Information & Communication Studies major (with other minor) (ICW2)

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The BSc Social Sciences, majoring in Information & Communication Studies (with other minor), is aimed at students who may wish to develop a career or pursue further studies in information studies, social media, communications, and other related areas. The programme is designed to spark and deepen understanding and appreciation of the role that information, communication, digitisation and social media play in all aspects of life and society. It is structured to foster the development of both academic and critical thinking competencies, and practical skill-sets, including digital literacy, research and information management skills, the basics of web and app design, information architecture, and the design, creation and publishing of digital and other media. The programme provides the necessary groundwork for postgraduate study in these areas, and serves as an initial springboard for professional training, leading to careers in such areas as Social Media Consultancy, Communications, Web Design and Development, HCI and User-Centred Design (UXD), Digital Publishing, Digital Marketing, Information Architecture and Information Management.



We value a questioning and analytical perspective on the key issues surrounding information, communication, digitisation and social media, as well as the broader impacts and consequences of the digital revolution in society. We encourage students to adopt a reflective approach to our subjects, and endeavour to provide the basis for meaningful engagement with course content through the use of real-world examples, case studies and practical projects. We encourage responsible citizenship through the consideration of the societal, cultural and ethical issues surrounding information creation, communication and use, and endeavour to provide a balanced learning environment that engages, motivates and supports students. Students work individually and collaboratively to debate and discuss social and ethical issues, to develop practical information and digital skills, and to design, create, publish and share information products. We support our students’ learning through a blend of approaches, including traditional lectures, face-to-face and online tutorials, team projects and presentations, computer lab sessions, virtual classrooms, videos, guest speakers, and independent learning.   


1 - Display knowledge and understanding of the theoretical and conceptual basis of the digital society and the impact of modern media, including the social web, on professional, social and everyday information behaviour.
2 - Demonstrate highly developed information and digital literacy skills, including essay and report writing, information searching & retrieval, critical evaluation, creation of audio-visual media, presentation of the self online, ethical use of information, and communication.
3 - Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of how digital information systems and applications are implemented and used in a variety of contexts, both personal and professional.
4 - Work to a high level in collaborative and team-based learning situations, requiring excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
5 - Demonstrate highly developed information management and organisational skills, which enable them to function effectively in the modern, technology-enabled workplace.
6 - Demonstrate foundational competency in research skills, including in digital environments.
7 - Display an understanding of the relevance and application of academic knowledge to the real world and the skills to communicate information to both specialist and non-specialist audiences.
8 - Display an enhanced awareness of societal and global issues in relation to information and communication studies.
Stage 3

Please ensure that you register to a minimum of 30 credits from the option list below. Please note that there are 5 and 10 credit modules available. This means that you may need to choose more than the minimum requirements in order to choose 30 credits. If you are studying abroad (Erasmus/non EU exchange) and/or undertaking an internship, please see registration guidelines here.

Stage 4

Please ensure that you register to a minimum of 30 credits from the option list below. Please note that there are 5 and 10 credit modules available. This means that you may need to choose more than the minimum requirements in order to choose 30 credits.



In order to complete your Undergraduate degree, you must earn at least 40 credits at level 3 or above. It is your responsibility to ensure that you meet this requirement. Note: You may have taken some level 3 modules in stage 3 already.

Module ID Module Title Trimester Credits
Stage 1 Core Modules
     
IS10010 Information & Social Media Autumn 5
IS10050 Digital Judgement: Truth, Lies, & the Internet Autumn 5
IS10040 Information, Society, and Culture Spring 5
IS10060 Digital Technology Spring 5
Stage 1 Core Modules
     
Stage 2 Core Modules
     
IS20010 Core Competencies for Digital Citizenship Autumn 5
IS20030 Information & Collaboration in Organisations Autumn 5
IS20140 Exploring Text with Python Autumn 5
IS20110 Social Media & Participation in an Online World Spring 5
IS20120 Computer-Mediated Communication Spring 5
IS20130 Social Studies of ICTs Spring 5
Stage 2 Core Modules
     
Stage 3 Options - B)MIN4OF:
Please ensure that you register to a minimum of 30 credits from the option list below. Please note that there are 5 and 10 credit modules available. This means that you may need to choose more than the minimum requirements in order to choose 30 credits. If you are studying abroad (Erasmus/non EU exchange) and/or undertaking an internship, please see registration guidelines here.
     
IS30020 Web Publishing Autumn 5
IS30050 Information Architecture: Designing the Web Autumn 5
IS30380 Digital Storytelling Autumn 5
IS30460 Gender, race and diversity in the digital age Autumn 10
SSCI30050 Digital Research Skills for the Social Sciences Autumn 5
IS30350 The Digital Self Spring 5
IS30370 Digital Media Ethics (formerly Information Ethics) Spring 5
IS30410 Web UX Evaluation Spring 10
IS30450 Artificial Intelligence Spring 5
IS30470 Technology and Human Rights Spring 5
Stage 3 Options - B)MIN4OF:
Please ensure that you register to a minimum of 30 credits from the option list below. Please note that there are 5 and 10 credit modules available. This means that you may need to choose more than the minimum requirements in order to choose 30 credits. If you are studying abroad (Erasmus/non EU exchange) and/or undertaking an internship, please see registration guidelines here.
     
Stage 4 Options - A)MIN3OF:
Please note that there are 5 and 10 credit modules available. This means that you may need to choose more than the minimum requirements in order to choose 30 credits.
     
IS30020 Web Publishing Autumn 5
IS30050 Information Architecture: Designing the Web Autumn 5
IS30380 Digital Storytelling Autumn 5
IS30400 Research and Discovery Autumn 10
IS30460 Gender, race and diversity in the digital age Autumn 10
IS30350 The Digital Self Spring 5
IS30370 Digital Media Ethics (formerly Information Ethics) Spring 5
IS30410 Web UX Evaluation Spring 10
IS30450 Artificial Intelligence Spring 5
IS30470 Technology and Human Rights Spring 5
Stage 4 Options - A)MIN3OF:
Please note that there are 5 and 10 credit modules available. This means that you may need to choose more than the minimum requirements in order to choose 30 credits.
     
See the UCD Assessment website for further details

Module Weighting Info  
  Award GPA
Programme Module Weightings Rule Description Description >= <=
BHSOC010 Stage 4 - 50.00%
Stage 3 - 30.00%
Stage 2 - 20.00%
Standard Honours Award First Class Honours

3.68

4.20

Second Class Honours, Grade 1

3.08

3.67

Second Class Honours, Grade 2

2.48

3.07

Pass

2.00

2.47


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