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Modern Communication Theories

Study Course Description

Course Description Statuss:Approved
Course Description Version:6.00
Study Course Accepted:02.02.2024 12:25:57
Study Course Information
Course Code:KSK_206LQF level:Level 7
Credit Points:2.00ECTS:3.00
Branch of Science:Communication Sciences; Communication TheoryTarget Audience:Communication Science
Study Course Supervisor
Course Supervisor:Ivans Jānis Mihailovs
Study Course Implementer
Structural Unit:Faculty of Social Sciences
The Head of Structural Unit:
Contacts:Dzirciema street 16, Rīga, szfatrsu[pnkts]lv
Study Course Planning
Full-Time - Semester No.1
Lectures (count)6Lecture Length (academic hours)2Total Contact Hours of Lectures12
Classes (count)4Class Length (academic hours)2Total Contact Hours of Classes8
Total Contact Hours20
Study course description
Preliminary Knowledge:
Basics of Communication.
Objective:
This course provides Master students with an opportunity to study fields, which are very important in the field of communication on a broader scale, and to better understand methods and theoretical approaches that are used more broadly in the field of communication.
Topic Layout (Full-Time)
No.TopicType of ImplementationNumberVenue
1Communication – special discipline or field combining several disciplines?Lectures2.00auditorium
2Communication models.Lectures2.00auditorium
3Communication models: Situation analysis.Classes1.00auditorium
4Communication research traditions.Lectures1.00auditorium
5Communication functions.Lectures1.00auditorium
6Presentation of individual work.Classes2.00auditorium
7Types of communication. Communication – narrative and storytelling.Classes1.00auditorium
Assessment
Unaided Work:
The student should prepare a report analysing in detail the selected communication theory, as well as read recommended scientific articles. Their discussion is expected to take place at seminar classes. In order to evaluate the quality of the study course as a whole, the student must fill out the study course evaluation questionnaire on the Student Portal.
Assessment Criteria:
Positive evaluation in ascending order: • communication theories and models, its analysis methods with practical examples from the performed individual work (20%). • comparison of different communication theories, models and analysis methods, main conclusions from specified literary sources, practical work, using basic methods (20%). • comparison of different communication theories, models and analysis methods, main conclusions from specified literary sources, practical work, widely using different methods, student’s additional work with additional literature (30%). • Examination – report and its presentation (30%).
Final Examination (Full-Time):Exam (Written)
Final Examination (Part-Time):
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge:Students are able to explain theoretical models and concepts, to analyse specific cases and main problems related to the field of communication.
Skills:Students are able apply theoretical knowledge in the field of communication to resolve specific problems, showing understanding of what the appropriate scientific discourse in this field consists of.
Competencies:Students know how to characterise main theoretical approaches and topical matters of communication in the field of mass communication, identify and analyse processes and problems in different areas and different aspects of mass communication, use communication theories as a basis to justify their research ideas. Students are able to use their knowledge in the field of mass communication to develop independent research based on a selected theoretical perspective with its conceptual and methodological apparatus.
Bibliography
No.Reference
Required Reading
1Littlejohn, S. W., & Foss, K. A. Theories of Human Communication 10th Edition., Waveland Press, 2011.
2Mattelart A., Mattelart M. Theories of Communication. Sage publications, 1998, 186 pp.
3Jahn, M. Narratology: a guide to the theory of narrative. English Department, University of Cologne. 2005.
4Petra Zia Slukovà. Communcation of Information Charles University in Prague, 2006.
5R. Dimbleby, G. Burton More than words. An Introduction to Communication. 3rd Edition. New York, 1998. Ch.1 What is Communication? ( P. 1 – 40).Ch. 2 Interpersonal communication p.41.-94
6John Fiske. What is communication, in: Introduction to the communication studies, 1999, pp. 1 – 23.
7Veinberga S. Komunikācija. Teorija un prakse. Rīga: Sava grāmata, 2019.
8McQuail, D. McQuail's mass communication theory. London, Sage publications, 2010.
Additional Reading
1Asimina Michailidou. The role of the Internet in the European Union’s public communication strategy and the emerging European publicsphere”, doctoral thesis, Loughborough University, 2006, 273 pp.
2Skulte I. Komunkācijas teorijas.
Other Information Sources
1European Journal of Communication.