Ibero-American Studies: Master's Program 'Communication and Society in Ibero-America' Program Content and Structure
Application period is now open for a study start in October 2025!
The master's program Communication and Society in Ibero-America focuses on the social dimensions of communication in the Ibero-American macro-region and its contact areas. It combines the different angles of the humanities, the social sciences, and environmental factors and provides students with interdisciplinary knowledge about social and communication dynamics
- in political and economic spaces of the Ibero-American macro-region;
- with regard to Ibero-American cultures, peoples, and their natural environments;
- related to social, linguistic, and socio-cognitive phenomena and the information society in Ibero-America.
Thematic Sections
Over four semesters students acquire basic and advanced competencies as well as methodological knowledge required to fully comprehend communication, society, and their interrelations in Ibero-America. These competencies are further combined with transversal competencies which correspond to key professional skills for activities in and outside academia. Additionally, students flexibly adapt their course of study to individually configure their qualification profile. During the integrated mobility window they spend a stay abroad and are integrated into an ongoing research project at a university or non-university institution or a working environment at a private or public institution in Ibero-America, e.g. an international organization, an NGO, or a cultural institution.
The course work for acquiring the competencies and knowledge is organized into five thematic sections:
Fundamental Competencies
Students are provided with fundamental and specialized knowledge organized into three major thematic areas to address the complex relationships between communication and society in Ibero-America:
- Social, political, and economic spaces, and their communication dynamics in Ibero-America
- Cultures, peoples, and their environments in Ibero-America
- Language diversity, social cognition, and information society in Ibero-America
Students will gain methodological knowledge on the Humanities and Social Sciences in order to tackle societal and communication-related phenomena. The courses highlight the diversity of methodological approaches in Area Studies and provide a comprehensive understanding of the specific goals and application contexts.
Advanced Competencies
Students acquire further in-depth knowledge on the dynamics of communication and societies in Ibero-America which is combined with interdisciplinary perspectives.
Key Transversal Skills and Mobility Window
Students have the possibility to gain and expand language and methodological knowledge and application-oriented skills that are relevant for professional practice. They flexibly configure their course program according to their academic and professional interests. During the mobility window they apply these skills and gain insights into professional fields.
Graduation Modules
The study program concludes with a master’s thesis and an oral final exam. During the five-month preparation of the thesis, students are advised by two professors representing different thematic areas and participate in a colloquium where they will present an outline of their thesis and discuss it with their fellow students and researchers from Heidelberg and abroad.