M2SKDK Master's in Digital Communication and Culture

Master's in Digital Communication and Culture

    • Number of credits
      120
    • Part-time/full-time
      Full-time
    • Start semester
      2025 Autumn
    • Language of instruction
      Norwegian/English
    • Campus
      Hamar
Introduction

The MA programme in Digital Communication and Culture is focused on the social, cultural, ethical, aesthetic and linguistic aspects of digital communication technology, as well as the interaction and interplay between culture, society and media. The programme addresses questions of how digital communication and culture both shape and are shaped by interactions, relations and experiences of social life.

Programme structure and content

The programme is session-based with 4-6 two-day gatherings on campus per semester for the duration of the coursework. The programme can be completed on a full-time basis with a nominal duration of two years, or a part-time basis with a nominal duration of four years. Accelerated course of study is possible for the part-time programme. One course, "Digitally Mediated Language Practices in a Post-Digital Age”, will be run online, with online study sessions as well as asynchronous course work. 

1. semester:

  • Theory and Method (10 ECTS)
  • Understanding Digital Media in the Age of AI, Codes, Networks, and New Communities (10 ECTS)

And ONE of the following electives:  

  • Digital Bildung: Development, Literacy and Identity in Digital Culture (10 ECTS, offered every other year)
  • The Digital Body: Embodiment in Digital Culture and Work Life (10 ECTS, offered every other year)

2. semester:

  • Digital Ethics (10 ECTS)

And TWO of the following five electives:

  • Perspectives on Artificial Intelligence (10 ECTS, offered two out of every three years)
  • Digitally Mediated Language Practices in a Post-Digital Age (10 ECTS, offered two out of every three years)
  • Digital Literature, Art, and Aesthetics (10 ECTS, offered two out of every three years)
  • Cohesive Learning Design with VR Simulation, 10 ECTS, offered each year)
  • Games and Media Culture (10 ECTS, offered each year)

3. and 4. semester

Master’s thesis (60 ECTS)

With the proviso that the distribution of offered courses might differ from the above description. Which electives are on offer each year is decided by the faculty. On certain conditions, modules from other MA programs might be admitted as alternative modules to completion of the program. It is also possible to apply to have alternative course modules or participation in research projects counted as course work.

The students submit suggested research topics at the end of the second semester and will on that basis be assigned a supervisor. In year two, there are two obligatory MA project seminars.

Course Models
About the study

Workplaces, culture and the public sector are increasingly dependent on digital communication and digital workflows. Through this programme the students will be given the opportunity develop a deep understanding of the ethical, aesthetic and social aspects of communication and culture in a world of AI, programmable and networked media. The programme covers fields of digital culture informed by theoretical and analytical perspectives from the humanities and social sciences. The students will work with digital expressions and multimodal texts representing a wide variety of platforms and genres. The study programme gives the students a theoretical, analytical, and methodological skill set which is highly sought-after in an innovative work sector. These skills are also increasingly necessary to navigating digital media culture and the current post-digital environment in public sector, education and employment.

Learning Outcome

As part of this programme, students will gain a deep understanding of digital technologies and the digitalisation of society from the perspectives of media studies, the arts and humanities, and social sciences. They will familiarise themselves with the prevalent theories of several relevant fields of study, from digital culture and the sociology of technology to communication and language theory. They will also gain practical experience with digital technology and culture, and its applications, from video games, VR/AR, social media and AI, to digital methods to study literature and history, and applications of digital technology in schools.

The programme is designed to develop the students’ abilities to critically evaluate digital texts, practices and forms of interaction as well as their social significance. The programme will also provide the students with the prerequisites to evaluate research in the field.

A candidate with a completed qualification will have the following learning outcomes:

Learning outcome - Knowledge

Candidates

  • have advanced knowledge of digital media and digital communication from humanities and social sciences perspectives, for example media linguistics, literary and ethical perspectives, multimodal and digital genres, and born-digital culture
  • have advanced knowledge of media, text, communication and social theories, and research methods in the humanities and social sciences
  • have advanced knowledge of theories and practices in several fields that focus on the impact of digital technologies on culture, society and daily life
  • have knowledge of the history of digital technologies and digitalisation
Learning outcome - Skills

Candidates

  • can apply theories, methods and concepts within digital communication and culture as a field to practices of digital technology and digitalisation
  • can apply in-depth knowledge of digital media, language, culture and aesthetics in other professional and communication situations
  • can independently analyse and evaluate interactions and communication in a digitised society
  • can complete an independent limited research project in accordance with prevailing guidelines in research ethics
Learning outcome - General competence

Candidates

  • can complete an independent limited research project in accordance with prevailing guidelines in research ethics
  • can apply their digital knowledge and skills in new areas to accomplish advanced tasks and projects
  • can communicate about issues, analyses and conclusions in the fields of digital and post-digital communication, language, literature and culture, to both specialists and the general public
  • can contribute to innovation and creative processes connected to digital culture and communication
  • can reflect and think critically about the role of digital technology and digitalisation in society
Teaching and working methods

The programme is based on 5-6 obligatory seminar gatherings per semester. There will also be online collaborative work between the seminars. On-campus programme will use work and teaching methods such as lectures, seminars, and online collaborative work, written, oral or digital assignments. The teaching includes a variety of digital tools. Online communication platforms will be used in teaching, as well as a range of digital platforms and programs, such as VR/AR platforms and games. Part of the teaching will take place in the Future Classroom Lab at Campus Hamar. Students are expected to take an active role in the learning process. Students are expected to work with assignments and self-directed study throughout the semester. Each semester will require a full-time workload of 30 ECTS.

Target group

The programme is suitable for students who are interested in understanding how digitally mediated language, culture and aesthetics inform and influence society, workplaces, schools, and identity formation, who want to strengthen their knowledge and understanding of digital culture, and who want an education with a specialization in post-digital forms of communication and a post-digital media landscape. The programme is suitable for students who want to work with digitalisation and its effects in the public sector and business.

Students with a background in journalism or other media and communication fields will through this programme gain an increased specialization on post-digital media. Students with a background from teacher education will gain increased specialisation in the field of digitalisation. It is also suitable for students who want to work with digital and post-digital communication and multimodal genres and cultural expressions in the media, culture or communications sectors.

Admission requirements

Bachelor's degree or equivalent completed education with a specialization of at least 80 credits

in the humanities, social sciences or media/communication studies.

Admission ranking
Applicants to the study are ranked according to the Regulations on Admission, Programmes of study and Examinations at Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences
Career prospects and further studies

The program is relevant for candidates who want to understand digitalisation and the post-digital society, their practical applications, implications, uses and limitations. Successful candidates may work with digitalisation, acquisition and transition to a post-digital society in public and private sectors. The program also qualifies for PhD programmes, including the PROFF programme at INN. Students of Digital Communication and Culture at INN have previously gained employment in for instance library, educational, media, journalism, communications, and cultural sectors and business.

Internationalisation

The programme has a clear international orientation. Although there is a possibility for students to deliver obligatory tasks and exams in Norwegian, the programme in general is taught and conducted in English, and students will be able to study with students from different parts of the world. The field is also oriented towards the international and global phenomena of digital communication. The course literature is based in the international field of digital communication and culture. The programme is available for exchange students and parts of the programme is run online. Students enrolled in the programme at INN have an option for exchange with partner universities.

Information- and source competence

Students will develop skills in analysing and relating critically to different sources of information and apply these in order to structure and formulate academic reasoning. Therefore, in collaboration with the academic communities, the University Library offers advanced instruction in searching for subject-specific information, referencing technique, source criticism and problems associated with plagiarism. It is expected that all students have a critical attitude towards sources of information and use these sources appropriately in all academic work throughout their entire course of study. Breaches of the rules regarding the use of sources are regulated in the Regulations relating to admission, studies and examinations at Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences.

Research based teaching

The teaching of the programme is closely connected to the lecturers’ own research production. The students will be given the opportunity to connect to the field of digital communication and culture through guest lectures as well as conference attendance where relevant. Through the work with the master’s project, the students will be exposed to relevant research fields, and they will have the opportunity to participate in research projects at the college and the lecturers and supervisors research activity where this is relevant.

Expenses

Students within Norway, EU and the EEC pay term fees. Students from outside these areas pay school fees.

Assessment methods

Varied forms of assessment are applied within the programme. Students will be given written assignments, asked to give oral or digital presentations in groups or individually, be given individual written home exams, written or oral exams, and exams with or without preparation. All modules have obligatory assignments which much be completed and approved before the exams of that module can be completed.  All modules are completed through exams which will be assesses with a letter grade from A-F where E is the lowest passing grade. The assessment forms are described in detail in the individual course descriptions.

Faculty
Faculty of Education