Postgraduate

COMS408
Communication Ethics
Description
This course provides students with some ethical tools to reflect on professional communication practice and their own goals and values. The course covers professional ethics frameworks, theories of dialogue and engagement with others, the use of postcolonial ethics to reflect on partnership between te ao Maori and te ao Pakeha and development of personal values. The course has a flipped classroom model, where students reflect on cases, before discussion in class.
Occurrences
Semester One 2025
Points
30 points
Prerequisites
Subject to approval of the Head of Department.
Restrictions
COMS422, PHIL469
COMS420
Public Diplomacy
Description
Public diplomacy relates to efforts by state and non-state actors to influence public opinion in other countries. With the growth of soft power and new media and information technologies, public diplomacy is of growing importance in international relations. This course reviews the emerging theoretical literature on public diplomacy and a number of case studies on how different states and multilateral organisations have used public diplomacy in recent years to improve their international image. This is not a distance course. This course includes group work and has a strongly practical focus -- cooperation with diplomats and international relations practitioners -- that requires active in-class engagement. This course teaches a number of the core skills that communicators working in the international context at home and abroad will need. It features diplomats and internationally-recognised leading experts of public diplomacy as our guest speakers.
Occurrences
Semester Two 2025
Points
30 points
Prerequisites
Subject to approval of the Programme Coordinator.
Restrictions
DIPL430, POLS430
COMS421
Strategic Communication Theory and Application
Description
This introduces theories and research about different aspects in the practices of strategic communication, including the groups/organizations, targets of the messages, the media outlet for the messages. How the theories can be applied in real-life situations will be explored, including professional strategies in advertising and public relations. Ethical practices in the professional environment will be discussed. You will develop a proposal for extended research on communication strategies that can prepare for the Masters of Strategic Communication dissertation. This is not a distance course. This course teaches skills in analysis and research and requires students to develop and share research and analysis with others, in order to learn from and support each other.
Occurrences
Semester One 2025
Points
30 points
Prerequisites
Subject to approval of the Head of Department.
COMS425
Campaign Planning with Social Data Analysis
Description
This is a course about planning media campaigns, in particular, it focuses on the use of social data analysis in planning campaigns. The course will introduce what campaigns are, their purposes and effects, their importance in the society, and the strategies of developing a media advocacy plan. A significant portion of the course will be about the use of social data analysis, including big data and social network analysis, in informing and evaluating campaigns. Students will be given opportunities to manage social data and develop their campaign plans according to their interests based on the data. Such plans can be related to social policies, public health and safety, human rights, etc., and can be delivered through different communication channels including traditional mass media and social media. Controversies around the ethical uses of social data for campaign planning will be discussed, and students will need to identify ethical practices of using the data. This course requires active in-class engagement. It is not a distance course.
Occurrences
Semester Two 2025
Points
30 points
Prerequisites
COMS421. Subject to approval of the Head of Department.
COMS430
Building Influence: Strategic Communication, Organisational Identity and Change
Description
Strategic communication refers to the practice and study of the deliberate and purposive communication that organizations engage in to reach their goals. Organizations communicate strategically to change public opinion, promote public health, advance human rights, attract new volunteers, convince employees to embrace a change initiative, manage crises, and promote their "brand", among many other things. This course will explore strategic communication scholarship about key issues that organizations must tackle (e.g., transparency, accountability, and identity). The course connects theories to real-life case studies and puts particular emphasis on ethical strategic communication practice.
Occurrences
Special non-calendar-based Four 2025 (UC Online)
Points
15 points
Prerequisites
Subject to approval of the Programme Coordinator.
Restrictions
COMS421
COMS480
Research Topic
Description
A research paper, that shall not normally exceed 10,000 words, on an aspect of Mass Communication which must be submitted in the year of enrolment unless an extension is approved by the Head of Department.
Occurrences
Semester One 2025
Semester Two 2025
Points
30 points
Prerequisites
Subject to approval of the Programme Co-ordinator.
COMS650
MA Dissertation
Description
MA Dissertation
Occurrences
Approved Start 2025
Semester One 2025
Semester Two 2025
Points
60 points
Prerequisites
Subject to approval of the Head of Department.
COMS690
MA Thesis
Occurrences
Approved Start 2025
Points
120 points
Prerequisites
Subject to approval of the Head of Department.
COMS692
Dissertation in Professional Communication
Description
Students will complete a dissertation, normally 15,000 - 20,000 words in length, on a topic of their choice, under academic supervision.
Occurrences
Approved Start 2025
Semester One 2025
Points
60 points
Prerequisites
Subject to approval of the Head of Department.

Not Offered Courses in 2025

400-level

COMS436
Crisis Management in Strategic Communication
Description
In today’s digital and interconnected world, organizations face crises that can shape their reputations, stakeholder trust, and long-term viability. This course provides students with the theoretical foundations and practical skills necessary to manage crises effectively. Students will explore crisis typologies, strategic response models, media relations, stakeholder communication, and ethical considerations in crisis management. Through case studies, real-world simulations, and expert insights, students will learn how to analyse crises, develop strategic responses, and implement effective communication strategies across various platforms.
Occurrences
Not offered 2025
For further information see COMS436 course details
Points
15 points

Postgraduate

COMS430
Building Influence: Strategic Communication, Organisational Identity and Change
Description
Strategic communication refers to the practice and study of the deliberate and purposive communication that organizations engage in to reach their goals. Organizations communicate strategically to change public opinion, promote public health, advance human rights, attract new volunteers, convince employees to embrace a change initiative, manage crises, and promote their "brand", among many other things. This course will explore strategic communication scholarship about key issues that organizations must tackle (e.g., transparency, accountability, and identity). The course connects theories to real-life case studies and puts particular emphasis on ethical strategic communication practice.
Occurrences
COMS430-25X3 (O)
Special non-calendar-based Three 2025 (UC Online) - Not offered
For further information see COMS430 course details
Points
15 points
Prerequisites
Subject to approval of the Programme Coordinator.
Restrictions
COMS421
COMS431
The Dynamics of Publics: Partnership, Participation and Power
Description
To achieve strategic communication goals, organizations must engage with their publics. This course problematizes what "publics", "audiences", "partners" and "stakeholders" are. It focuses on research on audience engagement and response to strategic communication efforts, and it considers how organizations can move from unidirectional to two-way and dialogic models of communication. The course connects theories to real-life case studies and puts particular emphasis on ethical issues pertaining to equity, diversity and inclusion.
Occurrences
COMS431-25X4 (O)
Special non-calendar-based Four 2025 (UC Online) - Not offered
For further information see COMS431 course details
Points
15 points
Prerequisites
Subject to approval of the Programme Coordinator.
Restrictions
COMS421