COM-33806 Advanced Communication Science

Vak

Studiepunten 6.00

Language of instruction:

English

Assumed knowledge on:

This course is for master students of Applied Communication Science. Other students have to have finished at least two COM courses.

Contents:

This course provides the start of the masters programme Applied Communication Science. This course explores the latest developments in the field of communication science. It offers an anthology of topics that lies in the main interest area of our research like framing in conflicts, monitoring system innovation and participation mediated by filming.
The course offers a journey along a diversity of fields typical of Wageningen University, such as agriculture and land use; food and health; and nature, water and environment. The programme concentrates on processes of innovation and social change and the role of communication therein, whether as deliberate communicative intervention or as people's daily communication strategies.

Learning outcomes:

At the end of the course students are expected to be able to:
- participate in scientific discussions on actual developments linked to the research programme of the chair group Communication Science in the fields of WUR;
- describe and discuss critically the possibilities and problems of using the theories presented in the empirical studies which are introduced in the lectures;
- use the theories presented in the examples of their interest in an exploratory way.

Activities:

The course meetings consist of lectures and group discussions. Each lecture will be given by another guest-lecturer who is or was involved in the chair group Communication Science. Students actively participate in classroom discussions, write two individual essays about one of the topics covered and study related literature. As such the course prepares master students to do their own research. A reader will be provided containing literature on important recent thinking in communication science and other relevant social disciplines and examples of empirical research. Relevant literature has to be read before each meeting. At every meeting the last hour will be spent on a discussion in the group based on statements prepared by the students.

Examination:

The final grade will be based on the participation in the discussion (20%), individual assignments (40%) and a written exam (40%). The marks for the individual assignments and the written exam have to be at least 5.5.