Communication Studies
The programme of study in Communication Studies will provide you with an introduction to a selection of compulsory and elective units that are offered in communication studies as a main area. Throughout the 3-year programme, you will gain knowledge and skills in a variety of topics that will accompany your main area of studies, while also providing transferable skills for your daily personal and professional practice. Some of the topics range from Reflective Writing, Journalism, English Rhetoric, and Cognitive Psychology of Mass Communication, to Philosophical Approaches to Communication and Culture, Media Aesthetics, Audio Production and Website Creation, to name a few. During the final semester of the joint area, the topics studied will culminate into a synoptic exam that will assess your acquired skill and intellect.
Knowledge and Information Management
Knowledge and Information Management is offered as an honours main area of study together with a subsidiary area of study, or as one of two ordinary main areas of study, consisting of:
- Year 1: to which 60 ECTS credits are assigned, and
- Years 2 and 3: to which 120 ECTS credits are assigned.
At the end of Year 1, if you obtain an average mark of
- 65% or better in the Knowledge and Information Management area of study, and
- 60% or better in all the study units of Year 1,
then you will be eligible to proceed to the Honours programme. As a manager in knowledge and information, you will be responsible for the organisation, acquisition, documentation and handling of the body of information that a community or company shares. In your final year, you may have the opportunity to write a research-based dissertation to demonstrate your knowledge.
Knowledge and Information Management
Knowledge and Information Management is offered as an honours main area of study together with a subsidiary area of study, or as one of two ordinary main areas of study. Applicants shall be required to indicate the other area of study at the time of applying for admission to the course.
The course consists of two parts:
- Part One (Year 1) to which 60 ECTS credits are assigned, and
- Part Two (Years 2 and 3) to which 120 ECTS credits are assigned.
At the end of Part One of the course, if you obtain an average mark of
- 65% or better in the Knowledge and Information Management area of study, and
- 60% or better in all the study units of Part One, then you will be eligible to proceed to the Honours programme.
In order to be eligible for the award of the Honours degree, you shall be required to successfully complete study-units to which a total of 180 ECTS credits are assigned, of which not less than 132 ECTS credits shall be in Knowledge and Information Management and not less than 36 ECTS credits shall be in the Subsidiary area of study.
In order to be eligible for the award of an Ordinary degree in Knowledge and Information Management and another main area of study, you must obtain credit for study-units to which a total of 180 ECTS credits are assigned, of which not less than 80 ECTS credits shall be obtained in each of the two areas.
Communication and Academic Skills Programme
The communication and academic skills programme complements students’ main course of study. It introduces them to writing and presenting as situated within academic contexts sensitive to specific disciplines and develops their competences for future careers.
Communication Studies
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Semester 1 | |||||
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Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s) | |||||
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ELP1164 | Reflective Writing: An Introduction | 2 ECTS   |   | ||
MCS1000 | Aspects of Communications | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
MCS1021 | Human Communication | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
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Elective Units (Elective units are offered subject to availability, a minimum number of student registrations and time-table constraints) | |||||
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MCS1010 | Introduction to Film Studies | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
MCS1022 | Interpersonal and Small Group Communication Skills | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
MCS1030 | Journalism 1 | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
MCS1040 | Visual Communications and Graphic Design | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
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Support Elective Units | |||||
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SOC1040 | Sociology and Communications | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
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Semester 2 | |||||
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Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s) | |||||
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MCS1311 | Methods of Inquiry | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
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Elective Units (Elective units are offered subject to availability, a minimum number of student registrations and time-table constraints) | |||||
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CRC1010 | Introduction to Marketing Communications | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
MAL1211 | II-Malti għall-Komunikazzjoni | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
MCS1050 | Internet Communications | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
MCS1070 | Personal Communications | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
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Support Elective Units | |||||
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ELP1206 | English Rhetoric and Writing Skills for Media and Communications Students | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
MAL1211 | II-Malti għall-Komunikazzjoni | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
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Semester 1 | |||||
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Support Elective Units | |||||
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CGS2100 | Cognitive Psychology of Mass Communication | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
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Elective Units (Elective units are offered subject to availability, a minimum number of student registrations and time-table constraints) | |||||
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DGA2005 | Editorial Design | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
IPG2001 | Principles of Information Law | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
MCS2020 | Video Production 1 | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
MCS2040 | Basic Photography | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
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Semester 2 | |||||
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Support Elective Units | |||||
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PHI2038 | Philosophical Approaches to Communication and Culture | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
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Elective Units (Elective units are offered subject to availability, a minimum number of student registrations and time-table constraints) | |||||
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CST2061 | Media Aesthetics | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
IDG2000 | Introduction to Digital Game Studies | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
MCS2030 | Journalism 2 | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
MCS2050 | Cultural Theory and Semiotics | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
MCS2060 | Ethics in the Media | 6 ECTS   |   | ||
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Year   (This/these unit/s start/s in Semester 1 and continue/s in Semester 2) | |||||
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Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s) | |||||
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MCS3940 | Mentored Practice | 4 ECTS   | (NC)   | ||
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Semester 1 | |||||
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Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s) | |||||
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CST3192 | Media in Maltese Society | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
MCS3953 | Social Media and 21st Century Communications | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
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Elective Units (Elective units are offered subject to availability, a minimum number of student registrations and time-table constraints) | |||||
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CST2121 | Intercultural Communication | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
CST4311 | Advanced Research Methods | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
GDS3001 | Gender in Communications | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
MCS3010 | Practical Graphic Design | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
MCS3050 | Audio Production | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
MCS3060 | Reporting | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
MCS3070 | Video Production 2 | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
MCS3100 | Website Creation | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
MCS3110 | Radio Production | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
MCS3200 | Scripting Video | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
MCS3201 | Film Theory | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
MCS3700 | Economics in Media Studies | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
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Semester 2 | |||||
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Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s) | |||||
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MCS3850 | Synoptic - Theory 1 | 6 ECTS   | (NC)   | ||
MCS3950 | Synoptic - Practice | 6 ECTS   | (NC)   | ||
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Elective Units (Elective units are offered subject to availability, a minimum number of student registrations and time-table constraints) | |||||
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CST3111 | Film Appreciation | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
CST3281 | Meet the Press | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
CST3651 | Using Communication for Social Change | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
CST3811 | Public Relations | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
CST3951 | Cyberculture | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
IDG3000 | Game Design and Conceptualisation | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
IPG3001 | Practical Issues in Information Law | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
MCS3012 | Analogue, Monochrome Photography and Darkroom | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
MCS3040 | Photography | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
MCS3080 | Online Journalism | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
MCS3090 | Video Manipulation and Animation | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
MCS3120 | In-Depth Reporting | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
MCS3130 | Integrated Marketing Communications | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
MCS3161 | Copyright, Business and Entertainment Law | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
MCS3400 | Adaptation for Film and Television | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
MCS3500 | Consumer and Organizational Buying Behaviour | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
MCS3600 | Documentary Film Production | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
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Knowledge and Information Management
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Semester 1 | |||||
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Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s) | |||||
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LIA1010 | Libraries and Documentary Heritage: History, Formats and Structures | 5 ECTS   |   | ||
LIA1325 | Information Theories: Concepts, Frameworks and Philosophies | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
LIS1211 | Introduction to Records and Archives: Historical and Theoretical Perspectives | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
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Recommended Optional Units | |||||
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ELP1106 | Advanced English Writing Skills | 2 ECTS   |   | ||
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Semester 2 | |||||
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Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s) | |||||
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ELP1426 | English Writing Skills | 2 ECTS   |   | ||
LIA1201 | Introduction to Archival Description | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
LIA1410 | An Introduction to Cataloguing and Bibliographic Control | 5 ECTS   |   | ||
LIS1011 | Research Methods for Undergraduates | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
LIS1100 | Introduction to ICT for Information Professionals | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
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Semester 1 | |||||
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Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s) | |||||
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LIA1518 | Classification, Subject Indexing and Authority Control | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
LIA2230 | Collection Development | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
LIA2325 | Information Organization and Management | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
LIS2612 | Management in the Information Sector | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
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Recommended Optional Unit | |||||
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LIS2721* | Special Topic | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
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Semester 2 | |||||
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Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s) | |||||
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LIA1313 | Maltese Archival and Manuscript Collections | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
LIA2201 | The Globalised Dimension of Archives | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
LIA2326 | The Information Professions, Sectors and Contexts | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
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Recommended Optional Units | |||||
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LIS2412 | Library Services to Children and Young Adults | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
LIS2555 | Basic Palaeography and Diplomatics | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
LIS2611 | Preservation Studies | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
LIS2721* | Special Topic | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
* Before registering for study-unit LIS2721, students are required to check its availability with the Student Helpdesk.   |
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Semester 1 | |||||
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Elective Units (Elective units are offered subject to availability, a minimum number of student registrations and time-table constraints) | |||||
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LIA3001 | Research Seminar | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
LIA3711* | Special Topic | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
LIS2223 | Print and Digital Publishing | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
LIS3110 | Advanced Cataloguing and Bibliographic Control | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
LIS3111 | Advanced Archival Description | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
LIS3311 | Legal Issues in Memory Institutions | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
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Semester 2 | |||||
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Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s) | |||||
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LIA3864 | Synoptic Issues 1: Library and Information | 4 ECTS   | (NC)   | ||
LIA3865 | Synoptic Issues 2: Archives and Records | 4 ECTS   | (NC)   | ||
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Elective Units (Elective units are offered subject to availability, a minimum number of student registrations and time-table constraints) | |||||
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LIA3325 | Knowledge Management | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
LIA3711* | Special Topic | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
LIS3331 | Specialised Archives | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
LIS3710 | Aspects of Melitensia | 4 ECTS   |   | ||
* Before registering for study-unit LIA3711, students are required to check its availability with the Student Helpdesk.   |
This programme of study is governed by the General Regulations for University Undergraduate Awards, 2019 and by the Bye-Laws for the Award of the Bachelor of Knowledge and Information Management (Honours) - B.KIM (Hons) - and Bachelor of Knowledge and Information Management - B.KIM – under the auspices of the Faculty of Media and Knowledge Sciences.