Faculty of Modern Languages Communication and Society in Ibero-America - Master

Students of the English and Spanish language master’s programme Communication and Society in Ibero-America recognise Ibero-America as a macro-region, with Latin America and the Iberian Peninsula as core areas, and the regions which are historically or socioeconomically connected to them as contact areas (especially the United States, Europe, and Asia). They acquire in-depth knowledge and gain advanced methodological competencies in the humanities and social sciences, such as communication studies, political science, sociology, geography, linguistics, literature, cultural studies, and history. Through an intensive examination of relevant case studies from different, complementary disciplinary perspectives, students develop a holistic understanding of the complex interactions of communication and society in Ibero-American contexts. They become aware of the diversity and importance of interdisciplinary approaches required to critically evaluate and reflect upon issues that are especially relevant for Ibero-American societies and the communication dynamics that shape the multiple political, socioeconomic, and cultural spaces in Ibero-America.

The course work is organised into 5 sections:

1. Fundamental Competencies

Students are provided with fundamental and specialized knowledge organized into three major thematic areas to address the complex relationships between communication and society in Ibero-America:

• Social, Political, and Economic Spaces, and their Communication Dynamics in Ibero-America
• Cultures, Peoples, and their Environments in Ibero-America
• Language Diversity, Social Cognition, and Information Society in Ibero-America

2. Methodology

The courses highlight the diversity of methodological approaches in humanities and social sciences and provide a comprehensive understanding of specific goals and application contexts in order to tackle societal and communication-related phenomena.

3. Advanced Competencies

Students acquire further, in-depth knowledge on the dynamics of communication and societies in Ibero-America which is combined with interdisciplinary perspectives.

4. Key Transversal Skills and Mobility Window

Students have the possibility to gain and expand language and methodological knowledge and application-oriented skills. They flexibly configure their course programme according to their academic and professional interests. During the mobility window they apply these skills and gain insights into professional fields.

5. Graduation Modules

The study programme concludes with a master’s thesis and an oral final exam. During the five-month preparation of the thesis, students are advised by two mentors representing different knowledge areas and participate in a colloquium where they will present an outline of their thesis and discuss it with their fellow students and researchers from Heidelberg and abroad.

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