Brock University

Brock University – Department of Communication, Popular Culture and Film (St. Catharines, Ontario)

Located in the heart of Niagara, Brock University’s Department of Communication, Popular Culture and Film (CPCF) delivers a uniquely interdisciplinary experience—perfect for filmmakers, media producers, and creative thinkers. Students dive into the cultural impact and evolution of media while building the analytical and production skills that matter in today’s industry.

Why This Program Stacks Up for Filmmakers & Creators

Interdisciplinary by design. CPCF offers programs in Business Communication, Media & Communication, Film Studies, and Popular Culture—each tailored to blend theory with hands-on insights.

Critical + practical fusion. Students analyze media’s role in shaping ideas, identity, and social shifts while producing real projects in upper-year courses.

Experiential learning built in. Internship placements connect students with opportunities across the Niagara region—think media agencies, cultural hubs, and production sets. Brock University

Collaborative flexibility. Want to pair your Brock degree with hands-on college training? The CPCF supports joint degree-college programs for a dual-edge academic advantage.

Context & Creativity Side-By-Side

Film Studies at Brock takes you beyond textbook theory. You get to interrogate cinematic language, history, and genre while engaging in creative expression through media production. It’s not just about knowing your stuff—it’s about making stuff and knowing why it matters.

Creative Infrastructure & Cultural Network

Brock’s location gives CPCF students access to the Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts and the nearby First Ontario Performing Arts Centre, which houses a dedicated Film House theatre—great for screenings, collaborations, and immersing in Niagara’s creative scene.

On top of that, the Department benefits from visionary academic figures—like Barry K. Grant, who shaped one of Canada's earliest undergrad Film Studies programs and its only grad-level Popular Culture program. Grant’s film scholarship legacy still influences the CPCF’s forward-thinking curriculum.

A Student Perspective (Reddit Realness)

“It’s split into three sections: Communications, Pop Culture, and Film. It covers a variety of topics. A bit of history about those topics, a handful of screenings…”

— Student reflecting on CPCF 1F25: Media and Culture class

Students appreciate the split structure and the film discussion—real talk, real experience.

Who Should Apply?

Creators who want to pair media criticism with actual production skills.

Students who value academic depth and a tight creative community.

Filmmakers curious about the cultural and political influence of media.