Global Media and Communication (MA)

MA (Global Media and Communication)

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Course Overview
Key Facts
Course Outline
Why Choose This Course?
Course Fees
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Global Media and Communication at NUI Galway

Course Overview

Introduction

This programme aims to prepare you to work as a professional in the international media and communications industries. The programme will give you a critical understanding of the complex global media ecosystem of the 21st century and will prepare you to work as a communications professional with production skills to work across multiple platforms. Through a flexible syllabus that you can curate by choosing from a vast array of optional modules in specialist areas, you will also have an opportunity to develop an expert niche in subject areas where communications is a key factor: Climate Action, Sustainability, Humanitarian Communication, Human Rights, among others.

Students will also complete a capstone module DJ6146 Final Project (30cr) and may undertake an optional internship during the third semester.

Programme streams

Stream A: Social Media and Digital Technology

This stream prepares you to thrive in networked environments and combines emerging theory around traditional and social media with skills such as production, creative coding, video and podcasting. You will develop your capacity to communicate effectively in a multimedia environment and on graduation you will be ready for roles such as social producers and executives in digital communication and marketing.

Semester one
DJ6142 Global Media and Society (5cr)
DJ6129 Social Media & Digital Production (10cr)
DJ6132 Digital Sandbox (10cr)

Semester two
DJ6133 Data Journalism and Visualisation (10cr)
DJ6122 Researching the Media (5cr)
DJ6137 Strategic Communication (10cr)

Choose additional 10cr from:

DJ6135 Reporting Economics and Politics (10cr)
DJ6125 Investigating Miscarriages of Justice (10cr)

Stream C: Climate Action, Sustainability and Science Communication

This stream will help you develop your critical skills literacy and an ethical awareness to make sense of scientific and environmental issues and the expertise to communicate these issues through multiple media formats. On graduation you will be ready to work in roles including as climate advocacy and science communication officers with the UN, NGOs, climate, environmental and civil society organisations.

Semester one
DJ6142 Global Media and Society (5cr)
DJ6129 Social Media & Digital Production (10cr)
TI216 Weather and Climate (5cr)

Semester two
DJ6133 Data Journalism and Visualisation (10cr)
DJ6122 Researching the Media (5cr)
DJ6144 Communicating Climate Action and Science (10cr)

Choose additional 15cr from:

LW5124 Climate Justice (5cr) OR TI2108 Introduction to Paleoclimatology (5cr) OR DJ6143 ‘Media Law (5cr)
DJ6125 Investigating Miscarriages of Justice (10cr) OR DJ6135 Reporting Economics and Politics (10cr)

Stream D: Humanitarian Communication and Human Rights

In this stream you will explore the relationship between humanitarian communication and human rights and you will have an opportunity to take elective modules offered by the Irish Centre for Human Rights with guest professors such as UN experts in areas like migration and refugees. On graduation you will be ready to work as humanitarian communication officers with the civil and public service, the diplomatic corps, development organisations, the EU and the UN, NGOs, and civil society organisations.

Semester one
DJ6142 Global Media and Society (5cr)
DJ6129 Social Media & Digital Production (10cr)
LW5117 International Human Rights Law (10cr)

Semester two
DJ6139 Humanitarian Communication (10cr)
DJ6122 Researching the Media (5cr)
DJ6126 Investigating Miscarriages of Justice (10cr)

Choose additional 10 cr from:

DJ6135 Reporting Economics and Politics (10cr)
LW5123 International Peace Operations (10cr)
DJ6133 Data Journalism and Visualisation (10cr)
TI216 Weather and Climate (5cr)
DJ6143 ‘Media Law (5cr)
LW5124 Climate Justice (5cr)

Applications and Selections

Application is online via the online application system. To apply, you should complete the application form and submit, together with the following documents: 

An up-to-date CV
A 700-word personal statement outlining your interest in –– and suitability for –– the programme as outlined above. You should also indicate work sectors you are most interested in applying your communications skills in, in the future.
A two-minute, communications-focussed TikTok-like video –– in unscripted, spontaneous English and voiced by you –– about a specific location of public interest in the city/town/place you are living in now, on the following theme: “Hidden in plain sight.” The target audience of the Tik-Tok is: people living in the larger area around where you live.
Your university transcript.
A copy of the picture page of your passport as proof of ID (the original will be checked on registering).
In cases where English is not your first language you will need to provide an IELTS test that scores a minimum grade of 7.0. 
All shortlisted applications will be required to attend an interview as the final part of the selection process.

Who Teaches this Course

Programme Director: Dr Don Duncan, Discipline of Journalism and Media

Tom Felle, Discipline of Journalism and Media

Dr Kelly Fincham, Discipline of Journalism and Media

Dr Uinsionn Mac Dubhghaill, Discipline of Journalism and Media

Fiona McGarry, Lecturer, Discipline of Journalism and Media

Dr Mei-Ling McNamara, Discipline of Journalism and Media

Dr Diana Stypinska, School of Political Science and Sociology

Dr Tom Felle

BSc, MA, PhD

Associate Professor
Discipline of Journalism and Communication, Arts Millennium Building
University of Galway
University Road
Galway H91 TK33, Ireland
View Profile

Requirements and Assessment

Assessment on the programme is 100% course work. This includes a variety of assessment methods such production of media outputs, individual and team-based projects, term papers, and presentations.

Key Facts

Entry Requirements

To be accepted on this course, you must have obtained a minimum II.1 (Second Class Honours degree, first division) in an undergraduate degree of any kind, or be in your final year of study and expecting to graduate Summer 2024 (your degree grade will be required before you can formally matriculate onto the MA).

All shortlisted applications will be required to attend an interview as the final part of the selection process.

The quality of the required writing sample and TikTok video will form part of the selection process.

We welcome applications both from people with and without prior experience in media communications and we welcome applications from all academic backgrounds, particularly from Arts and Humanities, Science, and Business graduates. 

The programme benefits significantly from the diversity of perspectives brought by international students. The English language requirement for non-native English speakers on this programme is: IELTS of 7.0 overall, with not less than 6.5 in any component.

Additional Requirements

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Duration

1 year, full-time

Next start date

September 2024

A Level Grades ()

Average intake

Approximately 25

QQI/FET FETAC Entry Routes

Closing Date

Applications will be considered in two rounds.

NFQ level

Mode of study

ECTS weighting

Award

CAO

Course code

MA-GMC

Course Outline

Students can curate their own syllabus by combining core modules with choices from a wide array of option modules in subject areas, which will help bring subject expertise to their media and communications practice. The programme spans three semesters and includes academic learning, practice-focused learning, and independent learning.

Each semester is weighted equally, at 30 credits. Semester One and Two consist of taught modules while, in the third semester, students undertake independent research in the form of a final practice-based project under academic under supervision (or an academic dissertation for those seeking to continue to PhD level research).

The below syllabus enables students to build core communication capacities such as writing, reporting, production and storytelling across multiple platforms. It also provides students with a solid grounding in theoretical approaches to media and communication. This will allow students to develop their critical thinking capacities and acquire advanced knowledge about norms and practices in global media, including how to challenge these. The suite of modules available offers students an opportunity to engage with real-world challenges and opportunities through a range of visiting speakers and innovative project-based assessment. Students are also given the opportunity to apply and synthesise the skills and knowledge developed over the programme within the Final Project (or Dissertation), developed and produced in their final semester. 

Programme Syllabus

Semester One:

Core Modules (20 credit)
DJ6132 Digital Production (10cr)
SP6148 Critical Theory and Media: Power, Resistance and Social Change (10Cr)
PLUS: 10 Credits of option modules

Option Modules (10 credits)

DJ6131 Global Media Innovation (10cr)

DJ6135 Reporting Economics and Politics (10cr)

DJ6150 Applied Communications: Public Service Campaigns (10cr)

DEV6100 International Development Policy and Practice (10 cr)

LW5117 Intl Human Rights Law (10cr, year-long)  

LW5123: International Peace Operations (10 credits, year-long)

LW5124 Climate Justice (5cr, year-long)

Semester Two:

Core Modules (15 Credits)
DJ6137 Strategic Communication (10cr)
DJ6122 Researching the Media (5cr)
PLUS: 10 Credits of option modules

Option Modules (15 credits)

DJ6151: Introduction to Investigative Reporting (10cr) 

DJ6133 Data Journalism and Visualisation (10cr)  

DJ6142 Global Media and Society (5cr)

DJ6143 Media Law and Ethics (5cr)

DJ6144 Communicating Climate Action and Science (10cr)

DEV6101 Contemporary International Development Perspectives (10cr)

DM6103 Interactive and Immersive Media (10cr)

EN6119: Culture, Society and Technology (5cr)

EN6143: Media for Social Change (10cr)

FM6119 Film, Politics and Colonialism (10cr)

HI6100 NGOs and the Making of the 20th Century World (10cr)

LW5117 Intl Human Rights Law (10cr, year-long)  

LW5123: International Peace Operations (10cr, year-long)

LW5124 Climate Justice (5cr, year-long)

SP6122 Social and Political Context of activism and advocacy (10cr)

SP6147 Political Theory and Political Obligation (10cr)

TI2108 Introduction to Palaeoclimatology (5cr)

Semester Three:

Core Modules (30 Credits)
DJ6146 Final Project (30cr)

or
DJ6147 Dissertation (30cr) – assessed entry, intended for PhD aspirants only

Curriculum Information

Curriculum information relates to the current academic year (in most cases). 
Course and module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Curriculum Information

Curriculum information relates to the current academic year (in most cases).
Course and module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Glossary of Terms

Credits: You must earn a defined number of credits (aka ECTS) to complete each year of your course. You do this by taking all of its required modules as well as the correct number of optional modules to obtain that year's total number of credits.
Module: An examinable portion of a subject or course, for which you attend lectures and/or tutorials and carry out assignments. E.g. Algebra and Calculus could be modules within the subject Mathematics. Each module has a unique module code eg. MA140.
Subject: Some courses allow you to choose subjects, where related modules are grouped together. Subjects have their own required number of credits, so you must take all that subject's required modules and may also need to obtain the remainder of the subject's total credits by choosing from its available optional modules.
Optional: A module you may choose to study.
Required: A module that you must study if you choose this course (or subject).
Required Core Subject: A subject you must study because it's integral to that course.
Semester: Most courses have 2 semesters (aka terms) per year, so a three-year course will have six semesters in total. For clarity, this page will refer to the first semester of year 2 as 'Semester 3'.

Year 1 (90 Credits)

Why Choose This Course?

Career Opportunities

This programme prepares graduates for a wide range of careers. The valuable communication skills, production skills, advanced research, as well as the advanced critical thinking that the MA Global Media and Communication programme offers students, are highly transferrable and sought after by employers in sectors including: media and creative industries; advocacy, civil society, and political organisations; strategic communications; social media and digital content production; digital production; publishing; broadcasting; public relations; journalism and communications.

Through their choice of option modules, students can curate a specific focus or specialty to their learning thereby further developing their capacities and enhancing their employability. The programme also offers clear opportunities to pursue further study and research at PhD level.

Who’s Suited to This Course

Learning Outcomes

Transferable Skills Employers Value

Work Placement

Study Abroad

Related Student Organisations

Course Fees

Fees: EU

€10,140 p.a. (including levy) 2024/25

Fees: Tuition

€10,000 p.a. 2024/25

Fees: Student levy

€140 p.a. 2024/25

Fees: Non EU

€20,000 p.a. (€20,140 including levy) 2024/25

Postgraduate fee breakdown = Tuition (EU or NON EU) + Student levy as outlined above.

Note to postgraduate students in receipt of an Irish government SUSI grant: please note an F4 grant is where SUSI will pay €4,000 towards your tuition (2024/25).  You will be liable for the remainder of the total fee.  A P1 grant is where SUSI will pay tuition up to a maximum of €6,270. SUSI will not cover the student levy of €140.

Note to non-EU students:

learn about the 24-month Stayback Visa here. 