Program Overview

Program Overview

The Language and Communication master's degree program examines language and non-linguistic semiotic processes as well as their foundation in communication and cognitive science. As language and speech are empirically accessible on different levels, research in these fields includes collaboration with numerous cognitive disciplines as well as a wide variety of methodological approaches. In this program, students acquire a broad understanding of the structural characteristics of human language, its cognitive and social functions, variance, development in acquisition and change, its neuronal substrate, and its processing.

Degree Details

• Degree: Master of Arts
• Standard period of study: 4 semesters
• Credit points: 120
• Program start: Winter semester
• Admission: Restricted admission
• Language of instruction: German

Admission Requirements

The formal admission requirement for the master's program in Language and Communication is a first university degree in the humanities, education, social sciences, human sciences, natural sciences, engineering, technology, medicine, or an artistic-scientific discipline, or a related teacher training degree. The Language and Communication master's program is taught in German. If applying with a foreign school-leaving certificate, proof of German skills at a specific level is required. Additionally, proof of English skills at CEFR level B2 is necessary, as some courses and professional literature are in English.

Program Structure

The master's program consists of a compulsory component (18 credit points), a broadly-based compulsory elective component (39 credit points), and an elective component (18 credit points). Within the compulsory elective component, students can choose one of two areas of focus: cognitive media linguistics or applied communication and linguistics (15 credit points). Students complete the program by writing a master's thesis (30 credit points).

Content and Modules

The master's degree program consists of modules that combine curriculum content on a specific topic and include various study and teaching formats such as seminars, lectures, practical tutorials, projects, and integrated courses. Students are required to earn a specific number of credit points and complete certain coursework and assessments in each module. A current overview of all modules in the program can be found in the module catalogue available in TU Berlin's module transfer system (MTS).

Internships

Students can complete various labs during the compulsory elective component. Additionally, they can complete a five-week internship during the elective component of the program.

Stays Abroad

The degree program is designed to enable students to incorporate a stay abroad into their studies while remaining within the standard period of study. The study abroad officer in the faculty will assist with selecting a university and creating a course schedule.

Acquired Skills

The master's program provides students with sound knowledge of current theories and their methodologies, as well as the ability to reflect on them. Students are able to apply methodological tools in the research of linguistic communication and implement this knowledge in different fields of practice. They acquire the skills to develop processes and apply these within a number of disciplines.

Career Opportunities

The diverse methods skills gained equip students with a great degree of flexibility in the work they pursue. Areas and professions graduates can work in include:

• Linguistic consulting in radio and television as well as a speech coach
• Public relations, for example as a press officer
• The analysis of speech effects in political and operational communication as well as opinion research institutes
• International business and cultural communication and cultural administration
• As an expert in language signal processing in telecommunications
• Forensic science (speaker identification)
• Machine language processing
• Software companies and publishers (teaching materials, lexicons)
• Organizational and editorial tasks in media organizations, for instance (newspaper) publishers, television and radio stations, news agencies, online editorial teams
• Political communication
• Corporate communication
• Communication training
• Social media management
• Media-specific project management and media-specific idea and concept development
• Opinion research
• Scientific institutions