MSc Communication for Innovation and Development
Course director: Professor Chris Garforth
The MSc in Communication for Innovation and Development is a one year, full-time Masters degree course which explores the main challenges of communication and innovation in a development context. For Home and EU students, it is also available on a part-time basis over two years.
Aims and objectives
The course aims to develop the participants understanding of communication processes and issues and to
- Develop a critical understanding of innovation and communication theory in the particular context of international development;
- Strengthen professional competence in the design, planning and management of information and knowledge interventions to support and promote innovation and change
Transferable skills
The course requires a substantial amount of independent reading, research and study and students are expected to take personal responsibility and show initiative in developing their knowledge and understanding of the field of study. In following this course students will also have the opportunity to enhance and develop their skills relating to communication (both oral and written), presentations, information handling, problem solving, teamwork, and the use of information technology. Students will learn to work independently, under time pressures, and will learn to set priorities and manage their time in order to meet strict deadlines. Career planning, via choice of modules, will be an integral part of the course.
Course structure
The course starts at the beginning of the Autumn Term and is fully taught for two ten-week terms. The remainder of the course, from June until September, is devoted to preparation of a 12–15,000 word dissertation, for submission in early September.
Entry requirements
Entrants to this course are normally required to have obtained an honours degree or its equivalent in a relevant subject but applicants with other qualifications as may be approved by the Senate, and who have at least 2 years' professional experience in a relevant field of development work, are also eligible to apply for admission to this course. References are also taken into account.
Subject streams
Students follow compulsory modules (70 credits) and select a further 50 credits from an extensive list of optional modules.
Compulsory modules:
- Perspectives on Development
- Research and Study Skills for Independent Learning
- Communication and Innovation in Development
- Research Methods for Development and Communication
- Principles of Communication Design for Development
- Social Policies for Development
Optional modules includes:
- Participatory Interventions in Development
- Environment and Development: Problems and Policies
- Poverty, Inequality and Development
- Governance, Accountability and Development
- Gender and Development
- Extractive Industries, the Environment and Developing Societies
See the full list of the modules offered to GIIDAE students.
Further details of each of the above modules can be found on the main University module description pages www.reading.ac.uk/modules.
(Please note that the programme may be subject to change from the list above)
Career prospects
The MSc in Communication for Innovation and Development will prepare students for work in the communication and information departments of national and international development agencies, extension and advisory services in the public, commercial and not-for-profit sectors, and independent careers in development communication in fields such as health, HIV/Aids, natural resource management and social development.