The Book and Media Studies program is an interdisciplinary and historical investigation of the role of printing, books, reading, and electronic and digital media in cultures past and present. It includes both print and electronic media, covering topics like manuscript and book production, internet publishing, book illustrations, advertising, censorship, and reading and entertainment alongside the development of mass media, the advent of radio, the emergence of television, global telecommunications, social media, and the World Wide Web.
The program prepares students for vocations in journalism, publishing, editing, communications and graduate programs in information and library science. The program also introduces them to topics in the Book History and Print Culture Graduate program at the University of Toronto.
- Special to our Program
Book and Media Studies Student Association
The Book and Media Studies Students Association (BMSSA) represents all students within the University of Toronto in the Book & Media Studies program as well as students who are taking a course from the program. BMSSA holds academic and professional development events, advocates for new courses and advancements to the program, as well as provides social opportunities for students to connect with the Book & Media Studies community.
For more information, please visit our office in Brennan Hall Room 101, email us, find us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram @bmssa_uoft.
The Foolscap
The Foolscap is the official Book & Media Studies program academic journal. This journal is an annual interdisciplinary undergraduate publication, which is written and edited entirely by Book & Media Studies students. Its goal is to encapsulate the core tenets of the Book & Media Studies program by delivering exemplary academic essays and creative pieces to the student body.
Arts & Science Internship Program (ASIP)
Starting July 2021, second-year students accepted to the Book & Media Studies Major can apply for the Arts and Science Internship Program (ASIP). The program combines 12-20 months of paid work experience with specialized professionalism training. Please see the ASIP webpage for more information.
Internship Course
Book and Media Studies Majors who are not in the ASIP stream have the opportunity to earn course credit while doing an internship with a media organization formally recognized as a partner of St. Michael’s College and the Book and Media Studies program.
Past Book and Media Studies students have interned at Canadian Living Magazine, the Marilyn Denis Show, Sony Entertainment, the Ontario Ministry of Community and Social Services, University of Toronto Press, Novalis, Glow Magazine, Between the Lines Books, Jack Communications, Bell Media, Omni TV, and St. Joseph Media.
Current students can find the application form and more information in the SMC386 course description.
St. Michael’s Print Room
The St. Michael’s Print Room houses a collection of antique presses and other printing artifacts, including binding equipment and an extensive collection of type.
The Print Room gives Book and Media students a hands-on experience in support of their courses in book history and material bibliography. The program takes advantage of the extensive human and physical resources already in place at the University of Toronto, including the Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library, the Robertson Davies Library (Massey College), the Centre for 19th Century French Studies, the Pontifical Institute for Mediaeval Studies, the Centre for Reformation and Renaissance Studies, and the Department of Fine Arts exhibition catalogues’ collection.
The McLuhan Centre for Culture and Technology
The McLuhan Centre for Culture and Technology is a gathering place for critical scholars of all disciplines to meet, share, and develop scholarly interests on the impact of digital technologies on culture. Students are invited to attend free events and workshops at the Centre.
- Pre-2021 Program Requirements
Major
The Book and Media Studies Major is a Type 2, limited enrolment program. To enrol, students must complete at least 4.0 full-course equivalents (FCE) at the 100+ level and may be admitted if they have completed any 100+ level course and attained a grade of at least 67% in that course.
To complete the Major, students must complete 6 FCE, including at least 2 FCE at the 300+ level, 0.5 FCE of which must be at the 400-level. These include:
SMC155H1/SMC165H1/SMC188H1/SMC188Y/ SMC189H1/SMC203Y1/ SMC210H1/SMC212H1/SMC255H1/SMC291H1/ SMC300H1/SMC301H1/SMC305H1/SMC314H1/ SMC315H1/SMC316H1/SMC317H1/SMC318H1/ SMC319H1/SMC358H1/SMC364H1/SMC367H1/ SMC374H1/SMC382H1/ SMC386H1/SMC387H1/SMC388Y1/SMC392H1/SMC397H1/SMC398H1
- 1.5 FCE from:
Second year offerings: ANT253H1/ARC232H1/CDN221H1/ENG232H1/ENG234H1/ENG235H1/ENG287H1/FCS291H1/HIS241H1/HPS201H1/HPS202H1/SLA203H1/SLA254H1/SMC203Y1/SMC210H1/SMC212H1/SMC255H1/SMC291H1/VIS206H1/WGS271Y1
Third and fourth year offerings: CIN389H1/ ENG322Y1/ FAH319H1/ FRE308H1/ FRE310H1/ FRE324H1/ GER310H1/ HIS302H1/ HIS316H1/ HIS374H1/ INI301H1/ INI305H1/ INS300Y1/ INS302H1/ JAL328H1/ MUS300H1/ SMC300H1/ SMC301H1/ SMC305H1/ SMC314H1/ SMC315H1/ SMC316H1/ SMC317H1/ SMC318H1/ SMC319H1/ SMC355H1/ SMC358H1/ SMC364H1/ SMC374H1/ SMC382H1/ SMC386H1/ SMC387H1/ SMC388Y1/ SMC392H1/ SMC397H1/ SMC398H1/ SMC463H1/ INI413H1/ VIC345H1/ EAS467H1/ FAH424H1/ HIS477H1/ PSY427H1
- 0.5 FCE from:
SMC406H1/SMC425H1/ SMC430H1/SMC431H1/SMC435H1/SMC457H1/SMC462H1/SMC463H1/SMC464H1/SMC465H1/SMC466H1/SMC467H1/SMC470H1
6. SMC385H1
For the most up-to-date requirements and current course offerings, please see the University of Toronto Faculty of Arts & Science 2020-2021 Timetable and Faculty of Arts & Science Calendar.
Minor
The Book and Media Studies Minor is a Type 2, limited enrolment program. To enrol, students must complete at least 4 full-course equivalents (FCE) at the 100+ level and may be admitted if they have completed any 100+ level course and attained a grade of at least 67% in that course.
To complete the Minor, students must complete 4 FCE, including at least 1.0 FCE in 300+ series courses. These include:
SMC155H1/SMC165H1/SMC188H1/SMC188Y/SMC189H1
Second year offerings: ANT253H1/ARC232H1/CDN221H1/ENG232H1/ENG234H1/ENG235H1/ ENG287H1/FCS291H1/HIS241H1/HPS201H1/HPS202H1/SLA203H1/SLA254H1/SMC203Y1/SMC210H1/SMC212H1/SMC255H1/SMC291H1/VIS206H1/WGS271Y1
Third and fourth year offerings: CIN389H1/ ENG322Y1/ FAH319H1/ FRE308H1/ FRE310H1/ FRE324H1/ GER310H1/ HIS302H1/ HIS316H1/ HIS374H1/ INI301H1/ INI305H1/ INS300Y1/ INS302H1/ JAL328H1/ MUS300H1/ SMC300H1/ SMC301H1/ SMC305H1/ SMC314H1/ SMC315H1/ SMC316H1/ SMC317H1/ SMC318H1/ SMC319H1/ SMC355H1/ SMC358H1/ SMC364H1/ SMC367H1/ SMC374H1/ SMC382H1/ SMC386H1/ SMC387H1/ SMC388Y1/ SMC392H1/ SMC397H1/ SMC398H1/ INI413H1/ VIC345H1/ EAS467H1/ FAH424H1/ HIS477H1/ PSY427H1For the most up-to-date requirements and current course offerings, please see the University of Toronto Faculty of Arts & Science 2020-2021 Timetable and Faculty of Arts & Science Calendar.
- Changes to the Book & Media Studies Program 2021
Starting Fall 2021, the Book & Media Studies Major and Minor are being updated to unite more clearly the “Book” and “Media” sides of the program, and to help students navigate their own pathway through their studies. If you have any questions, please get in touch at smc.programs@utoronto.ca.
An overview of the changes effective the 2021-22 academic year:
- All Book and Media Studies courses will have new course codes.
To help make it easier to find courses during registration, all Book and Media Studies courses will be re-coded as “BMS” courses. For example, the Book and Media Studies course SMC319H1 will be re-coded to BMS319H1. Note: whether a Book and Media Studies course is labeled SMC or BMS, the course will still count toward your degree and program requirements.
The course re-coding is taking place across all St. Michael’s College courses. As of Fall 2021, Mediaeval Studies courses will be coded as MST courses, Celtic courses will be CLT courses, and Christianity and Culture courses will be CHC courses.
- SMC219Y1, SMC228H1, and SMC229H1 will be offered one last time summer 2021, then discontinued.
If you have not completed Req1 and Req2 of the BMS Program, please see this page which will explain your new pathway through the program; if you have completed Req1 and Req2, this will not apply to you.
Michael’s College will be offering three new foundational courses:
1) BMS100H1: Introduction to Book & Media Studies;
2) BMS200Y1: Book & Media Histories; and
3) BMS201H1: Information Literacy, Writing, and Research for Book & Media Studies.These new courses will provide a comprehensive introduction and foundation to Book and Media Studies.
You will still have the opportunity to learn the content from the discontinued SMC courses. Course material from SMC219Y1 is included and expanded in BMS100H1 and BMS200Y1. Material from SMC228H1 and SMC229H1 has been shifted to two third-year courses, BMS331H1: The History of the Book and BMS332H1: The History of Reading.
- Most existing 3rd and 4th year courses will be offered under new course codes. Content from discontinued SMC courses will be integrated into new BMS courses.
Along with the new BMS331H1 and BMS332H1 courses, St. Michael’s College is adding new special topics courses. Each special topics course will explore one of the four pillars of Book and Media Studies: Theory (BMS300H1 & BMS400H1), Culture (BMS301H1 & BMS401H1), History (BMS302H1 & BMS402H1), and Industry (BMS303H1 & BMS403H1). St. Michael’s College will offer changing course topics each year under these course codes.
- You are responsible for fulfilling the program requirements of the year you first joined the BMS program.
While the Book and Media Studies program is changing, the program requirements from the year you joined the program remain the same. The discontinued courses you have completed, and the new courses you will take in the coming terms all count toward your program requirements. Degree Explorer is the best place to check the requirements you are responsible for completing, and the courses you need to fulfil each requirement. If you notice a course not being counted or if you have any questions, please get in touch.
- Will SMC385H1 be offered?
Michael’s College will not be offering SMC385H1 in the foreseeable future, but you may take any Breadth 5 (BR=5) course to fulfil Req6 of your BMS Major program. You may also fulfil the requirement by taking the new course offering, BMS201H1: Information Literacy, Writing, and Research for Book & Media Studies. Please email smc.programs@utoronto.ca to request an exception for Req6.
- Arts and Science Internship Program
Starting July 2021, second-year students accepted to the Book & Media Studies Major can apply for the Arts and Science Internship Program (ASIP). The program combines 12-20 months of paid work experience with specialized professionalism training. Student information sessions will run in late March. Please see the ASIP webpage for more information.
- Summer Courses 2021
Summer course offerings for the 2021 session are published below. Course schedules, delivery modes, and instructors are detailed in the below PDF. Registration begins on March 1, 2021.
SMC219Y1Y — Media in Culture and Society
SMC228H1F — Book History and Print Culture
SMC229H1S — Readers and Readerships
SMC316H1S — Social Technology and Networks
SMC317H1F — Books, Media, Music: Trauma
- Program Contacts
Faculty
Paolo Granata, Assistant Professor, Program Coordinator
Odette Hall, room 026
Iris Gildea, Associate Professor
Odette Hall, room 016
iris.gildea@utoronto.caMichael O’Connor, Associate Professor
Odette Hall, room 132
michael.oconnor@utoronto.caFelan Parker, Assistant Professor
Queens Park Building (PIMS), room 30
felan.parker@utoronto.caSimon Rogers, Archivist
Kelly Library, room 215
simon.rogers@utoronto.caJames Roussain, Archivist – Outreach and Instruction
Kelly Library, room 129
james.roussain@utoronto.caSilvia Vong, Collaborative Learning Librarian
Kelly Library, room 129
silvia.vong@utoronto.caSessional Instructors 2020-2021
Chris Alton
Jessica Bay
Emilie Nicolas
Michael Valpy
Kelly Library Liaison
Kelly Library, room 129
416-926-1300 ext. 3322
james.roussain@utoronto.caContact James with any library-related questions, including using online resources, arranging library instruction, ordering new titles, and getting help with research.
SMC Programs
For more information about the program, including queries about enrollment and completion, contact smc.programs@utoronto.ca.