The Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Akureyri offers a three year study leading to a B.A. degree in Media Studies.
Media studies as a university programme focuses on the operational structure of the media, their status and influence in society. The University of Akureyri is the only university in Iceland that offers a programme in Media Studies leading to a B.A. degree. The programme of media studies is influenced by developments at principal universities in Western countries where endeavours focus on interweaving professional knowledge that has been taught both in so-called J - schools on the one hand and theoretical knowledge and methodology taught in conventional university studies on the other. Such interweaving is regarded as desirable in order to satisfy radical changes in the structure of society reflected i.e. in the information revolution and constantly rising general educational levels.
Study Structure
The Media Studies programme at the University of Akureyri covers both the theoretical features of social science and students acquire knowledge of and become skilled in the use of the main media channels. During the first year students explore the general foundation of social sciences and they also take an introductory course which introduces them to media studies.
The Media Studies programme is closely associated with media operations and cooperation between them is good. Students get the opportunity to study the inner structure of the various media in special courses during the second and third year of study and to acquire mastery of the technique that is essential for work in such media. Students take among other things a course in print media, the use of broadcasting media and the new media. All these courses are taught by veteran media representatives. Students in their first and second year also get to test their mettle on the publication of a special internet news casting medium, Landpósturinn, and the issue constitutes a part of defined courses.
Media Studies examine the media situation in Iceland and abroad. It involves systematic coverage of several features concerning the status of media in society, both at present and in the light of history. Special courses analyze aggressive questions relating to the ownership of the media, ethics in journalism and reporting, different media methods in different cultures and the legal environment of the media.
See Curriculum and Course Catalog.
