What is the difference between communication studies and media studies

These debates include: qualitative and quantitative methods including the effects tradition and audience studies , critical theory, cultural studies, textual analysis, history, creative industries, and media theory media ecologies and medium theory.

We thus aim: 1 to introduce students to as many of the subfields as possible to explore how communication is shaped by and shapes society; 2 for students to develop research skills and an overview of key theoretical and methodological debates on historical and contemporary communication practices and technologies; 3 for students to develop a working knowledge of the globalised and digitised dynamics of contemporary communication; 4 for students to develop a critical understanding of communication technologies and associated practices as key sites for the operation of capitalism and public policy, the mediation of everyday life, the governance of populations, and the production of cultural identity.

Communication Studies can be combined with the study of a wide range of other subjects, including:. COVID information. Find out more Future student? Depending on the type of electives offered through the degree program or any additional experience students gain in their chosen field, graduates also enter jobs as broadcast technicians, proofreaders, and public relations assistants.

These jobs can be great starting points for professionals at the start of their career, and to continue to gain additional experience while enrolled in more advanced online degree programs. Students still take courses in interpersonal and organizational communication, but with more advanced classes in topics like mass communication and society, strategic communication, and crisis communications.

Through the introduction of concentration areas, students can better prepare for the desired career field and can often gain additional experience through internships built into the degree program. Depending on their concentration, Communication Studies graduates can also enter mid-level and management positions like business analysts, social media managers, or marketing managers.

Many students also focus on mass media, and move into jobs producing programming for radio or television. Finally, some continue their studies at the doctoral level, advancing to PhD programs where they will produce original research, teach, and prepare for a career in academia. Check out the list of example courses below to gain a better understanding of the type of topics typically covered. Keep in mind, this list is meant to be illustrative, not exhaustive.

Prospective students should be sure to contact individual programs before applying to learn about specific course offerings. In some cases, courses have a strong focus on radio, television, and journalism. In others, the coursework takes a broader approach, including the internet as a form of mass communication with courses like web design principles and social media analysis.

Some programs might also include a focus on film, offering courses such as screenwriting or history of contemporary cinema. Some students will continue their studies at the doctoral level with the goal of earning a PhD, so that they can continue in academia to conduct mass media research and educate students on the subject. Most programs include courses in broadcast journalism, media law and ethics, theory of mass communication, mass communication research, media effects, media management, public relations, and editorial writing.

The first of these is breadth of course topics offered, while the second is the extent to which each program focuses on theory or application.