Culture, Policy and Management Programme
180 ECTS credits
Study programme
Do you want work in the cultural sector? Then you should apply to the Culture, Policy and Management Programme!
The Culture, Policy and Management Programme (180 credits) is a three-year programme on bachelor's level, concluding with a Degree of Bachelor in the main field of study Cultural Studies. The programme houses students from all over the country, all with different backgrounds, experiences and interests. Some are primarily interested in theatre, others in art, film, literature or history, to name a few examples. Some of the courses are joint courses with exchange students from abroad. In recent years, some students have chosen to study abroad - in South Korea, for example - for a semester. Some have also chosen to write their degree project in another country, such as in South Africa. After graduating, some students have continued their studies on master's and doctoral level, but most have moved on to various professions in the cultural sector.
Cultural studies focus on both cultural heritage and contemporary culture, with various perspectives on its conditions and expressions. Cultural Studies is an interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary subject that utilise perspectives from both the humanities and social sciences. There is an emphasis on current cultural policy issues in relation to artistic and performative expressions of culture, as well as on culture in a broader, social sense.
The programme is aimed at both students who are fresh out of upper secondary school and students who have previous experience of university studies. For students with previous experience of studying subjects within the humanities or social science, such as archaeology, archival science, ethnology, film studies, history, history of ideas, interculture, art history and visual studies, art history, human geography, comparative literature, media and communication studies, sociology, political science or equivalent subject, the Culture, Policy and Management Programme offers expertise aimed at working professionally in the cultural sector.
The Culture, Policy and Management Programme (180 credits) is a three-year programme on bachelor's level, concluding with a Degree of Bachelor in the main field of study Cultural Studies. The programme houses students from all over the country, all with different backgrounds, experiences and interests. Some are primarily interested in theatre, others in art, film, literature or history, to name a few examples. Some of the courses are joint courses with exchange students from abroad. In recent years, some students have chosen to study abroad - in South Korea, for example - for a semester. Some have also chosen to write their degree project in another country, such as in South Africa. After graduating, some students have continued their studies on master's and doctoral level, but most have moved on to various professions in the cultural sector.
Cultural studies focus on both cultural heritage and contemporary culture, with various perspectives on its conditions and expressions. Cultural Studies is an interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary subject that utilise perspectives from both the humanities and social sciences. There is an emphasis on current cultural policy issues in relation to artistic and performative expressions of culture, as well as on culture in a broader, social sense.
The programme is aimed at both students who are fresh out of upper secondary school and students who have previous experience of university studies. For students with previous experience of studying subjects within the humanities or social science, such as archaeology, archival science, ethnology, film studies, history, history of ideas, interculture, art history and visual studies, art history, human geography, comparative literature, media and communication studies, sociology, political science or equivalent subject, the Culture, Policy and Management Programme offers expertise aimed at working professionally in the cultural sector.
Education level:
Basic level
Prerequisites
General admission requirements and Civics 1b or 1a1 + 1a2 and History 1b or 1a1 + 1a2. Upper secondary English course 6.
While studying
Education
The Culture, Policy and Management Programme (180 credits) concludes with a Degree of Bachelor in the main field of study Cultural Studies. It is an interdisciplinary programme conducted in collaboration with cultural industry actors. Semester 1 and 2 contain courses detailing the creation of cultural policy as a political field, cultural policy practice, the forming and utilisation of cultural heritage, globalisation of culture, multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary issues, the terms of producing culture, and method courses focusing on the modern cultural sector. In semester 3 and 4 you choose your specialisation by studying 60 credits worth of either history, the history of ideas, art history and visual studies or political science. Semester 4 can be spent abroad. Semester 5 comprises courses on communication planning, digital media and web publication, project management and the methodology of culture studies. Semester 6 concludes the degree programme with an independent degree project and practical placement within the cultural sector.Characteristic for the programme is the emphasis on current cultural policy, the inclusion of practical placement periods within the cultural sector and collaboration projects with cultural institutions, through specific case studies. In two of the mandatory courses (a total of 15 credits), English is the language of instruction. These are conducted jointly with international exchange students.
For more information, see the programme syllabus.
Form of Instruction
The programme alternates between theory and practice by means of lectures by both scholars and professionals from the cultural sector, as well as seminars, group assignments, case studies, collaboration projects with cultural institutions and independent projects. The programme also includes study visits and practical placements within the cultural sector. Characteristic for the programme are the close ties with the actors on the labour market. These contacts include cultural organisations, associations and institutions such as museums and archives, as well as public organisations on municipal and regional level.Examination
Assessment is based on individual written and spoken presentations, in the form of take-home examinations, individual written assignments, group presentations, group assignments and independent degree projects. Both course contents and the examinations become progressively more advanced throughout the programme.Study Abroad
In the fourth semester you have the option to study abroad. Karlstad University have partnership agreements with several universities in Europe, as well as in for example India, Kenya, South Africa, and the United States. The programme concludes with a mandatory practical placement within the cultural sector, worth 15 credits. This practical placement can be located abroad.Professional Contact
The programme includes guest lectures by industry professionals, as well as cooperation with various cultural organisations and institutions. Case studies are conducted in collaboration with professional actors such as cultural organisations, associations and institutions such as museums and archives, as well as public organisations on municipal and regional level. The programme also includes study visits and practical placements within the cultural sector.Course of Study
For semester three and four you will choose one of the following specialisation paths: History, History of Ideas, Art History and Visual Studies or Political Science. You will then study your chosen specialisation both semester three and four.Course of study
| Semester 1 | ECTS credits |
|---|---|
| Introduction to cultural policy (Obligatory) | 7.5 |
| The practice of cultural policy (Obligatory) | 7.5 |
| Cultural Heritage (Obligatory) | 7.5 |
| Culture and globalization (Obligatory) | 7.5 |
Total ECTS credits:
30
| Semester 2 | ECTS credits |
|---|---|
| The conditions of cultural production (Obligatory) | 15 |
| Cultural Studies Methods I (Obligatory) | 7.5 |
| Independent project I: Cultural Studies (Obligatory) | 7.5 |
Total ECTS credits:
30
| Semester 3 | ECTS credits |
|---|---|
| History I (Elective) | 30 |
| History of Ideas I (Elective) | 30 |
| Art History and Visual Studies I (Elective) | 30 |
| Political Science I (Elective) | 30 |
Total ECTS credits:
30*
| Semester 4 | ECTS credits |
|---|---|
| History II (Elective) | 30 |
| History of Ideas II (Elective) | 30 |
| Art History and Visual Studies II (Elective) | 30 |
| Political Science II (Elective) | 30 |
Total ECTS credits:
30*
| Semester 5 | ECTS credits |
|---|---|
| Communication planning - Cultural studies (Obligatory) | 7.5 |
| Digital Media and Web Publication: Cultural Studies (Obligatory) | 7.5 |
| Project Management: Culture Studies (Obligatory) | 7.5 |
| Cultural Studies Method II (Obligatory) | 7.5 |
Total ECTS credits:
30
| Semester 6 | ECTS credits |
|---|---|
| Essay II: Cultural studies (Obligatory) | 15 |
| Practical Placement: Cultural Studies (Obligatory) | 15 |
Total ECTS credits:
30
*Full-time study always equals 30 ECTS credits per semester (20 weeks).
Elective course: Students are free to choose among certain alternative courses, often depending on their choice of specialisation.
Optional course: Students are free to choose any course offered at Karlstad University or at other universities. Courses listed are examples of recommended or frequently chosen courses for a specific programme.
Läsårs- och programvärderingar
Start semester Autumn 2015
Start semester Autumn 2016
Start semester Autumn 2017
Start semester Autumn 2018
Start semester Autumn 2019
Start semester Autumn 2020
Start semester Autumn 2021
Future prospects
Employment Market
The degree programme provides the expertise needed to work professionally with initialisation, planning, implementation and assessment in the cultural sector, either on municipal, regional or government level, or in other cultural organisations or commercial businesses in the cultural industry. The cultural sector is a dynamic part of the labour market, with a significant demand for qualified labour. Examples of professional fields in the cultural sector are: cultural production, event coordination, cultural policy work, investigative work, project management, cultural coordination, cultural development, cultural administration, cultural management and entrepreneurship related to cultural events and culture as a creative form of business. Depending on the chosen specialisation in semester three and four, the programme can also lead to professions such as museum curator, exhibition curator, art gallery curator or business developer and project manager in the cultural sector.Students graduating from the Culture, Policy and Management Programme at Karlstad University have gone on to qualified professional positions within the cultural sector. They currently work as cultural coordinators, festival organisers, cultural affairs secretaries, project managers, TV producers and museum educators. It is not unusual for employers within the cultural sector to contact programme coordinator and head of subject to ask them to inform final-year students about upcoming job openings.