Aims and learning outcomes

Master specialisation Communicatie en Beïnvloeding
Master specialisation Global Communication and Diversity
Learning outcomes master CIS
Programme director
Honours Programme

The one-year Master’s program in Communication and Information Studies (CIS) has two different specialisations:

• Communicatie en Beïnvloeding (C&B)
• Global Communication and Diversity (GC&D)

Master specialisation Communicatie en Beïnvloeding (Dutch specialisation)

Master specialisation Global Communication and Diversity

A greater understanding of the factors that influence (the success of) international or intercultural communication - and of how these factors affect communication -  is highly relevant, and in at least two contexts: in organizations whose employees are diverse in terms of e.g. cultural or linguistic background and in international organizations whose primary target groups (customers, clients, shareholders, etc.) are diverse. In both contexts, effective communication is essential to getting along, getting work done and doing business.

The Global Communication and Diversity (GC&D) programme offers students the theoretical knowledge and practical insights needed to audit, analyze and critically evaluate (the success of) professional communication  in  multinational, multicultural and multilingual organizational contexts. More specifically, the courses within the programme explore the impact of globalization, the role of diversity, and the consequences of language and communication strategy, and how these shape, determine and affect the effectiveness and efficiency of communication (at interpersonal and corporate levels) in and by internationally operating and/or multicultural organizations and institutions. The courses within the programme take an interdisciplinary perspective, presenting students with research and theory at the interface of e.g. intercultural communication, (applied) sociolinguistics, communication theory, and management studies. At the same time, the courses are oriented to practice, promoting insight into corporate communications, intercultural interpersonal communication, English as a lingua franca and its interaction with other languages and international stakeholder relations. Students gain practical experience by working on case studies, conducting their own research and interning in an organisation.

A selective two-year research master is also offered, Linguistics and Communication Sciences.

Learning outcomes master CIS

Upon completion of the Master’s degree programme in Communication and Information Studies, graduates have achieved the following general learning outcomes:

1. Insight into the field of communication
   The graduate has knowledge of and insight into the internal and external communication of organisations and the interaction of linguistic, social, organisational, and psychological factors that influence the effectiveness of that communication and can independently monitor the current state of the discipline and critically reflect on it.
   
   
2. Evaluate communication
   The graduate can evaluate and optimise the effectiveness of communication and can reflect on it from an ethical perspective.
   
   
3. Methodology
   The graduate has mastered quantitative and qualitative methods and techniques independently answer a research question in the professional field of communication, set up and conduct relevant and appropriate research, and analyse its results in a scientifically responsible manner.
   
   
4. Research
   The graduate recognises the implications of their own research for the development of theory in the field of professional communication and can report on it in the form of a scientific article.

Graduates of the Master’s specialisation Communicatie en Beïnvloeding achieve general learning outcomes 1 to 4 with special attention to the role of communication in influencing behaviour and perception. In addition, graduates must achieve the following programme-specific learning outcomes:

5. Communication as an instrument of influence
   The graduate can give well-founded advice on successful and ethically sound communication strategies for influencing people’s behaviour.
   
   
6. Research on communication and influence
   The graduate is able to analyse, based on the scientific literature and research, the interactions of factors that determine the image of an organisation among different stakeholders as well as give well-founded advice on how communication can influence this image.
   
   
7. Contexts of communication
   The graduate can implement these learning outcomes in various application areas such as health communication, government communication, and marketing communication.
   
   

Graduates of the Master’s specialisation in Global Communication and Diversity achieve general learning outcomes 1 to 4 with special attention to internationally and globally operating organisations. In addition, graduates must also achieve the following programme-specific learning outcomes:

5. Intercultural (contexts of) communication
   The graduate has knowledge of and insight into the professional communication cultures of the countries where the languages English, German, French, or Spanish are an important working language in organisations and the graduate is able to use this knowledge adequately and ethically in intercultural professional communication and intercultural management.
   
   
6. Research on Global Communication and Diversity
   The graduate has mastered methods and techniques to set up, conduct, and analyse intercultural and crosscultural research in the field of professional communication and to report on the results to different stakeholders from different cultures.
   
   
7. Strategic communication
   The graduate can apply these learning outcomes in order to arrive at well-founded advice on the use of effective and ethically responsible communication strategies in various international organisational contexts in which diversity in a broad sense can play a part.
   
   

Programme director

Dr L. Verheijen is the program director of the Master’s programme in Communication and Information Studies and advises the director of education on the structure and implementation of the study programme for both specialisations.

Honours Programme

The Radboud Honours Academy offers motivated and talented students of Radboud University the opportunity to follow an extra and challenging education program in addition to their regular studies. There are also honours programmes for Master’s students.

More information about the programmes can be found on the website. You can also make an appointment to visit a program director.

Radboud Honours Academy
Erasmusplein 1
19th floor, room 19.06
Phone: 024-3615955
Email: honours@ru.nl
Website: www.ru.nl/honoursacademy