Course code

KOK6005.FK

old course code

KOK6005

Course title in Estonian

Kommunikatsiooniteooria

Course title in English

Communication Theory

ECTS credits

4.0

Assessment form

Examination

lecturer of 2024/2025 Autumn semester

Not opened for teaching. Click the study programme link below to see the nominal division schedule.

lecturer of 2024/2025 Spring semester

Not opened for teaching. Click the study programme link below to see the nominal division schedule.

Course aims

The objective is to clarify the meanings of the main principles of communication theories; introduce the main schools of communication methods; explain the relationship between communication and processes in society, as well as the opportunities for communication theory to give meaning to social processes; acquire primary skills of communication analysis. Also the course enables students to understand the connection of the communication theory to other social sciences and facilitates the development of interdisciplinary and complex thought.

Brief description of the course

Communication Theory is an elementary level course which introduces the basics of communication theory. The following topics are covered during the course and seminars: the concept of communication, schools of communication study. Two traditions: realism and constructivism. Communication models of the Process School: the stimulus-response model. Shannon-Weaver model, information, information theories, enthropia, redundancy; Lasswell´s five-questions model; Newcomb’s model; Westley and McLean´s model, Maletzke´s model. Jakobson´s model. Austin´s theory of speech-acts, Searle´s model of speech acts. Communication treatment of the school of semiotics. Ritual model of communication (James W. Carey treatment of communication). Social constructionism, Foucault’s treatment of discourse. Communication as a system. Concept of a system, linear and circulatory causality. Santiago´s theory of cognition, concept of autopoiesis. Luhmann´s system theory. Reflectivity, dimensions of matter, time and social dimension of reflectivity. Three eras of communication research according to Merten. Types of communication, individual communication, types of individual communication. Nonverbal communication; verbal-nonverbal dyadic communication (Small Talk, gossip, talk); public individual communication (rumour, speech). Aristotle´s rhetoric. Birth of communication: subanimal communication, animal communication, Luhmann´s scheme of communication genesis, human communication, from speech to writing. Positions of communication process in individual communication, sender (communicator) in individual communication; types of messages; receiver in individual communication.

Learning outcomes in the course

Upon completing the course the student:
Upon completion of the course the student has acquired the following learning outcomes:
Knows the main terms and problems of communication theory;
Understands the approaches and communication models of the main communication theories;
Is able to use professional terms appropriately;
Can distinguish between the types of communications, independently analyze texts and give meaning to processes in society as communication processes;
Can apply acquired knowledge to practical activities: advertising, public relations, integrated marketing communication, journalism and political communication.

Teacher

Dots. Raivo Palmaru, PhD, Scott Abel, MA, Prof. Kaja Tampere, PhD

Study programmes containing that course

Psychology (PSPSB/11.LT)
Advertising and Publicity Studies (KORMB/11-T.FK)
Environmental Management (MLKSB/11.LT)
Public and Business Management (RKHKB/11.YK)
Public Relations (KOSKB/11.FK)
Sociology (RASLB/11.YK)
Advertising and Publicity Studies (KORMB/11.FK)
Politics and Government (RIRIB/11.YK)
Information Science (INITB/11.DT)
Computer Science (IFIFB/11.DT)
Advertising and Publicity Studies (KORMB/10.FK)
Marketing (AKMRB/10.YK)
Advertising and Publicity Studies (KORMB/10-T.FK)
Advertising and Publicity Studies (KORMB/08.FK)
Advertising and Publicity Studies (KORMB/08-T.FK)