6 ECTS credits
176 h study time

Offer 1 with catalog number 4017041FNR for all students in the 1st semester at a (F) Master - specialised level.

Semester
1st semester
Enrollment based on exam contract
Impossible
Grading method
Grading (scale from 0 to 20)
Can retake in second session
Yes
Taught in
English
Faculty
Faculty of Social Sciences & SolvayBusinessSchool
Department
Political Science
Educational team
Dave Sinardet (course titular)
Activities and contact hours
14 contact hours Lecture
12 contact hours Seminar, Exercises or Practicals
150 contact hours Independent or External Form of Study
Course Content

This course focuses on theory and empirical work on national identity, nationalism, federalism, public sphere and the role media play in these phenomena,  with a special interest for the Belgian and European case.  More specifically, the course consecutively focuses on theories on national identity and nationalism (Gellner, Anderson, Hobsbawm, Billig, …), the history of national identity construction in Belgium (Belgium, Flanders, Wallonia, …), the debate on the necessity / existence of a European public sphere and the role of the media in this, the implications of this debate for Belgium and issues of democracy and public opinion in federal multilingual states. 

Additional info
  • Academic texts, of which some are provided and others are selected by students
  • Powerpoint-slides, based on the lectures
  • Presentations, debates and discussion

Teaching Methods

  • Lecture: collective contact-dependent moments during which the lecturer engages with learning materials
  • Seminar, Exercises or Practicals (Practical): collective or individual contact-dependent moments during which the students are guided to actively engage with learning materials
  • Independent or External Form of Study (Self): independent study

This description of the teaching methods is indicative, in order to assess the expected study load.

Lecture: 14 hours

  • interactive lectures: 7 x 2 hours

Practical: 12 hours

  • presentations by students based on lectures, proposed as well as self selected texts + prepared reactions by other students + general discussion: 6 x 2 hours (exact number of hours can vary dependent on number of students enrolled)

Self: 150 hours

  • reading / integrating basic texts, amounting to 3 hours per text: 18 hours (6 x 3 hours)
  • selecting  + reading / integrating extra texts for presentation, amounting to 3 hours per text: 36 hours (12 x 3 hours)
  • preparation presentation + positions (including writing abstract): 32 hours
  • preparation reactions on presentation / positions (based on abstract): 8 hours
  • exam paper: 56 hours (7 days of 8 hours)
Learning Outcomes

Algemene competenties

This course contributes to the following general learning results of the master in communication sciences:

  •  Students show in-depth knowledge, understanding and insight within the field of communication sciences and in relation to the latest evolutions and discussions at both the national and international level regarding journalism, politics and democracy.
  •  Students demonstrate the ability to critically contextualise and evaluate current national and international developments and discussions, and are able to independently deepen insights related to complex problems on the basis of an original framework of analysis, thereby expanding the theoretical basis related to journalism, politics and democracy.
  •  Students show an open and constructive attitude whilst having respect for other views and beliefs.
  •  Students are open to scientific doubt and societal pluralism. They demonstrate courage, ambition and perseverance in questioning both established insights and alternative points of view.
  •  Students act upon an open attitude in a culturally diverse international context. They critically reflect on their own (geographical, social, cultural, local, personal, …) position.
  •  Students demonstrate the skill to discuss and debates current societal and scientific topics and theoretical developments related to journalism, politics and democracy. The students discuss issues on the basis of critical and substantiated reflections and research findings, open-mindedly and willing to acknowledge other arguments.
  •  Students are able to communicate their point of view in a clear and scientific-grounded argumentation to various target groups.

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Practical Exam determines 100% of the final mark.

Within the Practical Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • Paper_Presentation_Debate with a relative weight of 100 which comprises 100% of the final mark.

    Note: Individual paper / (group) presentation / discussion and debate

Additional info regarding evaluation
  • 11/20 are based on an individual paper
  • 6/20 are based on a (group) presentation 
  • 3/20 are based on discussion and debate
Allowed unsatisfactory mark
The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.

Academic context

This offer is part of the following study plans:
Master of Communication Studies: Media, Journalism and Politics (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Political Science: Democracy and Leadership (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Teaching in Social Sciences: communicatiewetenschappen (90 ECTS, Etterbeek) (only offered in Dutch)