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Description
The specialisation Science Communication and Society concerns science communication in a broad sense. The programme prepares students for a career in popularisation of science, for example, as a science communicator, a science policymaker or a public relations or health communication officer, or for a career as a scientist with a communicating mind-set. Also for future science teachers the specialisation is a valuable preparation. Students with an MSc specialisation Science Communication and Society are admissible to a PhD programme in their MSc research field or in Science Communication.
Qualifications for admission
Admissible to the specialisation SCS are all students that are admitted to a Master Programme of the Faculty of Science or the Master Programme in Biomedical Sciences of the Faculty of Medicine (LUMC) provided that the rules and regulations of the subject Master Programme do allow so. Preferably, the BSc programme has included some coursework in (science) communication.
In addition, international applicants must provide proof of proficiency in English with an IELTS ≥ 6.5.
Programme
The MSc programme in combination with the Science Communication and Society (SCS) specialisation consists of two components:
Preferably, the component within the chosen MSc programme should be followed during the first year of study, the Science Communication and Society component should be followed during the second year. The SCS specialisation programme comprises at least 40 EC. A maximum of 20 EC of electives can be filled in with either SCS courses, or with components within the MSc programme of choice. The choice of electives should be made in consultation with a study adviser, mentor, or specialisation coordinator.
Biology
The Biology component consist of a research project of 36 EC and 24 EC of advanced theory (courses and lectures). The Biology component can be extended with an additional 20 EC (courses or extension of the research project to 80 EC in total). The research project has to take place in one of the research groups of the Institute Biology Leiden (IBL), Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML) or Naturalis Biodiversity Center.
A research project within one of the ‘Life Science’ research groups of the Leiden Institute of Chemistry (LIC), at the Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research (LACDR) or at the Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC) may substitute for a research project within the IBL pending prior approval by the Board of Examiners. Theoretical components should be minimally at level 400. The individual study programme consisting of choices of courses and the research project must have prior approval by the Board of Examiners through approval of the individual study plan of a student and approval of the research agreement.
Science Communication and Society
The Science Communication and Society component consists of the following:
Fundamentals of Science Communication and Society: Level 400, 17 EC
Project Proposal SCS: Level 600, 3 EC
SCS Internship(s): Level 600, 20-40 EC
SCS Elective: Level 500, 1-10 EC
The internship will be in the field of science communication (e.g. science journalism, museology, new media, health communication). The total internship period may consist of one internship, or can be divided into 2 smaller internships. Each internship includes a written report and an oral presentation. The total internship period includes a minimum of 10 EC of research in science communication.
The choice of internships should be approved beforehand by the coordinator of the specialisation and the MSc programme coordinator. A plan for the optional SCS Elective (e.g. book exam, product development) should also be approved beforehand by the SCS coordinator.
Approval of program
All master students have to submit a master study program, consisting of choices of courses and one or two research projects, to the studyadvisor. Through the submission of this study program, the Board of Examiners determines whether the individual study program can be approved.
