Applications are now open!
MCM Info Session
Published April 10th 2025
Join our next virtual info session to gain insights into our study program and get answers to your questions about the application process. Meet our faculty members and hear first-hand experiences from current MCM students.
Date: Tuesday, May 13, 2025, 6:00 pm
Platform: Zoom
Meeting ID: 615 0845 4328
https://h-ka-de.zoom-x.de/j/61508454328
We look forward to seeing you there!
The Field of Study
Technical Communication is a young discipline, established with an interdisciplinary character to serve in all various kinds of occupational areas early on. The main purpose of this discipline is to fulfill our user’s information needs in the best possible way.
In Germany, legal requirements within the technical field have ensured that manufacturers of technical products must provide suitable information products that meet quality criteria such as correctness, quick access and comprehensibility. As a result, there has been a growing need for people with specific communication skills, which eventually led to the establishment of the first degree programmes in this area in 1999.
At the University of Applied Sciences Karlsruhe (HKA), Prof. Sissi Closs established the programme Technical Communication (now Communication and Media Management) in collaboration with three colleagues. Not even 20 years later, the industry has developed into a flourishing business. It quickly became apparent, that the unique interdisciplinary possibilities of this discipline are not only crucial for the technical area, but are in demand in every area, that has a necessity of understanding user needs, creating information efficiently, structuring and presenting them in media and visual form, managing them and eventually providing them in a media- and user-friendly way.
In recent years, advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI) have dramatically influenced the field of Technical Communication, transforming the way we work and engage with information. Recognizing this impact, we integrate AI-driven tools and methods throughout our master’s programme, applying them wherever they can better prepare our students for the evolving demands of the industry.
As a master’s programme in this field, we thrive to be an internationally recognized programme of excellence in Communication and Media that meets the growing needs in the society in areas related to Communication and Media applications while sustaining excellence in teaching, learning and research in the field of Technical Communication.
This future-oriented, dynamic discipline touches many interdisciplinary areas. The core areas are Linguistics, Information Architecture and Information Management, Visual Communication, Media and IT. Special topics and specialisations complement these core areas.
The Programme
Our mission with the Masters in Communication and Media is to generate, disseminate and apply knowledge and skills for the development of appropriate knowledge of research in Communication and Media, both locally and internationally so as to produce competent, well-trained technical editors who are able to structure, organize and visualize complex information in a way that is specific to a target-group.
Communication and Information transfer are central to the developing global labor market and communication technologies become a more and more crucial aspect.
The main objectives of this programme are:
- Understanding user needs
- Creating and managing information efficiently
- Structuring and Presenting information in media and audiovisual form
- Providing knowledge transfer in media- and user-friendly way
The Communication and Media programme is based on the need to provide information in different ways for different target groups. Since the field of technical communication is varied, the programme is designed to be interdisciplinary. The philosophy behind this lies primarily in the fact that students from different faculties and with different levels of prior knowledge can participate in the programme, and thus not only enrich but also improve their communication and information management skills for their specific field of study. The programme is guided by the values of communication and information sciences both as a field of research and as an applied practice.
Structure
The Master Program will be offered in a minimum duration of two academic years and a maximum of four. The program shall be offered in term of courses. The number of courses offered for this program is 10.
Schedule of Intakes
With the start of each academic year in September.
Mode of Delivery
Distance Learning
Classes will take place virtually with the use and deployment of digital platforms and video conferencing tools.
Face-to-Face Learning
Classes will take place at Pwani University, Kilifi.
Curriculum
For detailed module descriptions please click here.
Admission Requirements
Admission
Applicants are eligible to apply for the Masters in Communication and Media if they either
I. Hold a Bachelors degree from Pwani University or a recognized university in any discipline such as the Arts, the Sciences, STEM and Education, with a minimum of a Second Class Honours Upper Division.
OR
II. Hold a Bachelors degree from Pwani University or from a recognized institution in any discipline in Arts, the Sciences, STEM and Education with a minimum of a Second Class Lower Division or its equivalent PLUS additional relevant training, evidence of research capabilities (either through research/ paper presentations/peer reviewed publications) and a minimum of two years of work experience in the related fields.
Fees
Application Fees
Applicants from East African Community (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, Ethiopia, DRC): KES 3000.00
Non- EAC/Other countries: KES 4000.00
Total Fees per year
Applicants from East African Community (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, Ethiopia, DRC): KES 145.000.00
Non- EAC/Other countries: KES 285.000.00
Note that the application fee must be paid via M-PESA:
Ecitizen Paybill no: 222222
Account no: PMISC-APP-Name of applicant
For more enquiries about admissions, contact: registrar-acad@pu.ac.ke.
Modules
Here, you will find comprehensive information about the various modules offered within the Masters Communication and Media. Our modules are designed to provide students with a diverse and enriching academic experience in the field of Technical Communciation.
Each module features courses to which you will find detailed information including learning outcomes, indicative content, assessment methods etc.
Year 1 - Semester 1
ALC G801 - Communication and Media I
Core
Contact Hours: 45
Credit Hours: 3
Pre-Requisite: None
Module Description
The module aims to introduce students to communication in the digital age in general, as well as the handling and use of different media target group-specific content.
Learning Outcomes
- Explain the relationship between communication and media.
- Describe the importance of communication in the digital age, as well as its basics.
- Identify the different media and their effects and can decide in which context which media should be used.
- Apply the principles of the content life cycle to create and structure content for adaptation to the medium and target group.
Courses
- Introduction to Communication and Media
- Introduction to Information Development Process
- Standardization in Communication and Media
- Communication Theories
ALC G802 - Multilingual Workflow
Core
Contact Hours: 45
Credit Hours: 3
Pre-Requisite: None
Module Description
The 21st century society is characterized by different ethnic groups and cultures, not only in Kenya but all over the world. Therefore, the module aims to understand intra- and intercultural, verbal and non-verbal communication and different communication models in order to apply them to a target group.
Learning Outcomes
- Describe and evaluate the most important characteristics of verbal and non-verbal communication, as well as important communication models.
- Review own communicative and meta-communicative actions.
- Demonstrate the understanding of the conditions and framework of communication in the context of and between different cultures and multicultural societies.
- Demonstrate the appreciation for different cultures.
Courses
- Rule-based Writing
- Cross-cultural Communication
- Conflicts and Feedback
- German Basics
ALC G803 - Visualization
Core
Contact Hours: 45
Credit Hours: 3
Pre-Requisite: None
Module Description
In this module, learners are taught the principles for evaluation and creation of good designs. The focus is on graphics, layout and typography.
Learning Outcomes
- Evaluate graphics professionally.
- Create own graphics, under consideration of various design principles.
- Describe the basics of typography and layout and how to use them.
- Apply basic knowledge in handling graphics programs.
Courses
- Visualization Basics and Typography
- Presentation Techniques
- Professional Image Editing (Tool-based course with Gimp)
ALC G804 - Information Technology and Management
Core
Contact Hours: 45
Credit Hours: 3
Pre-Requisite: None
Module Description
In this module the basics of web technologies, database systems, as well as administration and publication technologies are acquired.
Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrate and apply the gained knowledge of web technologies and web programming languages.
- Analyze the methodical basics of database systems.
- Describe the importance and use of databases in the management and publication processes.
- Use the knowledge of the basics of content-management and publication technologies and principles in the production and management of information.
Courses
- Topic-based Structuring (Tool-based course with Flare)
- Flare Tutorials
- Video in Journalism
ALC G805 - Media Management
Core
Contact Hours: 45
Credit Hours: 3
Pre-Requisite: None
Module Description
In this module, learners are introduced to various media, their effects and management. The focus is on mass communication media, therefore social media is discussed as a powerful medium. In addition, the important aspect of gender-sensitive writing and the image of women in the media will be made clear.
Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrate skills of media production (video).
- Distinguish between different mass communication media, their functions and use.
- Explain the meaning and role, as well as the use of social media in society and for companies.
- Identify gender-appropriate content and its impact.
Courses
- Video Production (Tool-based course with DaVinci Resolve)
- Social Media Marketing
- Marketing Practice
Year 1 - Semester 2
ALC G806 - Communication and Media II
Core
Contact Hours: 45
Credit Hours: 3
Pre-Requisite: None
Module Description
In this course, students acquire knowledge of topic-based structuring techniques, and information architecture as a basis for the distribution of target group-specific content and information.
Learning Outcomes
- Recognize the advantages of topic-based structuring and good information architecture.
- Evaluate and design own information architectures.
- Design topic-based class concepts for sample content.
- Demonstrate the use of the tools of information architecture.
- Apply the acquired competences in an own project.
ALC G807 - Research Methods in Communication
Core
Contact Hours: 45
Credit Hours: 3
Pre-Requisite: None
Module Description
The aim of this course is to prepare students in the best possible way for their own research project or master thesis. Therefore, they learn the basics and methods of research, as well as how to handle databases.
Learning Outcomes
- Describe different research methods and their characteristics.
- Structure, evaluate and process large amounts of data.
- Identify patterns, trends and correlations in data sets.
- Develop solutions for complex problems and new ideas.
- Implement the learned methods of a research in an own project later.
ALC G808 - Project Management and Entrepreneurship
Core
Contact Hours: 45
Credit Hours: 3
Pre-Requisite: None
Module Description
The course aims to strengthen the management perspective of the students and to transfer basic tools for the development and organization of projects. Furthermore, students are prepared to manage individual and organizational projects in an entrepreneurial way.
Learning Outcomes
- Identify the principles, phases and tasks of project management.
- Describe the basic concepts, Principles and approaches in entrepreneurship.
- Analyse key characteristics of successful projects.
- Develop personal project creativity and entrepreneurial initiative.
- Identify, conceptualize and develop a media related project.
- Apply basic project management principles to projects of choice.
- Apply entrepreneurship knowledge to identified media projects of choice.
Language Options
ALC G809 - Kiswahili for Communication
Elective
Contact Hours: 45
Credit Hours: 3
Pre-Requisite: None
Module Description
The aim of this course is to sensitize learners to efficient communication and to provide them with the skills to evaluate and write texts for different media that are target group oriented, standardized, consistent, adapted to the language area and understandable. The focus is on the language, Kiswahili.
Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrate the use of Kiswahili in basic communication.
- Read and demonstrate comprehension of elementary and basic Kiswahili texts.
- Write texts for particular communicative functions: letters, reports, memos, etc.
- Develop a repertoire of the basic terms as used in academic communicative Kiswahili.
- Relate to the cultural norms of communication in the Swahili speaking world.
ALC G810 - German for Communication
Elective
Contact Hours: 45
Credit Hours: 3
Pre-Requisite: None
Module Description
The aim of this course is to sensitize learners to efficient communication and to provide them with the skills to evaluate and write texts for different media that are target group oriented, standardized, consistent, adapted to the language area and understandable. The focus is on the German language.
Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrate the use of German in basic communication.
- Read and demonstrate comprehension of elementary and basic German texts.
- Write texts for particular communicative functions: letters, reports, memos, etc.
- Develop a repertoire of the basic terms as used in academic communicative German Language.
- Relate to the cultural norms of communication in the German speaking world.
ALC G811 - English for Communication
Elective
Contact Hours: 45
Credit Hours: 3
Pre-Requisite: None
Module Description
The aim of this course is to sensitise learners to efficient communication and to provide them with the skills to evaluate and write texts for different media that are target group oriented, standardised, consistent, adapted to the language area and understandable. The focus is on the English language.
Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrate the use of English in basic communication.
- Read and demonstrate comprehension of elementary and basic English texts.
- Write texts for particular communicative functions: letters, reports, memos, etc.
- Develop a repertoire of the basic terms as used in academic communicative English.
- Relate to the cultural norms of communication in the English speaking world.
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