English translation of course syllabus

Media and Total Institutions, 7.5 credits

(Medier och totala institutioner, 7,5 högskolepoäng)

Course code MV008A
Subject area Media and Communication Studies
Main field of study Media and Communication Studies
Progressive specialisation A1N (Second cycle, has only first-cycle course/s as entry requirements)
Academic school School of Culture and Education
Disciplary domain Humanities 50%
Social sciences 50%
Grading scale AF
Education cycle Second-cycle (Master)
Language of instruction English
Valid from Autumn semester 2025

Validation

This course syllabus was validated by the Management Board of the School of Culture and Education at Södertörn University on 2025-01-30 according to the stipulations in the Higher Education Ordinance.

Entry requirements

Bachelor's degree including 90 credits in Media and Communication Studies as the main field of study or equivalent. You also need: English 6 or the equivalent.

Learning outcomes

On completing the course, the student can:

  • explain the significance of the relationship between media and total institutions such as prisons, detention centers, and refugee camps.
  • provide an in-depth account of theories related to prisons and punishment from a media and communication studies perspective.
  • critically and comprehensively describe, reflect on, and contextualise aspects of prisons and media.
  • independently and critically discuss key theoretical and methodological issues related to media-relevant aspects of prisons and punishment, as well as contemporary challenges within the field of prisons and media.

Course content, modules and examinations

The course examines media and communication theories related to total institutions with a focus on prisons and punishment. The focus is on independently and critically acquiring advanced theoretical knowledge within this field of research.

1001, Media and Total Institutions, 7.5 credits
(Medier och totala institutioner, 7,5 högskolepoäng)
Grades permitted: AF

Course design

Teaching is conducted through seminars, exercises, and discussions, both individually and in groups.

Examination format

The course is examined through:

  • written take-home examination
  • active participation in seminars
  • oral presentations

Absence from a maximum of one mandatory teaching session can be compensated for with an assignment in accordance with the examiner's instructions. The assignment must be pedagogically and proportionally equivalent to the task being compensated.

The grading criteria are distributed prior to the start of a course or module.

If a student has a certificate from Södertörn University for compensatory support, the examiner has the right to decide on an adapted examination or alternative form of examination in accordance with Södertörn University's regulations.

Restrictions on accreditation

The course may not be accredited as part of a degree if the contents are partly or wholly the same as a course previously taken in Sweden or elsewhere.