MA
Communication for Social Change
Degree Programme

Fall Semester

• APR 7101 Public Relations Practice

  This course explores the fundamental principles and tools involved in the professional practice of public relations, with a particular focus on media relations and third party endorsement, although other PR specialisms are also covered. It introduces students to differences in key sectors in the practice of public relations including government and industry, politics and public sector, third and voluntary sectors, and reputational management for organisations and individuals. It offers a thorough critical overview of the typical practice of public relations across sectors, including their interrelationship, and enables and encourages students to apply practical tools with confidence. It relates the practice of public relations to international events and contemporary issues.

• COM 7XXX Communication, Society and Change

  Course Specification TBC

or

• INR 7108 Media, Digital Diplomacy & International Organisation

  This course explores the role of the media as an actor in international politics, diplomacy and society. To that end, the course asks whether and how issues of corporate ownership affect the agendas of a variety of media actors. The course will specifically look into the agenda-setting powers of the media in the areas of diplomacy, foreign policy, war and conflict resolution, environmental protection, international development, democracy and global justice campaigns. It will also analyse how states, international organisations, terrorist organisations and actors from the global civil society use and respond to the media through strategies of news management, public and cultural diplomacy, propaganda and censorship. Finally, the course will consider the manner in which journalists and newsmakers gather, produce and disseminate information.

• INR 7100 Research Methods

  Introduces students to the process of social science research, including the ability to work from libraries and institutional archives, and developing skills in academic research design and methods, with a focus on the field of international relations and global politics. Students are encouraged to develop independent thought by discovering, evaluating, and making appropriate use of a wide range of approaches to research and associated academic writing. This course assists students with the identification of their own research interests as they move towards choosing a thesis topic and develop a research question and project plan, while introducing students to some of the key qualitative and quantitative research methods used in the discipline.

  or AVC 7100 Research Methods

  Introduces students to the process of research, including the ability to work from libraries, exhibitions and institutional archives, and developing skills in visual literacy and academic writing. Students are encouraged to develop independence of thought by discovering, evaluating and making appropriate use of a wide range of approaches to research and writing. Complementing the courses on theory, this course assists students with the identification of their own interests as they move towards choosing a thesis or professional research project.

Or one elective:

• APR 7103 Advertising and PR in the Marketing Communication Mix

  Explores how the disciplines of advertising and PR are brought together within the global marketing communications mix, both in theory and in practice. It provides an advanced critical understanding of the role of integrated communications – including all marketing techniques, public affairs, internal communications, brand management, and specialty services as well as advertising and public relations - in the development and dissemination of organisational communications strategy.

• INR 7107 Sustainable Development and Global Political Economy

  This course will examine the global political economy as it structures opportunities and constraints on international development. The course aims to transcend state-centric approaches, looking at multiple issues and actors from an interdisciplinary perspective. The course will study different conceptualisations of the international political economy, linking changes in global production (as well as trade and finance) to changing understandings of – and opportunities for - development. The course will allow students to develop a range of perspectives on global debates concerning economic and social inequality. The legacy of colonialism, democratisation, the role of inter-state and non-state actors, and ‘everyday’ issues of gender, class, and ethnicity are addressed along with consideration of environmental sustainability.

• INR 7428 Human Rights and Global Politics

  This course offers an in-depth examination of the concept and practice of human rights through the lens of global politics. The course explores theoretical and historical assessments of the origins and theoretical foundations of the concept of human rights across a range of traditions, from liberalism to Marxism and post-colonialism. It further examines and evaluates the legacy of ideals of human rights within Western and non Western contexts and the problem of universalism in particular. The course will chart the expansion of liberal conceptions of right and will interrogate tensions between state sovereignty and principles of universal right. The course will closely examine a number of international rights regimes and students will have an opportunity to assess the work of international organisations, non-governmental organisations, states and other actors in the enforcement and promotion of human rights. This course may be co-taught with INR6405 International Human Rights.

• INR 7109 International Conflict, War, and Peace

  This course addresses core aspects of the study of international conflict and war in both theory and practice, providing advanced engagement with the theoretical and philosophical aspects of conflict, dynamics and causes of conflict, and its prevention, including the changing character of war and its impact on contemporary societies. In addition, the course examines the relationship between security and insecurity, and the politics of violence at the international level. Throughout the course, students will engage with case studies of international conflict, security and peace, conflict resolution and prevention, which are used to ground the theoretical and conceptual discussion in clear empirical contexts.

Spring Semester

• APR 7104 Professional Digital Media Skills

  The module is designed to enhance students’ skills in the use of online media. It is split between two main assessments, one focused on research and development, the other on online media practice. For their practical assessment, students have to create an individual media project that sets out to use the potentials of the net and new media technologies in an informed and innovative way. Students will be able to focus on PR, advertising and/or journalism but will be expected to display an understanding of all these disciplines. For the more conceptual assessment, students have to do research and development work, coming up with an idea for an innovative online media product/strategy which they then sell via a short presentation. Students on this module are also required to keep a log documenting the work they do on their assessments. At the end of the module, they draw on the notes kept on their blog for a summary critical report, which evaluates the work done on the module and summarises the main things learnt.

• COM 7XXX Communication, Society and Change

  Course Specification TBC

or

• INR 7108 Media, Digital Diplomacy & International Organisation

  This course explores the role of the media as an actor in international politics, diplomacy and society. To that end, the course asks whether and how issues of corporate ownership affect the agendas of a variety of media actors. The course will specifically look into the agenda-setting powers of the media in the areas of diplomacy, foreign policy, war and conflict resolution, environmental protection, international development, democracy and global justice campaigns. It will also analyse how states, international organisations, terrorist organisations and actors from the global civil society use and respond to the media through strategies of news management, public and cultural diplomacy, propaganda and censorship. Finally, the course will consider the manner in which journalists and newsmakers gather, produce and disseminate information.

• INR 7100 Research Methods

  Introduces students to the process of social science research, including the ability to work from libraries and institutional archives, and developing skills in academic research design and methods, with a focus on the field of international relations and global politics. Students are encouraged to develop independent thought by discovering, evaluating, and making appropriate use of a wide range of approaches to research and associated academic writing. This course assists students with the identification of their own research interests as they move towards choosing a thesis topic and develop a research question and project plan, while introducing students to some of the key qualitative and quantitative research methods used in the discipline.

  or AVC 7100 Research Methods

  Introduces students to the process of research, including the ability to work from libraries, exhibitions and institutional archives, and developing skills in visual literacy and academic writing. Students are encouraged to develop independence of thought by discovering, evaluating and making appropriate use of a wide range of approaches to research and writing. Complementing the courses on theory, this course assists students with the identification of their own interests as they move towards choosing a thesis or professional research project.

Or one elective:

• APR 7103 Advertising and PR in the Marketing Communication Mix

  Explores how the disciplines of advertising and PR are brought together within the global marketing communications mix, both in theory and in practice. It provides an advanced critical understanding of the role of integrated communications – including all marketing techniques, public affairs, internal communications, brand management, and specialty services as well as advertising and public relations - in the development and dissemination of organisational communications strategy.

• INR 7107 Sustainable Development and Global Political Economy

  This course will examine the global political economy as it structures opportunities and constraints on international development. The course aims to transcend state-centric approaches, looking at multiple issues and actors from an interdisciplinary perspective. The course will study different conceptualisations of the international political economy, linking changes in global production (as well as trade and finance) to changing understandings of – and opportunities for - development. The course will allow students to develop a range of perspectives on global debates concerning economic and social inequality. The legacy of colonialism, democratisation, the role of inter-state and non-state actors, and ‘everyday’ issues of gender, class, and ethnicity are addressed along with consideration of environmental sustainability.

• INR 7428 Human Rights and Global Politics

  This course offers an in-depth examination of the concept and practice of human rights through the lens of global politics. The course explores theoretical and historical assessments of the origins and theoretical foundations of the concept of human rights across a range of traditions, from liberalism to Marxism and post-colonialism. It further examines and evaluates the legacy of ideals of human rights within Western and non Western contexts and the problem of universalism in particular. The course will chart the expansion of liberal conceptions of right and will interrogate tensions between state sovereignty and principles of universal right. The course will closely examine a number of international rights regimes and students will have an opportunity to assess the work of international organisations, non-governmental organisations, states and other actors in the enforcement and promotion of human rights. This course may be co-taught with INR6405 International Human Rights.

• INR 7109 International Conflict, War, and Peace

  This course addresses core aspects of the study of international conflict and war in both theory and practice, providing advanced engagement with the theoretical and philosophical aspects of conflict, dynamics and causes of conflict, and its prevention, including the changing character of war and its impact on contemporary societies. In addition, the course examines the relationship between security and insecurity, and the politics of violence at the international level. Throughout the course, students will engage with case studies of international conflict, security and peace, conflict resolution and prevention, which are used to ground the theoretical and conceptual discussion in clear empirical contexts.

Summer Semester

Plus either

• COM 7XXX Internship

  Course Specification TBC

• COM 7XXX Professional Research Project

  Course Specification TBC

or

• COM 7XXX Extended Professional Research Project

  Course Specification TBC