Commented University Calendar

Theory of Communication

Course Units (new window)

Instructor:

Michael Florian

Course Format:

2 hours Seminar

Period:

Summer and Winter Semester

Language:

German

Recommended Previous Knowledge:

None

Contents:

Communication has always been a central reference point of sociological theorizing. Different communication theories provide different models for explaining the emergence of social order. The objective of this course is to introduce selected communication theories and to explore and discuss, how these theories deal with social dynamics and the formation of social structures. Topics include:

  • characteristics of human communication

  • dynamics of communication processes and the emergence of social order

  • communication and media

  • communication-oriented modelling (COM)

 

Learning Outcomes:

Knowledge: Different sociological communication theories; perspectives and basic concepts

Competence of Methods: Analyzing, discussing and evaluating the characteristics of communication processes; communication-oriented modelling

Competence of Systems: Communication-oriented modelling of social systems and processes of social differentiation

Social Competences: Ability to form teams, presentation and discussion of research results

Reading Resources:

Habermas, Jürgen (1981): Theorie des kommunikativen Handelns. Frankfurt/Main: Suhrkamp.

Luhmann, Niklas (1984): Soziale Systeme. Grundriß einer allgemeinen Theorie. Frankfurt/Main: Suhrkamp.

Malsch, Thomas (2005): Kommunikationsanschlüsse. Zur soziologischen Differenz von realer und künstlicher Sozialität. Wiesbaden: VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften/GWV Fachverlage GmbH.

Schützeichel, Rainer (2004): Soziologische Kommunikationstheorien. Konstanz: UVK Verlagsgesellschaft GmbH.

Performance Record:

Oral presentation and written research paper

Workload:

70 hours total

Further Information:

www.tu-harburg.de/tbg

Contact:

perschke@tu-harburg.de; malsch@tu-harburg.de

Credit points of this module can be found in the course plan for the corresponding course of study.

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