# RDEV30060

**Source**: https://hub.ucd.ie/usis/!W_HU_MENU.P_PUBLISH?p_tag=MODULE&MODULE=RDEV30060&TERMCODE=202500&ACYR=2026
**Parent**: https://hub.ucd.ie/usis/!W_HU_MENU.P_PUBLISH?p_tag=COURSE&MAJR=CPS1&AUDIENCE=

Academic Year 2025/2026

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#### Professional Communications (RDEV30060)

Subject:
:   Rural Development

College:
:   Health & Agricultural Sciences

School:
:   Agriculture & Food Science

Level:
:   3 (Degree)

Credits:
:   5

Module Coordinator:
:   Dr Claire McCormack

Trimester:
:   Spring

Mode of Delivery:
:   On Campus

Internship Module:
:   No

How will I be graded?
:   Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

This is an undergraduate module designed for stage 4 students of the BAgrSc degree programme. The overall purpose of the module is to strengthen communication skills which are of value in professional careers. The principal topics covered include: The theory underpinning interpersonal communications; Presentation skills and Public Speaking; Written communication skills; Group communication; One-to-one communications; Demonstrations and Open Days; Radio skills; Use of ICTs in agricultural communication campaigns.\
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## About this Module

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### What will I learn?

###### Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module students should be able to: \
explain the theory underpinning the human communications process; \
describe the media and methods used in professional communications and evaluate the appropriateness of each for given situations; \
develop skills related to the use of selected communications methods (lecture presentations, group meetings, individual consultations, radio presentations, demonstrations, open days and communications campaigns).

###### Indicative Module Content:

Course Topics:\
1. The communications process and media / methods used in communication of information\
2. Effective presentation skills\
Lecturing / public speaking both in person and using online platforms (e.g. Zoom or Teams)\
Effective use of Powerpoint and audio-visual aids\
3. Written communication methods and use of mass media\
4. Use of ICTs in Agricultural Communications Campaigns\
5. Demonstrations and Open Days\
6. Discussion meetings\
- planning effective meetings + meeting agenda\
- role of chairperson + roles necessary for an effective meeting\
7. Individual communication methods (advising / counselling / consultancy skills)\
8. Guidelines for using radio\
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### How will I learn?

###### Student Effort Hours:

| Student Effort Type | Hours |
| --- | --- |
| Lectures | 30 |
| Practical | 3 |
| Specified Learning Activities | 30 |
| Autonomous Student Learning | 55 |
|  |  |
| --- | --- |
| Total | 118 |

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###### Approaches to Teaching and Learning:

Lectures\
Class discussions

### Am I eligible to take this module?

###### Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

**Learning Recommendations:**\

This module is specifically designed for final year B.Agr.Sc. students.

\

###### Module Requisites and Incompatibles

**Equivalents:**\
Professional Communications (AERD40030), Professional Communications (RDEV37060)\
\
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 \

### How will I be assessed?

###### Assessment Strategy

| Description | Timing | Component Scale | Must Pass Component | % of Final Grade | In Module Component Repeat Offered |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Assignment(Including Essay): Continuous Assessment: Projects on Lecture Presentions (by Week 7) and Working with Groups (by Week 11) | Week 7, Week 11 | Graded | No | 50 | No |
| Exam (In-person): End of trimester exam | End of trimester  Duration:  1 hr(s) | Graded | No | 50 | No |

\

###### Carry forward of passed components

Yes

\

### What happens if I fail?

| Resit In | Terminal Exam |
| --- | --- |
| Summer | No |

*Please see [Student Jargon Buster](https://www.ucd.ie/students/services/ucdstudentjargonbuster/) for more information about remediation types and timing.* \

### Assessment feedback

###### Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment\
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment\

###### How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Lecture presentations: Written feedback summarising the the strengths and weaknesses of each presentation will be provided in a timely manner.
Written assignments: Group/class feedback post assessment

### Associated Staff

| Name | Role |
| --- | --- |
| Dr Brian Leonard | Lecturer / Co-Lecturer |
| Miss Claire McCormack | Lecturer / Co-Lecturer |
| Mr Aiden Brady | Tutor |
| Mr Padraig Lacey | Tutor |
| Dr Karen McGrath | Tutor |

### When is this module offered?

**Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.**

|  |  |  |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Spring | Lecture | Offering 1 | Week(s) - 24 | Mon 18:00 - 20:50 |
| Spring | Lecture | Offering 1 | Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 | Thurs 10:00 - 10:50 |
| Spring | Lecture | Offering 1 | Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 | Tues 10:00 - 10:50 |
| Spring | Lecture | Offering 1 | Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 | Tues 14:00 - 14:50 |

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