Master of Arts in Media Cultures: Intermedial and Multimodal Studies

Credits: 120

International possibilities

At Linnaeus University, you have plenty of opportunities to broaden your international perspective. During the course of your program, you can choose to study abroad through exchange studies to gain international experience. If you do, you will conduct part of your studies at one of our many partner universities around the world.

Also at home, you can gain international experience. Many courses contain intercultural elements, for instance, in the form of course literature or guest lecturers from other countries. In your leisure time, you can get involved in associations together with students from a wide range of other programs and countries, or meet international students through our buddy program.

The programme's main field of study is comparative literature specialising in intermediality and multimodality. The program consists of two years of full-time study and is led by a program coordinator who is responsible for quality assurance, development, and coordination of the program. A program council works towards the long-term and strategic development of the program. Course coordinators are responsible for ensuring that course evaluations are conducted at the end of each course, and that evaluation results are communicated back to the student group.

Programme overview

The program spans four semesters (120 credits), during which students undertake a mix of compulsory, elective, and optional modules, with at least 60 credits in the main field of comparative literature studies. The master's thesis within the main field of study constitutes one semester's work, worth 30 credits. The program starts with two semesters of courses profiled to the program, aiming to provide an in-depth understanding of intermediality and multimodality – their history, and their theories and methods. In summary, the program is structured as follows:

Semester 1

The courses in the first semester introduce and problematize the concepts of intermodality and multimodality through thematic and theoretical classes. The courses explore the relationships and interactions between different art forms and media from both intermedial and multimedia perspectives. The technical prerequisites for various media types and the interactions between them are explored from a historical point of view. Both old and new media are highlighted, and the digital transformation is discussed from an intermedial and multimodal point of view. Additionally, theoretical questions and problems related to interpretation, understanding, and meaning-making are addressed, with a focus on how these are tied to human perception, our various senses, and our interpretations of intermedial and multimodal texts and works.

Semester 2

Students select two to four elective thematic courses in Intermediality and multimodal studies. These can be within the main field of study or other subjects.

Semester 3

During the third semester, students have the option to study or do a placement abroad or take courses at Linnaeus University.

Semester 4

The program concludes with a 30-credit degree project in the fourth semester.

Courses in the program

Year 1, Semester 1

Intermediality and Multimodality in Contemporary Media, 15 credits (A1N)* Students are introduced to intermediate and multimodality as theoretical perspectives, analyzing integrations and transformations in media communication, for instance, in literature, film, visual arts, advertising, journalism, and more

New Media Cultures, 15 credits (A1N)*

Students are introduced to intermedial and multimodal perspectives on contemporary media relations, such as digital literature, film music, social media, video games, and transmedial worlds.

Year 1, Semester 2

Elective thematic course 1, 7.5 credits (A1N)

Students choose an elective thematic course within the main field of comparative literature studies, or in some other subject.

Elective thematic course 2, 7.5 credits (A1N)

Students choose an elective thematic course within the main field of comparative literature studies, or in some other subject.

Elective thematic course 3, 7.5 credits (A1N)

Students choose an elective thematic course within the main field of comparative literature studies, or in some other subject.

Elective thematic course 4, 7.5 credits (A1N)

Students choose an elective thematic module within the main field of comparative literature studies.

Alternatively, students may choose to replace two elective modules in semester 2 with writing a 60-credit master’s thesis of 15 credits within the main field of comparative literature, leading to a 60-credit master’s degree.

Year 2, Semester 3 During Semester 3, students can choose among three different options:

Option 1

Study abroad, 30 credits

Students opt to take elective courses at either the bachelor's or the master's level, totaling 30 credits, either within the main field of comparative literature or in other subjects, at one of Linnaeus University’s partner universities.

Option 2

Placement abroad, 30 credits

Students can choose to do a placement in administration, teaching, or research during the third semester of the program, arranged in consultation with the program coordinator.

Option 3

Students choose to take elective modules at the master's level, totaling 30 credits, either within the main field of study or in some other subject, at Linnaeus University.

Year 2, Semester 4

Degree project (master’s thesis), 30 credits (A2E)*

During this course, students work exclusively on their master’s thesis, under supervision. The thesis should have a clear intermedial or multimodal focus.

Elective courses and courses abroad are selected in consultation with the program coordinator.

* = course in the main field of study.

Societal relevance

Intermedial and multimodal studies explore current societal and developmental issues in depth. This field of study and research has a broad disciplinary scope and international reach. Today's world of media and communication is exceedingly complex, with boundaries constantly being crossed. Different types of information are transferred between old and new technical media, between sensory channels, and between sign systems. In today’s global society, knowledge of intermodality and multimodality is of utmost importance. The methodology and theory courses impart skills in communicating research findings to the public, a competence that is in demand in many sectors of the job market. The program is particularly suited for students who are aiming for future professions where knowledge of the field is crucial. This includes work focusing on the communication and analysis of complex visual, audio, and textual relationships, professions within the information sector, and journalism. It also serves an important role in teaching professions (in Sweden, within primary and secondary education). Additionally, the program is relevant for students intending to pursue doctoral studies as it prepares for such studies.

Internationalization

Intermedial and multimodal studies constitute a global research field and are internationally well-established as subjects of research and teaching. The program is international in its content and implementation. The teachers at Linnaeus University bring internationally recognized expertise to the program. It also benefits from the teachers' own academic networks, mainly through lectures and seminars by visiting researchers. The program encourages professional development for teachers through teaching within exchange and collaboration agreements at foreign higher education institutions.

The program adopts an internationalization perspective as it targets an international student body, seeks to deepen knowledge and practical approaches in relation to media-related global challenges, and is based on internationally leading and current theory and research. Studies or placements abroad within administration, teaching, or research can be undertaken during the third semester of the program, and are arranged in consultation with the program coordinator. Students are offered access to the entire range of agreements with foreign universities available at Linnaeus University, as well as a number of specially selected, well-reputed universities with partnership agreements within the program.

Sustainable societal development

The program aims to convey a broad knowledge and educational view where sustainable development is discussed in terms of its relevance for each individual course in the program. The interdisciplinary design of the program, encompassing various media cultures (literature, film, music, art, computer games, social media, etc.), encourages new ways of thinking, collaborating, and integrating perspectives on sustainability within climate and environment, democratic issues, and humanity’s place in society. How these perspectives are integrated into the program and examined is specified in the syllabus for each course.

Objectives

Qualitative targets quoted from the Higher Education Ordinance

Knowledge and understanding

• For a Degree of Master's (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 specialized methodological knowledge in the main field of study.

Competence and skills

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

• Demonstrate the ability to critically and systematically integrate knowledge and analyze, 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.

Judgment and approach

For a Degree of Master's (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 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.

Programme-specific objectives

For a Degree of Master's (120 credits), the student should be able to:

• Demonstrate knowledge of intermedial and multimodal studies, including both an overview of the field and in-depth knowledge in the area represented in their independent project (the master's thesis), and show insight into the current research debate in the interdisciplinary field
• Exhibit knowledge and understanding of general theory, terminology, and methodology in master's level intermedial and multimodal studies, along with advanced methodological skills in the thematic focus that characterizes the independent project (the master's thesis)
• Assess and apply relevant scholarly and societal aspects in their studies based on intermedial and multimodal perspectives, and demonstrate awareness of ethical aspects in research work
• Demonstrate insight into the possibilities and limitations of research, its integrated role in society, and people's responsibility for how it is used,
• Especially in the context of intermedial and multimodal studies exhibit the ability to critically, independently, and creatively identify and formulate research questions; to plan and carry out sophisticated tasks within given time frames using intermedial methods, thereby contributing to knowledge development; and to evaluate their work
• Show developed capability to critically assess and discuss both contemporary media phenomena and their own work.

The programme provides a solid foundation for PhD studies and prepares you for work in publishing, culture, education, information and communication, media, and administration.