On completion of the course, the student should be able to:

- explain and problematize different perspectives and levels of communication and sustainability
- identify and explain communication processes and relations in the (un)sustainable society
- understand psychologial and structural mechanisms connected to climate opinions/behaviour

- use concepts of sustainable communication in the production of information
- design and formulate research problems related to sustainable communication

- critically evaluate the role of communication in the (un)sustainable society

• Perspectives on development and sustainability
• Environmental aspects of sustainable communication
• Social sustainability and the role of communication
• Organizational/Economical aspects of sustainable communication
• Social and psychological aspects of political action

The teaching consists of lectures, seminars and exercises performed individually and in groups.

A learning management system is used.

Students who have been admitted to and registered for a course have the right to receive instruction/supervision for the duration of the time period specified for the particular course to which they were accepted. After that, the right to receive instruction/supervision expires.

Undervisningen bedrivs på engelska.

The applicant must hold the minimum of a bachelor's degree (i.e. the equivalent of 180 ECTS credits at an accredited university) with at least 90 credits in media and communication studies or social studies including independent, theoretical based work, i.e. a thesis or the equivalent. English 6 in the Swedish upper secondary school system or international equivalent.

Kursen bedöms med betygen A, B, C, D, E, FX eller F.

The grades A, B, C, D and E are all passing grades. For courses with more than one element of examination, students are given a final grade based on an overall assessment of all the elements included in the course. The final grade of the course is issued only when all elements of examination have been passed.

The examination is based on the intended learning outcomes.

For this course, the examination is based on: one written group assignment including oral presentations in seminars, one individual written assignment including oral presentation in a seminar and one individual written examination.


The examination must allow for students to be assessed on an individual basis. Further information concerning assessment of specific intended learning outcomes and grading criteria is provided at the beginning of the course.

Students are guaranteed a minimum of three attempts to pass an examination, including the regular attempt. If a student has failed the same examination three times, the student can request that the next attempt be graded by a new examiner. The decision to accept or reject such a request is made by the associate dean of education. A student may not make a second attempt at any examination already passed in order to receive a higher grade.

In case a course is terminated or significantly altered, examination according to the earlier syllabus shall be offered on at least two occasions in the course of one year after the termination/alteration.

Examinationsmoment	Omfattning	Betyg
Skriftlig och muntlig gruppuppgift1	1,5 hp	U/G
Individuell skriftlig och muntlig uppgift 1	3 hp	A/B/C/D/E/FX/F
Individuell skriftlig tentamen	3 hp	A/B/C/D/E/FX/F

¹ The assignment is assessed as Fail (U) or Pass (G).

The instruction is followed up throughout the course. A course evaluation is conducted at the end of the course. A summary and comments are published in the learning management system. The evaluation constitutes a basis for future improvements to the course.

Bennet, W. Lance. (2021). Communicating the Future: Solutions for Environment, Economy, and Democracy. Medford, MA: Polity Press. (192 p.).

Deeming, Christopher (editor) (2021). The Struggle for Social Sustainability: Moral Conflicts in Global Social Policy. Bristol University Press, UK. (Selected chapters).

Escobar, A. (2020). Pluriversal politics. Duke University Press. (Selected chapters).

Hansen, Anders (2018). Environment, Media and Communication. Second Edition. Routledge. (selected chapters).

Hedenius, Fredrik, Persson, Martin & Sprei, Frances (2018). Sustainable Development: Nuances and Perspectives. Lund: Studentlitteratur. (140 p.).

Hultman, & Pulé, P. M. (2018). Ecological Masculinities: Theoretical Foundations and Practical Guidance. New York, NY, Routledge. (Selected chapters).

Hutchins, & Laura, S. (2019). Regenerative Leadership: the DNA of life-affirming 21st century organizations. Wordzworth Publishing. (Selected chapters).

Lee, Philip. & Vargas, Lorenzo (2020). Expanding Shrinking Communication Spaces. The Centre for Communication Rights. (selected chapters – available online).

Miller, Toby (2015) Unsustainable Journalism, Digital Journalism, 3:5, 653-663, DOI: 10.1080/21670811.2015.1026683 (10 p). Link to this article: https:primo.library.ju.se/permalink/46JUL_INST/4sim71/cdi_crossref_primary_10_1080_21670811_2015_1026683

Morse, Stephen et al. (2017). Sustainable Development and Corporate Social Responsibility. Routledge. (selected chapters).

Olausson, Ulrika (2023). The Ethics of Sustainable Communication – Overcoming the World of Opposites. New York: Peter Lang. (112 p).

Pease, Bob. (2019). Recreating Men’s Relationship with Nature: Toward a Profeminist Environmentalism. Men and masculinities, 22(1), 113–123. Link to this article:
https:doi.org/10.1177/1097184X18805566

Wahlund, Madeleine & Hansen, Teis. (2022). Exploring alternative economic pathways: a comparison of foundational economy and Doughnut economics. Sustainability: Science, Practice and Policy, 18:1, 171-186, DOI: 10.1080/15487733.2022.203028
Link to this article:
www.doi.org/10.1080/15487733.2022.2030280

Hase, Valerie (& Mahl, Schäfer, Keller). (2021). Climate change in news media across the globe: An automated analysis of issue attention and themes in climate change coverage in 10 countries (2006–2018).
Link to article:
www.www-sciencedirect com.proxy.library.ju.se/science/article/pii/S0959378021001321

United Nations. Transforming our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Available at sustainabledevelopment.un.org/post2015/transformingourworld/publication (41 p.).

Additional articles, 50 pages.

Please note that changes may be made to the reading list up until eight weeks before the start of the course.

Citing Sources – How to Create Literature References
http://ju.se/library/search--write/citing-sources---how-to-create-literature-references.html

The Interactive Anti-Plagiarism Guide – Jönköping University
Information about plagiarism at higher education institutions
Available in the learning management system