Political Communication (Taught)

This Masters in Political Communication is designed to give you an advanced understanding of the interplay between politics, the media, civil society, and public opinion. The programme will help you to understand how information flows and influences contemporary societies, both domestically and internationally, across diverse platforms, structures, and systems. It is excellent preparation for employment in politics, journalism, strategic communication, diplomacy and related fields.

WHY THIS PROGRAMME

• Our courses are taught by expert staff who conduct research directly related to political communication. Each course introduces students to foundational theories, as well as the latest cutting-edge developments in the field.

• We provide a supportive learning environment with high levels of staff-student interaction. You will engage in active discussion of topical issues, ranging from the power of social media platforms to the nature of media biases and the effects of disinformation.

• MSc students will work closely with a supervisor on their dissertation – a research project of their own design – and acquire research skills and experience which employers value highly.

• You will develop a wide range of transferrable skills. You will learn how to convey complex ideas effectively, both verbally and in writing, and how to present convincing arguments based on careful scrutiny of research evidence.

• Our programme is unique in Scotland. It is one of very few political communication programmes in the UK to be taught mainly by Politics and International Relations specialists, rather than scholars of media and communication studies.

• Students on this programme come from dozens of different countries, including the UK. You will be part of a diverse student body in the School of Social & Political Sciences, which offers regular extracurricular events, talks by high-profile guest speakers, and activities to improve student employability.

PROGRAMME STRUCTURE
You will take three core and three optional courses (please note that the list of available optional courses varies slightly from year to year). MSc students also write a dissertation over the summer months on a relevant question of their choice, under the supervision of a specialist member of staff.

Core courses
Media And Democracy
Political Institutions And Communication
Research Design for Politics and International Relations

Recommended optional courses
Authoritarian Political Communication
The Internet and Civil Society
The Psychology of Political Communication
Media and Conflict in Divided Societies
Media, War and Security
Social Justice Activism in the Information Age

Other optional courses
Gender, Race and International Relations
Humanitarian Intervention: Civilian or Sovereignty
International Organizations
Conflict Analysis
International Relations and Development
Globalisation: Critical Perspectives from the Global South
Political Economy of Conflict
International Relations of the Middle East
Regional Economic Integration and Organisations (REIO)
International Relations and Development
Quantitative Data Analysis