BA in Communication and Information Studies University of Groningen

Communication is at the centre of human social action. From everyday family life to communication in organizations, our lives are shaped and organized through communication.

Communication plays a crucial role in society. How can people be persuaded to live a healthy life? How can teachers find out what students understand? How can doctors successfully communicate with low-literate patients? These are all questions about Communication design.

In the bachelor's programme Communication and Information Studies (CIS) you will learn:

• to find where communication succeeds or fails
• to design and implement interventions to improve communication
• to measure the success of these interventions.

CIS focuses on communication from a language perspective in the broadest sense: CIS is about text, talk, gestures, pictures and digital media.

Communication is not only about products, but also about processes involving people, attitudes and opinions. Therefore, you will receive multidisciplinary training with elements from linguistics, psychology, sociology and marketing.

CIS is an international degree programme taught in English. You will be part of an international group of students. You will collaborate with students abroad. And you will have guest lecturers from universities outside the Netherlands. The programme also provides the possibility to follow a Dutch Track.

Why study this programme in Groningen?

CIS in Groningen is the only 100% international CIS programme in The Netherlands. It is taught in English and it takes an intercultural perspective on communication. It has a strong focus on communication design. Our graduates are experts in designing and advising on successful corporate communication, workplace interactions, and communication training. We do not only focus on written text, but also include human-to-human interaction, human-computer interaction, and effective use of visuals.

Year 1

Students get familiar with CIS topics (multimodal communication, persuasive communication, digital communication, intercultural communication), the analytic methods used within CIS and CIS research methodology (qualitative and quantitative). Throughout the year students receive training in English language proficiency (speaking and writing)

• Academic Skills 1 (5 EC)
• Digital Communication (5 EC)
• Persuasive Communication (5 EC)
• Academic Skills 2 (5 EC)
• Intercultural Communication (5 EC)
• Language optimization (5 EC)
• Corporate and Marketing Communication 1 (5 EC)
• Methodology for CIS: Qualitative Methods (5 EC)
• Text Analysis I (5 EC)
• Conversation Analysis I (5 EC)
• Methodology for CIS: Quantitative Methods (5 EC)
• Multimodal Communication (5 EC)

Year 2

The programme focuses on the process of communication design: evaluation, intervention and measurement of outcomes in various domains (e.g. pictures in professional communication, design and evaluation, corporate marketing communication).

• Design and Evaluation (5 EC)
• Pragmatics (5 EC)
• Statistics (5 EC)
• Conversation Analysis II (5 EC)
• Corporate & Marketing Communication 2 (5 EC)
• Questionnaire and Interview Design (5 EC)
• ASP for Dutch Track (5 EC)
• Corporate & Marketing Communication 3 (5 EC, optional)
• Health Communication (5 EC, optional)
• Language and Literacy Development (5 EC, optional)
• Pictures in Professional Communication (5 EC)
• Webdesign (5 EC, optional)
• Philosophy of Communication (5 EC, optional)
• Social Media (5 EC)
• Statistics II (5 EC, optional)
• Text Analysis II (5 EC)
• Usability (5 EC, optional)

Year 3

Students do (semi-) independent research and follow a minor. Students can also choose to do a placement.

• Minor (30 EC)
• Corporate & Marketing Communication 3 (5 EC, optional)
• Health Communication (5 EC, optional)
• Language and Literacy Development (5 EC, optional)
• Webdesign (5 EC, optional)
• CIS BA Thesis and Seminar (10 EC)
• CIW Case Study (10 EC)
• Philosophy of Communication (5 EC, optional)
• Statistics II (5 EC, optional)
• Usability (5 EC, optional)

Programme options

• Dutch track (specialization)
• Minor (minor)
• University of Groningen Honours College (honours program)

Study abroad

• Study abroad is recommended
• For an average of 16 weeks
• Maximum of 30 EC

Job prospects

As a graduate of Communication and Information Studies, you are well prepared for a career in many different places. Thanks to your multidisciplinary research training in communication design, you will be perfectly capable of contributing to every organization or company that aims for successful communication. You can work in the communication department of (governmental) organizations, business communities, cultural organizations, or non-profit organizations.

Job examples

• Communications Officer
• Communications Consultant
• Editor
• Communications Manager
• Press Officer
• Media Advisor
• Web co-ordinator
• Journalist
• Marketing Manager