Master's Programme in Language and Intercultural Communication

It is becoming increasingly important to be able to relate to a reality that is characterised by multiculture and multilingualism. There is an increasing demand for understanding, curiosity, tolerance, and not least an understanding of cultural differences and similarities as well as what they may be due to.

When mobility and migration are becoming more important in society, it is essential to a greater extent to be able to perceive, distinguish, meet, respond to different cultural and linguistic phenomena and to have the ability to interact with people with different backgrounds and to handle issues, antagonism and frictions that may have linguistic and cultural causes.

The aim of the programme Language and intercultural communication is to give linguistic tools to explore, interpret and understand different linguistic and cultural manifestations and thereby understand how different discourses about culture and cultural differences can influence the communication between and about different cultures.

An important basis for the programme is to create an understanding of different cultural points of view and the consequences of these, and to problematise an eurocentric perspective. The students obtain global linguistic training and cultural skills to act in international environments and handle intercultural meetings and possibilities. In the programme, students acquire knowledge, competence and skills to critically analyse, discuss and reflect on expressions and communicative manifestations of culture both in and between different realities from a linguistic perspective.

A cross-lingual planning of the programme creates a natural pedagogical interplay and cooperation across subject borders, while the core of the courses gives linguistic excellence within the chosen main field of study.

The requirement for admission to the programme is a Bachelor's degree of 180 credits or an equivalent foreign degree, including an independent thesis of 15 credits at in-depth level. An additional requirement is English 6 or English level 2 from the Swedish upper-secondary school or equivalent, or the equivalent level at an internationally recognized test.

Depending on the chosen main field of study, an additional 60 credits are required in English, French, Spanish or German, alternatively 90 credits in Arabic or Russian, alternatively 120 credits in Japanese or Chinese, or the equivalent level of proficiency in these languages at an internationally recognized test. A list containing these tests, and the corresponding levels of language proficiency, is to be found in the information concerning the Master's programme 'Language and Intercultural communication' in the Course & program catalogue of the University of Gothenburg.

For students with African languages as their main field of study, there is no special requirement for prior knowledge in the subject.

Entry requirements for the courses in the programme are stated in the course syllabi for each of the languages mentioned above.

This programme leads to a Degree of Master of Arts (120 credits) with a major in African Languages (Filosofie masterexamen med huvudområdet Afrikanska språk).

This programme leads to a Degree of Master of Arts (120 credits) with a major in Arabic (Filosofie masterexamen med huvudområdet Arabiska).

This programme leads to a Degree of Master of Arts (120 credits) with a major in Chinese (Filosofie masterexamen med huvudområdet Kinesiska).

This programme leads to a Degree of Master of Arts (120 credits) with a major in English (Filosofie masterexamen med huvudområdet Engelska).

This programme leads to a Degree of Master of Arts (120 credits) with a major in French (Filosofie masterexamen med huvudområdet Franska).

This programme leads to a Degree of Master of Arts (120 credits) with a major in German (Filosofie masterexamen med huvudområdet Tyska).

This programme leads to a Degree of Master of Arts (120 credits) with a major in Japanese (Filosofie masterexamen med huvudområdet Japanska).

This programme leads to a Degree of Master of Arts (120 credits) with a major in Russian (Filosofie masterexamen med huvudområdet Ryska).

This programme leads to a Degree of Master of Arts (120 credits) with a major in Spanish (Filosofie masterexamen med huvudområdet Spanska).

This programme leads to a Degree of Master of Arts (60 credits) with a major in African Languages (Filosofie magisterexamen med huvudområdet Afrikanska språk).

This programme leads to a Degree of Master of Arts (60 credits) with a major in Arabic (Filosofie magisterexamen med huvudområdet Arabiska).

This programme leads to a Degree of Master of Arts (60 credits) with a major in Chinese (Filosofie magisterexamen med huvudområdet Kinesiska).

This programme leads to a Degree of Master of Arts (60 credits) with a major in English (Filosofie magisterexamen med huvudområdet Engelska).

This programme leads to a Degree of Master of Arts (60 credits) with a major in French (Filosofie magisterexamen med huvudområdet Franska).

This programme leads to a Degree of Master of Arts (60 credits) with a major in German (Filosofie magisterexamen med huvudområdet Tyska).

This programme leads to a Degree of Master of Arts (60 credits) with a major in Japanese (Filosofie magisterexamen med huvudområdet Japanska).

This programme leads to a Degree of Master of Arts (60 credits) with a major in Russian (Filosofie magisterexamen med huvudområdet Ryska).

This programme leads to a Degree of Master of Arts (60 credits) with a major in Spanish (Filosofie magisterexamen med huvudområdet Spanska).

The programme results in a Master's degree (60 or 120 credits). The degree fulfils the requirements in the local System of Qualifications for respective main field of study.

After completed courses, a degree may be issued in one of the following main fields of study: African Languages, Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, Japanese, Russian or Spanish.

The programme equals two or four semesters of full-time studies. The programme starts in the autumn. The courses included in the programme are of five different kinds:

1. Programme-specific courses in a main field of study which includes common language modules including in-depth studies, application of theory and method and examination in the main field of study (SIK221, SIK222, SIK223, SPL230);
2. Programme-specific courses with the exception of a main field of study involving extended subject studies (SIK220, SIK224, SIK225);
3. Courses that constitute in-depth studies within the main field of study or broadening inother subject;
4. Internship or field course;
5. Independent theses within a main field of study.

The structure of the programme:

See separate document.

SIK220 Language and Intercultural communication (7.5 Credits) presents the multidisciplinar yconcept ‘intercultural communication’ and how this is treated from a linguistic perspective. Basic theoretical, analytical and critical perspectives of the role of language for intercultural communication are studied. The course problematises the complex concept of interculturality, which can be used in various ways and relate to different research traditions, for example in literature, didactics and language. The courses also discusses how the concept relates to the related concepts of transculturality and multiculturality as well as the relationship between language, cognition and language and culture, language and identity. In addition, the students are given insight into different communicative strategies and how these can be designed in different cultures and fields of activity.

SIK225 Linguistic methods within intercultural communication (7.5 Credits) provides knowledge of and exercises on different linguistic methods, particularly such that are relevant for the analysis of intercultural communication.

SIK221 Language and Society (7.5 Credits) builds on the theoretical foundations that were laid in Language and intercultural communication. Here, the role and importance of language in society and linguistic situations in the world are treated. The course highlights the importance of language as regards democracy issues, political issues and education, and thereby its importance for the sustainable development of a society. From a sociolinguistic perspective, examples are studied of how, among other things, history, politics, religion, migration and economy may influence the language use, language planning and language policy of groups, societies and nations and what this may result in, for example language boundaries moving or being loosened up. Also treated are contact linguistics, linguistic aspects of power and power relations, the linguistic market, questions about minority languages and linguistic hierarchies.

SPL230 Academic writing (7.5 Credits) gives an introduction to scientific prose - rhetoric, stylistics, formal aspects, practice, etc. Linguistic and formal features that may be considered typical of the linguistic field are analysed and different traditions of academic writing indifferent languages are discussed.

SIK222 Intercultural and Contrastive Semantics and Pragmatics (7.5 Credits) provides the theoretical and methodological basics of semantics and pragmatics, with both a diachronic and diatopic approach. The student here acquires tools to carry out contrastive and cross-lingual analyses in different discourses and skills in using corpus-linguistic methods in semantic and pragmatic analysis. The emphasis is placed on culturally conditioned linguistic phenomena and communicative strategies at intercultural communication.

SIK223 Translating Language and Culture (7.5 Credits) provides knowledge and understanding of how different cultures and skills find linguistic expression during shifting cultural conditions and how, in turn, this can influence our approach and our perception of the world. The translator's role, conditions, responsibility, possibilities and limitations are discussed and evaluated as well as the function of translation in society.

SIK224 Discourses (7.5 Credits) takes as its starting-point the skills and theoretical knowledge that students have acquired in earlier courses. The courses provides skills in analysing discourses and their linguistic form in different cultures and activities from an intercultural perspective. Different discourse-analytical theories and methods are studied, as well as factors that can influence interpretation of discourses (for example communicative strategies, multimodality, etc).

In the fourth semester, students are encouraged to do internship (SPL251) or do a course in field studies (SPL270) to an extent of 15 credits, or to do the module abroad. Both the internship and the field course provide an opportunity to place scholarly concepts and issues in relation to a concrete context and apply theoretical knowledge in reality. It is also possible to instead study the course Analyzing Translation (SPL210 7,5 credits), together with another relevant course, 7,5 credits.

The independent work at Master's level is written in the chosen main field of study and according to the course syllabus for SIK230 (Master thesis) and SIK242 (Master thesis) respectively or SIK243 (Master thesis, 30 credits).

General outcomes for Degree of Master (60 credits)

Knowledge and understanding

For a Degree of Master (60 credits) the student shall

• demonstrate knowledge and understanding in the main field of study, including both an overview of the field and 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 (60 credits) the student shall

• demonstrate the ability to 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 autonomously as well as to plan and, using appropriate methods, undertake advanced tasks within predetermined timeframes
• demonstrate the ability in speech and writing to report clearly 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 employment in some other qualified capacity.

Judgement and approach

For a Degree of Master (60 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.

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

After completing the course the student should be able to:

• show knowledge and understanding within the chosen main field of study including both broad expertise and considerably advanced knowledge in certain parts of the field,
• demonstrate advanced knowledge of central linguistic issues, concepts and theories in current research with special focus on intercultural communication and
• show advanced knowledge and an understanding of the linguistic basis, theories and methods within the main field of study and of research and development in this field.

Competence and skills

After completing the course the student should be able to:

• systematically search, collect, handle and evaluate information, as well as critically interpret, integrate and analyse this information in accordance with subject-specific requirements, and handle and assess complex linguistic and intercultural issues also on the basis of limited information,
• independently, critically and creatively identify and formulate cross-border issues, plan advanced assignments and choose an adequate method for these and carry them out within the stipulated time frames and thus contribute to the knowledge development in the linguistic field
• analyse, evaluate and critically review his/her own arguments and studies and those of others on the basis of relevant scholarly, social and ethical aspects and show awareness of ethical aspects of research and development work,
• present and discuss in a multi-lingual context his/her work orally and in writing and account for it in national and international contexts, and
• analyse and critically reflect on how socio-economic structures influence linguistic processes that influence intercultural communication.

Judgement and approach

After completing the course the student should be able to:

• discuss and evaluate his/her own work critically
• problematise the possibilities and limitations of linguistics and languages, their role in society and our responsibility for how they are used,
• relate critically to how norms, culture, religion, ethics and social conditions may influence the relationship between humans and their communication with the surrounding world,
• identify and assess different communication needs in different situations
• engage in a discussion with different groups about issues and challenges of a linguistic and intercultural character that are of importance for issues of fairness and for enabling good living conditions for humans and
• identify his/her need of additional knowledge and take responsibility for his/her knowledge development.

The programme syllabus has been confirmed by the board of the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Gothenburg, 25 Sept. 2014 (G 2012/229), revised 15 Feb. 2018 (G 2018/106), 3 Sept. 2019 (GU 2019/2219), 12 June 2020 (GU 2020/1465), 8 December 2021 (GU 2021/2967), and last revised xxx 2026 (GU 2026/xxx)

With regard to admissions from the autumn of 2018 and onwards, only full-time studies are possible. Other rates of study apply to earlier admissions.

The language of instruction is stipulated in the separate course syllabuses.

Course evaluations are carried out continuously during the course of the programme, within the frame of the separate courses, as part of continuous development work. Monitoring and assessment of the programme are carried out in accordance with the existing Policy of quality assurance and quality development with regard to courses and study programmes at the University of Gothenburg.

Equality aspects should be taken into consideration in content, literature, teaching and evaluation.

The programme offers the possibility of doing a placement. A student who intends to do a placement is responsible himself/herself for finding a place for this purpose. A plan for the placement should be formulated together with a representative of the institution/workplace where the placement is to be done and be approved by the department before the placement is started (see course syllabus) in order for the placement to be given credit for as part of the programme.

Any expenses incurred in connection with a placement and/or studies abroad must be paid by the student. The department provides information about the possibility to apply for a scholarship.

Please also see the appendix. H2SIK_Structure_New.

Students who study the programme at the prescribed pace is guaranteed admission.