ObjectivesThe main aim of the programme is to interrogate the implications of media proliferation in the information age for a range of global, national and local human rights issues. These issues include, among others: terrorism and the war on terror; war crimes and genocide; the rights of children; asylum and immigration; the death penalty; and the treatment of society’s most reviled criminal offenders in a culture which increasingly prioritises the needs and rights of victims.
Academic titleMedia and Human Rights MA
Course descriptionThis programme is designed for those interested in exploring the complex interconnections between media and human rights at a time when both have become central tenets of political, cultural and policy debate. Participants will develop foundational knowledge in media and human rights theory, policy and practice, and explore both historical developments and contemporary issues.
Key debates are tackled through completion of carefully devised core and optional modules. Core modules provide participants with the required skills, knowledge and understanding to engage meaningfully with issues of media and human rights, and to conduct their own original piece of research (the dissertation) on a topic of their choosing. The wide range of optional modules allows students to sharpen their focus on more specialised interests, including for example, the activities of NGOs in the area of human rights, issues of gender and multi-culturalism, and theories of human rights and global politics.
On completion of the MA in Media and Human Rights, participants will be equipped to embark on a range of career paths, particularly those which involve contributing to the media on human rights matters, or acting as media consultants for other organisations concerned with human rights.
Modules: MA Media and Human Rights
Students complete six taught modules from a combination of three compulsory core and three elective modules. Students also take part in a dissertation workshop and produce a dissertation over the summer period.
Core Modules – compulsory
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Human rights: concepts and issues (SGM106)
* Media and human rights (SGM224)
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Approaches to social research (SGM222)
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Sociology Dissertation (SGM111)
Elective Modules – choose three from this list
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Globalisation, challenges and transformations (SGM101)
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An introduction to refugee studies (SGM116)
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Crime and justice (SGM232)
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Media, crime and culture (SGM235)
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Global migration (SGM233)
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International human rights law (SGM234)
*
Refugee rights and refugee settlement (SGM117)
*
Rights, multiculturalism and citizenship (SGM109)
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Surveillance studies: theories and concepts (SGM237)
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Surveillance studies: process and practices (SGM238)
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Feminisms and the media: representation, technology and change (SGM239)
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Global Human Rights (SGM242)
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International organisations in global politics (IPM005)
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NGOs, human rights and the United Nations system (IPM006)
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Global conflict and security (IPM004)
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Theories of international politics (IMP008)
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Development and international politics (IPM009)
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Political Islam in global politics (IPM010)
NB. Elective modules choices are subject to availability and timetabling constraints.
Mode of Study
Students may take the MA programme on a full or part time basis.
Duration
Teaching is delivered in the format of lectures, classes and seminars, taking place in the first and second academic periods (September-April).
Full-time students will normally attend for two or three days a week, and complete their dissertation in the third academic period.
Part-time students will normally attend for one or two days each week for two years. In the first year they will take two core modules in the first academic period and two optional modules in the second academic period. In the second year they will take one core module in the second academic period, one optional module in the second academic period and complete their dissertation.
Dissertation
The dissertation of 15,000 words carries 40% of the total marks towards the MA degree. Full time students should present their dissertations by September of the year following entrance.