MA
Intercultural Communication

About this course

• Entry year: 2012/13
• Course code: P99012
• Applications: University
• Level: Postgraduate
• Department: Arts
• Campus: Frenchay
• Duration:

  Full-time: two teaching blocks of 12 weeks, commencing in September. The MA concludes in September the following year.

  Part-time: four teaching blocks over two years, commencing in September each year and concluding in January following the end of your second year. You are expected to attend all relevant lectures and seminars.

• Programme leader: Dr Jo Angouri

Introduction

The current move towards globalisation has made it imperative that commercial and public sector organisations and institutions be aware of the importance of intercultural communication. Every workplace benefits from individuals who have an understanding of intercultural communication issues, whether in an international or local multicultural community.

Intercultural Communication is a relatively new field of study and incorporates a fascinating mix of elements. As well as giving you a critical understanding of interculturality, this course provides research training in the collection of insights and data. The course takes an unusually multi-disciplinary approach, enabling students with interests as diverse as business, education, journalism, languages, linguistics or politics to approach the subject from their particular perspective. Through its multi-disciplinary character, the MA brings together students and staff from diverse backgrounds, so that participation in the course is a significant intercultural experience in itself.

The course will interest students and practitioners as well as those wishing to pursue careers in academia, international management and relations, business community and international development. It will also appeal to those who wish to become more effective communicators in other professions, or act as cultural consultants.

Structure

Content

You will be introduced to current theoretical debates with respect to intercultural communication. These approaches offer an integrated, interdisciplinary, multi-method and multi-level explanation of intercultural encounters and go beyond the traditional reliance on personal experience and anecdotalism.

You must gain a total of 120 credits in the taught modules before going on to take the 60 credit MA Dissertation.

Core modules:

• Intercultural Communication - This module investigates the concepts of culture and intercultural communication. Special attention is paid to the relationship between language and culture. You will study a range of theoretical approaches and analytical tools that have been suggested by scholars for the study and practical application of intercultural knowledge and competence in the twenty-first century. You will look at the findings of cutting edge research and discuss critically the strengths and weaknesses of the different approaches.  The assessment for this module provides you with the opportunity to follow your own interests and focus on a topic you wish to explore further.
• Trading and Transacting across Borders - This core module focuses on professional communication and studies the impact of the linguistic and cultural background of employees on interactions in business contexts. You will investigate how companies and organisations deal with diversity and how the implementation of a language strategy affects performance. You will examine variation and diversity between different companies but also groups of employees, the dangers of stereotyping, and how individual styles of negotiating and decision-making can lead to success or failure. This module offers an insight into the everyday life of multinational environments and provides you with the tools to study and analyse communication in business contexts. The study of real interactions constitutes an important part of the module.
• Research Methods for Intercultural Communication - This module will give you the necessary tools for designing and undertaking research. You will critically discuss the strengths but also inherent limitations of a variety of research methods and paradigms commonly employed in Intercultural Communication research.  You will develop the skills to structure a detailed and robust research design reflecting understanding of the chosen methods and methodology and its suitability for you own research project.

Option modules include:

• Language and Social Interaction (30 credits) - The aim of this module is for you to develop a critical understanding of Language use and Intercultural Pragmatics. You will discuss a number of theoretical frameworks and research approaches such as: speech act theory, pragmatics, sociolinguistics, ethnography of communication and politeness theory.
• Intercultural Training: Advanced Theories and Methods (15 credits) - Given the increased mobility of people throughout the world during the last few decades, intercultural communication skills become essential for individuals and businesses.  In fact there is evidence that intercultural training demand is increasing particularly in private and public sector organisations.  Accordingly, the purpose of this module is to introduce students to intercultural communication training through coverage of central topics such as programme assumptions, needs analysis, program content, and evaluation. Practical sessions where current practice is observed and where trainees can demonstrate intercultural training and reflect upon their experience are essential part of this module.
• Intercultural Communication Project (15 credits) - The aim of this module is for you to carry out an empirical research project in the field of Intercultural Communication. It allows you to further explore a topic of interest, develop and be able to show specialisation in a chosen area and it can be a good preparation for your MA dissertation.
• Comparative Approaches to Cultural Diversity (30 credits) - This module aims to develop a critical understanding of cultural diversity. Issues to be covered include theoretical approaches to cultural diversity, cross-cultural interpretations of cultural sites, and Intercultural and gender representations Globalisation, Multinationals and Business Culture. The focus in this module is on the various aspects of and perspectives on globalisation, and the rationale that drives the international expansion of multinationals. You will discuss national, business and corporate cultures in the context of globalisation.
• Chinese Culture and Identity (15 credits) - this module allows you to explore Chinese culture. You will focus on the history, the modern society and lifestyle and the international influence of contemporary China. You will also discuss the traditional characteristics of Chinese culture and the modernisation of contemporary Chinese identity. You will also identify the cross-cultural communication specifics in the context of the Chinese cultural environment.
• Globalisation, Multinationals and Business Culture (15 credits) - The focus in this module is on the various aspects of and perspectives on globalisation, and the rationale that drives the international expansion of multinationals. You will discuss national, business and corporate cultures in the context of globalisation.
• The Politics of Human Rights (30 credits) - This module will provide you with an understanding of the key political actors in the field of human rights. You will analyse critically key political issues in the field and you will use a variety of sources including official UN and governmental resources, corporate and activist websites and databases.
• International Journalism (15 credits) - This module aims to introduce you to a range of current debates about news and journalism around the world. In the course of examining the global nature of the news media system from different national or regional contexts, it places particular emphasis on historical and contemporary forms and practices of journalism in non-western contexts.
• What Makes a Leader? (15 credits) - This module will review the literature on leadership and (business) culture, discuss aspects of leadership research and give an overview of research related to leadership characteristics/traits, styles/behaviour, culture and competencies, as well as critical analysis of leaders' profiles and their cultural footprints.
• Leadership and Power - business case studies (15 credits) - A brief overview of leadership theories in an intercultural context, with comparative case studies of top executives and their corporations. We will look at some of the issues, such as corporate social responsibility, business ethics, intercultural conflict and/or communication with implications for managing change and diversity within corporate values.
• People and Organisations (15 credits) (Business School module
• ICC Placement (30 credits)

Please note: option modules are subject to availability/demand. Please contact the award leader for up-to-date information.

It is possible to take a multidisciplinary approach by choosing any of the optional modules and combining those with a specialised dissertation in a specific area.

MA students submit a 15,000 word dissertation (60 credits) which provides a framework for reflecting on intercultural issues. In addition to the Research Methods module (which also looks towards a potential PhD), a one-day methodology session gives you training in library research and IT, and helps you to formulate a dissertation proposal. Typical areas of investigation are intercultural discourse analysis, business communication, human rights and international journalism.

Student views

Read what Jenna, Matthew and Menize gained from studying for the MA in Intercultural Communication.

Teaching and learning

UWE staff contributing to the course are principally attached to the field of Area Studies and Languages, but expertise is also drawn in from Linguistics, Politics, Journalism and Education. The teaching team at UWE has considerable experience, both in research and in practice, in the area of intercultural communication.

Find out more about our academic staff, their teaching expertise and research interests.

Assessment

All modules are assessed through examination, coursework or project work. Assessment of the MA is by dissertation alone.

You are expected to attend all relevant lectures and seminars.

Special Features

Placements

The ICC Placement module offers the opportunity to put theory into practice. The placement module provides students with the opportunity to undertake a work-based project and reflect on the links between the experience of work and the theories and debates which underpin their programme of study. Students will be expected to participate in a placement (subject to availability) that meets their needs and career plan as agreed with the award leader. The exact length of the placement will be discussed on a case-by-case basis depending on the profile of the student and requirements of the institutions and/or companies.

Fieldwork

The course offers an opportunity for students to research their own interests with the ICC Project module.

Study facilities

There is a lively seminar programme offered in this subject, involving guest lectures and talks from leading researchers and practitioners, helping students bridge the gap between research and application.

The course also has links with SIETAR, the Society for Intercultural Education Training and Research.

Find out more about the facilities and resources UWE has to offer.

Careers/further study

This award in Intercultural Communication (IC) is designed to provide you with an understanding of a range of relevant issues and prepare graduates for the globalised world and international workplaces in which nearly all of us now function. Students on the programme follow their own diverse interests and have started or aim to start careers in IC training, education, TESOL, corporate workplace environments, advertising companies, NGOs, public companies, tourism and journalism showcasing the skills and attributes the programme encourages you to develop.

The course is also an excellent basis for developing research skills and continuing your research at a PhD level.

Entry

Advice on typical offers

Accredited Learning (AL) may be granted in some cases. If you intend to claim Accredited Learning, please discuss this with the Programme Director before you apply.

Entry requirements

You must hold

• a UK or equivalent degree (at least 2.2)
• or equivalent professional qualification in a relevant discipline

Applicants whose first language is not English will need to demonstrate an appropriate level of competence in English.

Accredited Learning (AL) may be granted in some cases. If you intend to claim Accredited Learning, please discuss this with the Programme Leader before you apply.

Fees

Full details of fees for this course can be found on our postgraduate fees pages.

For funding options, please see our funding and scholarship information.

How to apply

For advice, contact Admissions and International Recruitment, telephone +44 (0)117 32 83333, e-mail admissions@uwe.ac.uk .

For further information

• Telephone: 0117 32 83333
• E-mail: Admissions@uwe.ac.uk