Profesionālā maģistra studiju programma

PRACTICAL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE STUDY PROGRAMME

The study programme is implemented in compliance with all existing normative enactments of the Republic of Latvia that regulate the legality of study processes. Great emphasis is laid on the provision of methodological materials for the study courses and addition of latest and most relevant scientific literature in communication science and international scientific journal data bases to SBAT library resources. The academic staff of the programme have prepared two teaching books to be published by SBAT publishing house for the programme: Journalsim by Ainārs Dimants and Stephan Russ-Mohl and Risk and Crisis Communication by Jaakko Lehtonen. At present most of the study courses are sufficiently provided for with different methodological materials that are accessible to students in print form at the department (refer for example: http://kalveswikituribai.wetpaint.com/page/BAT+doktorantiem). These materials are constantly updated.

In accordance to programmes implemented by SBAT, the publishing house regularly publishes books including communications and management science literature. The authors are SBAT academic personnel and invited specialists including academic personnel involved in doctoral study programme "Communication Management". The SBAT library procures sufficient literature for study courses so as to ensure that each and every study is provided for with basic literature necessary for the course.

Practical lessons in particular case studies are used in the implementation of the study programme.

1.6.Forms of Study

Studies are planned as:

Full–time studies 3.6 years,

With lectures on weekday evenings.

The form of studies have been approved in conformity with labour market demands allowing doctoral students to combine work with studies.

1.7.Evaluation system

The main indicators of the system:

1. Social, economic, demographic context.

Number of working students

2. Resources, costs

Student tuition fee.

Scholarship, finance received from the state budget.

Number of academic personnel, including those:

With degree;

professors, associate professors;

Permanent staff;

Full-time staff.

Academic staff involved in international exchange programmes.

Administration and other pedagogical personnel.

Support personnel.

Student teacher ratio.

Rooms.

Computers.

Accessibility to information (library).
3. Study process

Number of students.

Breakdown of students by gender.

Students’ age.

Full-time, part-time, full intensity, part intensity students.

Student assessment of studies, academic staff, administration, support personnel (average mark in questionnaires).

Number of students involved in international student exchange.

4. Results.

Alumni.

Ratio of alumni to beginners (doctors).

Average marks in exams, final examination

Labour Market.

Number of unemployed.

People working in other specialities.

Working abroad.

Income levels.
The implementation of the Study programme is evaluated in accordance to the above criteria at the end of each study year and the results of the research are included in the self evaluation report.

1.8.Examination forms and procedure

The student’s knowledge, skills and abilities that are determined in the programme are assessed in the examination.

Examinations are divided into regular tests, exams at the conclusion of study courses and final examinations.
1. Regular tests
Regular test are test organised during the study course. Regular tests are organised and conducted by the academic personnel teaching the study course. The number of regular tests is determined in the study course programme. Regular tests are marked on a 10 point system and the marks are registered in the journal. The different types of regular tests are:
* written tests,

* reports in seminars or conferences,

* study papers that promote the qualitative acquisition of study course.
2. Exams at the conclusion of study courses
Exams at the conclusion of study courses mark the conclusion of course. A concluding exam is foreseen for every course and its place and time are planned in the consultation and examination schedule. The mark for the concluding examination is registered on the mark sheet and in the study journal.

The types of concluding exams are:

* exam,

* test.
Exam is a type of assessment where students knowledge, skills and abilities are assessed on a 10 point grading system and the student has passed the exam if he/she has acquired at least 4 points (almost average). Exams are conducted by the academic staff teaching the study course or any teacher appointed by the head of the department.

Test is a type of assessment that is based on the results of the regular tests and access whether the student has successfully completed or failed the study course. The final assessment is a pass or fail with the mark given in brackets in a 10 point system. Tests are conducted by the academic staff teaching the study course or any teacher appointed by the head of the department.

The participation of doctoral students in theoretical seminars that are conducted together with scientific advisors and programme director, individual scientific research work, as well as participation in the implementation of SBAT public relations Bachelor's programme and Postgraduate Programme (mainly supervising bachelor theses) is assessed in the form of a test. All doctoral students together with their advisors and other teachers of the department of Communication Science participate in theoretical seminars. The progress of doctoral student in research work is discussed and analysed in theoretical seminars in conformity with SBAT doctoral study regulations (previously – Regulations on studies in doctoral study programmes that describe the requirements put forward to doctoral students and are still in force; both regulations can be seen in the appendix).

On the other hand the form of assessment at the end of all study courses is an exam.
3. Final examinations
Final examination is a type of assessment at the end of the study programme and upon successful conclusion of which the student receives the education certifying document. The form of final exam is:
* Promotion examination
Promotion examination in a study programme is carried out in accordance with the SBAT Doctoral study regulations. The programme foresees two promotion exams: one in branch of science (Communication Theory) and one in foreign language (English or German).
* Defence of doctoral thesis
The acquisition of the study programme is concluded with a state examination. The procedure for defence of doctoral thesis is regulated by the promotion Council in that particular field.