Communication and Information Studies

The Master’s programme in Communication and Information Studies (CIS) is designed to train students to become language and communication experts. The programme equips students with a solid academic basis for their professional career. They learn how to unravel verbal communication in various areas such as government, organisations, news media and medical care institutions. The degree programme will be completed by writing a thesis based on independently conducted research.

The specialisations of CIS are:

• Dialogue, Health, and Society
• Multimodal Communication
• Journalistiek

Journalistiek is taught in Dutch. If, occasionally, a course is open to students from English specialisations, it will be taught in English. For more information, please consult the Dutch study guide.

Specialisation in Dialogue, Health, and Society

Dialogue, Health, and Society is a degree program that uniquely combines a solid theoretical understanding of the role of language in real-life healthcare interactions with applied knowledge of facilitating dialogue. You will learn to how analyse and improve conversations in healthcare settings, ranging from public debates to online discussions. Internships at health organisations will help you to prepare for your future career in practice.

Specialisation in Multimodal Communication

In daily life, but also in present-day media, communication rarely takes place text-only, or by just hearing speech. Videos are audio-visual, speakers use gestures and messages can be non-verbal. These different ways of conveying information are called modalities. The degree programme provides theory and methods for analysing and understanding the interplay of modalities in communication, through the natural media of our bodies and other material and virtual means. Electives or an internship may be chosen to focus on special interests or application in the professional field of communication.