SFB51020 Professional Communication (Autumn 2026)

Mandatory course in:

• Bachelor's Programme in Communication
• Bachelor's Programme in Digital Media and Design with a specialisation in communication (year 2026)
• One-Year Programme in Communication

Elective course in:

• Bachelor's Programme in Digital Media and Design with a specialisation in communication (year 2024).
• Bachelor's Programme in Digital Media and Design with a specialisation in 3D-modelling and animation

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Bachelor's Programme in Communication and One-Year Programme in Communication: 1st semester (autumn).

Bachelor's Programme in Digital Media and Design with a specialisation in communication (year 2026): 3rd semester (autumn).

Bachelor's Programme in Digital Media and Design with a specialisation in communication (year 2024), Bachelor's Programme in Digital Media and Design with a specialisation in 3D-modelling and animation and the Bachelor's Programme in Information Systems: 5th semester (autumn).

Professional Communication builds student confidence and competence interacting and communicating in a variety of academic and professional contexts in English. It uses a range of theories and texts focussed on the science of conversation, networking skills, presentations and negotiations. It involves Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) using a communicative method and student-focussed learning approach. The course is an academic but also practical study and application of a range of theories and skill areas in professional written and oral communication in English.

Some areas of focus include:

• Building confidence and prowess speaking and presenting
• Strategic conversation and networking skills
• Strategies for a range of presentation contexts, both spontaneous and planned
• Negotiations
• Ongoing development of strategies in the art of rhetoric and persuasion
• Exploration of the ongoing impact of AI in Professional Communication

Knowledge

The student has

• sound knowledge of English for specific purposes and a number of professional genres, used for writing as well as for oral presentations and negotiations
• sound knowledge of negotiation theory and terminology
• good knowledge of writing professional texts in English with correct referencing and critical use of sources
• good knowledge of theory related to science of conversation, presentations and negotiations

Skills

The student has

• excellent vocabulary and communication skills, including spontaneous speaking skills developed through reading, discussion, presentations and negotiations
• developed sound practical skills in writing texts for specific purposes in a professional business context with appropriate adherence to referencing techniques and adequate inclusion and use of relevant research material and sources.
• developed capacity for conversation, networking, presentation and negotiation in a professional context

General competence

The student has

• very good general and professional communicative and language proficiency in English
• sound social, professional and cultural understanding and competence

• One oral presentation & one practical negotiation, teamwork.
• One written assignment submitted by a given deadline, individual/team work.

The coursework must be approved in order for the student to be signed up for the final examination.

Written Assignment (50%) - an individual written assignment of 2000 - 2500 words (excluding front page, table of contents and reference list).

Oral Exam (50%) - An oral exam divided into two parts. The first part of the oral exam is a 20 minute group negotiation task (with groups numbering approximately 4 or 5 participants). Each candidate is assessed for their individual performance in the group task.

The second part of the oral exam (following directly after the group task) is a 5 minute individual interview with each candidate (where the other group members are not present). Interview topics may be drawn from the completed group task and the course material from the semester. With 4 to 5 candidates each taking part in a 5 minute interview, the total time for the second half of the exam is approximately 20 to 25 minutes.

In total, the exam, (with 4 to 5 candidates), takes about 50 to 60 minutes; 20 mins for the group task and 20 to 30 minutes for 4 to 5 individual interviews.

Grades are individual in both partial exams. Each part counts 50 % towards the final grade. The A-F grading scale is used.

Both partial exams must be passed to be awarded the final grade.

This course is evaluated by a

• Final course evaluation

The responsible for the course compiles a report based on the feedback from the students and his/her own experience with the course. The report is discussed by the program committee at the Department of Computer Science and Communication.