M.A. programme in English Philology: Second year of study: Subjects from social sciences — winter term 2025–2026

What is this list?

This is a list of courses in subjects from social sciences (Polish: przedmioty z dziedziny nauk społecznych) we intend to launch in the winter term (October–February) in our full-time M.A. programme in English philology (Filologia angielska) whose second year of study is the academic year 2025–2026.This list is intended for:

  1. Students at the Faculty of English who are about to enter the second year of their study: this is your reference point before your enrolment into the courses;
  2. Candidates for the programme: this list gives you a snapshot of what courses were on offer for the study cycle that started in 2024.

How to navigate the list?

The list is sorted by the name of the teacher. The format of the entries is as follows: the title of the course, the name of the teacher, and the description of the course.

Introduction public sphere communication

dr Samuel Bennett

“My rent is too high”, “Not more curriculum changes?!”, “Stop the genocide!”

Enough! Dość! Basta! Something has to change!

But how can we hold politicians to account? Who gets to speak, and who is silenced? Where do we have these discussions? And who controls these spaces?

This course offers an introduction to the public sphere (PS), a space in which people come together to identify problems and, through discussion, attempt to influence politics.

We start the course with an in-depth look at key public sphere theories and then study the role of communication in the PS. Next, we consider critical responses to these theories. Students will then learn about Discourse Analysis and how it can be used as a method for analysing PS communication. After this, we study the characteristics of political and media communication, and how it is used to persuade the public and legitimize action. We then look at different types of public spheres and modes of communication, considering European and transnational public spheres. Lastly, we move to the role of social media platforms in present-day public sphere communication and how they have upturned how societies function.

Course requirements:

  • Class participation (40%)
  • Presentation (30%)
  • Written test (30%)

Introduction to media studies

prof. UAM dr hab. Janusz Kaźmierczak

The course will enable students to acquaint themselves with the media studies perspective on the functioning and role of media in modern society. The course will first review the basic approaches to the study of media, and then will systematically discuss media technology, media industry, media content and media users as elements of a whole in which the parts are mutually dependent on one another and collectively impact social and cultural outcomes. The course will involve a discussion of the British and American media systems, but occasionally it will also use examples from other countries. The concept and aspects of media globalization will also be explored. Assessment in the course will be based on continuous evaluation, student presentation, and a final test.

Introduction to International Organizations

dr Tomasz Skirecki

This course offers an introduction to the study of contemporary international organizations and their role in shaping global affairs. The course begins by establishing key theoretical foundations in international relations, with particular attention to the concepts of sovereignty, cooperation, and governance beyond the nation-state. Students are introduced to the typology of international organizations, distinguishing between intergovernmental organizations (IGOs), international non-governmental organizations (INGOs), hybrid entities, and other forms of institutional cooperation. Building on this framework, the seminar examines the structure, mandates, and operations of major international bodies, including the United Nations, the European Union, NATO, the Commonwealth, and international judicial institutions. It also considers the influence of prominent INGOs such as Amnesty International and Greenpeace, highlighting their advocacy strategies, transnational networks, and contributions to debates on human rights, security, and the environment.

Through critical discussion of case studies and analysis of contemporary events, students will gain the ability to assess membership dynamics, institutional effectiveness, and the broader significance of international organizations in today’s interconnected world. Course requirements include active participation, oral presentations on selected organizations, and a final written exam emphasizing the correct use of specialized terminology and the capacity to interpret English-language media discourse on international affairs.