The ABCs of MAPC: assignments, blended learning, classmate connections

This story is part of a series highlighting students from the Master of Arts in Professional Communication program.

I work in social media and independently as a contractor in the publishing industry with indie authors and enjoy building, managing, and maintaining their brand and reputation. My roles include creating and posting content on authors’ social media platforms, including TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook, to promote their book releases. 

My future goals for my career include working in the creative and publishing industries. I decided a Master of Arts in Professional Communications (MAPC) would strengthen my knowledge and help me professionally. I would love to become a full-time content creator and author assistant/developmental editor.  

My program highlights 

Location  

I’ve had a great experience attending Royal Roads University. Whenever I explain that I’m enrolled at RRU, I mention that it’s “Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters from X-Men” (I’m a huge fan of the X-Men series, and it’s one of many well-known movies that people associate with the school. It also makes a great landmark/reference during conversations).  

Being from Ontario, I was nervous about moving out to Victoria, British Columbia for school because RRU is in another province, and I would be away from my family. However, I appreciate the blended learning model and how I completed most of the program at home and only flew out for the required in-person classes that took place a few weeks throughout the program.   

Skills application 

My favourite learning takeaway from the program was creating a communications plan. I enrolled in MAPC from a non-communications background, and although the writing, theory, and research skills I acquired in my bachelor’s program were foundational, I still found myself continuing to learn new concepts.  

Another takeaway from this program was drawing from my personal life and applying my experiences to course concepts. I’ve learned a lot of information from MAPC that I knew before; however, I didn’t realize it, so defining my work through course terms was enlightening.   

Assignments 

I’m also proud of my Media Production PCOM631 Video Assignment. For Professor Phillip Vannini’s class, students were asked to complete a non-fiction video on their topic of choice. I  created a video on the impact of having a pet in the household. My childhood cat, Luckypaw, passed away at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, and there was a noticeable shift in our household when he was no longer present. For my self-reflexive narration/interview, my sister, my mom, and I reminisced on the passing of Luckypaw and shared some of our favourite memories and lessons that he taught us. The MAPC program is heavily research and theory based and I enjoyed PCOM631 because it gave students the opportunity to dive into practical and hands on work.   

My advice to future MAPC students is to remember that your peers and professors are resources and have great knowledge. I suggest getting to know your peers and building connections with those around you. Create study groups, go out for dinner during residency, make memories to look back on and connections to leverage in the future. 

If you have the qualifications and credentials, and you’re accepted into the program, own it and enjoy it. 

Learn more about the Master of Arts in Professional Communication program.