MAC205 Internet Studies
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on May 05, 2026
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Media and Communication
Dino Cviko
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
This course aims to provide students with a conceptual foundation for understanding the internet as a media and communication environment shaped by platforms, networks, visibility, datafication, and governance. It aims to develop students’ ability to critically analyze how digital media influence identity, communities, visual culture, emotions, power relations, and public communication. It also aims to train students to apply course concepts to real online cases through structured, evidence-based analysis rather than descriptive commentary. Finally, it aims to examine how platform dynamics, metrics, and algorithmic visibility reshape digital journalism (news production, distribution, verification pressures, and audience measurement) from a critical, theory-driven perspective.
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
1. Simon Lindgren, Digital Media & Society, 2nd edition, SAGE Publications, London, 2022. 2. Paul Bradshaw, The Online Journalism Handbook: Skills to Survive and Thrive in the Digital Age, 3rd edition, Routledge, London, 2023.
Additional Literature
n/aTeaching Methods
Class will entail lectures and discussions for guided concept
Learning and for feedback on progress toward the mastery of class objectives.
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction to Course: What are Internet Studies in Media and Communication | Discussion |
| 2 | What is "Digital Society"? | Lindgren Ch. 1 |
| 3 | Social Media Platforms | Lindgren Ch. 2 |
| 4 | How to think critically about Tech | Lindgren Ch. 3 |
| 5 | Interaction and Identity Online | Lindgren Ch. 4 |
| 6 | Communities and Networks | Lindgren Ch. 5 |
| 7 | Visuality and Visibility; Emotions and Affect | Lindgren Ch. 6 & 7 |
| 8 | MIDTERM | |
| 9 | Power, Exploitation, Activism and Mobilisation | Lindgren Ch. 8 & 9 |
| 10 | Datafication and Algorithms; Software, Devices, and Infrastructure | Lindgren Ch. 10, 11, 12 & 13 |
| 11 | Digital Journalism: Finding Stories, Leads, and Sources Online | Bradshaw Ch. 2 & 3 |
| 12 | Digital Journalism: Writing for the Web and Social Platforms | Bradshaw Ch. 4 & 5 |
| 13 | Live/Mobile Journalism | Bradshaw Ch. 7 |
| 14 | Preparation for Final Exam | Discussion |
| 15 | FINAL EXAM |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
| Section | Type | Day 1 | Venue 1 | Day 2 | Venue 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MAC205.1 | Course | Thursday 12:00 - 14:50 | B F2.6 | - | - |
Office Hours & Room
| Day | Time | Office | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday | 10:00 - 12:30 | B F2.9 | |
| Wednesday | 10:00 - 12:30 | B F2.9 | |
| Thursday | 10:00 - 12:00 | B F2.9 |
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Assessment Components
Final Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4
Class Activity & Participation
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4
Assignment
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4
Mid-term exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4
Quiz
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4
IUS Grading System
| Grading Scale | IUS Grading System | IUS Coeff. | Letter (B&H) | Numerical (B&H) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 - 44 | F | 0 | F | 5 |
| 45 - 54 | E | 1 | ||
| 55 - 64 | C | 2 | E | 6 |
| 65 - 69 | C+ | 2.3 | D | 7 |
| 70 -74 | B- | 2.7 | ||
| 75 - 79 | B | 3 | C | 8 |
| 80 - 84 | B+ | 3.3 | ||
| 85 - 94 | A- | 3.7 | B | 9 |
| 95 - 100 | A | 4 | A | 10 |
Late Work Policy
Information about late submission policies will be shared during class and posted in this section. Please check back for official guidelines.
ECTS Credit Calculation
📚 Student Workload
This 6 ECTS credit course corresponds to 150 hours of total student workload, distributed as follows:
Lecture hours
42 hours ⏳ (14 week × 3 h)
Mid-term exam study
24 hours ⏳ (8 week × 3 h)
Quiz
12 hours ⏳ (6 week × 2 h)
Final exam study
60 hours ⏳ (15 week × 4 h)
Assignment
12 hours ⏳ (12 week × 1 h)
150 Total Workload Hours
6 ECTS Credits
Course Policies
Academic Integrity
All work submitted must be your own. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in disciplinary action according to university policies. When in doubt about citation practices, consult the instructor.
Attendance Policy
Students are expected to adhere to the attendance requirements as outlined in the International University of Sarajevo Study Rules and Regulations. Excessive absences, whether excused or unexcused, may impact academic performance and eligibility for assessment. Mandatory sessions (e.g., labs, workshops) require attendance unless formally exempted. For detailed policies on absences, documentation, and penalties, please refer to the official university regulations.
Technology & AI Policy
Laptops/tablets may be used for note-taking only during lectures. Phones should be silenced and put away during all class sessions. Audio/video recording requires prior permission from the instructor.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Usage: The use of AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini) varies by assessment component. Please refer to the AI usage indicator next to each assessment item in the Assessment Methods and Criteria section above. Submitting AI-generated content as your own work, where AI is not explicitly allowed, constitutes an academic integrity violation.
Communication Policy
All course-related communication should occur through official university channels (institutional email or SIS). Emails should include [MAC205] in the subject line.
Academic Quality Assurance Policy
Course Academic Quality Assurance is achieved through Semester Student Survey. At the end of each academic year, the institution of higher education is obliged to evaluate work of the academic staff, or the success of realization of the curricula.
Learning Tips
Be prepared to contribute thoughtfully during class discussions, labs, or collaborative work. Active participation deepens understanding and encourages critical thinking.
Complete assigned readings or prep materials before class. Take notes, highlight key ideas, and jot down questions. Aim to grasp core concepts and their applications—not just facts.
Use course frameworks or methodologies to analyze problems, case studies, or projects. Begin early to allow time for reflection and refinement. Seek feedback to improve your work.
Don’t hesitate to reach out when something is unclear. Use office hours, discussion boards, or peer networks to clarify concepts and stay on track.
Syllabus Last Updated on May 05, 2026 | International University of Sarajevo
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Referencing Curricula Print this page
| Course Code | Course Title | Weekly Hours* | ECTS | Weekly Class Schedule | ||||||
| T | P | |||||||||
| MAC205 | Internet Studies | 3 | 0 | 6 | ||||||
| Prerequisite | None | It is a prerequisite to | - | |||||||
| Lecturer | Dino Cviko | Office Hours / Room / Phone | Tuesday: 10:30-12:30 Wednesday: 10:30-12:30 Thursday: 10:00-12:00 |
|||||||
| dcviko@ius.edu.ba | ||||||||||
| Assistant | Assistant E-mail | |||||||||
| Course Objectives | This course aims to provide students with a conceptual foundation for understanding the internet as a media and communication environment shaped by platforms, networks, visibility, datafication, and governance. It aims to develop students’ ability to critically analyze how digital media influence identity, communities, visual culture, emotions, power relations, and public communication. It also aims to train students to apply course concepts to real online cases through structured, evidence-based analysis rather than descriptive commentary. Finally, it aims to examine how platform dynamics, metrics, and algorithmic visibility reshape digital journalism (news production, distribution, verification pressures, and audience measurement) from a critical, theory-driven perspective. |
|||||||||
| Textbook | 1. Simon Lindgren, Digital Media & Society, 2nd edition, SAGE Publications, London, 2022. 2. Paul Bradshaw, The Online Journalism Handbook: Skills to Survive and Thrive in the Digital Age, 3rd edition, Routledge, London, 2023. | |||||||||
| Additional Literature |
|
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| Learning Outcomes | After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: | |||||||||
|
||||||||||
| Teaching Methods | Class will entail lectures and discussions for guided concept, learning and for feedback on progress toward the mastery of class objectives. | |||||||||
| Teaching Method Delivery | Face-to-face | Teaching Method Delivery Notes | ||||||||
| WEEK | TOPIC | REFERENCE | ||||||||
| Week 1 | Introduction to Course: What are Internet Studies in Media and Communication | Discussion | ||||||||
| Week 2 | What is "Digital Society"? | Lindgren Ch. 1 | ||||||||
| Week 3 | Social Media Platforms | Lindgren Ch. 2 | ||||||||
| Week 4 | How to think critically about Tech | Lindgren Ch. 3 | ||||||||
| Week 5 | Interaction and Identity Online | Lindgren Ch. 4 | ||||||||
| Week 6 | Communities and Networks | Lindgren Ch. 5 | ||||||||
| Week 7 | Visuality and Visibility; Emotions and Affect | Lindgren Ch. 6 & 7 | ||||||||
| Week 8 | MIDTERM | |||||||||
| Week 9 | Power, Exploitation, Activism and Mobilisation | Lindgren Ch. 8 & 9 | ||||||||
| Week 10 | Datafication and Algorithms; Software, Devices, and Infrastructure | Lindgren Ch. 10, 11, 12 & 13 | ||||||||
| Week 11 | Digital Journalism: Finding Stories, Leads, and Sources Online | Bradshaw Ch. 2 & 3 | ||||||||
| Week 12 | Digital Journalism: Writing for the Web and Social Platforms | Bradshaw Ch. 4 & 5 | ||||||||
| Week 13 | Live/Mobile Journalism | Bradshaw Ch. 7 | ||||||||
| Week 14 | Preparation for Final Exam | Discussion | ||||||||
| Week 15 | FINAL EXAM | |||||||||
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final Exam | 1 | 30 | 1,2,3,4 | Not Allowed | |
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| Class Activity & Participation | 1 | 10 | 1,2,3,4 | Not Allowed | |
| Assignment | 1 | 20 | 1,2,3,4 | Not Allowed | |
| Mid-term exam | 1 | 30 | 1,2,3,4 | Not Allowed | |
| Quiz | 1 | 10 | 1,2,3,4 | Not Allowed | |
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Lecture hours | 3 | 14 | 42 | Mid-term exam study | 3 | 8 | 24 | |||
| Quiz | 2 | 6 | 12 | Final exam study | 4 | 15 | 60 | |||
| Assignment | 1 | 12 | 12 | |||||||
| Total Workload Hours = | 150 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 6 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 12/05/2026 | |||||||||