Semester program in Intercultural Studies

About the semester program  

Students in the semester program in Global Journalism will study together with NLA’s full-degree master’s students in Global Journalism. Semester students can attend the autumn semester (from mid-August to mid-December), and/or the spring semester (from early January to early June).  

Each semester has three courses:  

Autumn semester  

• Journalism, Media and Globalization (10 ECTS): With focus on major trends in journalism and media systems throughout the world.  
• Journalism, Democracy and Development (10 ECTS): About the relationship between journalism and democracy, and the role of media in social and economic development.  
• Research Methodology (10 ECTS): Introduction to quantitative and qualitative research methods.  

Spring semester  

• Nordic Media (10 ECTS): Learn about the pecularities of the Nordic media system, with particular focus on public service broadcasting. The course includes a voluntary study trip to Denmark (additional fee).  
• Global Media Ethics (10 ECTS): About ethical challenges facing journalism throughout the world, and how worldview influences media practices.  
• Media Representation (10 ECTS): Study how different groups are represented in the media and how media discourses are created.  

Organization of the teaching  

Sizes of the classes vary, but a class typically has around 15 students. The teaching is organized with an intensive introductory lecture week at the beginning of each of the three courses (Monday to Friday), followed by weekly classes. The courses are taught one at a time, meaning that one course finishes before the next one begins.  

Each course usually has one assignment and a final exam. Class attendance is not mandatory, but we encourage students to be present as much as possible in order to create a fertile learning environment.  

In the semester program in Global Journalism you will meet students from different parts of the world. Since the opening of the program in 2015, we have had students from more than 30 different countries. The students have diverse backgrounds, although most of them have studied media and communication, or practiced journalism.  

Please Note that the Global Journalism program is not a study where practical journalism or reporting techniques are taught, but a theoretical study to reflect critically on the role of journalism in contemporary society. The study is useful for anyone who intends to work with journalism or who wants to understand more about how media operate in a complex society.  

The language of instruction is English. 

Information for international students 

• The orientation program for international students will be arranged prior to the semester (2-4 days). 
• International students are normally guaranteed accommodation through the student welfare organisation in Kristiansand, SiA.
• Read more information for international exchange students here.