Course description
Structure and Content
Autumn Semester modules in the full-time programme are:
Media Economics: Develops understanding of economic issues in the media industry.
Research Methods: Develops your understanding of the approaches, techniques and skills for conducting research and examines the techniques used to collect, analyse and interpret data.
Plus two of:
The Media Environment: Examines the media industries in their social, political and economic contexts.
Organisational Behaviour and Analysis: Analyses and measures theories of organisational behaviour against practice using case studies.
Accounting and Finance: Introduces you to accounting and corporate finance issues.
Issues in Contemporary Cultural Theory: Examines some key concepts in contemporary cultural theory.
Spring Semester modules:
Media Policy and Regulation: Examines key legislative and policy issues affecting the media industry and develops understanding of the evolution of regulatory policy.
Strategic Management: Develops your ability to analyse an organisation’s current position, identify issues and formulate appropriate strategies. You will be expected to present your case study or assessment assignments.
And one of:
Media Rights: Key issues affecting media rights management with regard to acquisition, protection and exploitation of intellectual property.
Marketing Communications: Provides a critical understanding of the role of marketing communications, especially marketing research, branding, advertising, public relations and corporate identity.
For the award of MSc, you must also complete the dissertation between May and August.
Online Learning
A set of detailed materials guides you through each module and a series of tasks keeps you abreast of recent developments in every subject. Through discussion forums and online correspondence, the programme takes a collaborative approach to learning to build on the knowledge and experiences of both you and the staff.
Core modules in Year One:
Media, Culture, Society: Key theories and concepts concerning the media industries and their relationship to culture and society.
Media Regulation and Policy: Examines key legislative and policy issues affecting the media industry and examines UK and EU regulatory policy.
Elective modules in Year One:
Media Economics: Develops understanding of economic concepts and issues in the context of the media industry.
Marketing Communications: Provides a critical understanding of publicity as a commercial and cultural force.
Core modules in Year Two:
Media Rights: Considers issues on international film and television rights, music and performing rights, intellectual property and the internet, sports broadcasting rights and media piracy.
Research Methods: Develops your understanding of the approaches, techniques and skills required for media research and the various techniques used to collect, analyse and interpret data.
Elective modules in Year Two:
Organisation and Management: Provides insight into organisation and management theory applied to the media industries. The assessment is based on case studies of media organisations.
Media Finance: An interdisciplinary approach to demonstrate the link between media finance and other business functions.
Year Three:
Dissertation
Delivery and Assessment
There are usually 25 students on the full-time programme, taught by lectures and seminars. The Department has close links with the UK media industries and senior media practitioners are regular visiting speakers. Assessment of the taught element is by continuous assessment and examination. Students who successfully complete the taught component are awarded the Diploma and may proceed to the MSc, which is examined by a dissertation.
Assessment for the online programme is primarily through written assignments and may take the form of extended essays, case studies and reports. At the end of the taught programme you will sit a final examination based on one of the taught modules, completing the degree by writing a 10,000 word dissertation on a topic of your choosing in consultation with a supervisor.
Career Opportunities
Many of the students on the online learning programme are already in employment in the media and related industries. The programme provides the necessary skills and analytical understanding for media professionals to enhance and develop their careers.
