Master programme in Geomedia Studies: Media, Mobility and Spatial Planning
120 ECTS credits
Study programme
Who can communicate what where? How are different places represented in the media, and what are the results? How do different media affect people's sense of place and belonging, and what happens to the distinctions between the private and the public when new technologies are introduced? What are the social consequences of our increasingly mobile media consumption and lifestyles? How can different media technologies be used to communicate a place and its importance, for example in tourism and marketing? How are spaces, such as workplaces, homes and public spaces, planned to shape communication processes and media use? Which actors have power over these processes?
New information needs are created by the intensification of different types of mobility (for example tourism, migration and commuting for work), the rapid expansion of digital media systems (including mobile media, GPS systems and data flows), and the development of 'smart cities', for example. The Master Programme in Geomedia Studies: Media, Mobility and Spatial Planning is a unique cross-disciplinary study programme that combines Human Geography and Media and Communication Studies to understand our present. The programme is particularly useful for students planning careers as, for example, tourism communication officers, place marketers, data analysts, tourist destination developers, spatial and social planners, digital strategists, or researchers.
New information needs are created by the intensification of different types of mobility (for example tourism, migration and commuting for work), the rapid expansion of digital media systems (including mobile media, GPS systems and data flows), and the development of 'smart cities', for example. The Master Programme in Geomedia Studies: Media, Mobility and Spatial Planning is a unique cross-disciplinary study programme that combines Human Geography and Media and Communication Studies to understand our present. The programme is particularly useful for students planning careers as, for example, tourism communication officers, place marketers, data analysts, tourist destination developers, spatial and social planners, digital strategists, or researchers.
Education level:
Master's level
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree with at least 90 credits in Human Geography or Media and Communication Studies, or equivalent (e.g. Tourism Studies, Spatial Planning, Film Studies) that includes a degree project / bachelor thesis of at least 15 credits, or equivalent. Upper-secondary school English B/6, or equivalent.
While studying
Education
The Master Programme in Geomedia Studies: Media, Mobility and Spatial Planning offers specialised knowledge in the fields of Human Geography and Media and Communication Studies. The focus is on what we call Geomedia Studies, a growing cross-disciplinary research field that critically examines the relationships between media, communication, mobility and place. A shared knowledge base is built during the first semester, enabling all students to pursue the programme, irrespective of whether they have backgrounds in Human Geography or Media and Communication Studies (or similar fields). The programme is mainly theoretical, but there are some practical components such as project work, practical placements and fieldwork. The programme leads either to a one-year master?s degree (60 ECTS credits) or a two-year master?s degree (120 ECTS credits). Students doing a two-year master?s degree can choose to take a block of optional courses at another university in Sweden or abroad.Form of Instruction
Teaching is mainly offered on campus in the form of lectures, seminars and group work. The practical components include project work, practical placements and fieldwork. Some web-based teaching (also known as blended learning) is included.Study Abroad
The third semester of the programme comprises optional courses (15 ECTS credits) and a practical placement (15 ECTS credits) and can be completed abroad. This gives students good opportunities to give their studies an international flavour. Karlstad University has agreements with a number of higher education institutions in Europe and beyond. The programme also benefits from the robust international research network in Geomedia Studies cultivated by Karlstad University. Students therefore have good opportunities to meet both established researchers and other students in Sweden or abroad.Professional Contact
During the programme, students have the opportunity to establish contact with potential employers through project work, practical placements and guest lectures. Students can also choose to do their degree projects in collaboration with a business, public agency, non-profit organisation, or similar.Course of study
| Semester 1 | ECTS credits |
|---|---|
| Introduction to geomedia studies (Obligatory) | 7.5 |
| Specialisation course 1: Geomedia, culture, and everyday life (Obligatory) | 7.5 |
| Specialisation 2: Geomedia, public opinion, and the public sphere (Obligatory) | 7.5 |
| Specialisation course 3: Geomedia, spatial planning, and mobility (Obligatory) | 7.5 |
Total ECTS credits:
30
| Semester 2 | ECTS credits |
|---|---|
| Geomedia studies in practice (Obligatory) | 15 |
| One-year master thesis in geomedia studies (Elective) | 15 |
| Project management and design (Elective) | 15 |
Total ECTS credits:
30*
| Semester 3 | ECTS credits |
|---|---|
| Geomedia practical placement (Optional) | 15 |
| Optional course (Optional) | 15 |
Total ECTS credits:
30
| Semester 4 | ECTS credits |
|---|---|
| Two-year Master Thesis in Geomedia Studies (Obligatory) | 30 |
Total ECTS credits:
30
*Full-time study always equals 30 ECTS credits per semester (20 weeks).
Please note - not all programmes offer elective or optional courses.
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.
Academic year and program evaluations
Start semester Autumn 2019
Start semester Autumn 2020
Start semester Autumn 2023
Future prospects
Employment Market
Graduates from the programme are qualified to continue with doctoral studies. The programme also equips you with knowledge and skills demanded by, for instance, the tourism sector, communications, opinion formation, media analysis and strategy, and spatial and social planning. Graduates can embark on professional careers as tourism communication officers, place marketers, tourist destination developers, digital analysts, PR consultants, journalists, editors, spatial and social planners, digital strategists and place developers. The programme provides good opportunities for preparing for the profession of your choice.Degree
One-year master’s degree students who hold a Degree of Bachelor of Social Science, Major: Human Geography (or equivalent) are awarded:- Degree of Master of Social Science (60 credits), Major: Human Geography
- Filosofie magisterexamen Huvudområde: Kulturgeografi
One-year master’s degree students who hold a Degree of Bachelor of Arts, Major: Media and Communication Studies (or equivalent) are awarded:
- Degree of Master of Arts (60 credits), Major: Media and Communication Studies
- Filosofie magisterexamen Huvudområde: Medie- och kommunikationsvetenskap
Two-year master’s degree students who hold a Degree of Bachelor of Social Science, Major: Human Geography (or equivalent) are awarded:
- Degree of Master of Social Science (120 credits), Major: Human Geography
- Filosofie masterexamen Huvudområde: Kulturgeografi
Two-year master’s degree students who hold a Degree of Bachelor of Arts, Major: Media and Communication Studies (or equivalent) are awarded:
- Degree of Master of Arts (120 credits), Major: Media and Communication Studies
- Filosofie masterexamen Huvudområde: Medie- och kommunikationsvetenskap
Tuition fees
- Total fee: 250,000 SEK
- Per semester / First payment: 62,500 SEK
You do not have to pay tuition fees if you are an exchange student or a citizen of a country within the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA), or Switzerland.
Choose occasion
Campus (Karlstad), 100%
Options
- Start Autumn 2026
- Mode of study Campus (Karlstad)
- Language English
- Application code KAU-80664
- Study pace 100% (Day)