Level:  master academic studies

Upon end of the studies student will receive a title: Master in communication studies

Master academic communication studies are a one-year study programme bearing 60 ECTS, founded upon and aimed at deepening the knowledge obtained at undergraduate, four-year studies of journalism. The programme offers to students an opportunity for further development of their knowledge and its critical implementation in diverse fields of public relations, for the benefit of clients including governmental and non-governmental organizations, business companies, public administration, political parties, trade unions etc. Besides, upon completing the master communication studies, students shall be better prepared to join scientific research of media and public opinion. The study programme consists of two compulsory courses of theoretical-methodological character. The courses of theoretical-practical and professional-applicative character are classified into two elective blocks of four courses each, with the students being free to choose three courses out of each. In this manner they shall have initiative in obtaining and shaping of knowledge devoted to the phenomenon of globalization, culture (anthropology and social structure), Internet and new media technologies, as well as freedom of expression therethrough, media analyses, communication with publics, media economics and rhetorics and gender relations in society. The curriculum encompasses deepened theoretical-methodological bases and introduction to practical aspects of reserach of social phenomena, public, media and new information-communication technology which is the main engine of constituting the information society. Elective courses offer to students a possibility for a more complete introduction with the disciplines of general-education and professional nature which should provide for the profile of experts being increasingly demanded for the tasks of procession, keeping and dissemination of information, obtaining public attention and public relations which indeed expand in information society. The exercises within professional-applicative courses shall at the largest possible measure be aimed at linking their content to the demands of potential beneficiaries. Another compulsory part of master academic communication studies is writing and defence of the final - master paper - which tests the student's capability for independent application of the obtained scientific and professional knowledge. These papers are also envisaged to be specific case studies for actual beneficiaries in practice. Those more theoretically oriented shall serve as a basis for continuing the studies at doctoral level.

The aimes of the study programme at master academic communication studies are: - upbuilding of the previously acquired knowledge and obtaining new theoretical and practical knowledge and skills in the field of management of public communication and public relations for the sake of meeting the changes, structure and manners of fulfillment of communication needs in information society; - acquisition of advanced knowledge of social phenomena and processes opened by the evolution of information-communication technology and mass media convergence, leading toward different manners of social organization, production, business operation, behaviour and grouping of people; - obtaining knowledge and understanding of theoretical-methodological concepts for management of information, transparency of work, freedom of expression and access of citizens to information of public importance. - obtaining advanced knowledge and skills for public relations which shall increasingly represent virtual communities and social networks at the Internet. - training for independent and team performance of tasks pertaining to e-government, e-business, e-education and culture, e-democracy etc. - training for independent analytical-research work in studying communication problems and needs of social institutions, groups and individuals, for planning and establishment of offices for public relations and rendering of communication services. - training for independent analytical-research work for evaluation of effects of their work - building of professional identity of experts in management of public communication and adoption of value criteria in compliance with professional ethics; - obtaining knowledge of local and regional, international and supranational aspects of social and communication phenomena which constitute an information society.

Upon completing the studies, students shall gain a detailed insight in contemporary theoretical and methodological bases and approaches in management of information and public relations. They shall have a crritical-comparative, global review of contemporary communication needs and manners for their fulfillment. On the basis of these outcomes, they shall be trained to take over, in team of independently, the actual assignments and tasks of public communication for their employers, clients and social groups. Apart from deepened knowledge and skills, they shall obtain insight in principles of professional ethics applicable on theoretical concepts and actual phenomena in practice. They shall be professionally and ethically trained to commence independent and team research of problems and effects of management of information, transparency of work, freedom of expresion of opinion of citizens and their access to information of public importance. They shall theoretically and professionaly be trained to independently and/or in teams create new means for exercising the publicity, public communication, public relations, reputation building etc, becoming inavoidable in an information society.

Completed relevant undergraduate academic studies bearing 240 ECTS.

Modules on this study program:

Subjects lectured on this study program: