The Bachelor's degree program at the IfKW combines research and practice in the fields of media, public relations, and society, and qualifies graduates for a wide range of professions. We have summarized the most important information for prospective students here—from course content and methods to practical applications and career prospects.
The bachelor's degree program in Communication Studies (120 ECTS) provides theoretical depth and practical skills in the fields of media, public relations, and social communication. The program focuses on content and current issues in journalism, strategic communication, public relations, science and health communication, and media psychology, anchored in empirical social research.
In addition to sound methodological and theoretical training, the program offers a wide range of practical insights: in seminars, projects, and internships, students learn to analyze complex communication processes and actively shape them. The spectrum ranges from political discourse analysis and digital media research to socially relevant topics such as disinformation and sustainability communication.
We see KW as an applied subject, which means that the program includes practical skills in media analysis, public relations, and strategic communication. The program thus opens up career opportunities in journalism, PR, media management, marketing, and research, or qualifies students for further master's programs in the US and abroad.
A stay abroad is an enriching addition to your bachelor's degree in communication science. The IfKW supports you with numerous international contacts and a broad network of partner universities worldwide. Every winter semester, the event series "Mit dem IfKW ins Ausland" (Go abroad with the IfKW) offers detailed orientation; in the summer semester, there is a compact information event. Follow the link in the info box for more information, contact persons, and your options.
"Something to do with media"? Students studying communication science at the IfKW learn much more than that. The program teaches sound analytical skills, critical thinking, and a deep understanding of media as a central component of social reality. It trains generalists who can understand and classify communication processes and help shape them responsibly—in research, media practice, politics, education, or business.
As a minor subject, KW complements major subjects in the humanities, cultural studies, or social sciences with basic knowledge of media. You can take up a minor subject in the traditional way or supplement your major studies with communication studies as an applied subject. (No idea what is correct here, please adjust the content and add a link to the website for minor and applied subjects!)
The seminars and lectures offered as part of the bachelor's program at the IfKW are as diverse as the faculty and researchers at our institute. Topics range from media use and strategic communication to qualitative and quantitative research. Five areas are central to the program:
How and why are different media used?
Whether social media, television, or podcasts—we examine how people use media in everyday life, what motives, needs, and selection processes are behind it, and how behavior changes across target groups, life stages, and platforms. The focus is also on the influences of algorithms, media trust, information avoidance, and usage routines—and how media use in different contexts (e.g., politics, health, leisure) contributes to social orientation or creates new tensions.
What influence do the media have on individuals, politics, and society?
The program teaches approaches to researching media effects—from fake news and climate communication to questions of freedom of expression. It covers theory and research approaches on how news, advertising, and disinformation affect attitudes, emotions, and actions. Different contexts are examined, such as health, politics, messenger apps, strategic communication, and polarization.
What roles and strategies do journalists, PR, and communications professionals have?
The focus is on the strategies, role models, and ethical challenges of journalists, PR professionals, and influencers—as well as their significance for public opinion formation and social discourse. The boundaries between professional communication and user-generated content are also becoming blurred: more and more users are becoming communicators themselves – whether in blogs, social media, or comment sections. The ifkw creates space for scientific foundations and practical application with research and practical seminars.
How do different people use and why do they prefer different media, and how does this consumption of media and content affect them?
The project analyzes media preferences, expectations, and evaluations of different target groups, with a particular focus on emotionality, framing, resistance, and social identity in digital discourse. One focus is on selective media use, trust in algorithmically curated content, and the question of how people deal with digital information and develop their media literacy.
How are communication science issues investigated?
The program provides in-depth knowledge of quantitative and qualitative research—from surveys, content analysis, and experiments to interviews, group analysis, and digital tools. Among other things, students learn how to use the statistical software R – with an R package (tidycomm) co-developed at the IfKW, which enables scientifically sound yet low-threshold access to data analysis. The teaching is accompanied by a comprehensive repository that accommodates different learning speeds.
The bachelor's program comprises six semesters (120 ECTS). A minor subject of your choice – for which you must apply separately – accompanies your studies from the first to the fifth semester. The sixth semester consists of a bachelor's thesis and an oral defense. Two mandatory internships and the option of a semester abroad complement the program with practical experience and an international perspective.
All examinations in the bachelor's program—from written exams and term papers to oral exams and the bachelor's thesis—are graded according to the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). One credit point corresponds to 30 hours of work, including preparation and follow-up work, presentations, term papers, and seminar papers. Registration for exams during the program is done through the exam management system LSF; registration periods are announced at the beginning of each semester. Students who receive BAföG can have their certificate of proper study ("BAföG certificate" after the 4th semester) issued during the office hours of the academic advisor or at the exam office.
Competencies already acquired may be recognized in accordance with the examination and study regulations. The Examination Board (click here for the Examination Board) decides on the recognition and correct conduct of examinations. The Examination Office for Humanities and Social Sciences and the Examination Board for the Bachelor's program in Communication Science are available to answer any organizational questions. The current examination and study regulations contain all binding regulations for the program.
The application process consists of four consecutive steps:
Important information: The Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies (PO 2025) program has local admission restrictions (university-internal numerus clausus) in all semesters.
We would be happy to advise you on the content of the program or the course of study (initial study counseling). You can also contact the LMU's Central Student Advisory Service or take a look at our website to find out more about the program and the institute.
Please note: Minor subjects may also be subject to local restrictions. Please contact the student advisory service for the minor subject for further information.
The institute and its programs thrive on the people who work and conduct research here.