Media Studies I

6 ECTS credits
180 h study time

Offer 1 with catalog number 1000460AER for all students in the 1st semester at a (A) Bachelor - preliminary level.

Semester

1st semester

Enrollment based on exam contract

Possible

Grading method

Grading (scale from 0 to 20)

Can retake in second session

Yes

Taught in

Dutch

Partnership Agreement

Under agreement for exchange of courses

Faculty

Faculty of Social Sciences & SolvayBusinessSchool

Department

Communication Sciences

Educational team

Jo Renate Bauwens
Jan Loisen (course titular)

Activities and contact hours

52 contact hours Lecture
128 contact hours Independent or External Form of Study

Course Content

This introductory course aims to provide students with a ‘tour d’horizon’ of the media studies discipline, on the basis of which different domains in media studies are explored in depth in subsequent courses in the program.

The ‘tour d’horizon’ consists of an overview of: the origins and development of media studies as a social science; fundamental concepts; important research topics and questions that are or have been on the media studies agenda; different theoretical currents in social sciences that underlie the media studies discipline; the main research traditions in media studies; and the main media theories and empirical research traditions within different research areas (analysis of the communicator; media content studies; audience and effect studies).

Other important main lines of investigation and focus are:

The importance of (historical) context: students should be able to (historically and societally) contextualize concepts, theories, authors, research traditions and results.
The multi/interdisciplinary character of media studies: students are made aware that media communication occurs in relation to social, political, cultural, economic, technological, legal, … processes. Other scientific disciplines are, in other words, essential and integrated in media studies research.
Media studies research presumes a scientific and critical approach. This course is foremost of a theoretical nature and to a far lesser extent practical.

Course material

Digital course material (Required) : Communicatiewetenschappen I, Slides, Jan Loisen
Handbook (Required) : Communicatiewetenschappen, In perspectief, Jan Loisen & Stijn Joye, OWL Press, 9789463934428, 2021
Digital course material (Recommended) : Communicatiewetenschappen I, Lesopnames, Jan Loisen

Additional info

Not applicable.

Learning Outcomes

General competencies

After this course:

you are able to retell the origins and development of communication studies
you can recognize, differentiate and classify the main theoretical currents and authors in communication studies
you can explain the historical development and underlying human and worldview of the main theoretical currents in communication studies
you can link the main theoretical currents in communication studies to other (social-) scientific currents and paradigms;
you are able to paraphrase, illustrate and link important theories and concepts in communication studies
you are able to identify, contextualize and discuss research questions and results of different parts of the communication process (sender / medium / message / recipient / effect).

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Written Exam determines 100% of the final mark.

Within the Written Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

Written Exam with a relative weight of 1 which comprises 100% of the final mark.

Additional info regarding evaluation

A mock exam will be organised and example questions are presented during the course.

The exam procedure in the first and second session is the same.

Allowed unsatisfactory mark

The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.

Academic context