The course covers a number of key traditions within contemporary social science, and how these traditions can be used in analyzing public relations. Starting point for the course is a number of sociological traditions and the theories, ideas and concepts streaming from their work. The course focuses on the development of public relations as a social phenomenon and how it can be understood in terms of economic, cultural, political and social conditions. Furthermore, we discuss what roles and functions public relations has if understood from organizational and societal perspectives.
Course objectives
Knowledge and understanding
After the course the students should be able to:
- Present a detailed knowledge of key social theoretical traditions and how they relate to public relations
- Explain and understand the emergence of public relations
Skills and abilities
After the course the student should be able to:
- On the basis of a number of sociological traditions perform analysis of current empirical and theoretical problems in public relations
Assessment skills and approach
After the course the student should be able to:
- Evaluate the fertility of different sociological perspectives
- Analyze and explain what roles and functions the PR-practice can/should have if understood from organizational and societal perspective.
Teaching Methods
The course includes lectures and seminars where the participants present written and oral assignments.
Exam
The course is assessed through written analyses of the literature and a course assignment.
Faculty
Prof. Mats Alvesson (Lund University)
Ass.prof. Lee Edwards (University of Leeds)
Magnus Fredriksson (Uppsala University)
Prof. Oyvind Ihlen (Oslo University)
Josef Pallas (Uppsala University)
Costs
The participation in this course is free for students from U6 ( Lunds University, Uppsala University, Stockholms University, Linköpings University, University óf Gothenburg och Umeå University) and Stockholm Schools of Economics. Other participants will be charged 5 000 SEK. I addition, the participants need to organize and pay for travelling, accommodation and food themselves.
Application Requirements and Deadline
To apply to the course please send an application letter where you state your research interests and how the course can contribute to your PhD-project including a short outline of your dissertation project and the state of your work (maximum one page).
Send it josef.pallas@im.uu.se and magnus.fredriksso@jmg.gu.se no later than 28th of February 2013. You will be informed about the acceptance latest 15th of March 2013. Participants will be chosen after the relevance and quality of their work. The number of participants will be limited to 10.
Schedule
| Date | Time | Moment | Lecturer |
| 22/4 | 09-12 | Why sociological perspectives on public relations? | MF |
| 14-17 | Institutional theory and public relations | JP | |
| 23/4 | 9-12 | Seminar and discussion | JP |
| 14-17 | Critical theory and public relations | MA | |
| 24/4 | 9-12 | Seminar and discussion | MA |
| 14-17 | Pragmatic sociology and public relations | LE | |
| 25/4 | 9-12 | Seminar and discussion | LE |
| 14-17 | Structural sociology and public relations | OI | |
| 26/4 | 9-12 | Seminar and discussion | OI |
| 14-17 | Reflections on why/how we should/could adopt sociological perspectives on public relations. | MF/ OI/JP | |
| 20/6 | Submission of course paper |
Application 28th of February 2013
Date 22nd-26th April 2013
Place Department of Informatics and Media, Uppsala University, Sweden
Language English
Contact/queries Josef Pallas, josef.pallas@im.uu.se
Magnus Fredriksson, magnus.fredriksson@jmg.gu.se