Entry requirements

A Bachelor's degree, equivalent to a Swedish Kandidatexamen, from an internationally recognised university, including at least 90 credits in the social sciences or a comparable field and an independent project of at least 15 credits. Proficiency in English equivalent to the general entry requirements for first-cycle (Bachelor's level) studies.

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of the course students will be able to:

Knowledge and understanding

• Demonstrate advanced knowledge of the relationship between media, democracy and the welfare state,
• Demonstrate advanced knowledge about, and critically discuss the historical and contemporary changes to the welfare model and the role of various media in relation to the welfare state. 

Skills and abilities

• Critically assess central themes and strands of research within the area of media, democracy and the welfare state,
• Critically reflect on future developments in the area of media, democracy and the welfare state,
• Plan, manage and write independent reflective essays on media, democracy and the welfare state. 

Judgment and approach

• Demonstrate insight into the possibilities and limitations of science when applied to the course content and the role of academic research in society.
• Demonstrate insight into the normative foundations of media, democracy and the welfare state.

Content

The course introduces students to theories and research on media, democracy and the welfare state. The course presents contemporary, comparative and historical perspectives on media systems and the role of media in sustaining democracy. A particular focus is placed on the Nordic and the Swedish welfare states and their media systems, which have been argued to have been particularly successful from a democratic point of view.

Instruction

Lectures and seminars.

Assessment

The course is examined by an examination and active participation in seminars.

If there are special reasons for doing so, an examiner may make an exception from the method of assessment indicated and allow a student to be assessed by another method. An example of special reasons might be a certificate regarding special pedagogical support from the University´s disability coordinator or a decision by the department's working group for study matters.