Course Structure and Curriculum
Bachelor’s degree
Admission to the Bachelor of Arts in Medical Journalism and Public Relations (BA) programme requires an internship in an editorial office, recognised specialist media publication or a public relations position in a healthcare institution.
The following requirements must be met in the degree programme:
- Acquisition of 80 ECTS credits in each of the two study areas of “Medicine” and “Journalism/Public Relations”
- Fulfilment of a further 10 ECTS credits through the bachelor’s thesis
- 10 ECTS credits for the study-related internship assessment
The standard period of study is six semesters. A total of 180 ECTS credits must be acquired in the bachelor’s programme in Medical Journalism and Public Relations. The courses required for this programme comprise 110 semester credit hours.
Modules and phase structure
The BA programme is divided into modules. Specific technical qualifications are taught in each module and followed by an exam at the end of each module.
The BA programme is divided into 6 “Journalism and Public Relations” modules and 5 “Medicine/Natural Sciences” modules. A bachelor's thesis is written during the final semester, e.g. the production of a communication product (flyer, magazine article, website, publicity campaign) with product analysis based on the qualitative design of scientific content and taking into account the conditions of the respective medium.
The practice-oriented BA course of study combines journalistic and public relations skills (theory and practice) with a broad basic scientific and medical education.
Graduates should be able to take on the role of “mediator” and “critical observer” and thus grasp complex scientific, medical, health and socio-practical contexts in their ethical scope, and act responsibly.
Qualified specialists are trained for the professional field of journalism as well as public relations work in companies, associations, corporations and public institutions with a special focus on medicine and healthcare.
Master’s degree
The Master’s degree programme in Medical Journalism and Public Relations (MA) can be studied consecutively based on the corresponding bachelor’s programme or as a first degree in Communication / Journalism with a specialisation in Medicine/Health/Biology. However, it can also be started after obtaining a relevant degree in the life sciences (medicine, biology, dentistry, pharmacy, public health, etc.). While the bachelor’s degree programme provides initial orientation and qualification for the professional practice of a medical journalist or a public relations expert in medicine or the healthcare sector, the master’s degree programme serves more as a theoretical consolidation or advanced professional qualification. Accordingly, the modules are not designed to provide an overview, but to deepen knowledge using selected examples.
The standard period of study for the consecutively structured master’s programme in Medical Journalism and Public Relations (MA‚ is 4 semesters. A total of 120 ECTS credits must be earned. The courses required for the degree comprise 90 semester credit hours. A total of 20 ECTS credits are awarded for the master’s thesis.
Graduates of the bachelor’s programme in Medical Journalism and Public Relations (BA) or a corresponding undergraduate programme will receive appropriate recognition for their internships. Students in this master’s degree programme with an admission from the field of life sciences are required to provide proof of appropriate practical experience in the field of journalism and/or public relations in order to be admissible, or must complete an internship of at least two months as part of the study programme. In addition, applicants must prove that they have acquired the relevant statistical knowledge in their previous studies. If such knowledge is not available, it can be made up for in the modules of the bachelor’s degree programme.
Modules and phase structure
The master’s degree programme in Medical Journalism and Public Relations (MA) is divided into modules. Defined technical qualifications are taught in each module followed by a module exam at the end of each module.
The master’s degree programme is divided into 6 “Journalism and Public Relations” modules. In the final semester, a master’s thesis is written based on a scientific project.
A total of 5 modules with a total of 100 credits must be acquired and a master’s thesis (20 credits) must be written. Proof of a professional internship of at least 2 months must be provided.