Manage communication

Language and Media

Communication and Information Studies

During the track Language and Media of the Bachelor’s in Communication and Information Studies you learn how to manage communication. You will learn how the rise of social media platforms influences how people communicate with each other.

Today, people no longer use social media platforms like Instagram, X, Pinterest, and WhatsApp just for their original purpose—personal communication—but also for professional purposes. On Instagram, for instance, you share pictures of your daily life with friends, but you also see influencers promoting the latest gadgets and health trends. And people use WhatsApp both to text friends and family and to contact companies’ (chatbot) customer service. The multitude of functions of social media platforms also raises questions about their suitability for communicating specific information and about how we can optimally design communication on those platforms —both in text and in visuals.

International context

The world is becoming increasingly ‘global’ and communication occurs more and more often in an international context. This involves not only different languages, but also different cultures. Various courses in the programme therefore focus on the role of English as a lingua franca in international communication.

Small-scale setup

For international student interested in doing a Bachelor’s degree in Communication and Information Studies abroad, VU Amsterdam is an excellent choice. The university is known for its large international community. The programme has a small-scale setup and offers plenty of personal contact with lecturers, a friendly atmosphere and easy access to all facilities. The lively city of Amsterdam is just a stone’s throw away.

The start date of this programme is September 1^st.

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1st year
2nd year
3rd year

First year

In the first year you are introduced to linguistics, Communication Studies and discourse analysis. You learn how different media influence communication processes and study how media are used in organizational contexts. Naturally, you also work on your general academic skills, including academic writing and research methods.

Subjects

English Language Test
Introduction to Communication Studies
Introduction to Linguistics
Orientation Module CIS 1
Academic English CIW-L&S Grammar
Academic Skills Communication and Information Studies
Language, Media and Communication
Academic English CIW-L&S Writing
Discourse Analysis
Methods
Orientation Module CIS 2
Persuasive Communication
English: International Communication
Media Use in Organizational Contexts

You can find the complete course overview for this year in the Study guide.

Second year

After the first year, you have a solid foundation from which to explore different aspects of language use in traditional and social media. You also take theoretical courses on intercultural communication and global English, and subsequently apply your insights in more practice-oriented courses on multilingual communication and language management.

Subjects

Global English
Language in Social Media
Discourse and Social Interaction
Multilingual Communication in the EU
Philosophy CIS-L&S-MKDA
Communication Cultures
Document Design
Applied Statistics
Globalisation and Localisation
Language Policy in Organizations

You can find the complete course overview for this year in the Study guide.

Third year

In the first semester you follow a minor or do an internship to acquire valuable professional experience. In the second semester, you complete your specialisation and carry out your own research project, which forms the basis for your Bachelor’s thesis.

Subjects

Bachelor Thesis Communication and Information Sciences
Narrativity in the Media
Social Media Analytics
Bachelor Thesis Colloquium Communication and Information Sciences
Visual Rhetoric

You can find the complete course overview for this year in the Study guide.

1st year
First year

In the first year you are introduced to linguistics, Communication Studies and discourse analysis. You learn how different media influence communication processes and study how media are used in organizational contexts. Naturally, you also work on your general academic skills, including academic writing and research methods.

Subjects
English Language Test

Introduction to Communication Studies

Introduction to Linguistics

Orientation Module CIS 1

Academic English CIW-L&S Grammar

Academic Skills Communication and Information Studies

Language, Media and Communication

Academic English CIW-L&S Writing

Discourse Analysis

Methods

Orientation Module CIS 2

Persuasive Communication

English: International Communication

Media Use in Organizational Contexts

You can find the complete course overview for this year in the Study guide.
2nd year
Second year

After the first year, you have a solid foundation from which to explore different aspects of language use in traditional and social media. You also take theoretical courses on intercultural communication and global English, and subsequently apply your insights in more practice-oriented courses on multilingual communication and language management.

Subjects
Global English

Language in Social Media

Discourse and Social Interaction

Multilingual Communication in the EU

Philosophy CIS-L&S-MKDA

Communication Cultures

Document Design

Applied Statistics

Globalisation and Localisation

Language Policy in Organizations

You can find the complete course overview for this year in the Study guide.
3rd year
Third year

In the first semester you follow a minor or do an internship to acquire valuable professional experience. In the second semester, you complete your specialisation and carry out your own research project, which forms the basis for your Bachelor’s thesis.

Subjects
Bachelor Thesis Communication and Information Sciences

Narrativity in the Media

Social Media Analytics

Bachelor Thesis Colloquium Communication and Information Sciences

Visual Rhetoric

You can find the complete course overview for this year in the Study guide.

After the Bachelor’s programme, you can specialise further by following a Master’s programme. As a graduate of Communication and Information Studies, you could work as an editor, webcare manager or social media expert for a media platform, company or organization, or in government.

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Language and Media

Communication and Information Studies

1st year

Subjects

2nd year

Subjects

3rd year

Subjects

Change your future with the Language and Media programme

Change your future with the Language and Media programme

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