Information & Communications Studies - Communication & Media

MSc Communication & Media
Graduate Taught (level 9 nfq, credits 90)

The MSc in Communication & Media is designed for students who wish to explore a wide range of contemporary issues in media and communication studies in depth. It offers a broad interdisciplinary foundation in theory and practices in relation to communication content and audience reception, processes of mediation and influence, regulation and power, political economy, ethics, digital platforms and human-computer interaction.

Who should apply?
Full Time option suitable for:
Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes
International (Non EEA) applicants currently residing outside of the EEA Region. Yes

Part Time option suitable for:
Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes
International (Non EEA) applicants currently residing outside of the EEA Region. No

This new programme is intended for applicants with an undergraduate degree in any discipline and with an interest in pursuing postgraduate studies in communication and media. The MSc in Communication & Media is designed to complement and expand existing programmes and research expertise at the School of Information & Communication studies. It is the first postgraduate degree in this field in Ireland to be offered from an Information school perspective.

Applicants are required to have an upper second-class honours or international equivalent. Those whose first language is not English must demonstrate English language proficiency of IELTS 6.5 (with no band less than 6.0 in each element) or equivalent.

Course Description
What is communication and why are media important? What is the relationship between communication, media and power? How does the content, interface design and choice of technology impact on communication experiences? What can we learn from digital communication history and what is the future for our relationship with media and the world?

This is the first Communication & Media programme in UCD's history and offers the chance to explore this area from an information school perspective. Core modules on theory, evaluation and reception of interpersonal and mass communication are combined with optional modules from across the university where students can focus on an area of choice such as Design & Culture, Ethics & Policy and Data Journalism.

Programme Outcomes
Students on this MSc in Communication & Media will learn how to:

1. Understand the theoretical foundations of communication and media studies

2. Cultivate deep knowledge and research on interpersonal, mediated and mass communication in both theory and practice

3. Analyse the interactions and relationships between communication, media, people and power

4. Assess the principles of creation, exchange, management, meaning and impact of information through digitally mediated communications

5. Apply this learning to specific fields of communication and media (e.g. health, public data, human-computer interaction, culture etc.) or technological domains (mobile technology, speech interfaces, data visualisation etc.)

6. Critique past, current and future structures, platforms and paradigms for communication and digital media

7. Comparatively evaluate international communication and media conten, structures and policy

8. Develop high quality research projects with the potential for further academic or industry career progression in communication and media

Stage 1 - Core
Research Theory and Practice IS40820
Media & Society IS40860
Topics in Digital Media & Comm IS40870
Communication Theory IS40880

Stage 1 - Option
Heritage Presentation & Interpretation ARCH40830
Human Computer Interaction COMP41710
The Digital Self IS30350
Information Ethics IS30370
Digital Storytelling IS30380
People, Information & Communication: Our Information Behaviour IS40030
Foundations of Info Studies IS40600
UXD: User-Centered Design IS40610
Research Methods IS40640
Thesis IS40710
Quantitative Data Analysis IS40730
Data Investigation & Storytelling IS40740
Research Theory and Practice IS40820
Data & Society IS40840
Media Management Project IS40850
Project Management IS40890
Digital Policy IS40910
Applied Research Methods IS40940
Media Production Cultures IS40950
Digital Policy III S40960
Artificial Intelligence IS40970
Spatialising Social Media IS40980
Media Law LAW30190
Data Protection and Privacy: National and International Perspectives LAW41270

Applicants are required to have an upper second-class honours degree (NFQ Level 8) or international equivalent. Those whose first language is not English must demonstrate English language proficiency of IELTS 6.5 (with no band less than 6.0 in each element) or equivalent.

This new programme is intended for applicants with an undergraduate degree in any discipline and with an interest in pursuing postgraduate studies in communication and media. The MSc in Communication & Media is designed to complement and expand existing programmes and research expertise at the School of Information & Communication studies. It is the first postgraduate degree in this field in Ireland to be offered from an Information school perspective.

These are the minimum entry requirements – additional criteria may be requested for some programmes.

The following entry routes are available:

MSc Communication & Media FT (W440)
Duration 1 Years Attend Full Time Deadline Rolling*

MSc Communication & Media PT (W441)
Duration 2 Years Attend Part Time Deadline Rolling*

* Courses will remain open until such time as all places have been filled, therefore early application is advised

90

1 Year Full-Time, 2 Years Part-Time.

MSc Communication & Media (W440) Full Time
EU fee per year - € 7920
nonEU fee per year - € 19900

MSc Communication & Media (W441) Part Time
nonEU fee per year - € 9950

***Fees are subject to change

Tuition fee information is available on the UCD Fees website. Please note that UCD offers a number of graduate scholarships for full-time, self-funding international students, holding an offer of a place on a UCD graduate degree programme. For further information please see International Scholarships.

Next Intake: 2020/2021 September

Career & Graduate Study Opportunity
This new MSc degree aims to produce future professionals with a deep understanding of the communication and media landscape. On graduating, our students will be able to embark on a variety of careers in Ireland and abroad, whether in the digital media industries, in communication regulation and policy or in media design, management and research, both in the public and private sectors. This programme will also provide an ideal foundation for applicants with an interest in pursuing further postgraduate research towards a PhD at UCD School of Information & Communication Studies or at another location.

The programme's structure across different suggested tracks will allow students to develop specialised knowledge in communication and media studies for a specific setting. All tracks include 60 credits of core modules that cover basic knowledge and skills (with a thesis or media project option), with a further 30 credits of elective modules according to track choice. Students will gain an international perspective from lectures and seminars as well as guest talks, combining professional industry and research experience with strong theoretical foundations.