Course syllabus - Consumption, Markets and Culture

Objectives

The course aims to develop a critical understanding of consumer culture in the globalized economy. Consumer culture is understood here as a socially and market-mediated context in which consumption constitutes a central foundation for individuals’ identity construction and everyday life.
The course also critically examines how global corporations and other market actors influence consumers and their consumption practices by designing marketing strategies and business models that emphasize consumption as essential for individual well-being and identity work.

Learning outcomes

Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

Knowledge and understanding

1. Independently demonstrate a nuanced understanding of key theories and models of consumer culture, and critically discuss their meaning and application in a well-founded manner within a seminar context.
   
   Skills and abilities
2. Analyse and interpret consumption practices to inform strategic decision-making in marketing, using relevant theoretical frameworks.
   
   Evaluation ability and approach
3. Critically assess the ethical and sustainability implications of strategic marketing decisions, in the context of identity-driven consumption.
4. Formulate reasoned arguments about the societal impact of marketing strategies, integrating ethical and sustainability perspectives.

Course content

The course addresses advanced consumer-cultural perspectives and examines how consumption practices are shaped and governed in global markets and in relation to companies’ strategic decisions in marketing. By delving into key theories and models within the field, students can develop the ability to critically analyze how consumption practices are formed in relation to market structures and corporate communication. The course includes a critical approach to the ethical and societal dimensions of marketing, particularly in relation to identity-driven consumption.

Specific requirements

A completed Bachelor’s degree from an institution of higher education of three years or more, equivalent to at least 180 credits and with a major in the field of Business Administration. In addition Swedish course 3 or Swedish level 3 and English course 6 or English level 2 are required. For courses given entirely in English exemption is made from the requirement in Swedish course 3 or Swedish level 3.

Examination

SEM1, Seminar, 3.5 credit, grades Pass (G), Fail (U) (relates to learning outcome 1)

INL1, Written assignment, 4 credits, grades Excellent (A), Very Good (B), Good (C), Satisfactory (D), Sufficient (E), Fail with possibility of complementary work (Fx), Fail (F) (relates to learning outcome 1–4)

A student who has a certificate from MDU regarding disability study support, can request adaptions for the examination. It is the examiner who takes decisions on any adaptions, based on the certificate and other conditions.

Grade

AF-skala