Kursplan för studenter höst 2025

On completion of the course, the students should be able to:

- describe the history of communication for development and social change as a field of theory and practice
- recognize and explain central theories and concepts in the field of communication for development and social change
- identify and describe the role of media and communication in international development cooperation and sustainability

- employ communication strategies oriented towards social change considering connections between global and local aspects
- apply theories and concepts from the field of communication for development and social change to analyze real-life cases

- critically review different practical approaches to communication for development and social change in terms of their advantages and disadvantages
- critically evaluate communication strategies, interventions and initatives that aim to promote development and social change

• Central theories and concepts in communication for development and social change
• International development cooperation and sustainability
• Media and communication technologies in development
• Communication rights and strategies
• Practical approaches to communication for development and social change communication

The teaching consists of lectures, seminars and exercises performed individually and in groups.

A learning management system is used.

Students who have been admitted to and registered for a course have the right to receive instruction/supervision for the duration of the time period specified for the particular course instance to which they were accepted. After that, the right to receive instruction/supervision expires.

Undervisningen bedrivs på engelska.

General entry requirements and passed courses of at least 37,5 credits in Media and Communication Science or equivalent. English proficiency is required. Exemption is granted from the requirement in Swedish.

Kursen bedöms med betygen A, B, C, D, E, FX eller F.

The grades A, B, C, D and E are all passing grades. For courses with more than one element of examination, students are given a final grade based on an overall assessment of all the elements included in the course. The final grade of the course is issued only when all elements of examination have been passed.

The examination is based on the intended learning outcomes.

The forms of examination are seminar, group presentation and individual written assignment.

The examination must allow for students to be assessed on an individual basis. Further information concerning assessment of specific intended learning outcomes and grading criteria is provided at the beginning of the course.

To pass the course students must receive at least a passing grade on every assignment. The final course grade is determined by the grade received on Individual written assignment.

Students are guaranteed a minimum of three attempts to pass an examination, including the regular attempt.

If a student has failed the same examination three times, the student can request that the next attempt be graded by a new examiner. The decision to accept or reject such a request is made by the associate dean of education. A student may not make a second attempt at any examination already passed in order to receive a higher grade.

In case a course is terminated or significantly altered, examination according to the earlier syllabus shall be offered on at least two occasions in the course of one year after the termination/alteration.

The examiner has the right to give an adapted examination or let the student carry out the examination in an alternative way provided that the intended learning outcomes can be secured and that there are exceptional reasons for this, including the student's right to targeted study support.

Examinationsmoment	Omfattning	Betyg
Seminarium 1	1 hp	U/G
Seminarium 2	1 hp	U/G
Seminarium 3	1 hp	U/G
Gruppredovisning	1 hp	U/G
Individuell skriftlig inlämningsuppgift	3,5 hp	A/B/C/D/E/FX/F

The instruction is followed up throughout the course. A course evaluation is conducted at the end of the course. A summary and comments are published in the learning management system. The evaluation constitutes a basis for future improvements to the course.

Borum Chattoo, Caty (2020). Story Movements: How Documentaries Empower People and Inspire Social Change. Oxford University Press. 304 p.

McAnany, Emile G. (2012). Saving the World: A Brief History of Communication for Development and Social Change. University of Illinois Press. 202 p.

Sorce, Giuliana (Ed.) (2021). Global Perspectives on NGO Communication for Social Change. Routledge. 222 p.

Thomas, Pradip Ninan (2019). Communication for Social Change: Context, Social Movements and the Digital. SAGE. 233 p.

Wilkins, Karin G., Tufte, Thomas & Obregon, Rafael (2014). The Handbook of Development Communication and Social Change. John Wiley & Sons. 502 p.

The Communication Initiative, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations & the World Bank (2007). World Congress on Communication for Development: Lessons, Challenges, and the Way Forward. World Bank Publications. 352 p.

Articles and other literature of approximately 100 pages may be added.

Please note that changes may be made to the reading list up until eight weeks before the start of the course.

Citing Sources – How to Create Literature References
www.ju.se/library/search--write/citing-sources---how-to-create-literature-references.html
The Interactive Anti-Plagiarism Guide – Jönköping University
Information about plagiarism at higher education institutions
Available in the learning management system