Mass communication has become a very important part
of everyday life. We all watch television, read the papers,
listen to the radio, and make use of the World Wide Web;
we are all informed and influenced by the messages conveyed
by the media. The mass media have been described as both
a powerful source of definitions of, and as a window to,
the world. Indeed, either as a neutral mediator or as a
selective filter, the mass media are engaged in the production,
reproduction, and distribution of knowledge. The study of
mass communication has therefore acquired a significant
role in intellectual and professional life.
The focus of the Master of Arts in Media and Communication
is the central position that the mass media occupy in society,
as well as the social, economic, cultural, and psychological
implications of this position. The objective of the program
is to provide an advanced understanding of mass communication
processes and concepts, as well as to improve students'
competence in dealing with media production and consumption.
By the end of the program, students will be able to comprehend
media production as well as to criticize media content in
a constructive manner.
The master's program provides a curriculum which
focuses on the social, economic, cultural, legal and public
policy implications of the mass media rather than simply
offering an advanced degree in journalism, broadcasting,
or the like. It also provides opportunities for students
to specialize in particular areas in order to prepare for
careers in media research, public relations, journalism,
media criticism, advertising, media management and media
regulation. In addition, the course will ensure career development
for media practitioners, prepare students for high-level
employment in media-related professions, and provide a theoretical
and methodological training route for students wishing to
further their theoretical and analytical research competencies.
In our scholarship and teaching, we are:
Multidisciplinary.
Communication takes place between individuals and within
complex organizations, face-to-face and electronically
mediated, on matters of personal concern and on subjects
of the highest public importance. To study it, rather
than being one-dimensional, we adopt a multidisciplinary
approach, using techniques and theories from other sciences
and disciplines, as necessary.
Practical.
Communication is an activity both ordinary and vital.
We believe that theories of communication should be applied
to improve practice, and that experience in communication
adds a necessary depth to otherwise abstract theories.
Innovative.
As communication changes, so does its study. We undertake
to foresee and meet the challenges that change will bring
and we are ready to change our curriculum any time we
deem it necessary in order to follow the advancements
in our field .
The program appeals to a market consisting of people willing
to work or already working in the area of mass communication.
It also pertains to a number of professions in which communication
skills are essential, such as consultancy in large organizations
and/or public institutions, communication research and analysis,
media production, and cultural critique. Moreover, the M.A.
in Media and Communication prepares you to succeed in
a range of service and people-oriented professions that
by all projections are expected to constitute an increasing
proportion of the job market in the years ahead. The following
constitute just a few examples:
law,
management, politics, teaching, counseling - for any
profession in which the communicative skills are the primary
stock in trade.
communication,
advertising, public relations, media and marketing
- all playing a growing role in the new information economy.
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