MSc Science and Health Communication / Course details

This unit introduces students on the MSc Science and Health Communication to science and health communication as professional practice, an object of scholarly study, and as a cultural and social phenomenon. It gives students from diverse backgrounds a common vocabulary and theoretical toolkit for approaching a variety of topics, including:

• science and health journalism
• health communication
• risk communication
• climate communication
• museums, science centres, and public events
• science, health, and the arts
• documentary media
• fictional media
• social and digital media

The unit aims to:

• Introduce students to key ideas and findings in science communication studies
• Introduce students to the range of disciplinary approaches available for studying science communication
• Establish an understanding of the relationship between theory and practice in science communication studies
• Enable students to understand and analyse critically the key literature in the field
• Acquaint students with the range, scope and functions of science communication, now and in the past
• Develop a sense of the political and economic context for science communication

Assessment 1: News story and framing piece

• A news story for a print or online outlet, 750 words (25%)
• A framing piece justifying the outlet chosen and approach taken, 1500-1750 words (25%)

Assessment 2: Academic research essay 2500 words (50%)

All by specific and general comments on Blackboard; standard turn-around time applies