4 programs, side by side

Rows marked with a dot are where these differ. Everything is each university’s own published wording; the “your average” row is yours, calculated the way each program does it.

Full	Western Media & Communications Studies OUAC EI Remove	Ottawa Études des conflits et droits humains et Maîtrise en études de sécurité et défence (4 ans) OUAC OGB Remove	Laurier (Waterloo) Arts Degree (BA) + Master's Degree (MA or MAP or MIPP) OUAC UZB Remove	OCAD Visual and Critical Studies (Art History) OUAC HVC Remove
Your average, their wayrequired courses forced in
Published rangetheir exact wording	80–87%“Low to mid 80s”	80%	77–80%“High 70s”	Not published“N/A”
Required coursesforced into your top 6 — options are the row below	ENG4U	No course codes parsed — see prerequisites	ENG4U	ENG4U
Choose one ofany of these satisfies it	—	one of ENG4U, FRA4U	—	—
Prerequisitesas published	English, ENG4U	FRA4U or ENG4U	English at 60%	OSSD with an overall academic average of at least 70% in six 4U/M courses, including English 4U with a minimum final grade of 70%
More than marks?supplementary application	Marks only	Marks only	Marks only	Yes In addition to meeting the academic requirements, you are required to submit the following to be considered for admission: A 1-page Statement of Intent (300 words maximum) on why you would like to study art history in a studio setting. An original essay of 500 words on an annually assigned topic. Usually closes before January 15
Co-op	Available	No	No	No
Degree	—	Bachelor of Arts/Master of Arts, BA/MA, Bachelor of Social Science, BSocSc	—	—
First-year intakewhere published	300	—	—	—
What you study	Information Systems Information Technology Media and Communication StudiesOthers in Technology	Interdisciplinary Studies Politics Social Policy	English Studies History Modern Languages Politics	Creative Writing Design English Studies Fine Art
What it is	This program combines the study of media, communication, and information technology — learning how messages are created, shared, and understood across digital and traditional platforms alongside practical IT skills. The co-op requirement means you alternate between classroom terms and paid work placements in media, tech, or communications companies, giving you real industry experience alongside your degree. It suits students interested in how technology shapes storytelling and public conversation, who want hands-on workplace experience before graduating.	This four-year combined degree integrates the study of conflict, human rights, security, and defence policy across social science and humanities perspectives. Unlike separate bachelor's and master's programs, you complete both degrees as one continuous stream, allowing you to move quickly from foundational concepts to advanced research and analysis. It suits students interested in understanding international relations, peace-building, or policy work who want deeper expertise than a single undergraduate degree provides.	# Arts Degree (BA) + Master's Degree (MA or MAP or MIPP) You complete a four-year bachelor's degree in one of these humanities or social fields — English, History, languages, Politics, Social Policy, or Religious Studies — then continue directly into a related master's program without applying separately. This combined route saves time and lets you specialize deeper than a BA alone. It suits students who know they want advanced training in humanities or policy work and prefer a streamlined path from undergrad through graduate study.	You study the history of visual art and design, learning to analyze images, objects, and cultural movements across time periods and societies. This differs from a studio art program because you focus on understanding and interpreting art rather than creating it yourself. It suits people who want to think critically about visual culture and understand how art reflects and shapes society.
The door tomajors you reach through it	communications	Applied to directly	Applied to directly	Applied to directly
Entrance awardsat this campus, by average	6 published, 5 with no applicationfrom 85%See them	22 published, 5 with no applicationfrom 75%See them	11 published, 1 with no applicationfrom 75%See them	None published by average
Source	Western University on OUInfo	University of Ottawa on OUInfo	Wilfrid Laurier University — Waterloo on OUInfo	OCAD University on OUInfo

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