Communication 

This page is updated for the academic year 2023-2024.
Information for the academic year 2024-2025 will be updated in the coming days.
 

“M.A. in Political Media” 

Tracks  

Two tracks are available:  
  
Track A – includes research and thesis submission of M.A. thesis .  

Track B –  not research-based track without thesis..  

  
Application criteria  

Track A – research-based – requires an undergraduate grade point average of 87 from a recognized academic institution.  
  
Track B – requires an undergraduate grade point average of 80 from a recognized academic institution.  

 

• Space is limited, so that only students with the most favorable record will be admitted.  
    
• The Department is not obligated to admit all applicants who meet the minimum registration requirements indicated above.  
    
• Final screening of candidates is at the discretion of the School of Communication.  

• The final decision on admission of an applicant is under the authority of the School of Graduate Studies.  
    

Program framework  

1. Students will create their schedules from the list of  available courses,and in accordance with the Program’s guidelines and requirements 

1. Specialization courses are held on Tuesdays and Fridays.  
      

Course times are subject to change in accordance with scheduling constraints.  

  
English and Jewish studies courses may be held on other days.  
   

Program duration  

Students must complete their studies in research-based Track A within two years, or non-research Track B in a single calendar year (fall semester, spring semester and summer session, consecutively).  

When justified, and upon the recommendation of the head of the School of Communication and the advisor, the School of Graduate Studies may grant an extension for a third year, only for research-based Track A students, on condition that significant progress has been made in their thesis work. 
  

Completion of missing courses  

1. Students lacking appropriate academic background who are admitted to the master’s program in political media will need to complete missing courses.  

1. Students without an undergraduate major in communication must take 2 AC (annual-based credits) (4 SC – semester-based credits) of an online course in communication during the first semester.  

Students without an undergraduate major in political science must take 2 AC (annual-based credits) (4 SC – semester-based credits) of an online course in political science during the first semester.  

Students must register for those background courses and complete them with an average of 80 by the end of the first year of study.  

Below is the list of background courses to be completed **  

Background course in communication:  

Foundations of Communication: Concepts and Models 2 AC (4 SC)  

Background courses in political science:  

Introduction to Political Science 2 AC (4 SC)  

Statistics and Computer Applications 2 AC (4 SC) – for Track A only  

Research Methods and Computer Applications 2 AC (4 SC) – for Track A only  
   

** to be determined on an individual basis per background  

  

Track A – research-based track  

Credit and seminar requirements  

18 AC (36SC) as specified below:  

Required courses  

Approaches and Theories in Political Science 2 AC (4 SC)  

Approaches and Theories in Communication 2 AC (4 SC)  

Foundations of Scientific Research (1st year) 2 AC (4 SC)  

Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methods in Political Science (1st year) 2 AC (4 SC)       

Elective courses in communication 4 AC (8 SC)  

Elective courses in communication / political science 2 AC (4 SC)  

 Thesis 4 AC (8 SC)  

Thesis guidelines  

See School of Graduate Studies Rules and Regulations in the introductory chapter.    

Final exam for the master’s degree  

The final exam is based on the thesis and its underlying bibliography.  
The exam is oral and is held before an examination committee.  

   

Research proposals are to be submitted by the start of the second year of study.  

   

Track B –  non-research track – structured program  

Credit and seminar requirements  

18 AC (36 SC) as specified below:  

Required courses:  

Approaches and Theories in Political Science 2 AC (4 SC)  

Approaches and Theories in Communication 2 AC (4 SC)  

Elective courses in communication 6 AC (12 SC)  

Elective courses in political science 4 AC (8 SC)  

Seminar in communications 2 AC (4 SC)   

Seminar in communications 2 AC (4 SC)  

  

Exemption from specialization courses  

1. Students who began but did not complete their master’s degree at a recognized academic institution or in another department at Bar-Ilan, and have taken a course within the last four years which is identical or parallel in scope and content to one of the required master’s degree courses, and obtained a minimum grade of 84, may request an exemption from the course.  

1. The possibility of exemption due to prior courses is limited to 8 AC (16 SC) in Track B and 7 AC (14 SC) in Track A.  

1. Requests for exemptions are to be submitted to the master’s degree advisor in the School of Communication. Authority for course exemption or conversion lies with the School of Graduate Studies.  
      

 Requirements, guidelines and clarifications common to all tracks  

Jewish studies  

As per general requirements for the master's degree (see introductory chapter).  

Language proficiency  

Master’s degree English requirements are for students in Track A only  
(details on placement tests, course levels and exemption eligibility criteria – see introductory chapter).  

Changes and updates to degree programs  

The curriculum presented here is based on the authorized program.  
As part of the academic effort to obtain final approval of the curriculum, there may be changes and updates to this program.  

     

Third Degree: Ph.D. in Communication 

Studying and pursuing research in our prestigious PhD Program, offers a highly attractive and enriching academic experience. The program is oriented to supply advanced students with cutting edge up-to-date academic knowledge and skill sets for purposes of research and teaching in the field of media and communication studies, so that our graduates will be able to lead both local and the international communication arenas. The School’s advanced studies program will enrich and widen our graduate students’ familiarity with subfields of media and communication studies in Israel. The Program also seeks to expose our graduate students to the various stages of academic research and scientific pursuit, at the upmost levels of international excellence. This includes, but not limited to, academic writing for the purposes of publishing research in the most esteemed and competitive outlets; participation and presentation in local and international communication conferences, writing, submitting, and successfully obtaining competitive large research grants; and thorough familiarity with the world of academic teaching and higher education pedagogy, including preparing classes, exams, syllabi, and more. 

Application criteria 

• Second degree (M.A.) in a research-based track, with an average grade of at least 87 for both the thesis and the classes. 
• Interview with the School’s Graduate Studies Coordinator, Dr. Jonathan Ilan. For scheduling and interview contact Dr. Ilan at: jonathan.ilan@biu.ac.il    

The structure of the Advanced Studies Program 

(Note that additional and complementary studies may be decided upon by the School’s Graduate Studies Coordinator). 

1. Required classes: 

Publishing, teaching and the academic world 1 AC (2 SC) 

Advanced Research methods 2 AC (4 SC) 

altogether 4 AC (8 SC) 

1. Elective classes at the M.A. level, which are supplied by the School of Communication, or by the University, and which closely relate to, and probably advance the research.  
     
2. Partaking in and contributing to a variety of academic and social activities of the School of Communication. These include participation in and contribution to the School’s weekly seminar meetings, end of year events, academic workshops, and so on. 

Additional requirements 

PhD students are required to take the University’s Jewish Studies in English Studies course, as detailed in the University’s publication concerning advanced studies. 

Timetables 

• PhD students are required to submit the PhD proposal and have it formally approved within the time-frame of a year and a half from the beginning of the studies. 

Additionally, all other requirements for obtaining the PhD degree, including submitting the PhD thesis, are required to take place within four years from the day of acceptance to the School of Communication advanced program. In exceptional cases, permission for extend this duration may apply 

 

  

For further details  

contact the School of Communication by phone at 03-5317060/7061  

  or by email or visit the Department of Political Media website