The central role of communication in society and culture, as well as increasing demand by public institutions and private corporations for experts in various areas of communications has brought many academic institutions to develop graduate programs in communication. A similar realization of the need for knowledge and expertise in communication in Israel has been the impetus for creating University of Haifa's Masters Program. In addition, to the research track described below, the department has offered since 2010 a practice-oriented masters tracks in PR. Teaching is conducted in Hebrew. A good knowledge of English is required.
The goals of the research track are to increase the breadth of familiarity with communication theory and research coupled with the development of personal expertise in a focused area of research under the personal guidance of a faculty member culminating with the completion of a Master's thesis.
To explore communication in different ways: The Department of Communication is unique in its interdisciplinary approach. The faculty members all possess expertise in communication but come to the field from a diverse background that reflects a convergence of psychological, sociological, geographical and anthropological paradigms with historical, linguistic, and legal intellectual traditions. In this spirit, the Master's Program offered by the Department cultivates an interdisciplinary view of varied communication phenomena that includes research into media content and effects, popular culture, interpersonal and language communication, political communication an much more. Students can focus their studies in any specific area and design, in consultation with their faculty advisor, a program that will match their personal interests and the necessary expertise needed for the writing of their thesis.
Studies include three core classes, two electives to be selected from a list of cognate courses, and four elective seminars. Though most students are full time students, to accommodate working professionals, classes are arranged so that studies can be concentrated in two days. The course of studies is expected to last no more than three years; during the first two years students complete their course work and prepare their thesis proposal, and during the third year they complete their thesis.
Graduates of the research program will possess research skills that allow them to continue their studies toward academic careers or use these skills in other settings such as private and government research organizations, media and advertising firms etc.
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