Innovation - from idea to product (HMM121F)

This course covers innovation and entrepreneurship broadly; discovering and assessing ideas and opportunities, project management, business development, financing and marketing. The teaching focuses on the entrepreneurial process from idea to market. Innovation is introduced as a process that starts with business idea development and assessing market needs. Next, the focus is on project management and business planning. In the end, financing and other means of resources are presented as the entrepreneurial environment is discussed.

Communication channels I, documentaries, texts, images (HMM122F)

In the courses Communication channels I and Communication channels II, the basics of methods for the dissemination of cultural material in the humanities and social sciences are presented. Communication channels I is in the fall semester, while Communication channels II is in the spring semester. 

In Communication channels I, the students are working with a) text and images in the first half of the semester and b) short documentaries in the second half of the course. Each subject weighs 50% in the course. Concerning a) Students will receive training in article writing and discourse analysis on the one hand and use of images and image analysis on the other.  Concerning b) Students work on making short documentaries. It includes basic training in screenwriting, shooting and editing, and students work in groups on a documentary, according to a specific theme. 

There are no exams in the course. Instead, students work on projects, individual and group projects. They are the following:

1. Analysis of texts and images
2. An article with an image on a specific theme for publication, about 800 words.
3. A group project where students work on a short documentary that is shown at the end of the course. Emphasis is placed on common themes and group work in the course. The course is not taught remotely.

Fundamentals in Web Communications (HMM120F)

Constant technological development and emphasis on digital solutions has brought about frequent and numerous changes in the role of the webmaster. In this course, Efforts will be made to provide students with good insight into the main aspects of the webmaster's work. The writings of experts and scholars will be examined, and students will be introduced to the necessary tools and equipment. Professionals in the field will visit and share their experience with students.

The job of a web editor is often integrated with general web management. Students get a good insight into web editing and writing for digital media. The main aspects that a webmaster / web editor needs to be able to master will be discussed, such as information architecture, writing for the web, presentation of images, fundamentals in web design, accessibility, usability, security, analytics, content management systems (CMS), and basic web interface technology.

Students set up their own websites and use a CMS of their choice, e.g., WordPress or Wix, which are both available in free versions, and some of the assignments are submitted on there. In this way, students gain training in setting up a simple website. Particular attention is drawn to the fact that instruction in the use of the CMS is not part of the course. Those who have no or limited experience, in the use of CMS, are advised that YouTube has numerous videos where you can learn about the systems, from the basics to much more complex aspects that are expected in this course.

Information studies and mediation in the society of diversity (UPP109F)

The course will address classical subjects and introduce the current development and innovation in the field of information science. An emphasis will be on introducing key concepts, theories and theoretical models about information behaviour and information and media literacy, as well as factors that may influence the mediation of information. The nature and character of information and knowledge will be discussed. The development in research in the field will be discussed as well as possible utilization of the research in practice. Definitions and theories about information and media literacy will be presented and discussed. The information behaviour of different groups within society will be discussed, and concepts and theoretical approaches in the field discussed, such as information needs, information areas, information barriers, information poverty, gatekeeping, the principal of least effort and different forms of information seeking.

Human Computer Interaction (TÖL502M)

Usually taught every second year.

The objective of the course is to allow students to examine more closely than is done in the introductory course Graphical User Interface Programming  HBV201G specific factors of HCI. The factors covered are user interface design using prototyping, programming of smart devices and users‘ acceptability of the software. There will be emphasis on different techniques and tools to develop prototypes. Also, on the design of user interfaces and native programming for smart phones or pads. The development process will be aimed at ensuring accessibility and acceptability of users. Students work on small projects individually, or on larger projects in groups. 

Journalism 1 (BLF110F)

The aim of course is to introduce to students the journalistic profession with an emphasis on reporting and producing news for different media.  Main concepts and methods in newswriting are discussed, such as news values, news gathering and news construction. Students will be trained in writing in a focused, accurate and articulate manner.  Students will get a basic training in using social media to gather and distribute content.

Assignments. Students write news stories and articles for the study program´s online news site, and at times for other news media.

Digital Media (BLF314F)

This course focuses on digital media from multiple perspectives, with an emphasis on social media. It looks at digital and social media in an historical context and how it has influenced professional media, consumers and users. In the first half main theories will be discussed and explained. In the latter examples of the main features of digital and social media will be explored. It´s relation to traditional media, it´s business model, rules and regulation regarding social media, as well as influences on public debate and peoples private life.

The Internet and Information Retrieval (UPP215F)

This is a required course in the MLIS programme for Library and Information Science students.

The course has five main focus areas:

1. the use of the Internet for information searching and communication, e.g. social media
2. the evaluation of Internet resources
3. information architecture; information access and information management on the internet
4. website development and presentation of information on the web
5. the emerging field of Internet research

Topics to be covered include the development of the Internet, searching techniques, search engines, the use of social media for communication, accessibility, web interface and information management, as well as the development of simple web pages. Students will acquire theoretical knowledge needed to examine the internet and get an overview of recent research in this field.

E Business and Digital marketing (VIÐ195F)

The digital environment is radically changing the possibilities of marketing communication and how business is conducted. Digital technology has opened countless possibilities in marketing, business implementation has undergone tremendous changes and significant innovation and business model development has taken place.

The course will cover the development and impact of digital technology on  marketing measures and business practices, how digital technology can be used to support other ways of marketing and how it will shape future marketing policies within a global environment. Special emphasis is placed on new opportunities in direct marketing and to increase customer loyalty. Furthermore, the opportunities offered by digital technology to improve work processes as well as to increase efficiency and effectiveness in operations are discussed.

strategy, value chain impact, digital marketing, business relationship management, customer experience, service design and business transformation will be discussed.

Students will gain an understanding of the role and importance of digital marketing in various type of operations, such as private companies, public activities, and voluntary organizations. The course will furthermore cover contemporary issues such as security, website design, globalization, analysis of return on investment and changing consumer lifestyles.

Great emphasis is placed on active participation of students in the course. This is not a technical course, but the emphasis is on students gaining insight into choosing the most suitable digital technology and media to increase competitiveness.

Tour of the cinema of reality (HMM802F)

The course will examine the history and development of documentaries.  Key works and authors will be presented, along with trends that have been throughout the history of documentaries such as direct cinema, cinema vérité, Grierson movement, Kinoks, film-diary.  We will look at how technological developments affected the making of documentaries.

The course is based on teachers' lectures, seminar discussions and specific films will be presented to the students.

The basics of editing will be taught, with students doing one project recorded on a phone and another project where archive material is edited.  The students will be taught how to use Adobe Premiere Pro editing software, reviewing basics such as how to upload content, edit footage, simple audio editing, text insertion and minor color correction.

Students are expected to take an active part in the course and practical projects.

Internship (HMM013F)

Internships on institutions/ organization, are available for students in Applied Studies of Culture and Communications. Students who wish to go on an internship are to contact the supervisor of the study program about the possibility of an internship. It should be noted that there is a limited supply of internships.

Internship (HMM014F)

Internships on institutions/ organization, are available for students in Applied Studies of Culture and Communications. Students who wish to go on an internship are to contact the supervisor of the study program about the possibility of an internship. It should be noted that there is a limited supply of internships.

Gamification in Culture & communication (HMM110M)

Gamification is a term that has been used in the last few years, i.e. in connection with presentation and communication concerning various information and educational material. Schools, museums and firms apply gamification increasingly to encourage engagement with product or service using methodology and technics from the world of computer-games. In this course we will research how new methods, new technology, and smart devices can be useful for those who are working in the field of cultural communication; projects in this field will be presented, we will do some field trips and make experiments. The course will mainly be taught on-line. This course is in collaboration with Gunnar Gunnarsson Institute at Skriðuklaustur.

Radio production and podcasting (HMM235F)

The course is run in cooperation with the state radio station: RÚV - Rás 1. Discussion will take place into the presentation of radio/audio material, various examples being examined. Attention will be given to the nature of audio communication and the possibilities of audio communication in the present media environment. Attention is also paid to concept development, interview techniques, recording techniques, dramaturgy and editing, accentuating sustainability and self-reliance. All students will complete a final project involving the making of radio programmes.

Final project (HMM431L)

.

A workshop in cultural journalism (ÍSB707F)

Many students, who finish their studies in the School of Humanities, in particular students from the Department of Icelandic and Comparative Cultural Studies, are likely to be employed in the future by media-companies, publishing houses and cultural institutions and asked to write criticism or news about books and art-events. The course focuses on the role and characteristics of cultural journalism in Iceland. Students will get acquainted with most of the genres of cultural journalism, such as interviews, criticism, news-releases and blog. They will work on practical assignments that will be related to specific cultural events in Iceland in the spring of 2018.

Art and History: The formation of Artworlds (LIS709F)

In recent decades, theoretical contexts of art historiography and art criticism have been thoroughly reexamined. New theories, new data and digital technologies have led to a drastic change in research questions and approaches. Critical concepts such as intersectionality, inclusion, sustainability, social activism, and environment have led to new methodologies and different perspectives. In this course, these approaches will be discussed though reading the latest research in the field of art and cultural history. Ideas about the global artworlds and its cultural and political connections will be examined in detail, a variety of topics will be discussed and dissected in writing.

Gender Trouble in the Arts (LIS429M)

This course explores artworks in the context of gender and discusses the theoretical basis of gender studies and its trans-disciplinary nature. It seeks to explore how ideas on gender influence artistic practice and discussion and writing on the fine arts. The representations and meanings of gender in language, society and culture are also analyzed with an emphasis on stereotypes and/or their deconstruction in the positions artists take in their work. The approach taken by feminists and queer theory is used to explore the role of gender in the works of artists who bend stereotypical images of femininity and masculinity and create upheaval in the dominant discourse and gender systems of the Western world. Studies on gender inequality and its diverse representations in the contemporary art world are introduced and discussed.

Applied folklore (ÞJÓ304M)

This course introduces the ways in which the fields and methods of folklore/ethnology are and may be put to use, how their application may help broaden and deepen public debates and positively affect society's self-understanding and self-fashioning. We discuss how folklore/ethnology may be put to use in tourism, museums, arts and various media. One area of focus is also the accessibility and uses of folklore collections. We explore, moreover, various scholarly and popular genres in which the conclusions of ethnological research (based on historical sources, interviews and other fieldwork methods) may be disseminated: exhibitions, festivals, events, articles, books, websites, radioshows or documentaries. Different means of reaching different groups of people will be discussed and moral, financial and political issues will be addressed.

The course will partly be taught in intensive workshops, 3 days at the beginning of the semester in Reykjavík and 4 days during project week in Hólmavík in the Westfjords. Students will work on projects in applied ethnology/public folklore. There will be no final exam.

Introduction to quantitative research (FMÞ001F)

The main subject of the course is quantitative methods and statistics used in social sciences. The focus will be on research design, sample methods and designing questionnaires. The statistical part will cover descriptive and inferential statistics. Special emphasis will be on factorial ANOVA and multiple regression. Students will get practical training in data analysis using jamovi. Students can use their own data.

Introduction to Qualitative Research (FMÞ103F)

The course’s objective is to introduce students to the diverse, academic criteria of qualitative research in social sciences and secondly that student’s gain experience in using qualitative methods. Furthermore, the course is practical in nature where each student works on an independent research assignment, which consists of designing and preparing a research project, collecting and analyzing data, and writing the main findings with guidance from the teacher. Research preparation, the creation of a research plan, data collection and analysis along with academic writing will be extensively covered during the course.

Writing and Editing (ÍSL101F)

Training in various aspects of the writing and editing of scientific texts. Various kinds of texts (non-fiction) examined and evaluated. Training in reviewing and commenting on scientific texts and in other aspects of editorial work. The main emphasis will be on the writing of articles, but other kinds of texts will also be considered, both shorter (conference abstracts, reviews) and longer (theses, books), as well as research proposals. Discussion of guidelines for the preparation of manuscripts. Types of plagiarism and how to avoid them and find them. Texts on different subjects will be used as examples, especially writings in linguistics, literature and history. The book Skrifaðu bæði skýrt og rétt will be used as a textbook (Höskuldur Þráinsson 2015).

This course is open to students of many MA programmes in the School of Humanities, cf. the regulations of the individual subjects. Students in the MA programmes in Icelandic literature, Icelandic linguistics, Icelandic studies and Icelandic teaching can take the course as part of the MA course requirements in Icelandic literature or Icelandic linguistics. Students in the MA programme in Icelandic teaching can, however, not have this course as the only linguistics or literature course in their MA.

Digital and Social Innovation (HMM241F)

In this course, diverse manifestations of innovation in culture and communication, will be discussed, with focus on digital technology. Emphasis will be placed on the activities and management of organisations that work in communication and the creative industries. The role of innovation and the creative economy, societal innovation, and how to sustain entrepreneurship in projects will be discussed. Opportunities for utilisation will be explored and methods will be introduced to support the discovery, analysis and application of such opportunities. 

Communication channels II. Oral presentations, exhibitions, digital communication (HMM242F)

In the course Communication channels II during the spring semester the students work with the following communication methods: a) oral presentation and b) exhibitions of cultural and historical material. Digital communication will be integrated into both aspects.

The students will work with the basics of oral presentation and practice in smaller and larger groups. Basic issues regarding the organization of conferences and seminars and their management will also be reviewed and a conference is held where all students present their projects. Digital communication will also be integrated into this section. Following is a section about exhibitions with connection to digital communication. The basics of exhibitions and different ways of presentation will be discussed.  The basics of digital communication will be covered, what are the main channels, advantages and disadvantages, and what rules apply to the presentation of texts on the web.

There are no exams in the course. Instead, students work on projects, individual and group projects. They are the following:

1. Lecture at a conference and other projects in that context
2. Exhibition analysis and a practical project in connection with exhibitions organized by the City History Museum (Borgarsögusafn)
3. Digital communication will be integrated into both aspects. Emphasis is placed on common themes and group work in the course.

The course is not taught remotely.

Editing and design of printing tools (RÚT803F)

An introduction to the collaboration and division of work between an editor and a graphic designer in the creation of printed work with emphasis on the importance of typography. Students will gain insight into the basis of typography and preparation for print as well as learning about the graphic designer's tools in context with principal kinds of print. The course will include readings and discourse on the influence of graphic design on legibility and understanding, as well as discourse on quality, usefulness, aesthetics and practicality in graphic design.

The student will present and hand in a written analysis on a printed good of their own choice and are also encouraged to actively participate in discussions in class. The final project consists of creating your own publishing project and communicate ideas on its editing grahpically and in writing.

Web Management (UPP110F)

The aim of the course is to introduce students to information architecture along with some basic elements of web management. The course will focus on information architecture such as designing a sitemap, route system, name system, based on the behaviour and needs of users. Other aspects of web management will also be discussed briefly, such as analysis of user needs, user tests and access to web pages.

Generative AI and Creativity (HMM803F)

The course will discuss the impact of generative AI on creativity and expression, and explored whether and how it can be used to create content such as text, images, music, and videos. Topics such as what is creation; what is AI; and can generative AI be used to create art and content will be discussed, along with ethical issues and questions regarding copyright on the content created with the help of AI. At the same time, students will be creating their own content with the help of AI, which will be reviewed in class.

Internship (HMM014F)

Internships on institutions/ organization, are available for students in Applied Studies of Culture and Communications. Students who wish to go on an internship are to contact the supervisor of the study program about the possibility of an internship. It should be noted that there is a limited supply of internships.

Internship (HMM013F)

Internships on institutions/ organization, are available for students in Applied Studies of Culture and Communications. Students who wish to go on an internship are to contact the supervisor of the study program about the possibility of an internship. It should be noted that there is a limited supply of internships.

Presentation of Material in Exhibitions (HMM201F)

Different approaches in show rooms will be examined. A variety of exhibitions will be viewed and the diverse underlying ideologies analysed. The main elements of museum operation will be discussed, listing different material and methods. Students will create an exhibition project.

Creative Documentary (HMM220F)

The basic types of documentaries will be discussed as well as methods of documentary making, editing and cinematography. Emphasis will be put on practical projects and students will be required to make at least one documentary during the course.

Culture and Cultural Communication (HMM240F)

The course critically engages with the concept of culture, addressing predominant conceptualizations while simultaneously exploring the role, conditions and influence of culture in the present. The objective is to generate a disciplined discussion on cultural heritage, cultural politics and policy, and cultural sustainability in conjunction with questions on the practicality of presenting and communicating expressions of culture. Attention is paid to the relationship between the cultural field and other social, political and economic aspects of society and how these enable and limit the communication and dissemination of cultural resources. Questions on how cultural heritage, traditions, collective memory, ideas on authenticity and identity generate the formation and reproduction of cultural constellations are dealt with as well as how conceptualizations such as ‘cultural capital’, ‘cultural hegemony’ and ‘authorized discourse on heritage’ can be employed to understand and analyze manifestations of culture.

Final project (HMM431L)

.

Visual Methodologies (FMÞ001M)

This course is scheduled to be taught in the spring of 2026.

The objective of this course is to gain methodological knowledge, understanding and practical skills to analyze images and visual data (photographs, films, drawings, advertisements, online media, etc.). We will discuss various methods of analysis of the visual content, consider visual databases and how to work with them. Students receive practical training in visual methodological studies and how to evaluate them. The course is based on practical assignments, where students prepare and design research proposals, collect data and how to analyze. The course is interdisciplinary and is suitable for students of humanities and social sciences, and other related fields.

Introduction into Curating (SAF019F)

Curating is a fast growing discipline within various types of museums, like art museums, natural history museums and cultural history museums. In this course different approches to curating, exhibition making and exhibition design in such museums will be examined from critical perspectives, with emphasis on management, different narrative strategies, scripting and mediation. Past and present exhibitions of art museums, natural history museums and cultural history museums, in Iceland and abroad, will be critically addressed and analyzed.

Art Criticism and Curation (LIS805F)

The course lays the foundation for the active work of curators for practical work in the field of art and museums. We work in an interdisciplinary and critical way with concepts and theories that relate to the work of curators in the field of contemporary art. Students work in teams and set up an exhibition in collaboration with art students or artists. Students will apply knowledge and methods to practical issues, work on preparation, design, text writing and preparation of promotional material in connection with an exhibition. The course is partly run in collaboration with the Master's program in art at the University of Iceland, and students will have the opportunity to collaborate with the University of Iceland Art Museum and other recognised art museums.

Plants, Landscape and Politics (LIS606M)

This course looks at the relationship between humans and nature from a critical theoretical perspective. We look at both „natural“ phenomena, such as plants and vegetation, as well as “cultural” phenomena, such as wilderness, gardens and landscape, from the viewpoints of environmental history and art history. Representation of nature in the Icelandic context will also be discussed. The course will be conceived of as a seminar, where each week in the syllabus adopts a new lens on the subject, in most cases in the forms of reading of chapters from either classics in the attendant fields and newer and more speculative material such as recent publications in the field of posthuman theory.
Students are expected to read all the reading material submitted and to take an active part in discussions.

Internship (HMM013F)

Internships on institutions/ organization, are available for students in Applied Studies of Culture and Communications. Students who wish to go on an internship are to contact the supervisor of the study program about the possibility of an internship. It should be noted that there is a limited supply of internships.

Internship (HMM014F)

Internships on institutions/ organization, are available for students in Applied Studies of Culture and Communications. Students who wish to go on an internship are to contact the supervisor of the study program about the possibility of an internship. It should be noted that there is a limited supply of internships.

Final project (HMM431L)

.

Communication channels I, documentaries, texts, images (HMM122F)

In the courses Communication channels I and Communication channels II, the basics of methods for the dissemination of cultural material in the humanities and social sciences are presented. Communication channels I is in the fall semester, while Communication channels II is in the spring semester. 

In Communication channels I, the students are working with a) text and images in the first half of the semester and b) short documentaries in the second half of the course. Each subject weighs 50% in the course. Concerning a) Students will receive training in article writing and discourse analysis on the one hand and use of images and image analysis on the other.  Concerning b) Students work on making short documentaries. It includes basic training in screenwriting, shooting and editing, and students work in groups on a documentary, according to a specific theme. 

There are no exams in the course. Instead, students work on projects, individual and group projects. They are the following:

1. Analysis of texts and images
2. An article with an image on a specific theme for publication, about 800 words.
3. A group project where students work on a short documentary that is shown at the end of the course. Emphasis is placed on common themes and group work in the course. The course is not taught remotely.

Fundamentals in Web Communications (HMM120F)

Constant technological development and emphasis on digital solutions has brought about frequent and numerous changes in the role of the webmaster. In this course, Efforts will be made to provide students with good insight into the main aspects of the webmaster's work. The writings of experts and scholars will be examined, and students will be introduced to the necessary tools and equipment. Professionals in the field will visit and share their experience with students.

The job of a web editor is often integrated with general web management. Students get a good insight into web editing and writing for digital media. The main aspects that a webmaster / web editor needs to be able to master will be discussed, such as information architecture, writing for the web, presentation of images, fundamentals in web design, accessibility, usability, security, analytics, content management systems (CMS), and basic web interface technology.

Students set up their own websites and use a CMS of their choice, e.g., WordPress or Wix, which are both available in free versions, and some of the assignments are submitted on there. In this way, students gain training in setting up a simple website. Particular attention is drawn to the fact that instruction in the use of the CMS is not part of the course. Those who have no or limited experience, in the use of CMS, are advised that YouTube has numerous videos where you can learn about the systems, from the basics to much more complex aspects that are expected in this course.

Innovation - from idea to product (HMM121F)

This course covers innovation and entrepreneurship broadly; discovering and assessing ideas and opportunities, project management, business development, financing and marketing. The teaching focuses on the entrepreneurial process from idea to market. Innovation is introduced as a process that starts with business idea development and assessing market needs. Next, the focus is on project management and business planning. In the end, financing and other means of resources are presented as the entrepreneurial environment is discussed.

Theories in Humanities (FOR709F)

The aim of the course is to provide students with a more comprehensive and deeper insight into the different theoretical approaches within the humanities. In the course, the main theories that have influenced theoretical discussion in the humanities over the last decades will be presented and discussed, and the students are taught how to apply them in their own research.

Management of Innovation (VIÐ307F)

The aim of the course is to give students an insight into management of innovation, whether it is development of a new product, technology or services. The course will discuss the nature of innovation, how the environment can support innovation and how it can aid in the management of the innovation process. The course will study both applied application of innovation as well as academic research of innovation and its management.

Globalization (MAN095F)

New theories and studies on globalization and global processes are presented in the class. The course aims at giving a general overview of important themes related to globalization processes. Studies that shed light on the diverse economic, social and political aspects of global processes are furthermore examined. A critical examination of main concepts is an important aspect of the course but studies that show how people are agents/victims in globalized world are also presented.

The teaching consists of lecture and class discussions. 

 The course is taught in English.

Cultural Studies and Social Critique (MFR701F)

The course reviews cultural studies on the whole and focuses on its value as a radical form of social and cultural criticism. Texts of key authors from the 19th Century and until recent years are discussed with the very concept of culture as a central issue and the question of its meaning for critical reflexion on society, history and contemporaneity. The interpellation of cultural criticism and the study of culture is scrutinized and the way in which this relationship is central for cultural studies. This conflict, which can be felt in older and recent texts has for the last decades been a fertile gound for the humanities in general and characterizes their connection to cultural politics. Concepts such as ideology, power, hegemony, gender and discourse play a central role in the discussion.

HR Leadership and Communication (VIÐ182F)

In the foreground throughout the course is the role of the manager, at all levels of the hierarchy, its nature and its challenges. Human resource issues and communication are the focus area and connected to all of the course topics and assignments. The leadership role of the manager is examined; particularly in relation to general human resource management and the management of employees through reform projects and radical changes. Leadership is also examined in relation to successful teamwork and approaches to managing and solving conflicts and challenging human resource issues.

The main objective of the course is that the students gain knowledge of the meaning of the key concepts and a solid understanding of the theoretical principles, methods, and options that the manager can employ in order to successfully fulfil his/her role. Diverse teaching methods are used to encourage the interest, interaction, and participation of students.

E Business and Digital marketing (VIÐ195F)

The digital environment is radically changing the possibilities of marketing communication and how business is conducted. Digital technology has opened countless possibilities in marketing, business implementation has undergone tremendous changes and significant innovation and business model development has taken place.

The course will cover the development and impact of digital technology on  marketing measures and business practices, how digital technology can be used to support other ways of marketing and how it will shape future marketing policies within a global environment. Special emphasis is placed on new opportunities in direct marketing and to increase customer loyalty. Furthermore, the opportunities offered by digital technology to improve work processes as well as to increase efficiency and effectiveness in operations are discussed.

strategy, value chain impact, digital marketing, business relationship management, customer experience, service design and business transformation will be discussed.

Students will gain an understanding of the role and importance of digital marketing in various type of operations, such as private companies, public activities, and voluntary organizations. The course will furthermore cover contemporary issues such as security, website design, globalization, analysis of return on investment and changing consumer lifestyles.

Great emphasis is placed on active participation of students in the course. This is not a technical course, but the emphasis is on students gaining insight into choosing the most suitable digital technology and media to increase competitiveness.

Tour of the cinema of reality (HMM802F)

The course will examine the history and development of documentaries.  Key works and authors will be presented, along with trends that have been throughout the history of documentaries such as direct cinema, cinema vérité, Grierson movement, Kinoks, film-diary.  We will look at how technological developments affected the making of documentaries.

The course is based on teachers' lectures, seminar discussions and specific films will be presented to the students.

The basics of editing will be taught, with students doing one project recorded on a phone and another project where archive material is edited.  The students will be taught how to use Adobe Premiere Pro editing software, reviewing basics such as how to upload content, edit footage, simple audio editing, text insertion and minor color correction.

Students are expected to take an active part in the course and practical projects.

Internship (HMM013F)

Internships on institutions/ organization, are available for students in Applied Studies of Culture and Communications. Students who wish to go on an internship are to contact the supervisor of the study program about the possibility of an internship. It should be noted that there is a limited supply of internships.

Internship (HMM014F)

Internships on institutions/ organization, are available for students in Applied Studies of Culture and Communications. Students who wish to go on an internship are to contact the supervisor of the study program about the possibility of an internship. It should be noted that there is a limited supply of internships.

Gamification in Culture & communication (HMM110M)

Gamification is a term that has been used in the last few years, i.e. in connection with presentation and communication concerning various information and educational material. Schools, museums and firms apply gamification increasingly to encourage engagement with product or service using methodology and technics from the world of computer-games. In this course we will research how new methods, new technology, and smart devices can be useful for those who are working in the field of cultural communication; projects in this field will be presented, we will do some field trips and make experiments. The course will mainly be taught on-line. This course is in collaboration with Gunnar Gunnarsson Institute at Skriðuklaustur.

Radio production and podcasting (HMM235F)

The course is run in cooperation with the state radio station: RÚV - Rás 1. Discussion will take place into the presentation of radio/audio material, various examples being examined. Attention will be given to the nature of audio communication and the possibilities of audio communication in the present media environment. Attention is also paid to concept development, interview techniques, recording techniques, dramaturgy and editing, accentuating sustainability and self-reliance. All students will complete a final project involving the making of radio programmes.

Final project (HMM431L)

.

A workshop in cultural journalism (ÍSB707F)

Many students, who finish their studies in the School of Humanities, in particular students from the Department of Icelandic and Comparative Cultural Studies, are likely to be employed in the future by media-companies, publishing houses and cultural institutions and asked to write criticism or news about books and art-events. The course focuses on the role and characteristics of cultural journalism in Iceland. Students will get acquainted with most of the genres of cultural journalism, such as interviews, criticism, news-releases and blog. They will work on practical assignments that will be related to specific cultural events in Iceland in the spring of 2018.

Art and History: The formation of Artworlds (LIS709F)

In recent decades, theoretical contexts of art historiography and art criticism have been thoroughly reexamined. New theories, new data and digital technologies have led to a drastic change in research questions and approaches. Critical concepts such as intersectionality, inclusion, sustainability, social activism, and environment have led to new methodologies and different perspectives. In this course, these approaches will be discussed though reading the latest research in the field of art and cultural history. Ideas about the global artworlds and its cultural and political connections will be examined in detail, a variety of topics will be discussed and dissected in writing.

Gender Trouble in the Arts (LIS429M)

This course explores artworks in the context of gender and discusses the theoretical basis of gender studies and its trans-disciplinary nature. It seeks to explore how ideas on gender influence artistic practice and discussion and writing on the fine arts. The representations and meanings of gender in language, society and culture are also analyzed with an emphasis on stereotypes and/or their deconstruction in the positions artists take in their work. The approach taken by feminists and queer theory is used to explore the role of gender in the works of artists who bend stereotypical images of femininity and masculinity and create upheaval in the dominant discourse and gender systems of the Western world. Studies on gender inequality and its diverse representations in the contemporary art world are introduced and discussed.

Applied folklore (ÞJÓ304M)

This course introduces the ways in which the fields and methods of folklore/ethnology are and may be put to use, how their application may help broaden and deepen public debates and positively affect society's self-understanding and self-fashioning. We discuss how folklore/ethnology may be put to use in tourism, museums, arts and various media. One area of focus is also the accessibility and uses of folklore collections. We explore, moreover, various scholarly and popular genres in which the conclusions of ethnological research (based on historical sources, interviews and other fieldwork methods) may be disseminated: exhibitions, festivals, events, articles, books, websites, radioshows or documentaries. Different means of reaching different groups of people will be discussed and moral, financial and political issues will be addressed.

The course will partly be taught in intensive workshops, 3 days at the beginning of the semester in Reykjavík and 4 days during project week in Hólmavík in the Westfjords. Students will work on projects in applied ethnology/public folklore. There will be no final exam.

Introduction to quantitative research (FMÞ001F)

The main subject of the course is quantitative methods and statistics used in social sciences. The focus will be on research design, sample methods and designing questionnaires. The statistical part will cover descriptive and inferential statistics. Special emphasis will be on factorial ANOVA and multiple regression. Students will get practical training in data analysis using jamovi. Students can use their own data.

Introduction to Qualitative Research (FMÞ103F)

The course’s objective is to introduce students to the diverse, academic criteria of qualitative research in social sciences and secondly that student’s gain experience in using qualitative methods. Furthermore, the course is practical in nature where each student works on an independent research assignment, which consists of designing and preparing a research project, collecting and analyzing data, and writing the main findings with guidance from the teacher. Research preparation, the creation of a research plan, data collection and analysis along with academic writing will be extensively covered during the course.

Writing and Editing (ÍSL101F)

Training in various aspects of the writing and editing of scientific texts. Various kinds of texts (non-fiction) examined and evaluated. Training in reviewing and commenting on scientific texts and in other aspects of editorial work. The main emphasis will be on the writing of articles, but other kinds of texts will also be considered, both shorter (conference abstracts, reviews) and longer (theses, books), as well as research proposals. Discussion of guidelines for the preparation of manuscripts. Types of plagiarism and how to avoid them and find them. Texts on different subjects will be used as examples, especially writings in linguistics, literature and history. The book Skrifaðu bæði skýrt og rétt will be used as a textbook (Höskuldur Þráinsson 2015).

This course is open to students of many MA programmes in the School of Humanities, cf. the regulations of the individual subjects. Students in the MA programmes in Icelandic literature, Icelandic linguistics, Icelandic studies and Icelandic teaching can take the course as part of the MA course requirements in Icelandic literature or Icelandic linguistics. Students in the MA programme in Icelandic teaching can, however, not have this course as the only linguistics or literature course in their MA.

Communication channels II. Oral presentations, exhibitions, digital communication (HMM242F)

In the course Communication channels II during the spring semester the students work with the following communication methods: a) oral presentation and b) exhibitions of cultural and historical material. Digital communication will be integrated into both aspects.

The students will work with the basics of oral presentation and practice in smaller and larger groups. Basic issues regarding the organization of conferences and seminars and their management will also be reviewed and a conference is held where all students present their projects. Digital communication will also be integrated into this section. Following is a section about exhibitions with connection to digital communication. The basics of exhibitions and different ways of presentation will be discussed.  The basics of digital communication will be covered, what are the main channels, advantages and disadvantages, and what rules apply to the presentation of texts on the web.

There are no exams in the course. Instead, students work on projects, individual and group projects. They are the following:

1. Lecture at a conference and other projects in that context
2. Exhibition analysis and a practical project in connection with exhibitions organized by the City History Museum (Borgarsögusafn)
3. Digital communication will be integrated into both aspects. Emphasis is placed on common themes and group work in the course.

The course is not taught remotely.

Digital and Social Innovation (HMM241F)

In this course, diverse manifestations of innovation in culture and communication, will be discussed, with focus on digital technology. Emphasis will be placed on the activities and management of organisations that work in communication and the creative industries. The role of innovation and the creative economy, societal innovation, and how to sustain entrepreneurship in projects will be discussed. Opportunities for utilisation will be explored and methods will be introduced to support the discovery, analysis and application of such opportunities. 

Vernacular Culture and the Aesthetics of Everyday Life (ÞJÓ212F)

This course is scheduled in the fall semester of 2025.

The course examines the folkloristic/ethnological perspective on culture and society with an emphasis on everyday life - the prose of the world. The history of the discipline is engaged with in a critical fashion in the context of neighboring fields and together students and teacher will examine where the field is headed in the 21st century. Central concepts will be investigated, including cultural difference and diversity, nationality, gender, the popular, tradition, group, authorship, globalization, pluralism, the eleventh hour, hegemony, heritage, and cultural ownership.

The goal is to understand how people create their everyday lives and how they invest their daily environs with meaning, how people make their own history under circumstances not of their own choosing, whether in the peasant society of previous centuries or in contemporary urban society. This course is for graduate students, but it is also open to advanced undergraduates in their last year of study.

Art Criticism and Curation (LIS805F)

The course lays the foundation for the active work of curators for practical work in the field of art and museums. We work in an interdisciplinary and critical way with concepts and theories that relate to the work of curators in the field of contemporary art. Students work in teams and set up an exhibition in collaboration with art students or artists. Students will apply knowledge and methods to practical issues, work on preparation, design, text writing and preparation of promotional material in connection with an exhibition. The course is partly run in collaboration with the Master's program in art at the University of Iceland, and students will have the opportunity to collaborate with the University of Iceland Art Museum and other recognised art museums.

Project design, monitoring and evaluation (MAN701F)

In this course, students are introduced to concepts and methods for planning, monitoring and evaluating projects/activities. It covers developing a problem statement, mapping stakeholders, development of a project plan, design of project evaluations, introduction to data collection, and reporting on project progress. Emphasis will be placed on the importance of stakeholder participation and gender mainstreaming. Approaches taught in the course are rooted in international development but are useful in the planning, monitoring and evaluation of projects/activities across all sectors. This course is designed to be practical and develop skills that are directly applicable in many workplaces. The teaching is based on a combination of theoretical instruction, discussion of real-life applications, interactive workshops, and guided group work. 

Public Management (OSS202F)

The course reviews the literature on organizational theory and behavior with an emphasis on its application in the public sector. The course includes discussion on leadership, organizational culture, teamwork, organizational structure and change, decision making processes, strategic planning and performance management systems.

Dwellings, Disneylands and Deserts: Ethnology of Place (ÞJÓ446M)

The objective of the course is to explore how people relate to places in different ways. A variety of places - from private homes to airports, from city-centres to wastelands, form summer resorts to places of worship - will be explored in terms of affect and meaning, accumulated by passing though and dwelling as well as socio-political constructions. What creates and maintains place attachment? How do people relate differently to a place of their youth and place of destination? What constitutes a sense of belonging to a place? How do refugees, migrant workers and other migrants relate to new places and new landscapes and how do they maintain or sever ties to their place of origin. What role does experience, affect, memory, aesthetics, identification and sense of history play in who can claim a place and how? How do social structures, political objectives and conceptual understandings of place condition the meaning and sense of place for individuals and communities?

Generative AI and Creativity (HMM803F)

The course will discuss the impact of generative AI on creativity and expression, and explored whether and how it can be used to create content such as text, images, music, and videos. Topics such as what is creation; what is AI; and can generative AI be used to create art and content will be discussed, along with ethical issues and questions regarding copyright on the content created with the help of AI. At the same time, students will be creating their own content with the help of AI, which will be reviewed in class.

Internship (HMM014F)

Internships on institutions/ organization, are available for students in Applied Studies of Culture and Communications. Students who wish to go on an internship are to contact the supervisor of the study program about the possibility of an internship. It should be noted that there is a limited supply of internships.

Internship (HMM013F)

Internships on institutions/ organization, are available for students in Applied Studies of Culture and Communications. Students who wish to go on an internship are to contact the supervisor of the study program about the possibility of an internship. It should be noted that there is a limited supply of internships.

Presentation of Material in Exhibitions (HMM201F)

Different approaches in show rooms will be examined. A variety of exhibitions will be viewed and the diverse underlying ideologies analysed. The main elements of museum operation will be discussed, listing different material and methods. Students will create an exhibition project.

Creative Documentary (HMM220F)

The basic types of documentaries will be discussed as well as methods of documentary making, editing and cinematography. Emphasis will be put on practical projects and students will be required to make at least one documentary during the course.

Culture and Cultural Communication (HMM240F)

The course critically engages with the concept of culture, addressing predominant conceptualizations while simultaneously exploring the role, conditions and influence of culture in the present. The objective is to generate a disciplined discussion on cultural heritage, cultural politics and policy, and cultural sustainability in conjunction with questions on the practicality of presenting and communicating expressions of culture. Attention is paid to the relationship between the cultural field and other social, political and economic aspects of society and how these enable and limit the communication and dissemination of cultural resources. Questions on how cultural heritage, traditions, collective memory, ideas on authenticity and identity generate the formation and reproduction of cultural constellations are dealt with as well as how conceptualizations such as ‘cultural capital’, ‘cultural hegemony’ and ‘authorized discourse on heritage’ can be employed to understand and analyze manifestations of culture.

Final project (HMM431L)

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Visual Methodologies (FMÞ001M)

This course is scheduled to be taught in the spring of 2026.

The objective of this course is to gain methodological knowledge, understanding and practical skills to analyze images and visual data (photographs, films, drawings, advertisements, online media, etc.). We will discuss various methods of analysis of the visual content, consider visual databases and how to work with them. Students receive practical training in visual methodological studies and how to evaluate them. The course is based on practical assignments, where students prepare and design research proposals, collect data and how to analyze. The course is interdisciplinary and is suitable for students of humanities and social sciences, and other related fields.

Introduction into Curating (SAF019F)

Curating is a fast growing discipline within various types of museums, like art museums, natural history museums and cultural history museums. In this course different approches to curating, exhibition making and exhibition design in such museums will be examined from critical perspectives, with emphasis on management, different narrative strategies, scripting and mediation. Past and present exhibitions of art museums, natural history museums and cultural history museums, in Iceland and abroad, will be critically addressed and analyzed.

Art Criticism and Curation (LIS805F)

The course lays the foundation for the active work of curators for practical work in the field of art and museums. We work in an interdisciplinary and critical way with concepts and theories that relate to the work of curators in the field of contemporary art. Students work in teams and set up an exhibition in collaboration with art students or artists. Students will apply knowledge and methods to practical issues, work on preparation, design, text writing and preparation of promotional material in connection with an exhibition. The course is partly run in collaboration with the Master's program in art at the University of Iceland, and students will have the opportunity to collaborate with the University of Iceland Art Museum and other recognised art museums.

Plants, Landscape and Politics (LIS606M)

This course looks at the relationship between humans and nature from a critical theoretical perspective. We look at both „natural“ phenomena, such as plants and vegetation, as well as “cultural” phenomena, such as wilderness, gardens and landscape, from the viewpoints of environmental history and art history. Representation of nature in the Icelandic context will also be discussed. The course will be conceived of as a seminar, where each week in the syllabus adopts a new lens on the subject, in most cases in the forms of reading of chapters from either classics in the attendant fields and newer and more speculative material such as recent publications in the field of posthuman theory.
Students are expected to read all the reading material submitted and to take an active part in discussions.

Internship (HMM013F)

Internships on institutions/ organization, are available for students in Applied Studies of Culture and Communications. Students who wish to go on an internship are to contact the supervisor of the study program about the possibility of an internship. It should be noted that there is a limited supply of internships.

Internship (HMM014F)

Internships on institutions/ organization, are available for students in Applied Studies of Culture and Communications. Students who wish to go on an internship are to contact the supervisor of the study program about the possibility of an internship. It should be noted that there is a limited supply of internships.

Final project (HMM431L)

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