Programme Specifications

Programme summary

1. Programme Aims

• To provide an intellectually stimulating environment in which students can develop the critical and practical skills of the communication and media analyst.
• To provide students with the opportunity to study communication and media in a multidisciplinary context where the value of interdisciplinary analysis is explored.
• To enable students to gain a broad knowledge and understanding of communication and media.
• To enable students to gain a deeper knowledge and understanding of issues in communication and media through specialist study and research.
• To enable students to learn about the key concepts, theories and methods of communication and media.
• To enable students to interpret and analyse communication/media processes and structures.
• To enable students to compare different communication and media arrangements.
• To enable students to address key issues in communication and media analysis and in society more generally.
• To enable students to appreciate alternative perspectives in the social sciences.
• To enhance students’ career and employment opportunities on graduating.

2. Relevant subject benchmark statements and other external reference points used to inform programme outcomes:

• The Benchmark Statement for Communication, Media, Film and Cultural Studies
• Framework for Higher Education Qualifications (2008)
• University Learning and Teaching Strategy
• External Examiners’ Reports for BSc Communication and Media Studies 

3. Programme Learning Outcomes

3.1 Knowledge and Understanding

On successful completion of the programme, students should be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding in the following areas: 

• Knowledge of the major traditions of thought and analysis which have contributed to the study of media and communications. 

• Knowledge of contemporary debates on appropriate frameworks and theories.

• Knowledge of the major styles of research and investigation relevant to the study of media and communications, their strengths and weaknesses and epistemological underpinnings.

• Understanding of the historical development of media and communicative practices and institutions.

• Understanding of the inter-relations between media and communicative structures and practices and economic and political dynamics.

• Understanding of how media organisations operate and of the ethical and policy issues posed by their practices. 

• Understanding of the ways in which media and communicative forms construct the shared meanings that comprise public cultures and subcultures, and of the issues of representation these practices raise.

• Understanding of the role of media and communications in the organisation of everyday life, social identities and belief systems.

3.2 Skills and other attributes

a. Subject-specific cognitive skills:

On successful completion of the programme, students should be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding in the following areas: 

• Draw on ideas from a range of domains and disciplines and combine them productively. 

• Critically appraise prevailing understandings of contemporary developments in media and communications and contribute effectively to the debates surrounding them.

• Formulate appropriate research questions and employ appropriate methods and resources in addressing them.

b. Subject-specific practical skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to: 

• Retrieve information from electronic and other sources and evaluate the materials collected critically. 

• Demonstrate practical competence in using a range of qualitative and quantitative methods of research. 

• Initiate, develop and realise a substantial self directed project (with appropriate guidance).

• Participate effectively in group projects.

c. Key transferable skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to: 

• Gather, organise and deploy ideas and information in order to formulate arguments cogently and express them effectively in oral and written forms.

• Organise and manage self-directed projects (with appropriate guidance).

• Work individually, flexibly and independently showing self-discipline, self direction and reflexivity. 

• Work productively in a group or team, displaying at different times abilities to listen, contribute and lead effectively.

• Demonstrate familiarity with relevant applications of Information Technology, including data analysis packages, and competence in using them. 

• Deliver required work to a given length, format, brief and deadline. 

• Consider and evaluate their own work in a reflexive manner.

4. Programme structure

Programme Code: SSUB04 

This is a three-year long full-time degree programme.  In each of the three parts (years) of the degree (A, B and C), students take modules amounting to 120 credits.  In each part, credit splits across the two semesters may be 60:60, 50:70 or 70:50 (depending on the credit weights available).  In addition, students have the opportunity to undertake a Placement Year (Part I) after Part B or a Study Abroad scheme at Part B. 

Important Note: No module may be taken and passed more than once. Module availability is subject to timetabling constraints.

Part A - Introductory Modules 

COMPULSORY MODULES (80 credits) 

Semester 1 

Semester 2 

Semester 1 and 2 

In addition to the above compulsory modules, students must choose 40 modular weights-worth of optional modules, of which at least 20 (one from each semester) must be from the selection shown below. Students may choose to take all four of the options below:

Semester 1 

Semester 2 

If only 20 modular weights are chosen, students must choose two further 10-weight modules from the following: 

Semester 1 

Semester 2 

Semesters 1 and 2 

Students can also choose other modules from the University’s Module Catalogue, approved by the Department of Social Sciences for inclusion in the programme, including languages in French, German, Spanish and Mandarin.

Note: the ratio of modules chosen across the semesters may be 70:50 or 50:70. Or other modules in the University’s Module Catalogue approved by the Department for inclusion in the programme, including languages in French, German, Spanish and Mandarin.  

Part B - Degree Modules 

COMPULSORY MODULES (90 credits)

Semester 1 

Semester 2 

Semester 1 and 2 

OPTIONAL MODULES

Students take 30 credits worth of options across two semesters. A selection will be offered from the following list, plus language modules:

Semester 1

 Semester 2

Semesters 1 and 2

Information for students wishing to take a Study Abroad or Placement Year

Study Abroad: Candidates have the opportunity to apply for permission to undertake an approved course of study at either a European university which is a member of the EU approved Erasmus Exchange programmes in the Department of Social Sciences or any other University with which the University has exchange study arrangements. Such a course of study must be undertaken in place of one Semester at Part B.

For students opting to take the Study Abroad scheme in Semester 2

Semester 1 Compulsory Modules total modular weight 50 credits:

In addition, depending on the credit gained through the Semester Abroad, students are enrolled on one of the following modules:

Optional modules: Depending on the credit gained through the Study Abroad semester, students take either 10, 20 or 30 credits worth of options in Semester 1.  A selection of optional modules will be offered every year from the Part B list provided above.

For students opting to take the Study Abroad scheme in Semester 1

Semester 2 Compulsory modules total modular weight 40 credits:

In addition, depending on the credit gained through the Semester Abroad, students are enrolled on one of the following modules:

Optional modules: Depending on the credit gained through the Study Abroad semester, students take either 10, 20 or 30 credits worth of options in Semester 2. A selection of optional modules will be offered every year from the Part B list provided above.

Part I:  Placement Year

Placement Year: Students have the opportunity to take a placement year (Part I) after successful completion of Part B. Three placement routes are available:

• Diploma of Professional Studies (DPS) Route: Students taking this route undertake a programme of professional training leading to the Diploma of Professional Studies (DPS) in accordance with Senate Regulation XI.
• Diploma in Industrial Studies (DIS) Route: Students taking this route undertake a programme of industrial training leading to the award of the Diploma in Industrial Studies (DIS) in the UK or abroad in accordance with Senate Regulation XI.
• Diploma in International Studies (DIntS) Route: Students taking this route undertake a British Council approved Teaching Assistantship either at a school or other approved placement in a French, German or Spanish speaking country in accordance with Senate Regulation XI. Successful completion of this route leads to the award of the Diploma in International Studies (DIntS). It should be noted that students undertaking a Teaching Assistantship should have a minimum of AS level in the appropriate language, or its equivalent. The equivalent level in the University Wide Language Programme is level 4. Note that students taking this Teaching Assistantship scheme through the Department of Politics, History and International Relations will be registered on module EUI002.  Students taking other work abroad placement opportunities will be registered on SSI002.

Registration on the DIntS, DIS and DPS routes is subject to Departmental approval and satisfactory performance during Parts A and B.

Depending on the Placement type, students are enrolled on one of the following modules:

Semesters 1 and 2

Students opting for the Study Abroad scheme in Part B (4.2.2.) will only be allowed to undertake placement year (DIntS, DIS or DPS) in exceptional circumstances, and at the discretion of the Department.

Part C

COMPULSORY MODULES (80 credits)

Semester 1

Semester 2

Semester 1 and 2

OPTIONAL MODULES

Students take 40 credits worth of options across two semesters. A selection will be offered from the list below, plus language modules:

Semester 1

 Semester 2

Semesters 1 and 2

5. Criteria for Progression and Degree Award

In order to progress from Part A to Part B, from Part B to C, and to be eligible for the award of an Honours degree, candidates must satisfy the minimum credit requirements set out in Regulation XX.

6. Relative Weighting of Parts of the Programme for the Purposes of Final Degree Classification

Candidates' final degree classification will be determined on the basis of their performance in degree level Module Assessments in Parts B and C. The percentage mark for each Part will be combined in the ratio Part B 40% : Part C 60% to determine the final programme percentage mark.