MA in Journalism and Communication Studies
June 14, 2022 2022-12-27 22:09MA in Journalism and Communication Studies
MA in Journalism and Communication Studies
NAME AND GOALS OF THE PROGRAMME
Name of the programme: Graduate academic studies of Journalism and Communication Studies
Students can choose one of two course routes: Journalism Studies or Communication Studies
Journalism Studies – Improving professional competences of journalists for the positions required by the modern-day media, in particular for management and editing ones. Equipping students with knowledge and skills necessary for innovative work that improves both the media and its immediate surrounding. Providing students with tools to observe a social issue and engage in scientific research.
Communication Studies – Improving professional competences for the purpose of social, public, and business communication, that is, in positions of a journalist and an editor in the mass media. Equipping students with knowledge and skills for innovative individual work that provides progress in the profession of communicator and counsellor in communication processes, that is, in positions of a journalist and an editor in the mass media. Equipping students with necessary tools to observe a social issue as regards the professions of communicator, journalist, PR expert, advertising agent and alike and to propose an adequate solution. Equipping students with knowledge and skills for research work on their own and within a team as regards the professions of communicator, journalist, PR expert, advertising agent and alike.
MODEL OF THE STUDY PROGRAMME
The Study Programmes offers a 4+1+3 design of the three cycles of academic studies.
SCIENTIFIC FIELD OF THE STUDY PROGRAMME
The second-cycle academic studies of Journalism and Communication Studies are positioned within the domain of Social Science and in the scientific field of Journalism and Communication Studies. The narrow scientific fields featured in the proposed curriculum are as follows: Journalism, Communication Studies, Information Science (social aspects), and Mass Media.
TYPE OF STUDIES AND LEARNING OUTCOMES
Type of studies: Graduate academic studies
Learning outcomes
Journalism Studies – Improving knowledge and acquiring skills for application of new methods and techniques in the field of media business and recognising new trends in global journalism and applying them in the local media. Synergetic application of new processes in journalism with regard to specific characteristics of the media concerned. Ability to work individually across the field of journalism, ability to organise work in the media, and ability to conduct professional projects without supervision.
Specific learning outcomes are defined within the scope of each mandatory and elective teaching subject.
Communication Studies – Improving knowledge andacquiring skills for application of new methods and techniques in the field of social and business communication, that is, media communication. Recognition of new trends in global communication between various social factors and ability to apply them as regards the professions of communicator, journalist, media analyst, business communication counsellor, social communication counsellor to advertising agent, and PR expert. Synergetic application of new processes in communication with regard to specific characteristics of the media concerned. Ability to work individually across the field of communication – communicator, journalist, media analyst, business communication counsellor, social communication counsellor to advertising agent, and PR expert. Ability to design, strategically plan, and conduct social and business communication and professional projects without supervision.
Specific learning outcomes are defined within the scope of each mandatory and elective teaching subject.
ACADEMIC TITLE
According to the Decision on Usage and Acquisition of Academic Titles of the Government of the Republic of Srpska (Official Gazette of the Republic of Srpska, issue 111/09), of 16 December 2009, the following titles are obtained upon finishing the second-cycle academic studies at the Study Programme of Journalism and Communication Studies:
MA in Journalism – upon completion of Journalism Studies Course Route
MA in Communication Studies – upon completion of Communication Studies Course Route
REQUIREMENTS FOR ENROLMENT ON THE SECOND-CYCLE ACADEMIC STUDIES
Completed first-cycle academic studies in the scientifc field of Journalism and Communication Studies and an entrance exam passed.
JOURNALISM AND COMMUNICATION STUDIES CURRICULUM
Course Route: Journalism
Semester |
| Subject | Status | Lecture classes | Exercise classes | Additional activities | ECTS |
1. | 1. | Contemporary Journalism and Public Discourse | M | 4 | 2 | 0 | 8 |
2. | Communication Studies Theories | M | 4 | 2 | 0 | 7 | |
3. | Media Analysis | M | 3 | 1 | 0 | 5 | |
4. | Documentary Journalistic Forms | M | 3 | 1 | 0 | 5 | |
5. | Internet and New Media Technologies | M | 3 | 1 | 0 | 5 | |
17 | 7 | 0 | 30 | ||||
Semester |
| Subject | Status | Lecture classes | Exercise classes | Additional activities | ECTS |
2. | 1. | Scientific Research Methodology | M | 4 | 2 | 0 | 8 |
2. | Media and Globalisation | M | 4 | 2 | 0 | 7 | |
3. | Master’s Thesis | M | 15 | ||||
8 | 4 | 0 | 30 | ||||
Course Route: Communication Studies
Semester |
| Subject | Status | Lecture classes | Exercise classes | Additional activities | ECTS |
1. | 1. | Communication Studies Theories | M | 4 | 2 | 0 | 8 |
2. | Media and Society | M | 4 | 2 | 0 | 7 | |
3. | International Communication | M | 3 | 1 | 0 | 5 | |
4. | Political Communication | M | 3 | 1 | 0 | 5 | |
5. | Business Communication | M | 3 | 1 | 0 | 5 | |
15 | 7 | 0 | 30 | ||||
Semester |
| Subject | Status | Lecture classes | Exercise classes | Additional activities | ECTS |
2. | 1. | Scientific Research Methodology | M | 4 | 2 | 0 | 8 |
2. | Public Communication | M | 4 | 2 | 0 | 7 | |
3. | Master’s Thesis | M | 15 | ||||
8 | 4 | 0 | 30 | ||||
METHODOLOGY AND DURATION OF STUDIES
The studies are regular, organised at the seat of the Faculty and following the 4+1+3 design, with the first cycle lasting for 4 (four years), that is, 8 (eight semesters), and the second one for 1 (one) year, that is, 2 (two) semesters. The latter figure refers to the third cycle (doctoral studies), to be launched soon.
With regard to the teaching process, there are following forms applied: regular lectures and practical exercises. Upon completion of the first cycle, students can choose between two study courses at the second cycle: Political Studies and International Studies, each featuring five mandatory subjects and one elective, as well as the final paper, on the basis of which candidates choose their field of expertise.
Students at this study programme are obliged to actively participate in lecture and exercise classes, to submit essays, seminar papers, and research projects, as well as to give presentations and be engaged in other academic activities, for which they are awarded points. At the beginning of a semester, the professor in charge of the subject introduces topics and issues, methodology and forms of work, and credits awarded to particular activities that make up of the overall subject workload. The passing grades range from 6 to 10 in a 5-10 grading system, the former being the lowest and the latter the highest grades. With regard to the aforementioned, the grades of 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 are awarded for the respective point ranges: 51-60, 61-70, 71-80, 81-90, and 91-100. The grade of 5, marking a failed exam, is awarded for scores below 51.
The second-cycle studies last for 2 (two) semesters. In order for an MA in Political Science or an MA in International Relations to be acquired, candidates are required to complete the 60-ECTS workload, to pass all the exams, and to publicly defend their master’s thesis.
