5 Semiotics Degree Programs

Study at the Department of Semiotics at the University of Tartu, one of the most important centers of semiotics in the world. Semiotics is a 2-year Master’s program that provides interdisciplinary background and gives a theoretical base for application of semiotic ideas to a wide variety of disciplines and scientific study. Semiotics is the general study of sign processes or semiosis. The program binds together the theory of semiotics and three core modules – cultural semiotics, biosemiotics, and socio-semiotics.

Semiotics is an ancient discipline with a long history, which has gained a firm theoretical foundation during the 19th century and an ever-growing significance over the last 50 years. This discipline is now in a period of very intensive, concentrated research and self-identification on the map of contemporary science.

Communication is one of the determining manifestations of life of contemporary society. We have become part of communities that are formed in communication processes taking place in reality as well as in digital networks. The study programME Semiotics and Philosophy of Communication focuses on the study of communication strategies, their preconditions and their effects. The peculiarity of this programme will appear in connection with the emphasis placed on the study of visual components of communication. This way we take into account the role that nowadays belongs to images in contemporary communication. It is also important to point out that the analysis of the semiosis, mediation and communication processes is extended to expose the manipulative character of some media discourse procedures which contributes to the specific features of this program.

An international journey and a semiotic perspective to understand reality. A new English-language curriculum, "Embodied, Social, and Cultural System," expanding media studies through the lenses of cognitive sciences, artificial intelligence, and ecological crises.

This course gives you an introduction to British Sign Language (BSL), including finger spelling, lip reading, and the semiotic structure of the language. Alongside the practical aspects of BSL, you will learn about Deaf awareness and explore Deaf history and culture. There are over 150,000 individuals in the United Kingdom who use BSL, and they can face communication barriers in many aspects of their lives. This course will both teach you the foundations of the language, and help you to understand and support BSL users.