COM730: Graduate seminar / Faculty of Communication and Media Studies

The goal of this course is to familiarize graduate students with new knowledge, approaches and viewpoints in diverse spheres of communication and research such that their intellectual understanding is enhanced. Thus, while discussing on contemporary issues in communication and the social sciences, this course will concurrently cover areas related to research paradigms and directions. This is aimed at refreshing them with the research process they have learnt in earlier classes. To ascertain that they gain new knowledge from various perspectives and opinions on issues related to communication, the social sciences and research works, guest lecturers will be invited to discuss and exchange ideas in their specific areas of expertise. Therefore, while providing new knowledge to the students, this course is also designed to prepare them to be critical and analytical in a social science discourse. In essence, the graduate seminar is a platform for them to acquaint with the needs of the faculty while exchanging knowledge and information on each other's readings. It is vital to emphasize that this class will be set as an actual seminar wherein students will be exposed with a particular presentation of topic related to communication and research areas in the social sciences. In every seminar presentation by the class lecturer or in some cases a guest lecturer, a student will be assigned to tape-record and jot down the information and discussion from the topic discussed after which he/she will be given one week of preparation to lead a discourse on the same topic with the class members as workshop participants. In this way, it is hoped that the students would be able to develop and hone their intellect, presentation and discussion skills on specific topics in a public forum. Further to this, in the final two weeks of the course, students are to work in a group of two to come up with a concept paper on a topic of their on the various seminars and discussions held in class. This is aimed at training them to blend ideas and thoughts such that they could develop their own specific concept and theme for an original scholarly work that is capable of communicating clear and coherent objectives, approaches and opinions. This academic assignment would be of benefit to the students because they can play a meaningful role in furthering their field of study as they have the opportunity to submit and present their paper in national conferences on communication or a related field of study.