COURSE CURRICULUM

The BA in Communication Studies at DCU offers a rich and varied curriculum that blends theoretical knowledge with practical media skills across three years. In the first year, students are introduced to the foundations of communication, media, and social studies through core modules such as Introduction to Communication Studies, Cultural Studies, and History and Structure of the Media. Courses like Analysing Visual Media Texts, Psychology, Media and Creativity, and Digital Media Production Skills build early critical and creative competencies, while Critical Thinking and Independent Learning prepares students for academic success.In the second year, the course expands into more specialised and practice-based areas. Students gain hands-on experience in Audio Production, Photography and Imaging, and Media Writing and Expression, while also exploring how media affects and reflects society through modules such as Media Audiences, Media and Power, Analysing Advertising, and Theorising Social Media and Everyday Life. Optional modules such as Crime, Policing and the Media, Film History and Theory, Social Class and the Media, and Women, Feminism and the Creative and Cultural Industries allow students to tailor their learning to their interests.The final year focuses on applying communication theory in real-world contexts. Students develop professional communication skills through modules like Communication, Presentation and Performance, Video Production, and Press and Public Relations. Core academic learning continues through Media Law and the Dissertation, a major independent research project. A wide range of optional modules, including Television Drama, Science, Technology and Society, Media, Religion and Society, and Communication, Culture and the Environment, give students the opportunity to explore niche and emerging areas of media studies. The Uaneen Module also allows recognition of extracurricular achievements. Overall, the program provides a balanced education in critical theory and media practice, preparing graduates for careers in media, communications, and related fields.