Veidlapa Nr. M-3 (8)

Course Description Status: Approved

Course Description Version: 24/25.P.1.00

Description Period: 2024./25 academic year pavasara semestris

Study Course Accepted: -

Study Course Description

Modern Communication Theories

Main Study Course Information

Course Code
KSK_206
Branch of Science
Communication Theory; Media and communications
ECTS
3.00
Target Audience
Communication Science
LQF
Level 7
Study Type And Form
Full-Time

Study Course Implementer

Course Supervisor
Ivans Jānis Mihailovs
Structure Unit Manager
Karina Palkova
Structural Unit
Faculty of Social Sciences
Contacts

Dzirciema street 16, Rīga, szf@rsu.lv

About Study Course

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.

Preliminary Knowledge

Basics of Communication.

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge

1.Students are able to explain theoretical models and concepts, to analyse specific cases and main problems related to the field of communication.

Skills

1.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.

Competences

1.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.

Assessment

Individual work

Title
% from total grade
Grade
1.
Individual 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.

Examination

Title
% from total grade
Grade
1.
Examination
-
-
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%).

Study Course Theme Plan

FULL-TIME
Part 1

  1. Communication – special discipline or field combining several disciplines?

EventType
Modality
Location
Contact hours
1.
Lecture
On site
Auditorium
2
2.
Lecture
On site
Auditorium
2

  1. Communication models.

EventType
Modality
Location
Contact hours
1.
Lecture
On site
Auditorium
2
2.
Lecture
On site
Auditorium
2

  1. Communication models: Situation analysis.

EventType
Modality
Location
Contact hours
1.
Class/Seminar
On site
Auditorium
2

  1. Communication research traditions.

EventType
Modality
Location
Contact hours
1.
Lecture
On site
Auditorium
2

  1. Communication functions.

EventType
Modality
Location
Contact hours
1.
Lecture
On site
Auditorium
2

  1. Presentation of individual work.

EventType
Modality
Location
Contact hours
1.
Class/Seminar
On site
Auditorium
2
2.
Class/Seminar
On site
Auditorium
2

  1. Types of communication. Communication – narrative and storytelling.

EventType
Modality
Location
Contact hours
1.
Class/Seminar
On site
Auditorium
2
Total ECTS (Creditpoints):
3.00
Contact hours:
20 Academic Hours
Final Examination:
Exam (Written)

Bibliography

Required Reading

1.

Littlejohn, S. W., & Foss, K. A. Theories of Human Communication 10th Edition., Waveland Press, 2011.

2.

Mattelart A., Mattelart M. Theories of Communication. Sage publications, 1998, 186 pp.

3.

Jahn, M. Narratology: a guide to the theory of narrative. English Department, University of Cologne. 2005.

4.

Petra Zia Slukovà. Communcation of Information Charles University in Prague, 2006.

5.

R. 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

6.

John Fiske. What is communication, in: Introduction to the communication studies, 1999, pp. 1 – 23.

7.

Veinberga S. Komunikācija. Teorija un prakse. Rīga: Sava grāmata, 2019.

8.

McQuail, D. McQuail's mass communication theory. London, Sage publications, 2010.

Additional Reading

1.

Asimina 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.

2.

Skulte I. Komunkācijas teorijas.

Other Information Sources

1.

European Journal of Communication.

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