Courses and minors

The advanced BSc Minor Communication, Research and Practice deals with several aspects of the relation between scientific research and communication practice. In their future work, many students with a life science or social science background will be confronted with societal responses to research findings, the setting of research agenda’s in support of societal innovation, and the design of communication research as a preparation for communication planning. In this minor students come to grips with the different ways in which communication can relate to research.

Risk communication 
CPT-24306 | period 4 | whole day | compulsory course

Research for Effective Communication 
CPT-34806 | period 5 | morning | compulsory course

Designing Communication Interventions
CPT-13306 | period 6 | morning | compulsory course

Innovation and Transformation  
CPT-22806 | period 5 | afternoon | restricted optional course 1

Internet-based Communication and Learning for Social Change
CPT-53806 | period 5 | afternoon | restricted optional course 1

See also the Study Handbook

The BSc Minor Communication for Change gives students a comprehensive introduction to the interdisciplinary field of applied communication sciences. After a general introduction, the BSc minor offers basic insight in social psychological mechanisms and offers specialised courses to zoom in first on communication and individual change, and later on communication and organisational change.

Communication and Persuasion  
CPT-23306 | period 2 | morning | compulsory course

Communication and Organisations  
CPT-35306 | period 3 | whole day | compulsory course

Social Psychology 
MCB-10806 | period 1 | afternoon | restricted optional course 1

Introduction to Strategic Communication 
CPT-12306 | period 1 | morning | restricted optional course 1

Communication Theory 
CPT-12806 | period 2 | afternoon | restricted optional course 1

See also the Study Handbook

This BSc minor provides students with an in-depth understanding of multiple social and bio-physical environmental determinants of health, and their interaction at the individual, local and global level. The BSc minor combines expertise from health psychology, social psychology, health promotion, epidemiology and communication. Overall, the BSc minor aims to give students insight into the multiple causes of and solutions for health issues, to understand the interdependence of the causes and teach them how to address problems through health promotion actions, strategic communication and policy.

Introduction to Strategic Communication 
CPT-12306 | period 1 | morning | compulsory course

Environmental Assets for Health 
HSO-20306 | period 2 | morning | compulsory course

Health Psychology 
HSO-20806 | period 3 | whole day | compulsory course

Introduction to Epidemiology and Public Health
HNE-24806 | period 1 | afternoon | restricted optional course 1

Social Psychology 
MCB-10806 | period 1 | afternoon | restricted optional course 1

Communication Theory 
CPT-12806 | period 2 | afternoon | restricted optional course

See also the Study Handbook

Philosophy literally means: love of wisdom, but we see it first and foremost as asking and exploring very basic questions: about what knowledge is and how to attain it, about our relationship to the world, and about how we should live. In philosophy, it is common to ask questions about things we normally just take for granted. Does the world exist? Can we trust our senses? Can we have knowledge about what is right or wrong? What is happiness? It is a bit like children who can continue asking "why is that so?" This might sound silly sometimes, but it can also lead to new insights. Wisdom is maybe not to know a lot, but, much more, to be aware of the limitations of what one can know. And we can find those limits only by continuing to ask questions.

Philosophy is not always abstract and theoretical, it can be very practical. For example when we try to to give good ethical reasons for choices we should make, in policy or in private life. Can it be justified for the government to require parents to have their children vaccinated? Is it right to kill animals for food? Do we have obligations to future generations, if it comes to reducing climate change? These questions require careful reflection and analysis. But they also raise deep controversies and conflicting views. Can systematic thinking help overcoming such conflicts?

In the minor we do not only study and discuss ethical and philosophical themes. We also practice specific ways of reasoning, with the aim to develop skills in critical thinking. This includes, for example, argumentation analysis and thought experiments, but also specific forms of deliberation, such as Socratic dialogue. Students interested in philosophy or applied ethics can deepen their skills in critical reflection, acquire a broader understanding of philosophical traditions, and engage in ethical analysis of societal problems in the Wageningen domain that (includes but also) goes beyond the specific domain of their own study program.

Philosophical reflection
CPT-55206 | Period 5 | afternoon | compulsory course

Philosophical Skills
CPT-55503 | period 4 | whole day | compulsory course

Ethics, Health and Society
CPT-13806 | Period 5 | afternoon | compulsory course

Data Science Ethics
CPT-30503 | Period 6 | afternoon | compulsory course

Current Ethical Controversies
CPT-55303 | Period 6 | afternoon | compulsory course

Ethics and Philosophy for Biologists
CPT-10303 | Period 5 | afternoon | restricted choice

Response & Reflection in Molecular Life Science
YML20303 | Period 5 | afternoon | restricted choice

See also the study handbook