Since Antiquity, scholars have appreciated the importance of communication: as social beings, we cannot exist without communication. We need to interact with people around us, to make sense of the world and to position ourselves in a wider social and cultural reality. In this course, we look at how and why communication evolved as a science and reflect on today’s dominant paradigms. The course also extends beyond the boundaries of communication science itself, exploring dimensions of history, sociology and psychology. Join our class, together with people all over the world.
Offered By
Introduction to Communication Science
University of AmsterdamAbout this Course
Offered by

University of Amsterdam
A modern university with a rich history, the University of Amsterdam
Syllabus - What you will learn from this course
The Beginnings of Communication Science
In this introduction to the course I will briefly introduce the field of communication science and discuss some basic models that will serve as guidelines to the rest of the course. Also, they explore the historical roots of the science of communication. I will discuss the development of communication theory and the evolution of the media landscape in Antiquity, Medieval and Early Modern times.
Technical Approaches to Communication Science
The linear effect-oriented approach is discussed and how it developed in the twentieth century. Evolving from a belief in all-powerful effects after World War I to a more nuanced negotiated effects perspective in the sixties.
Cultural and Social Approaches to Communication Science
This covers theoretical approaches that understand communication processes as social and cultural forces, as building blocks of reality, and a binding element of power in society.
Final Exam
Reviews
- 5 stars77.27%
- 4 stars17.57%
- 3 stars3.80%
- 2 stars0.64%
- 1 star0.70%
TOP REVIEWS FROM INTRODUCTION TO COMMUNICATION SCIENCE
Helpful introduction basic theories and approaches in the Communication Sciences, which were explained clearly for those new to the field.
This course was incredibly delightful and very helpful, as a media and communication student, this course widened the information I had and helped me with my home university courses. Thank you!
Great course, very well presented. I had never really thought about communication in science terms and this course has been very valuable in bringing my knowledge up to speed
It was really fun studying this MOOC. I had a really wonderful experience even though I'm not a Communication Science major (I just took it out of curiosity to learn!).
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