Course syllabus

The 'Critical Thinking in Communication Studies' lectures build on theories and concepts introduced in the first year of the Bachelor's programme, focusing more explicitly on the role of science as social critique. The course contains three modules.

• The first block analyses the main scientific controversies in the social sciences and explores how they manifest in mainstream (liberal/pluralist) and Marxist research traditions in communication studies.
• Building on these insights, the second block provides an overview of the key contributions of 'Critical Theory' to the field of communication.
• The third block offers an integrative perspective on themes discussed, drawing on critical and mainstream theories and methods.

The course adopts a blended learning approach that combines video lectures, quizzes, and discussion seminars.

Weekly lectures will be provided on campus or in video format. Students receive the videos in advance so they can watch and process them at their own pace. A set of slides for each lecture is provided to help students take notes.

Each lecture is followed by a discussion seminar. Each seminar comprises three sections: questions for clarification, in-depth discussion of selected topics (by the students) and the application of course insights to current affairs.

Each discussion seminar ends with a quiz. The quiz questions point towards critical issues in the lectures. Each seminar ends with a review of the quiz answers. An overview of the key points for each chapter of the course is also available online.

Exam preparation

The exam questions are very similar to those in the quizzes during the seminars. All the questions are based on concepts and theories. Therefore, you need to understand all the important concepts presented in the lecture and what all the theories stand for. Do not take this task lightly. Be aware that most questions require a thorough understanding of the course content at a conceptual and theoretical level. The questions always involve linking concepts to theories and theories to other theories. You need to be able to distinguish between incorrect statements and those that are consistent with the course content

Essential instructions for participation to the exam

This is a BYOD (Bring Your Own Devise) exam. You will not be able to participate without your own laptop and the necessary sofware. Read the instructions below carefully. 

In order to take the exam, you need to bring a laptop that is in good working order, along with its charger. 

Make sure you have stable access to the ‘VUB Next’ Wifi portal.

You need to install the Lockdown Browser software on your laptop. This software is available on the VUB website. Without it, you cannot log into the exam. 

You will also need to bring your GSM with the ‘Authenticator’ app you use to login to the VUB, to access the exam module on Canvas under 'Quizzes'. You will not be able to access the exam without your VUB authenticator. 

In practice during the exam

The exam session is programmed to run for three full hours independently of at what time your exam session starts.

Do not log out of the system during the session, as this will prevent you from accessing it again.

When you have finished the exam, remember to submit your work using the submit button. Otherwise, your results will not be registered.

Once you have finished, you can leave the room..

You are stongly advised not try to copy your neighbour's answers, as this will inevitably lead to mistakes. The order of the questions and responses options is randomised.