Sciences pro-vice chancellor Prof Richard Barker confirmed the proposal to slash the programme by two-thirds.
There are 6.5 full-time equivalent (FTE) staff in the department.
A 0.5 FTE fixed-term doctoral position would end at the expiry of the current contract; one teaching fellow position (1.0 FTE) would be disestablished; and three FTE academic positions would be disestablished.
The department of science communication would be disestablished but science communication would continue to be taught.
Teaching would focus on the postgraduate certificate and diploma in science communication, to be taught by distance.
The master of science communication and the science communication major in the master of applied science would be suspended.
"For more than a decade, we have supported and encouraged the growth of science communication at Otago — from the establishment of a Centre for Science Communication in 2008, to its endorsement as a department in 2022," Prof Barker said.
Tertiary Education Union organiser Phil Edwards said the proposed changes were problematic.
"It’s one of these programmes that is so important in the current environment, where misinformation and junk science gets dispersed around the world."
The course was highly regarded worldwide, and attracted students from overseas.
"Our view is that tertiary education should be funded where strategic programmes such as this should be kept and provided as a public good," Mr Edwards said.
"If this proposal is accepted, suspended elements of the programme could potentially be resumed in future under a more sustainable model of delivery.
"I am aware a change process like this can be difficult for affected staff and students and we are offering support as needed.
"I have already individually met a number of students and staff to discuss the proposal as we work through a consultation process."
Student Brady Clarke said the proposal would reduce the department to a "shell".
"The concerns we have is the department is losing the creative side.
"What is likely to be left is the writing aspects of the degree.
"We’re heartbroken by the changes that are proposed."
Students of the programme would meet Prof Barker to make their case, he said.
"When you reduce a programme by so much, it could struggle to justify its existence down the line."
Prof Barker said the division of sciences needed to resource its operations to ensure it "maintains the standard of research-led excellence which is a fundamental University aspiration".
"In order to address the university’s current financial position, the university needs to withdraw from some activity areas.
"The department of science communication is not financially independent, and there is no viable pathway for it to become so with a postgraduate programme which requires significant thesis supervision, and no strong undergraduate feeder programmes."
Students enrolled will be able to complete their degrees and programmes.
