Master in Digital Communication

This Master's programme specialises in advanced understanding of theories, methods, and issues in communication, specificall focusing on digital communication.

In recent years, society has become increasingly digitalised, globalised and specialised. These trends pose many urgent and complex challenges, such as: listening and being heard in an arena of many competing voices; fostering inclusion, equality and diversity in rapidly evolving work environments; and assessing the credibility of information amidst a surge in user-generated and AI-generated content. In this Master's programme, communication is presented as a crucial perspective in such questions, enabling students to attain a comprehensive understanding of a dynamic field that addresses practical and theoretical aspects of these and other contemporary societal challenges.

The programme explores how on-going digitalisation affects communication itself, in various contexts ranging from one-to-one interpersonal interactions online to the mass distribution of, for example, news and politics in web environments. It examines new communication practices like advanced generative AIs, wikis, memes and various social media, which challenge established assumptions about authorship. The programme also takes an interest in the distinctive challenges organisations face in adapting to digitalisation and effectively communicating with diverse internal and external stakeholders, thus equipping students with a proficiency in employing diverse communication techniques in contemporary professional settings influenced by digital advancements. Additionally, the programme addresses how digital technologies can be used to study communication, such as analyzing big textual data for sentiment in online communities or eye-tracking and other biometric analyses of embodied communication.

The programme balances theoretical insights with practical applications. This is true of many of the programme’s courses. In addition, during the elective third semester students can deepen their foundational and critical research skills or develop their work life skills by undertaking a semester-long internship with an organisation. Students can also choose to broaden their degree by applying for an exchange semester at a partner university, or by taking courses in other subjects. In the fourth and final semester, students are expected to conduct cutting-edge independent research in a core area of the programme, with some digital communication relevance or application.

Conducted in English, the programme encourages applications from students worldwide, emphasising international and global perspectives as integral to the programme experience. The curriculum is committed to larger societal goals such as sustainability, equality, and inclusion, which are recurring central themes in various courses. The programme aims to equip students with relevant and current skills for a professional career in communication, facilitated by the involvement of leading practitioners as guest lecturers and a panel of industry experts supporting continuous programme curriculum development.

A Bachelor's degree of 180 credits or corresponding, including an independent research work (e.g. thesis) of at least 15 credits or equivalent. Applicants must prove their knowledge of English: English 6/English B from Swedish Upper Secondary School or the equivalent level of an internationally recognised test, for example TOEFL, IELTS.

Specific entry requirements for admission to a course within the study programme

Within the study programme there can be specific entry requirements for admission to individual courses. These specific entry requirements are documented in each course syllabus and state which entry requirements are necessary to be registered on a course within the study programme.

Selection

Selection is according to the Higher Education Ordinance and the University of Gothenburg admission regulations for education on first and second cycle.

This programme leads to a Degree of Master of Science (120 credits) with a major in Communication (Filosofie masterexamen med huvudområdet Kommunikation).

The programme consists of courses of 120 credits. Of these 90 credits are compulsory courses in the field of communication, out of which an independent project (degree project) stands for 30 credits. 30 credits are optional courses.

The academic year is divided into two semesters and four study periods. One semester covers two study periods, each of 15 credits.

The courses are arranged such that, in earlier parts of the programme, all students are provided with an understanding of core topics in communication with a specific focus on digital technologies in communication, how these shape the way we communicate, and how digital tools and methods can be used to study communication.

Four of the nine compulsory courses that run across the two years (Theories of Communication, Qualitative Research Methods in Communication, Quantitative Research Methods in Communication and Degree Project) prepare students for, and then allow them to undertake, a substantial independent research project.

In Semester 3, students are allowed to take courses in other programmes at the Department of Applied Information Technology, in other departments or at other universities. Alternatively, they will be given the choice between focusing either on more research-intensive courses or on a semester-long internship in an organisation of their choice, a solution that is intended for students who are more focused on acquiring work-life skills. Note that it is students’ responsibility to identify a suitable organisation for their internship.

Students have also the option to spend Semester 3 at an international partner university.

Compulsory courses

First year

• Theories of Communication, 7.5 credits
• Social Media and Society, 7.5 credits
• Organisational Communication, 7.5 credits
• Critical Digital Rhetorics, 7.5 credits
• Qualitative Research Methods in Communication, 7.5 credits
• Project Management for Strategic Communication, 7.5 credits
• Quantitative Research Methods in Communication, 7.5 credits
• Digital Communication and Strategy, 7.5 credits

Second year

• Degree Project, 30 credits

Language of tuition

English.

General outcomes for Degree of Master (120 credits)

Knowledge and understanding

For a Degree of Master (120 credits) the student shall

• demonstrate knowledge and understanding in the main field of study, including both broad knowledge of the field and a considerable degree of specialised knowledge in certain areas of the field as well as insight into current research and development work, and
• demonstrate specialised methodological knowledge in the main field of study.

Competence and skills

For a Degree of Master (120 credits) the student shall

• demonstrate the ability to critically and systematically integrate knowledge and analyse, assess and deal with complex phenomena, issues and situations even with limited information
• demonstrate the ability to identify and formulate issues critically, autonomously and creatively as well as to plan and, using appropriate methods, undertake advanced tasks within predetermined time frames and so contribute to the formation of knowledge as well as the ability to evaluate this work
• demonstrate the ability in speech and writing both nationally and internationally to clearly report and discuss his or her conclusions and the knowledge and arguments on which they are based in dialogue with different audiences, and
• demonstrate the skills required for participation in research and development work or autonomous employment in some other qualified capacity.

Judgement and approach

For a Degree of Master (120 credits) the student shall

• demonstrate the ability to make assessments in the main field of study informed by relevant disciplinary, social and ethical issues and also to demonstrate awareness of ethical aspects of research and development work
• demonstrate insight into the possibilities and limitations of research, its role in society and the responsibility of the individual for how it is used, and
• demonstrate the ability to identify the personal need for further knowledge and take responsibility for his or her ongoing learning.

Local outcomes

Knowledge and understanding

For a Degree of Master of Science (120 credits) with a major in Communication the student shall

• demonstrate the knowledge and understanding necessary to analyse communication phenomena and processes at large in the communications field, and particularly those relevant to digital contexts.

Competence and skills

For a Degree of Master of Science (120 credits) with a major in Communication the student shall

• demonstrate the ability to creatively investigate the opportunities for, and challenges to, communication provided by the increased role of digitalisation in society, doing so in a way that is informed by an in-depth understanding of key concepts in communication research,
• demonstrate an ability to design and implement solutions to complex problems in digital communication in organisational and political contexts, doing so in ways which are based on an in-depth understanding of key concepts in communication-related disciplines, and
• demonstrate the skills needed to independently design communication projects informed by advanced methodological knowledge in the discipline.

Judgement and approach

For a Degree of Master of Science (120 credits) with a major in Communication the student shall

• demonstrate critical awareness to evaluate the challenges relevant to communication consequent from the increased role of digitalisation in society;
• demonstrate the ability to critically assess the role of communication in managing interactions between individuals, organisations and cultures in general, and with a specific focus on the conditions in societies increasingly affected by digitalisation, globalisation, and specialisation,
• demonstrate the ability to identify and critically reflect on ethical challenges connected to communication research in general and in digital contexts in particular, including matters of sustainability, equality, and inclusion as related to the field of communication.

Credit transfer of former education

In some cases, the student has the right to be given credit for former higher education according to the legislative regulations of the Higher Education Ordinance.

Evaluation

The courses of the study programme are evaluated according to each course syllabus. The result will be used for planning and implementation of upcoming courses. A summary is given to students at the start of the courses.

The study programme will be followed up and evaluated in accordance with the applicable Policy for the Quality Assurance and Continuous Quality Improvement of Education at the University of Gothenburg (Policy för kvalitetssäkring och kvalitetsutveckling av utbildning vid Göteborgs universitet).

Students who follow the study programme at the prescribed pace are guaranteed admission to all compulsory and elective courses stated in the programme syllabus, provided that the student in question is eligible for the course/courses.

For optional courses outside the study programme local admission regulations are valid and there is no guaranteed admission.