course-details-portlet

SOS3520

Modern Media and Digitalization

Credits 15
Level Second degree level
Course start Autumn 2025
Duration 1 semester
Language of instruction English
Location Trondheim
Examination arrangement Assignment

About

About the course

Course content

The course addresses key issues related to modern media and digitalization and offers analytical tools to enable the students to think critically on the importance of media development and digitalization for social organization. Over the last decade, we have seen a new wave of digitalization. Various digital platforms, such as social media, search engines, streaming platforms, content aggregators and robots, have become key arenas for the development of media and society. Processes of digitalization affect all aspects of social life and social organization, from microphenomena such as identity formation to macrophenomena such as economics, politics and social divisions. Naturally, issues related to digitalization and modern media have become part of most of the sub-fields of sociology, but often without having the tools to systematically reflect the relationship between the technological/material and the social aspects. SOS3520 enables the students to do just that. The course will present them to cand current and relevant research and to raise current topics and debates related to media development with a special focus on consequences for citizenship. Current topics to be discussed are for example the influence of digital platforms on our lives, filter bubbles and echo chambers or disinformation ("fake news").

Learning outcome

Knowledge - the student shall:

  • acquire knowledge of current international theory and methods development in the field of modern media and digitalization.

Skills - the student shall demonstrate the ability to:

  • systematically reflect on the importance of media development and digitalization for societal development, and be able to critically reflect on the characteristics and significance of different digital plattforms.

Learning methods and activities

Lectures and seminars. If 6 or fewer students attend the course in the first two weeks of teaching, the course will be given as an individual study course with supervision.

Compulsory assignments

  • Group based research assignment with oral presentation and project report

Further on evaluation

Form of assessment: Individual paper. The term paper must be retaken at a repeat of the exam.

Required previous knowledge

60 credits including SOS1002 or an equivalent course in research methods. The requirement must be fulfilled to be admitted to the course.

Course materials

To be decided at the start of the semester.

Credit reductions

Course code Reduction From
SOS8533 10 sp Autumn 2019
This course has academic overlap with the course in the table above. If you take overlapping courses, you will receive a credit reduction in the course where you have the lowest grade. If the grades are the same, the reduction will be applied to the course completed most recently.

Subject areas

  • Sociology

Contact information

Course coordinator

Department with academic responsibility

Department of Sociology and Political Science

Examination

Examination

Examination arrangement: Assignment
Grade: Letter grades

Ordinary examination - Autumn 2025

Assignment
Weighting 100/100 Date Submission 2025-11-28 Time Submission 15:00 Exam system Inspera Assessment

Ordinary examination - Spring 2026

Assignment
Weighting 100/100 Exam system Inspera Assessment