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Biology: Biology and Science Communication & Society

This is a specialisation of the Biology Master.
Coordinator: Prof. Dr. Peter Klinkhamer, email: p.g.l.klinkhamer@biology.leidenuniv.nl

This MSc specialisation will start on Monday 3 September, 2012 at 9.00 in room 1.5.31, Sylvius Laboratory, with an information lecture.

Website Instituut Biologie Leiden – Onderzoeksgroepen

All master students have to submit a master study program, consisting of choices of courses and the research project, to the studyadvisor in November (start September) or in April (start February). Through the submission of this study program, the Board of Examiners determines whether the individual study program can be approved. Courses may be elected from the MCB and EBC programmes.

Year 1: Biology programme
Year 2: Communication programme

For a description of the full programme read the more information button!

First Year: Biology

The Biology component consists of the following:

  • Biology research project of 36-40 EC

  • Advanced theory (courses and lectures) of 20-24 EC to be selected in correspondence with the research topic.

The research project has to take place in one of the research groups of the Institute of Biology (IBL), Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML) or NCB Naturalis.

All theory is minimally at level 400.

The individual study programme consisting of choices of courses and the research project must have prior approval by the Board of Examiners. For the theory you may choose from the MCB and EBC programmes (see links below and see timetable).
Programme Molecular and Cellular Biosciences 2012-2013
Programme Evolution Biodiversity and Conservation 2012-2013

Second Year: Communication

The coordinator of the Communication component of the programme is Prof. Dr. J van den Broek, email: broek@edufwn.leidenuniv.nl

The Communication component consists of the following:

Mandatory:

  • Fundamentals of Science Communication and Society: Level 400, 17 EC

  • Training period: Level 600, 23-34 EC
    The training period can be in the field of Journalism, Museology or New Media and includes a written report, and an oral presentation.

Choice of:

  • Extension of the biology component: Level ≥ 400, 0-20 EC

  • Courses in Communication: Level ≥ 400, 0-8 EC

  • Communication Master thesis: Level 500/600, 5 EC

  • Communication research project related to Master thesis: Level 500/600, 4 EC

The choice of the training period, master thesis, and elective courses should be approved beforehand by respectively the coordinators of the biology and communication part of the programme.

For further description and information about the programme see the following link: Website Science Communication & Society

More info

Description

The specialisation Science Communication & Society concerns science communication in a broad sense. The programme prepares students for a career in popularisation of science, for example, as a science communicator, a science policymaker or a public relations officer, or for a career as a scientist with a communicating mindset. Students with an MSc specialisation Science Communication & Society are admissible to a PhD programme in their MSc research or in Science Communication.

Qualifications for admission

Students should be admitted to an MSc programme within the Faculty of Science. For all other (international) candidates, the Board of Admissions will judge the equivalence to these BSc degrees of their previous training. Preferably, the BSc programme has included the 10-EC-course Learning, Presentation and Communication, offered by the Leiden Graduate School of Education (ICLON), or equivalent courses. Applicants must provide proof of proficiency in Dutch.

Program

The programme of the of the Science Communication & Society (SCS) specialisation consist of two components:

  • a Biology research component within the MSc programme

  • a communication component
    Completion of the specialisation SCS requires a minimum of 40 EC and a maximum of 60 EC within the communication component.

Biology
The Biology research component of the Science Based Business (SBB) specialisation consists of a research project of 36-40 EC and 20-24 EC of advanced theory (courses and lectures) to be selected in relation to the research topic. The biology component can be extended with an additional 20 EC (courses or extension of the research project to 80 EC in total).
The research project has to take place in one of the research groups of the Institute of Biology (IBL), Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML) or NCB Naturalis. A research project within one of the ‘Life Science’ research groups of the Leiden Institute of Chemistry (LIC), at the Leiden-Amsterdam Centre of Drug Research (LACDR) or at the Leiden University Medical Centre (LUMC) may substitute for a research project within the IBL pending prior approval by the Board of Examiners.
Theoretical components should be minimally at level 400. The individual study programme consisting of choices of courses and the research project must have prior approval by the Board of the Examiners.

Communication
The Communication component consists of the following:

Mandatory:

  • Fundamentals of Science Communication and Society: Level 400, 17 EC

  • Training period: Level 600, 23-34 EC
    The training period can be in the field of Journalism, Museology or New Media and includes a written report, and an oral presentation.

Choice of:

  • Extension of the biology component: Level ≥ 400, 0-20 EC

  • Courses in Communication: Level ≥ 400, 0-8 EC

  • Communication Master thesis: Level 500/600, 5 EC

  • Communication research project related to Master thesis: Level 500/600, 4 EC

Approval of program

All master students have to submit a master study program, consisting of choices of courses and one or two research projects, to the studyadvisor in November (start September) or in April (start February). Through the submission of this study program, the Board of Examiners determines whether the individual study program can be approved.