| title | Hocbigg - Communication Studies |
|---|---|
| description | Path to a free self-taught education in Communication Studies! |
The Communication Studies curriculum is a complete education in Communication Studies using online materials.
This repository is organized into three main components:
- Core Curriculum (this page): the foundational knowledge of the field;
- Advanced Topics: focused study in specific areas;
- Projects: support learning through practical application throughout the curriculum.
Process: Learners may work through the curriculum independently or collaboratively, and either sequentially or selectively.
- For simplicity, courses in the Core Curriculum are ordered according to their prerequisites.
- The Core Curriculum provides a shared foundation and is intended to be completed in full.
- Advanced Topics are optional; learners are encouraged to select one area of focus and complete all courses within that topic.
Practical work is integrated through the Projects section and may be undertaken alongside coursework.
Note: When there are courses or books that don't fit into the curriculum but are otherwise of high quality, they belong in extras/courses, extras/readings.
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Subreddits:
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Other:
- AoIR (Association of Internet Researchers) Mastodon
- STC (Society for Technical Communication) Slack (membership required)
- PR and Communications Pros Slack (request invite)
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You can also interact through GitHub issues. If there is a problem with a course, or a change needs to be made to the curriculum, this is the place to start the conversation. Read more here.
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Join our Discord server (for discussions around this and other curricula):
Everyone should complete the following four sections in sequence (before moving to Advanced Topics). They form the essential foundation that every communication student needs:
This section introduces the foundational concepts, historical models, ethical principles, and core rhetorical and written competencies of the discipline.
| Subject | Why study? | Book | Videos |
|---|---|---|---|
| What Communication Is | This gives you a clear conceptual map of how messages are created, transmitted, received, and interpreted across diverse human contexts. | Communication in the Real World (LibreTexts) | Coursera: Introduction to Communication Science (University of Amsterdam) |
| Communication Models & Traditions | You understand the linear, interactive, and transactional models, as well as the seven major theoretical traditions (Craig) shaping communication inquiry. | Survey of Communication Study (Paynton & Hahn, LibreTexts) | Coursera: Introduction to Communication Science (Theoretical Models Module) |
| Communication Ethics | You learn to recognize and evaluate moral dilemmas in human communication using ethical frameworks such as the NCA Credo for Ethical Communication. | Ethics in Communication (LibreTexts) | National Communication Association (NCA): Credo and Ethics Case Studies |
| Public Speaking & Rhetoric | You gain essential skills in oral presentation, classical rhetorical appeals (ethos, pathos, logos), audience analysis, and persuasive argumentation. | Stand up, Speak out: The Practice and Ethics of Public Speaking | Coursera: Introduction to Public Speaking (University of Washington) |
| Academic Writing & Disciplinary Inquiry | You master the conventions of scholarly communication, evidence synthesis, thesis development, and clear analytical writing for the discipline. | OpenStax Writing Guide with Handbook | Coursera: English Composition I (Duke University) |
This section focuses on face-to-face and relational communication, covering interpersonal dynamics, nonverbal communication, symbolic identity, and group interaction.
| Subject | Why study? | Book | Videos |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interpersonal Communication | You explore relational dynamics, disclosure, conflict management, and foundational theories like Social Penetration and Relational Dialectics. | Interpersonal Communication: A Mindful Approach to Relationships (2nd ed., Milne Open Textbooks) | Coursera: Interpersonal Skills (Shanghai Jiao Tong University) |
| Nonverbal Communication | You learn how nonverbal channels (kinesics, proxemics, haptics, paralanguage, and chronemics) convey emotion, establish power, and regulate talk. | Communication in the Real World (Chapter 4: Nonverbal Communication) | CrashCourse Sociology: Social Interaction and Nonverbal Cues |
| Symbolic Interaction & Identity | You examine how humans use language and symbols to construct social reality, personal identity, and the looking-glass self through interaction. | Communication in the Real World (Chapter 2: Perception and Self) | CrashCourse Sociology: Social Development & Symbolic Interactionism |
| Small Group & Team Communication | You master small group communication dynamics, including group roles, norms, decision-making procedures, leadership styles, and groupthink prevention. | Communication in the Real World (Chapters 13–14: Small Group Communication) | Open Educational Lectures: Small Group Dynamics and Leadership |
| Listening & Relational Dialogue | You develop active and critical listening competencies, examine listening barriers, and learn principles of constructive dialogic communication. | Communication in the Real World (Chapter 5: Listening) | Coursera: Active Listening |
Expanding your perspective to macro-level systems, exploring mass media effects, semiotic representation, digital networked society, and intercultural communication.
| Subject | Why study? | Book | Videos |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mass Communication & Media Effects | You examine the structure of media industries and study major theoretical effects, including Agenda-Setting, Framing, Cultivation, and Uses & Gratifications. | Media, Society, Culture, and You & Mass Communication, Media, and Culture (LibreTexts) | CrashCourse: Media Literacy (Series on Media History & Effects) |
| Semiotics & Representation | You learn to deconstruct cultural texts and visual media through semiotic analysis (signifier/signified) and Stuart Hall's encoding/decoding model. | Communication in the Real World (relevant chapters) | CrashCourse: Media Literacy (Representation & Media Ownership) |
| Digital Media & Networked Society | You analyze how computer-mediated communication, digital platforms, networked publics, algorithms, and online privacy reshape human connection. | Media, Society, Culture, and You (Chapters on Digital Culture & Social Media) | CrashCourse: Media Literacy (Digital Literacy & Online Information) |
| Culture & Communication | You investigate intercultural communication competence, high- and low-context cultures, cultural dimensions, and power dynamics across diverse communities. | Intercultural Communication (LibreTexts) | FutureLearn: Intercultural Communication (Shanghai International Studies University) |
This section equips you with the qualitative, quantitative, and textual methodologies needed to evaluate and conduct empirical and critical communication research.
| Subject | Why study? | Book | Videos |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foundations of Communication Inquiry | You understand the epistemology, ontology, and ethics of communication inquiry, learning how to formulate research questions and review literature. | Social Science Research: Principles, Methods, and Practices (Bhattacherjee, USF Digital Commons) | Coursera: Understanding Research Methods (SOAS University of London) |
| Qualitative & Textual Methods | You learn to design and conduct qualitative studies using in-depth interviews, focus groups, participant observation, thematic coding, and textual analysis. | Social Science Research (Qualitative chapters) & Saldaña, The Coding Manual for Qualitative Researchers | Coursera: Qualitative Research Methods (University of Amsterdam) |
| Quantitative Methods & Data Analysis | You master empirical research design (surveys, experiments, quantitative content analysis) and learn to compute, interpret, and report descriptive and inferential statistics. | OpenIntro Statistics & Social Science Research (Quantitative chapters) | Coursera: Quantitative Methods (University of Amsterdam) |