MA in Political Communication

Introduction

The MA in Political Communication examines the rapidly changing relationship between the media, politics and the public, and considers how their overlapping relations influence democracy and the distribution of power.

Why apply for DCU’s MA in Political Communication?

You should apply for this programme if you are interested in media coverage of politics, the role of spin, fake news, agenda-setting, public relations, political advertising and digital media. All taught modules combine political communication theory and practice. Students also prepare a dissertation as a piece of independent academic research in a political communication subject area of their choice.

Distinguishing features of DCU’s MA in Political Communication

• You will work with leading research-active academics in the areas of political communication, political science and journalism studies.
• You will also be exposed to a range of guest lecturers from national and international industry backgrounds.
• You will work in taught modules that are 100% continuous assessment with assignments including ‘real-world’ projects.
• You will prepare a supervised dissertation on a topic of your choice in the area of political communication.
• You will study on a MA programme with high employment rates in leading national and international workplaces.

Modules

Modules offered in 2020/21 include: Political Communication: Concepts and Issue; Media and Politics in Ireland; Social Media, Journalism & Democracy; Political Economy of the Media; Public Relations: Issues and Principles; Data Communication; Communicating Leadership; The Political Campaign; Media Audiences; Gender & Sexuality in Digital Culture; Research Methods.

Our Graduates

Graduates of the MA in Political Communication hold senior positions in the worlds of politics and public relations as well as in government, national and multinational companies, and the not-for profit sectors.

Our School

The School of Communications is an internationally-focused centre for excellence in teaching and research in media, communications and journalism. With a tradition stretching back to 1982 – and a long-established reputation as Ireland’s leading centre for communications – the School has been consistently ranked in the top 200 of almost 4,500 universities worldwide in the area of communications (QS World Rankings by Subject).

Programme Content and Structure

The MA in Political Communication examines the rapidly changing relationship between the media, politics and the public, and considers how their overlapping relations influence democracy and the distribution of power.

The Programme deals with major issues in the contemporary political communication arena including media coverage of politics, the role of spin, agenda-setting, public relations, political advertising and digital media.

Modules examine the impact of different political communication strategies on the political process, government policymaking and in the non-governmental area.

Participants are also exposed to the history of the media in Ireland and elsewhere.

Delivery

The full-time programme is delivered over a twelve-month academic year from mid-September in three parts: two twelve-week teaching semesters (mid-September to mid-December; late-January to late-April) consisting of five modules per semester; completion of a research dissertation for submission at the end of August.

The programme is also offered on a part-time basis over two academic years.

Timetable

Core modules in the two teaching semesters are timetabled from Monday to Thursday, generally between 4pm and 9pm.

Please note this is not an evening programme – attendance outside these core hours is occasionally required but prior notice is provided.

Modules 2020/21

Semester One: Political Communication: Concepts and Issue; Media and Politics in Ireland; Social Media, Journalism & Democracy; Political Economy of the Media; Research Methods.

Semester Two: Public Relations: Issues and Principles; Data Communication; Communicating Leadership; The Political Campaign; Dissertation Preparation; (One of Media Audiences or Gender & Sexuality in Digital Culture).

All taught modules combine political communication theory and practice. Students also prepare a dissertation as a piece of independent academic research in a political communication subject area of their choice.

“It’s young, gifted and on track. DCU gives students vital experience and skills to augment their academic studies and is instrumental in producing an exceptional calibre of graduate, primed and ready to face the future. They also perform better at interview.” – The Sunday Times.

DCU is a young, dynamic and ambitious university with a distinctive mission to transform lives and societies through education, research and innovation. Since admitting its first students in 1980, over 50,000 students have graduated from DCU and are now playing significant roles in enterprise and business globally.

The School of Communications is an internationally-focused centre for excellence in teaching and research in media, communications and journalism. With a tradition stretching back to 1982 – and a long-established reputation as Ireland’s leading centre for communications – the School has been consistently ranked in the top 200 of almost 4,500 universities worldwide in the area of communications (QS World Rankings by Subject).

Graduates of the MA in Political Communication hold senior positions in the worlds of politics and public relations as well as in government, national and multinational companies, and the not-for profit sectors.

For more info, see: https://www.dcu.ie/courses/postgraduate/school-communications/ma-political-communication