Course description
This new programme provides students with an advanced grounding in the social and political context of communications sociology, methodological approaches to researching the field, and advanced level discussion and debate of current media and communications debates. As well as offering a contemporary overview of the field taught by leading specialists, the course showcases the research work of the Department of Sociology and the ICS (International Communications and Society) research group. Contributors to the degree include leading international researchers such as Professors Kevin Robins, Howard Tumber, and Frank Webster, building on a tradition established by the pioneering work of Emeritus Professor Jeremy Tunstall.
The Department of Sociology is particularly strong in the range and density of options it can offer students doing this course. The course is well suited to individuals who wish to extend, deepen, update and sharpen their knowledge and understand current developments in media and communications, and to undertake an extended piece of original research. It covers the most significant recent developments in media and communications, enabling students to specialise in particular areas of interest, developing their critical skills and advancing their knowledge of media and communications.
Students will receive knowledge of the ways in which media and communications work, skills in critical social understanding and techniques of social enquiry and communication through varied teaching methods. The skills that students develop in research techniques will enable them to assemble, interpret and use a wide range of social data. They will also have the opportunity to develop transferable employment skills through group work, presentations and the use of computing technologies.
Modules: MA Media and Communications
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
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Media and communication theories (SGM003)
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Issues in media and communication research (SGM230)
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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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Media information markets (SGM001)
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Developments in communications policy (SGM002)
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Political communication (SGM004)
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Democratisation, information and communication (SGM009)
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Representation and reception (SGM011)
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Transnational media and communication (SGM100)
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Analysing media discourses (SGM202)
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Communications, culture and development (SGM223)
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Media and human rights (SGM224)
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Culture and identity (SGM104)
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Rights, multiculturalism and citizenship (SGM109)
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Surveillance studies: theories and concepts (SGM237)
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Surveillance studies: processes and practices (SGM238)
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Feminisms and the media: representation, technology and change (SGM239)
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.
The weighting of the marks is as follows:
Continuous assessment (coursework) 60%
Dissertation 40%
