Universidad Católica de Temuco offers a Master’s Degree in Language and Communication Studies with a multidisciplinary approach and aimed at strengthening research

The Catholic University of Temuco in its postgraduate academic offer, offers a diversity of options for professionals who seek to go further in their training. One of them is the Master in Language and Communication Studies (MELC) which, in the words of its director, seeks to aim at training professionals with high performance in research, from a multidisciplinary approach.

By Valentina Luza Carrión / Science in Chile.-In April 2023, the Master’s Degree in Language and Communication Studies will begin, which will be taught by the Catholic University of Temuco for professionals from all areas who seek to delve into linguistic and communication studies.

With blended and daytime modality, the 4-semester program will take place in the vicinity of the San Francisco Campus, Manuel Montt #56, Temuco.

Regarding the content and spirit that will guide it, its director Claudio Maldonado, comments that it stands out for its academic and multidisciplinary nature, with the central objective of developing theoretical and methodological skills in students that enable them to propose and carry out research in the fields study of language and communication.

Something that also stands out is “the fact that it is the only master’s degree that manages to offer two lines of research that are commonly separated in Chile, a product that programs similar to the MELC tend to be more monodisciplinarity. The two lines of our program are: 1) linguistic studies; 2) studies in communication and discourse”.

In this sense, the director explains that the student body goes through an itinerary that delves into both lines, which enables them to develop research attached to these.

It also points out that in the medium term, they expect to advance and make the production of knowledge more complex.

“consolidating an interdisciplinary approach that manages to offer holistic, critical and creative readings to the problems that arise from the study of languages, discourses and communication”.

Integrative, multidisciplinary and research approach

One of the aspects that stands out the most is the faculty behind the program: “We have an excellent group of professors, with notable and heterogeneous investigative trajectories, which is expressed in the openings that the courses have towards various topics and areas of knowledge. . The MELC academic body is made up of specialists in translation, research methodologies, philosophy, linguistics, humanities, communication, discourse and literature”.

Likewise, all contemplate the doctorate degree and participate in research projects, as well as international and national cooperation networks.

Thus, the MELC academics manage to articulate their pedagogical work with the research work, a synergy that contributes directly to the research training of the students of the program who develop their theses within the framework of the research projects that the / The teachers currently direct.

Another notable aspect is that the MELC offers the community a program that, from the south of Chile, contributes to the analysis, problematization, and understanding of various phenomena typical of linguistic, discursive, and communication studies, strengthening research that is carried out at the national level. .

In this sense, Maldonado is emphatic in emphasizing that the formative itinerary aims at the construction of theoretical and methodological knowledge that makes possible an advanced study of the problems related to languages, the production and reception of social meaning and the socio-communicative practices that are energized. in highly diverse and complex contexts.

In turn, the director mentions those students who are participating in the program: “Currently there are five professionals who are already in the completion phase of their thesis. I highlight from this group their commitment, diversity and openness to knowledge”.

What are the central axes and the focus of the knowledge delivered?

The central axis of the MELC is to contribute to the training of researchers committed to the study of language, communication and discourse, always taking into account the socio-cultural contexts where these fields are developed.

To comply with the above, we have built a program that includes disciplinary knowledge, methodological strategies and investigative trajectories that support the academic functioning of the Department of Languages ​​of the Catholic University of Temuco.

From the above, the choice of lines of research can be deduced. The line of linguistic studies, which prioritizes psycholinguistic and sociolinguistic approaches, while communicational and discursive studies ascribe to a socio-critical and interdisciplinary approach.

How would you summarize the educational impact of the students who enroll in this master’s degree? In what fields can it develop with integrity?

First, I must point out that given its multidisciplinary nature, the MELC receives applications and inquiries from people from various professional fields. Those interested in this master’s degree are people who work in the areas of pedagogy, translation, communications, anthropology and speech therapy, as well as graduates in language, literature and philosophy.

This heterogeneity forces us to teach introductory courses, whose objective is to level knowledge and introduce students to the theories, debates and types of research that are developed in the areas covered by the lines of research. Subsequently, the itinerary invites you to deepen the disciplinary lines through specific courses: Language and Society, Discourse and Context, Language and Cognition, Communication and Culture. Then there are the courses focused on the formulation and development of the thesis: Thesis Project, Academic Writing and Thesis Seminar.

In them, the student body is devoted exclusively to the investigative process that has as final products the writing of their thesis and the degree exam. Complementarily, a grid of electives is offered, which address topics such as philosophy of language, literary theory, communication and social movements, among others. Finally, there are the instances of connection with the environment, which include seminars, talks and open classes, where the student body delves into various topics and manages to establish dialogues with academic and non-academic agents.

All in all, MELC graduates are empowered to practice their professions by applying advanced knowledge in their areas of performance. In turn, they will be able to develop and promote research in public and/or private educational contexts, both at basic, intermediate and higher levels, as well as in non-governmental organizations and public and private entities linked to the use, promotion, strengthening and research around the relations between languages, communication, discourse, society and culture.

And those who are interested in continuing studies at the doctoral level will find in this master’s degree a unique opportunity to project research topics in a timely manner and prepare for the demands that developing a doctorate implies.

What would you say to a student who wants to enroll and hasn’t decided yet?

Training at the postgraduate level is an instance that intertwines professional, academic and personal development, with all that this entails. That is why we have built a program that, although aimed at the investigative level, is always promoting the materialization of a community that allows its members to generate support and solidarity networks, assuming that the construction of knowledge is always a common task.

Those who enter our program will be part of an innovative experience, committed to scientific and social development, open to the contributions of their students and in a permanent process of reflection to ensure a process of a high academic and human level.

They will also be able to form part of a group of postgraduate students in other areas of the social sciences and humanities who constantly discuss issues of society, language and communication.

Applicants have an online application system present on the MELC website (https://vip.uct.cl/cases/melc/) . And any prior consultation can be directed to the mail (cmaldonadoct.cl). Applications are received until March 10, 2023.