General provisions

The course is offered in English.

Entry requirements

A Bachelor's degree equivalent to a Swedish degree of at least 180 credits (i.e. three years of full-time studies), including at least 90 credits of studies in social sciences or a comparable field that qualifies for studies in Digital Media and Society.

Learning outcomes

The aim of this course is to deepen students knowledge of theories and approaches that deal with how

Internet and social media (blogs, microblogs, wikis, social networking sites, filesharing sites, user-generated

content sites, ect) shape society and are shaped by society and power structures at an advanced level. The

task is to advance students´critical reflection capacities about the kind of society we live in and about the

role of digital media in contemporary society.

Upon completion of the module, students should be able to:

• systematically and critically discuss, evaluate, and reflect on the key issues, debates, principles, concepts, and theories of Internet Research;
• employ and apply a wide range of concepts relating to Internet, social media and society;
• demonstrate an understanding and an ethical and critical appreciation of the importance ot the Internet and social media in contemporary society;
• use social media for disseminating journalistic information to the public and reflect on the journalistic use
• of social media;
• analyse and reflect on complex material in individual and group work;
• plan manage and write independent reflective research papers;
• systematically reflect on research literature;
• demonstrate oral skills in presentation, discussions and constructive criticism.

Content

The course advances and deepens student's knowledge of key approaches that relate to a broad range of topics: social media theory, Critical Internet Studies, communication power, the political economy of the Internet, digital labour, digital democracy, online politics, Internet surveillance, virtual communities. The course provides deeper knowledge about and increased understanding of the power structures that shape the Internet, social media and contemporary society. The course prepares students for work as digital media researchers and digital media professionals.

Instruction

Lectures, tutoring and seminars.

Assessment

Active participation in all seminars and conducting the tasks given in an approved way. The students also write an individual final paper.