Media and Communication Studies – (M.A.)

Contents

Semester 1. Two theoretical courses centred on internationally prominent areas of theory are given during the first semester, Global Media Studies (15 credits) and Mediatized Intersections (15 credits). The courses are designed to stimulate and give a rigorous theoretical background for the later thesis project.
Global Media Studies (15 credits) focuses on global perspectives on media studies and discusses partly theories of global communication and its political, economic, and cultural aspects, and partly effects and meanings of globalisation in different parts of the world. Technological aspects are also considered. The course consists of a general theoretical section, a more practical section focused on specific countries and reasons, and a section that takes up special themes related to the subject area, such as media and war, globalisation and visual culture, etc.
Mediatized Intersections: class, ethnicity, gender, sexuality (15 credits) treats media representations of class, ethnicity, gender, and sexuality, and how these representations can be connected to construction, reproduction, and change in respective social groupings within society as a whole. The concept of intersectionality centres upon the contact points between different hierarchies of power. Questions of media use and media production are discussed from an intersectional perspective from theoretical areas such as cultural studies, discourse theory, feminism, gender theory, political economy, and theories of civil society.
Semester 2. During the second semester, a course is given in method (15 credits) with a pilot project (7,5 credits) as well as a faculty course in Scholarliness and research ethics (7,5 credits).
Method course (15 credits) builds on the students' experience of applying methods from bachelor-level studies. This means that the teaching and exercises are to a certain extent individualised with varying focus upon quantitative or qualitative methods. The method exercises, which take the form of a smaller group project, focus on how methods can be combined. This includes methods of the study of media structures, as well as for productions, content, and audience studies. The overarching purpose is to give a deepened understanding and increased skills within a broad spectrum of interpretative and explicatory methodologies associated with the humanities and social studies.
Pilot project (7,5 credits) takes place at half-pace during the second half of the semester, parallel to the faculty course (see below). This is a smaller, preparatory individual project that involves the application of selected parts of the theory and method courses, partly to test some of the ideas prior to the writing of the Master thesis. The pilot project can also be suitable for testing knowledge in academic writing and research ethics acquired in the parallel faculty courses.
The faculty courses Scholarliness and research ethics (7,5 credits) or alternatively Academic writing in English (7,5 credits) are held at a different department.
Semester 3. The program's second academic year is focused upon preparations for and the completion of the Master thesis (30 + 30 credits). During the third semester, the student is offered a selection of specialised courses (7,5 or 15 credits) intended to deepen knowledge of either the academic area or methods within the framework of the thesis project. It is also possible to take a course at another department at Stockholm University. The obligatory faculty course Academic writing in English (7,5 credits) is held during the semester.
The courses offered by JMK are decided each academic year based on the availability of teachers and the selection of courses by students. Examples of courses that have been preliminarily prepared are Media Production, Media Philosophy, Visual Culture, Media Archives, Reception Analysis, Political Communication, and Media and Crime. Some of these courses, of which the student may choose 1-3, may be given in Swedish. Overseas students are offered equivalent reading courses. All students may also choose a specially-composed
reading course directly related to thesis work, and/or take separate courses at another department.
The faculty courses Scholarliness and research ethics (7,5 credits) or alternatively Academic writing in English (7,5 credits) are held at a different department.
An advisor for the thesis work is appointed during the third semester.
Semester 4. The final term is dedicated to the completion and defence of the Master thesis. The project will be presented either in the form of an academic article written in a style consistent with that of a published academic journal, or as a traditional academic essay (30 credits). The detailed literature review and the complete empirical material should be made available to assessors. The article/essay should demonstrate wide-ranging reading within the area, relevant method skills, and the ability to carry out empirical analysis and to reach logical
conclusions. It should demonstrate a degree of academic maturity, independence, and originality.
The program consists of 67,5 credits of obligatory courses, optional courses of max 22.5 credits (it is obligatory to take at least one optional course), and thesis work of 30 credits.