Analysis of the journalism and communication degree programmes of the world's top-ranked universities. Competencies, objectives and subjects

Introduction: This article presents the results of a study that analyses 12 Communication and Journalism degree programmes offered by the world's top eight universities in the field of Communication, according to the QS World University Rankings. Methods: The study uses quantitative and qualitative methods to analyse these universities' degree programmes and 542 course units, focusing on their aims, competencies, thematic areas, modality, and curricular distribution, to identify good practices and tendencies in their curricular design. Results and conclusions: The study indicates that these universities prefer open study programmes that privilege elective courses or modules that guarantee students' basic humanist education and let students choose a large part of their educational track.