Master of Communication Sciences: Digital Media and Society (Leuven) KU Leuven

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KU Leuven's 'Master of Communication Sciences: Digital Media and Society is a research-based program that focuses on the way digital media shape the societal domains of personal identity and wellbeing, culture and community, politics and policies, business and marketing. It prepares its students for successful careers as researchers in academia, jobs in marketing, or in digital media companies.

The program is carried out by internationally engaged academics who are at the forefront of research in the field of digital media and communication sciences. The program consists of 60 ECTS credits and provides you with the theoretical and methodological skills to study the nature, effects, and meanings of digital media. It brings variation in topics and teaching methods by offering theoretical courses, interactive masterclasses, exercises in research design and digital methods, and a master thesis. Furthermore, it offers you the opportunity to complete your curriculum with an internship or with elective courses, allowing you to build your digital communication expertise.

Structure

In the theoretical courses, you attain insight into social scientific theories about the production and consumption of digital media, the way digitalization shapes individual identity, culture, politics, and business, and how ICT and social media can be effectively used in communication, advertising, and marketing. In these courses, you will learn to critically discuss theory and develop scientifically interesting and societally relevant ideas for research.

The master class offers the opportunity for in-depth reflection on current issues and developments in the field of digital media and society. In small, interactive groups, you will study and discuss topical case studies in the field of either media and crisis, media and design, or games and society.

In Research Design and Digital Methods, you will learn how to do social scientific research by using digital sources and methods. The course is both theoretical and practical: you will solve research problems and collect, analyze and interpret (big) data on social media platforms.

In the master thesis, you will combine theory and method, by researching under the supervision of a scholar from the Institute for Media Studies or the Leuven School for Mass Communication Research. The master thesis is the keystone of your research in the field of digital media and communication.

In the internship, you will learn to translate academic knowledge to practice. Based on your interests, you will work in an organization specialized in digital media and communication for six weeks, to gain experience with professional life and to further develop your skills as a communication expert.

By choosing from an extensive list of elective courses from different complementary domains such as advertising, intercultural communication, or online publishing, you will get the chance to personalize your curriculum according to your own needs and interests.

Please consult our website for recent information on this program.