Program Overview

Information and Communication Studies

The Information and Communication Studies (ICS) program helps students make sense of a world where every aspect of human experience is affected by digital technology, communications media, data, and information in all formats. Rather than focusing solely on technical skills, ICS emphasizes the social, cultural, and ethical dimensions of information technology and computing.

Program Description

From social media to artificial intelligence, digital technologies are transforming the ways we live, learn, work, make decisions, communicate, and socialize. This program comprises a collection of modules designed to provide a foundational understanding of the social implications of digital technology, in addition to introducing a range of academic and critical thinking competencies and practical skills, including digital literacy and information management skills.

Why Take This Program?

The ICS program enables students to expand their learning by choosing a combination of modules that explore the foundations and history of society and the real-world impact of digital technologies on professional, social, and everyday information behavior. It gives students the opportunity to analyze the interplay of people, information, technology, and social structures. Students' awareness and understanding of their personal experience of digital transformation will be enhanced by relating the themes and topics discussed in class to events and encounters that have shaped their own lives.

Program Benefits

This program will introduce students to the origins, applications, and effects of digital phenomena and help increase their understanding and management of digital technologies and media in areas of their own lives. Students will also develop a foundational understanding of the relevance and application of academic knowledge to the real world and the skills to communicate information to both specialist and non-specialist audiences.

Program Structure

• Structured Electives are available to undergraduate students only.
• To earn this Structured Elective, students must take the specified modules in or after the 2020/21 academic year.
• To be awarded this Structured Elective, students must take 15 credits from the list of modules outlined below.
• Students will not be awarded this Structured Elective if they are graduating with a major or minor listed in the Eligibility section.
• Students can choose any three modules from the selection available to achieve the required credits for this Structured Elective.
• Students can complete these modules in any order they want at any time point throughout their time at UCD.
• No guarantee is given that it will be possible to take 15 credits from the outset, as this will depend on module places being available and on the exigencies of the timetable.

Eligibility

Students will not be awarded this Structured Elective if they are graduating with the following majors or minors:

• BA Humanities Languages, Linguistics & Cultures (AYS1)
• BA Humanities Creative & Cultural Industries (CCS2)
• BA Humanities CCI (English & Creative Writing) (CCS3)
• BA Humanities CCI (Media & Communications) (CCS4)
• BA Humanities CCI (Irish & Folklore) (CCS5)
• BA Humanities CCI (Visual Cultures) (CCS6)
• BA Humanities CCI (Music History, Performance & Production) (CCS7)
• Information & Communication Studies Minor (ICI3)
• Information & Social Computing Joint Major (ICJ1)
• Information & Communication Studies (ICJ4)
• Information & Communication Studies (ICJ5)
• Information & Communication Studies major (with language minor) (ICW1)
• Information & Communication Studies major (with other minor) (ICW2)
• Computational Social Sciences (SCS1)

Modules

Students can select three modules from the following list to achieve the required credits for this Structured Elective:

• IS10010: Communication & Social Media (5 credits)
• IS10040: Information, Society and Culture (5 credits)
• IS10050: Digital Judgement (5 credits)
• IS10060: Digital Technology (5 credits)
• IS10070: Human-Computer Interaction (5 credits)
• IS20030: Contextual Design Inquiry (5 credits)
• IS20120: Computer-Mediated Communication (CMC) (5 credits)
• IS20130: Social Studies of ICTs (5 credits)
• IS20140: Exploring Text with Python (5 credits)
• IS20160: Theories of Media and Communication (5 credits)
• IS20170: Critical Data Studies (5 credits)
• IS20180: Fandoms and Subcultures (5 credits)
• IS20200: Media Industries (5 credits)
• IS20210: Media, Politics and Society (5 credits)
• IS30020: Web Publishing (5 credits)
• IS30050: Information Architecture (5 credits)
• IS30370: Digital Media Ethics (5 credits)
• IS30450: Artificial Intelligence (5 credits)
• IS30470: Technology & Human Rights (5 credits)
• IS30500: Digital Media & Climate Crisis (10 credits)
• IS30510: Deep Tech (10 credits)