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 in the social sciences or a comparable field. Proof of skills in English to a level corresponding to English B in the Swedish secondary school.

Learning outcomes

After completing the course the student shall be able to:

Knowledge and understanding

• systematically and critically discuss, assess, apply and reflect on the key issues, debates, principles, concepts and theories regarding mediatisation, media logics, social media, culture and society,
• demonstrate substantial in-depth knowledge about the meaning of social media, information technologies and their uses in contemporary mediatized societies and cultures,
• be aware of the current research in the area of digital media, culture and society

Skills and abilities

• critically and creatively reason on the importance of social media, information technologies and their uses in contemporary mediatized societies and cultures,
• systematically reflect on, and assimilate the course literature as well as independently finding additional literature relevant for the course on his or her own,
• collect empirical material and use theories discussed in the course to analyse them,
• demonstrate oral skills in presentation, discussions and constructive criticism.

Judgement and approach

• adopt an independent and critical approach to information and research in the field of digital media and society,
• demonstrate the ability to identify the need or requirements for further knowledge and to take charge of their own knowledge development,
• demonstrate an awareness of the ethical aspects of research, within these subject areas,

Content

The course focuses on theories and perspectives for analysing the role of digital media and information technologies in contemporary mediatized societies. Key concepts and schools of thought on mediatisation, social media and digital information technologies are introduced and attended to in-depth in the course. The course also discusses key economic, political and cultural aspects of the emerging society within a digital media and communication landscape. A special emphasis is placed upon the interconnectedness between media and culture. The course provides a basis for a critical understanding and analysis of the importance of social media and information technology. It develops students' abilities to reflect upon our contemporary world and socio-cultural changes within it.

Instruction

Lectures and seminars.

Assessment

Active participation and an examination.