The Postgraduate Program of Communication Science is a study program at the Department of Communication Science, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIPOL), Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) that was established in 2005. This program aims to respond to the development of communication science, development of science due to the penetration of information and communication technology, as well as socio-political dynamics in post-reform Indonesia which made a number of policies on freedom of information and news.
In equipping students to be able to encounter challenges and dynamics that happens in the digital era, the Postgraduate Program of Communication Science designed the 2017 Postgraduate Program of Communication Science’s curriculum. Various actions were carried out in order to formulate the new curriculum. First, evaluation of the prior curriculum (2005 and 2009) which involved the Curriculum Organiser Team as well as all teaching staff in the Department of Communication Science FISIPOL UGM. Second, direct comparative study as well as through documentation study curriculum from various postgraduate programs of communication science in several countries including Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Indonesia that is conducted by the Curriculum Organiser Team. Third, a series of curriculum preparation workshops internally by the Curriculum Organiser Team and all teaching staff in the Department of Communication Science FISIPOL UGM. Fourth, composing the Teaching Plan (RPKPS) by the Teaching Plan (RPKPS) Organiser Team. Fifth, teaching plan (RPKPS) workshops attended by all teaching staff of the Department of Communication Science FISIPOL UGM. Sixth, socialisations of the 2017 Curriculum to students, teaching staffs, and education staffs in both the Department of Communication Science and the faculty. The activities explained previously started for one year from July 2016 until July 2017. Afterward, the 2017 Curriculum of the Postgraduate Program of Communication Science is ready to be implemented starting from the new academic year of 2017/2018 for future students. Meanwhile, current students are still using the prior curriculum in the transition process that has been prepared by the Study Program administrator.
The study map of communication science is developing rapidly. At least there are two fundamental challenges that communication scholars encounter today. First, the development of information and communication technology drives changes in human civilization. The exchange of information from one spot to another in all parts of the world has become more accessible and agile. The dynamic of communication increases and results in the expansion of communication science study. Second, digitalisation of communication engenders new research niches, especially related to information, media and democracy as well as policy tools that underpin them. As a consequence, communication scholars must be responsive and adaptive towards developments that happen.
Based on the evaluation of the prior curriculum, comparative study of various postgraduate program curriculums both at home university and and abroad, the Postgraduate Program of Communication Science FISIPOL UGM formulated that starting from the new academic year of 2017/2018 the teaching of the Postgraduate Program of Communication Science focuses on four concentrations, which are:
- Concentration of Communication Studies
Concentration of Communication Studies focuses on the means to teach students in order to have advanced knowledge in understanding communication science.
- Concentration of Communication Policy
Concentration of Communication Policy studies the issues of communication policies and media comprehensively.
- Concentration of Communication Management
Concentration of Communication Management studies the management of communication activities that focus on organizations/corporations.
- Concentration of Media and Culture Studies
Concentration of Media and Culture Studies studies the development of media and culture that today become the center of social struggles that reach society’s daily life.
| Semester | Course Name | Total | Credit |
| I | Communication Research Methods | 1 | 3 |
| Communication Research Traditions | 1 | 3 | |
| Communication and Contemporary Issues | 1 | 3 | |
| Digital Communication | 1 | 3 | |
| Elective Course by the Department | 1 | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 15 | ||
| Semester | Course Name | Total | Credit |
| II | Compulsory Concentration Course | 1 | 3 |
| Compulsory Concentration Course | 1 | 3 | |
| Compulsory Concentration Course | 1 | 3 | |
| Elective Course | 1 | 3 | |
| Elective Course | 1 | 3 | |
| Elective Course | 1 | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 18 | ||
| Semester | Course Name | Total | Credit |
| III | Proposal Writing and Seminar | 1 | 3 |
| Total Credits | 3 | ||
| Semester | Course Name | Total | Credit |
| IV | Thesis | 1 | 9 |
| Total Credits | 9 | ||
| COMPULSORY COURSES | |||
| No | Course Name | Semester | Credit |
| 1 | Theory of Media and Society | II | 3 |
| 2 | Global Media and Journalism | II | 3 |
| 3 | Communication System and Actor Perspectives | II | 3 |
| ELECTIVE COURSES* | |||
| No | Course Name | Semester | Credit |
| 1 | Communication and Human Interactions | II | 3 |
| 2 | Media and Politics | II | 3 |
| 3 | Digital Literacy | II | 3 |
| *Students are allowed to select elective courses according to their concentrations or select other concentration courses | |||
| COMPULSORY COURSES | |||
| No | Course Name | Semester | Credit |
| 1 | Communication Policy Theory | II | 3 |
| 2 | Communication Policy Analysis | II | 3 |
| 3 | Ethics of Communication Policy | II | 3 |
| ELECTIVE COURSES* | |||
| No | Course Name | Semester | Credit |
| 1 | Communication Policy Comparison | II | 3 |
| 2 | Policy and Communication Industry | II | 3 |
| 3 | Politics of Media Policy | II | 3 |
| *Students are allowed to select elective courses according to their concentrations or select other concentration courses | |||
| COMPULSORY COURSES | |||
| No | Course Name | Semester | Credit |
| 1 | Organizational Communication Theory | II | 3 |
| 2 | Strategic Communication Theory | II | 3 |
| 3 | Management Communication of Corporates and Public Relations | II | 3 |
| ELECTIVE COURSES* | |||
| No | Course Name | Semester | Credit |
| 1 | Marketing Management Communication | II | 3 |
| 2 | Government Management Communication | II | 3 |
| 3 | Public and Market Research | II | 3 |
| *Students are allowed to select elective courses according to their concentrations or select other concentration courses | |||
| COMPULSORY COURSES | |||
| No | Course Name | Semester | Credit |
| 1 | Media and Culture Theory | II | 3 |
| 2 | Media and Social Perspectives | II | 3 |
| 3 | Media Global Study | II | 3 |
| ELECTIVE COURSES* | |||
| No | Course Name | Semester | Credit |
| 1 | Popular Culture and Audiences | II | 3 |
| 2 | Media, Gender and Identity | II | 3 |
| 3 | Visual Culture | II | 3 |
| *Students are allowed to select elective courses according to their concentrations or select other concentration courses | |||
| No | Course Name | Semester | Credit |
| 1 | Cyberculture | ||
| 2 | Political Economy of Communication | ||
| 3 | Content Perspective of Communication | ||
| 4 | Management Communication Crisis | ||
| *Students are allowed to select one out the four options | |||