Master of Advanced Studies in
INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION

OUR PROGRAMS ARE CURRENTLY  SUSPENDED.

 

    

Master of Advanced Studies in Intercultural Communication 

The most comprehensive program in intercultural communication for professionals working with diversity.
Distributed across 18 modules in 3 countries, the MAS comprises 8 weeks of study and 1 online module, plus a Thesis/Field Project.

PROGRAM STRUCTURE

Online module

The online module introduces the participants to the program and intercultural communication theoretical framework. Participants will learn key concepts for increased awareness of their own communication and cultural diversity as well as analyzing intercultural interactions in various contexts. The module involves virtual interactions with other participants and professors. The module also includes a course on visualization tools. Participants will learn about cross-cultural variations in the interpretation of visual communication and practical applications of visualizations communicating across cultures and for facilitating intercultural communication.

Face-to-face instruction

The main part of each module will be taught face-to-face over three days of intensive instruction for a total of 24 hours course work.

Preparation

The individual preparation for each module, to be done before classroom instruction, consists mainly of reading background materials and analyzing examples and case studies (articles, websites, etc.). All preparatory materials are available in advance on the e-learning platform reserved for participants.

Certification paper

The evaluation of students' performance for each module is based on an academic assignment. This work has to be prepared by the student at home and has to be sent by email by the deadline set by the Academic Director. Participants usually have about 2 months to complete their certification paper.

 

PROGRAM CONTENT

DATES and MODULES
Online Module
Available from September 2020	Interdisciplinary theories and concepts of Intercultural Communication
November 2020
23-Mon | 25-Wed	Intercultural Communication and psychology of prejudice	Lugano, Switzerland
26-Thu | 28-Sat	Diversity policies and immigration governance	Lugano, Switzerland
January 2021
18-Mon | 20-Wed	Difference, diversity and dialogue	Johannesburg, South Africa We will only travel if global health conditions allow. If not, the module will be held in Lugano.
21-Thu | 23-Sat	Introduction to displacement and migration	Johannesburg, South Africa We will only travel if global health conditions allow. If not, the module will be held in Lugano.
March 2021
22-Mon | 24-Wed	Policies and processes of integration in society	Neuchâtel and Bern, Switzerland
25-Thu | 27-Sat	Global governance and international organisations	Neuchâtel and Geneva, Switzerland
June 2021
21-Mon | 23-Wed	Innovation, leadership and Culture	Lugano, Switzerland
24-Thu | 26-Sat	Applied research for organisations	Lugano, Switzerland
September 2021
20-Mon | 22-Wed	Diversity in the Media	Lugano, Switzerland
23-Thu | 25-Sat	Political and linguistics aspects of diversity	Lugano, Switzerland
November 2021
22-Mon | 24-Wed	Environmental governance and sustainable development	Lugano, Switzerland
25-Thu | 27-Sat	Culturally-centered approaches to sustainable international development	Lugano, Switzerland
January 2022
24-Mon | 26-Wed	Diversity and inclusion in organisations	TBA
27-Thu | 29-Sat	Management, human resources and culture	TBA
April 2022
11-Mon | 13-Wed	Critical approaches to human rights	Lugano, Switzerland
14-Thu | 16-Sat	Geopolitics of globalisation and sustainability	Lugano, Switzerland

 

Thesis/Field Project

The Thesis/Field Project is an opportunity to demonstrate mastery of new knowledge and is thus a crucial and culminating part of the educational process. A Thesis Project aims to apply and extend theoretical knowledge. A Field Project uses theoretical knowledge to improve or enrich practice. Each participant will choose a topic that relates to his or her profession and present it for approval to the MIC Academic Director. Each participant will then develop a proposal/plan and carry out the project under the direction of the MIC Academic Director and a Project Adviser selected from among the MIC professors. Participants are expected to complete their projects no later than three months after the last module of the program.

Workload

The total workload of the master of advanced studies is approximately 1500 hours, including 384 hours of face-to-face instruction, about 740 hours of individual work preparing for seminars, reviewing study materials and writing course papers, as well as 375 hours dedicated to the Thesis/Field Project.

The online module is worth 5 ECTS. Modules 3 to 18 are worth 2.5 ECTS credits each and consist of 24 contact hours each. Thesis/Field Project Module is worth 15 ECTS.

TUITION FEE

Master of Advanced Studies - MAS (60 ECTS): CHF 19'500

One MAS module (2.5 ECTS): CHF 1'500

 

ACCREDITATION

USI Università della Svizzera italiana is one of 12 universities under the Swiss university system, coordinated by the Rectors’ Conference of the Swiss Universities (swissuniversitites). swissuniversities represents all 12 Swiss universities and maintains relationships with other accredited universities outside Switzerland. As a recognized university that is part of the public system, the degree-granting body of the MIC is USI Università della Svizzera italiana.

To ensure international recognition, in 2002 USI became the first Swiss university to adopt the Bologna Reform and the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS). The Bologna Declaration mandates that all taught courses and coursework are to be quantified in ECTS points. The ECTS guarantees that credits are wholly compatible and transferable within and across the broader European university system.

The diploma awarded is a Master of Advanced Studies in Intercultural Communication (60 ECTS) from Università della Svizzera italiana, Faculty of Communication Sciences.