic reputation, a survey of employers and citations per faculty. While the first 50 universities are ranked sequentially, those that fall between 51 and 200 are grouped into three categories (50-100; 100-150; 150-200).
Concordia’s position, by category, in the 2013 edition of the British-based publication:
• Communication and Media Studies: 51-100 (101-150 in 2012)
• Education: 101-150 (151-200 in 2012)
• English Language and Literature: 101-150 (151-200 in 2012)
• Accounting/Finance: 101-150 (no change from 2012)
• Sociology: 151-200 (no change from 2012)
The first of its kind in North America, Concordia’s communication studies program was founded in 1965 with a focus on studying communication as an art form. The department’s reputation for innovation persists to this day as it is the first in Canada to have research-creation thesis options in its MA Media Studies and PhD Communication Studies programs. The department is currently home to the only two Trudeau PhD Fellowships in Communications Studies in Quebec.
The department is also the nexxus of significant research with faculty members currently holding two Canada Research Chairs and two Concordia University Research Chairs, three of which are a first in Canada. Mia Consalvo holds the Canada Research Chair (Tier 1) in Games Studies and Design while Krista Geneviève Lynes is the new Canada Research Chair (Tier 2) in Feminist Media Studies and will soon run the Feminist Media Studio. Kim Sawchuk holds the Concordia University Research Chair (Tier 1) in Mobile Media Studies and Charles Acland holds the Concordia University Research Chair in Communication Studies (Tier 2), the first chair in the department.
Illustrious alumni from the Department of Communication Studies include Pierre Even, producer of films including the Oscar-nominated feature Rebelle; Régine Chassagne, philanthropist, musician (Arcade Fire); René Balcer, Emmy award-winning producer and writer (Law & Order); and Hana Gartner, investigative journalist (CBC Television’s The Fifth Estate).
The QS World University Rankings by Subject was launched in 2011, an outgrowth of the QS World University Rankings, published annually since 2004. The expanded version aims to give future students an immediate understanding of which universities perform the best across 30 different subjects.
Related links:
• Department of Accountancy
• Department of Finance
• Department of Communication Studies
• Department of Education
• Department of English
• Department of Sociology and Anthropology
• QS World University Rankings by Subject 2013
• Methodology for the QS Rankings by Subject