Program Overview

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Màster en Estudis del Discurs: Comunicació, Societat i Aprenentatge

Presentation

The Master's in Discourse Studies: Communication, Society, and Learning is an inter-university master's program coordinated by the Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF) and the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB). The primary objective of this master's program is to foster research and train experts in the development and application of theories, methods, and practices related to the study of language in social, communicative, and learning contexts.

Structure and Study Plan

The study plan consists of 5 modules, and the master's degree is obtained by completing a minimum of 60 ECTS credits distributed as follows:

• 15 ECTS of compulsory subjects, corresponding to the 3 subjects of the master's common module
• 10 ECTS corresponding to the Formació en l'acció investigadora subject of the methodological module, compulsory for completing the research line in the scientific study of discourse
• 10 ECTS of specialization (intensification) subjects, choosing a minimum of 10 ECTS from one of the 3 specializations: 1. Discourse and Communication; 2. Discourse and Society; 3. Discourse and Learning
• 15 ECTS of elective subjects, corresponding to a minimum of 5 ECTS from the methodological module's electives, and a minimum of 10 ECTS to be chosen from the specialization and elective modules
• 10 ECTS of the Final Master's Project

A. Common Module (Compulsory)

The subjects that make up this module are compulsory for all students and are especially relevant for those coming from undergraduate studies in social sciences, where they have not taken subjects in the area of linguistics.

Subject 0: Discourse and Language

This subject provides the linguistic basis for the study of discourse and facilitates the acquisition of terms, concepts, and theories (grammatical, semantic, and pragmatic) basic for the analysis of language and discourse in their psychosocial contexts.

Subjects

• 1st trimester
  • Textual Linguistics (5 ECTS) | UPF
  • Theories of Enunciation and Oral Genres (5 ECTS) | UPF
• 2nd trimester
  • Discourse and Social Cognition (5 ECTS) | UPF

B. Specialization Module (Intensification)

You can choose between the three subjects that define the interdisciplinary character of the master's program. A minimum of 10 ECTS must be chosen from one of the 3 specializations: 1. Discourse and Communication; 2. Discourse and Society; 3. Discourse and Learning.

Subject 1: Discourse and Communication

This subject provides theories and methods of multimodal analysis of communicative events. Oral genres are worked on from ethnographic, conversational, and pragmatic perspectives. Discursive structures, verbal or non-verbal, are analyzed in relation to the persuasive function on public opinion (construction of social representations), the sociopolitical and sociocommercial function (effects of propaganda and advertising), and the expression and construction of social identities that they convey.

Subjects

• 1st trimester
  • Ethnographic Perspectives for Research and Social Intervention (6 ECTS) | UAB
• 2nd trimester
  • Power and Gender Diversity in the Media (7.5 ECTS) | UPF
  • Critical Studies on Animals and Media (7.5 ECTS) | UPF
  • Intercultural Communication (5 ECTS) | UPF
  • Networks, Media, and New Theoretical Challenges (5 ECTS) | UPF
  • Interpersonal Communication [biennial] (5 ECTS) | UPF
  • Language Acquisition and Cognition (5 ECTS) | UPF

Subject 2: Discourse and Society

This subject is interested, above all, in the description and analysis of the social functions and contexts of language and discourse in specific interactions. The perspectives adopted are fundamentally sociocognitive and critical. From different theoretical approaches, the communicative competence, the (re)production of social identities and power, registers, linguistic and discursive variation according to gender, social class, ethnicity, and age are studied. Central notions of sociolinguistics are also worked on: language alternation, diglossia, bilingualism, pidgins, and creoles. The political discourse and its effects on public opinion are also analyzed. The methodology of these subjects is usually qualitative: for example, pragmatic analysis, ethnomethodological or conversational.

Subjects

• 1st trimester
  • Identities, Diversity, and Intercultural Coexistence (6 ECTS) | UAB
• 2nd trimester
  • Linguistic Variation and Change [biennial] (5 ECTS) | UPF
  • Terminology, Neology, and Society (5 ECTS) | UPF
  • Digital Media, Democracy, and Society (5 ECTS) | UPF
  • Gender, Communication, and Social Change (6 ECTS) | UAB
  • Intersectionality and Discrimination in Politics and Society (5 ECTS) | UPF

Subject 3: Discourse and Learning

This subject focuses on reading and writing as situated "literate" practices in communities, and on the analysis of orality in educational contexts. It addresses language and discourse, spoken and written, as objects of teaching and learning in specific social and cultural contexts, and, within the critical perspective of the master's program, the functions of discourse in the reproduction of ideologies. Aspects such as language learning processes, school multilingualism, linguistic socialization, and plurilingual competence are addressed. The interactions in the classroom and the structures and functions of curricular designs are also analyzed.

Subjects

• 1st trimestre
  • Research Perspectives in Literary Education (6 ECTS) | UAB
• 2nd and 3rd trimester
  • Language Instruction [biennial] (5 ECTS) | UPF
  • Language Learning Processes [biennial] (5 ECTS) | UPF
  • Plurilingual Education. Trends and Research Perspectives (6 ECTS) | UAB
  • Gender Cartographies: Transitions and Identities in Research (6 ECTS) | UAB

C. Methodological Module

A minimum of 5 ECTS must be chosen from a methodological subject, and the Formació en l'acció investigadora subject must be taken to complete the research line in the scientific study of discourse.

Subject 4: Research Methods and Tools

This subject ensures that discourse and communication studies are based on an explicit, contemporary, and adequate methodology for the purpose of the study. Beyond traditional methods, such as content analysis and statistical analysis, discourse studies employ hermeneutic, argumentative, and sociocognitive methodologies that allow describing and observing data with the rigor required by academic research. The use of computational tools and resources that facilitate the treatment of extensive corpora is also worked on.

Subjects

• 1st trimester
  • Corpus and Computer Tools (5 ECTS) - UPF
  • Discourse and Communication (5 ECTS) - UPF
  • Research Design, Planning, and Methodology (5 ECTS) - UPF
  • Discursive Perspectives for Research and Social Intervention (6 ECTS) - UAB
  • Epistemology and Methodology of Communication Research (6 ECTS) - UAB
• 2nd trimester
  • Argumentation in Linguistic Analysis (5 ECTS) - UPF
• 2nd and 3rd trimester
  • Training in Research Action (compulsory in the research line) (10 ECTS) - UPF

D. Elective Module for Expansion

It consists of objectives and contents that can reinforce a specialization (intensification) or prepare for a doctorate or a subsequent profession. Elective subjects from the different specialization modules can also be chosen (see module B).

Subject 5: Complementary Expansion

The linguistic dimension is reinforced with a subject on semantics and pragmatics. The learning dimension is reinforced with a subject on the teaching of modern languages as first, second, or additional languages, although it is fundamentally focused on the teaching of Spanish as a foreign language, for which a very high level of competence in this language is required. The study of social gender can also be expanded, which is addressed transversally in the master's program from communication, society, or learning (with a specific subject on gender and its relationship with discourse in each specialization).

Subjects

• 1st trimester
  • Procedures and Skills in the Classroom (5 ECTS) - UPF
• 2nd trimester
  • Semantics and Pragmatics (5 ECTS) - UPF
  • Contemporary Perspectives on Communication, Gender, and Sexuality (5 ECTS) | UPF

E. Individual Work Module (Final Master's Project - Compulsory)

Faculty

Carmen López Ferrero

Professor of Spanish Language and Discourse Studies
/ Coordinator of the master's program

Professional Outcomes

• General and specialized consulting for discursive services
• General and specialized journalism
• Advertising
• Interaction and communication within and between companies
• Political communication and propaganda
• Medical and health communication
• Multicultural communication
• Social mediation (intercultural, educational, health, therapeutic, business)
• Education (management of cultural diversity and multilingualism)
• Language teaching in its communicative and pragmatic approach (production and interpretation of texts and oral communication activities)

The content of the program is part of the international framework of the 'transdisciplinarity' of Discourse Studies that is carried out in linguistics, cognitive sciences, and social sciences (communication, journalism, sociology, anthropology, didactics, and political science). The primary interest of the master's program is, on the one hand, to foster research and train experts in the development and application of theories, methods, and practices in the multidisciplinary area of language use in discourse, communication, and learning in different social contexts; and, on the other hand, to contribute to academic specialization in the different areas of application of Discourse Studies mentioned above.

Practical Information

• Duration: 1 academic year full-time, 2 academic years part-time (60 ECTS credits)
• Calendar: From September to June
• Schedule: Preferably in the afternoon
• Price: EU students: 1,302 € | Non-EU students: 5,749.8 €
• Places: 30
• Modality: Face-to-face
• Language: Catalan, Spanish, and English
• Gives access to: Doctorate in Translation and Language Sciences

The Master's in Discourse Studies: Communication, Society, and Learning is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the complex relationships between language, discourse, and society. Through a combination of theoretical and practical coursework, students will gain the skills and knowledge necessary to analyze and interpret discourse in various social contexts, including communication, education, and politics. The program's interdisciplinary approach and emphasis on critical thinking and research methods make it an ideal choice for students interested in pursuing a career in fields such as language teaching, communication, journalism, or social research. With its strong focus on academic rigor and professional development, this master's program is well-suited for students who wish to pursue a doctorate or work in a variety of professional settings.