Basic curricular dimensions
The curriculum aims to integrate courses that enhance methodological skills with courses that focus on substantive theory. At the end of the two-year curriculum a broad overview of the state-of-the-art of different substantive fields in communications science is provided and students should be sufficiently trained in the appropriate advanced research methods to be able to conduct research in those fields.

Tutor
Upon enrolment each student is assigned a tutor. With the tutor each student will make a study programme suited to the substantive and research interests of the student. Normally, the tutor will be the student's advisor on his/her thesis.

Research participation
Students participate in one of ASCoR’s research programmes during the entire programme. They do so by participating in the research meetings and by participating in ongoing research of senior staff members.

Curriculum
The Research Master's programme consists of 30 credits theoretical courses, 60 credits methods courses and 30 credits for the thesis and participation in ASCoR’s ongoing research. The master's thesis consists of 24 ECTS, the other 6 ECTS consists of participation in one of ASCoR's research programmes (leading to a written report).

The table below shows the programme. An outline of all theoretical courses can be found in chapter 4.2. An outline of all methodology courses can be found in chapter 5.2. Besides the courses mentioned in this chapter, students can opt for participation in courses from the  PhD Training Programme of the Graduate School of Communication. Moreover, students can select methods courses offered by other departments in the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences (FMG). Note that each department states their own rules & regulations for course-enrollment. Check the online course catalogue ( http://www.studiegids.uva.nl) for a list of courses by other departments and their requirements.
Please note that courses outside the Research Master's programme need to be approved by the Board of Examiners, see chapter 8.3.

Research Master's programme 2011-2012  Credits (ECTS)  Theoretical courses  30  Participation ASCoR research  6  Methodology courses (including optional internship)  60  Research Master's Thesis  24

Research Master's First Year

Semester 1      Block 1&2: Theoretical course (12 EC)     Block 1: Experimentation in the social sciences (6 EC)     Block 2:  Content analysis (6 EC)     Block 3:  Research Workshop (6 EC) Semester 2     Block 1&2:  Survey Design (12 EC)     Block 1&2: Methods elective(s) (12 EC)     Block 3: Methods elective/ASCoR participation (6 EC)

for start & end dates of periods, see chapter 1.1

Research Master's Second Year

Semester 1      Block 1&2: Theoretical course (12 EC)     Block 1&2: Methods elective(s) (12 EC)     Block 3: Methods electives/ASCoR participation (6 EC) Semester 2     Block 1: Theoretical Course (6 EC)     Whole semester: Write up Research Master's Thesis (24 EC)

for start & end dates of periods, see chapter 1.1