Loughborough University
Leicestershire, UK
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Loughborough University

Programme Specifications

Programme Specification

MSc Conversation Analysis (Full-Time - SSPT48; Part-Time - SSPT51); and MSc Discursive Psychology (Full-Time - SSPT49; Part-Time - SSPT52)

Academic Year: 2014/15

This specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the programme and the learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be expected to achieve and demonstrate if full advantage is taken of the learning opportunities that are provided.

This specification applies to delivery of the programme in the Academic Year indicated above. Prospective students reviewing this information for a later year of study should be aware that these details are subject to change as outlined in our Terms and Conditions of Study.

This specification should be read in conjunction with:

  • Summary
  • Aims
  • Learning outcomes
  • Structure
  • Progression & weighting

Programme summary

Awarding body/institution Loughborough University
Teaching institution (if different) n/a
Owning school/department Department of Social Sciences - pre 2018
Details of accreditation by a professional/statutory body

N/A

Final award MSc or PG Certificate or PG Diploma
Programme title Conversation Analysis; Discursive Psychology
Programme code SSPT48/49/51/52
Length of programme 1 year (full-time), or 2 years (part-time) for MSc only. 1 year for PG Certificate for Conversation Analysis only. 1 year for PG Diploma for Conversation Analysis and Discursive Psychology.
UCAS code N/A
Admissions criteria

A typical offer would be a good first degree (normally an Upper Second or First class award) or equivalent.  Alternatively, offers may be based on evidence of senior professional experience.  Where relevant, qualifications in written and spoken English will also be required.

Date at which the programme specification was published Fri, 14 Nov 2014 10:36:05 GMT

1. Programme Aims

PG Certificate in Conversation Analysis

  • To enable students to gain advanced understandings of theoretical, empirical and applied studies of social interaction.
  • To develop students' skills in analysing social interaction using conversation analytic methods.
  • To enhance students' career and employment opportunities on graduating.

PG Diploma in Conversation Analysis

  • To enable students to gain advanced knowledge and understanding of issues in communication and interaction through specialist study and research.
  • To develop students' skills and competences in the full range of research methods and techniques relevant to the investigation of social interaction.
  • To enhance students' ability to question existing theories and research findings on the basis of a thorough knowledge and understanding of relevant theoretical frameworks and research methods.
  • To enable students to demonstrate their command of relevant concepts, theories and methods by undertaking a series of research-based coursework assignments and practical exercises.
  • To enhance students' career and employment opportunities on graduating.
  • To provide students with a comprehensive introduction to current thinnking and analytic techniques, and a critical awareness of developments and debates in the key areas of conversation analysis.

PG Diploma in Discursive Psychology

  • To enable students to gain advanced knowledge and understanding of issues in communication and interaction through specialist study and research.
  • To develop students' skills and competences in the full range of research methods and techniques relevant to the investigation of social interaction.
  • To enhance students' ability to question existing theories and research findings on the basis of a thorough knowledge and understanding of relevant theoretical frameworks and research methods.
  • To enable students to demonstrate their command of relevant concepts, theories and methods by undertaking a series of research-based coursework assignments and practical exercises.
  • To enhance students' career and employment opportunities on graduating.
  • To provide students with a comprehensive introduction to current thinking and analytic techniques, and a critical awareness of developments and debates in the key areas of discursive psychology.

 MSc

  • To enable students to gain advanced knowledge and understanding of issues in communication and interaction through specialists study and research.
  • To develop students' skills and competences in the full range of research methods and techniques relevant to the investigation of social interaction.
  • To enhance students' ability to question existing theories and research findings on the basis of a thorough knowledge and understanding of relevant theoretical frameworks and research methods.
  • To enable students to demonstrate their command of relevant concepts, theories and methods by undertaking a series of research-based coursework assignments and practical exercises, and devising and executing a sustained piece of original research on a topic of their choice to be presented in their dissertation.
  • To enhance students' career and employment opportunities on graduating.

Specific to the MSc in Conversation Analysis Degree Pathway

  • To provide students with a comprehensive introduction to current thinking and analytic techniques, and a critical awareness of developments and debates in the key areas of conversation analysis.

Specific to the MSc in Discursive Psychology Degree Pathway

  • To provide students with a comprehensive introduction to current thinking and analytic techniques, and a critical awareness of developments and debates in the key areas of discursive psychology.

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

QAA Master’s Degrees Characteristics

FHEQ Level 6 & 7 grade descriptors

3. Programme Learning Outcomes

3.1 Knowledge and Understanding

On successful completion of the programme (PG Certificate in Conversation Analysis), students should be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

K1. The major traditions, theories and debates relevant to the analysis of social interaction.

K2. The process of data collection, corpus building and advanced interactional analysis.

On successful completion of the programme (PG Diploma in Conversation Analysis), students should be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

K1. The major traditions, theories and debates relevant to the analysis of social interaction.

K2. The process of data collection, corpus building and advanced interactional analysis.

K3. Analysis of data from real-life indsitutional settings in order to identify its significant constitutive practices.

K4. The generation of analytic findings that will be useful to practitioners and improve the effectiveness of institutional interaction.

K5. The extensive literature of the application of conversation analysis to the fields of medicine, education, psychotherapy, the law, helplines and other institutions where talk is a central feature of service-delivery.

On successful completion of the programme (PG Diploma in Discursive Psychology), students should be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

K1. The major traditions, theories and debates relevant to the analysis of social interaction.

K2. The process of data collection, corpus building and advanced interactional analysis.

K3. Analysis of data from real-life indsitutional settings in order to identify its significant constitutive practices.

K4. The generation of analytic findings that will be useful to practitioners and improve the effectiveness of institutional interaction.

K5. Is not applicable to this pathway.

K6. The major theoretical and methodological arguments and issues in contemporary debates about discursive psychology.

K7. The range of conceptual issues that arise in discursive psychology, including epistemics, construtionism, relativism/realism, and apply them in analysis of interactional data.

On successful completion of the programme (MSc), students should be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

K1. The major traditions, theories and debates relevant to the analysis of social interaction.

K2. The process of data collection, corpus building and advanced interactional analysis.

K3. Analysis of data from real-life indsitutional settings in order to identify its significant constitutive practices.

K4. The generation of analytic findings that will be useful to practitioners and improve the effectiveness of institutional interaction.

Specific to the Conversation Analysis MSc degree pathway:

K5. The extensive literature of the application of conversation analysis to the fields of medicine, education, psychotherapy, the law, helplines and other institutions where talk is a central feature of service-delivery.

K6. Is not applicable to this pathway.

K7. Is not applicable to this pathway.

K8. Specific interactional practices or phenomena, through application of past literature and independent analysis in a conversation analytic dissertation.

Specific to the Discursive Psychology MSc degree pathway:

K5. Is not applicable to this pathway.

K6. The major theoretical and methodological arguments and issues in contemporary debates about discursive psychology.

K7. The range of conceptual issues that arise in discursive psychology, including epistemics, construtionism, relativism/realism, and apply them in analysis of interactional data.

K8. Is not applicable to this pathway.

K9. Specific discursive practices or phenomena, through application of past literature and independent analysis in a discursive psychological dissertation.

 

 

3.2 Skills and other attributes

a. Subject-specific cognitive skills:

On successful completion of the programme (PG Certificate in Conversation Analysis), students should be able to:

C1. Compare and evaluate the theoretical and technical differences between casual conversation and communication in more formal environments.

C2. Critically engage with the historical underpinnings of the study of language in interaction.

On successful completion of the programme (PG Diploma in Conversation Analysis), students should be able to:

C1. Compare and evaluate the theoretical and technical differences between casual conversation and communication in more formal environments.

C2. Critically engage with the historical underpinnings of the study of language in interaction.

C3. Explain the different affordances of different kinds of communicative medium (face to face, telephone, social media and others).

C4. Discuss the problems of research requiring the collection, storage and analysis of linguistic data.

C5. Critically evaluate the theoretical linkages between psychological, linguistic and sociological levels of analysis in understanding the use of language in interaction.

C6. Demonstrate a reflexive approach to research and the issues it raises.

C7. Evaluate and apply conversation analytic research and methods in understanding interaction in institutional settings.

On successful completion of the programme (PG Diploma in Discursive Psychology), students should be able to:

C1. Compare and evaluate the theoretical and technical differences between casual conversation and communication in more formal environments.

C2. Critically engage with the historical underpinnings of the study of language in interaction.

C3. Explain the different affordances of different kinds of communicative medium (face to face, telephone, social media and others).

C4. Discuss the problems of research requiring the collection, storage and analysis of linguistic data.

C5. Critically evaluate the theoretical linkages between psychological, linguistic and sociological levels of analysis in understanding the use of language in interaction.

C6. Demonstrate a reflexive approach to research and the issues it raises.

C7. Is not applicable to this pathway.

C8. Evaluate and apply discursive psychological research and methods in understanding social interaction and behaviour.

On successful completion of the programme (MSc), students should be able to:

C1. Compare and evaluate the theoretical and technical differences between casual conversation and communication in more formal environments.

C2. Critically engage with the historical underpinnings of the study of language in interaction.

C3. Explain the different affordances of different kinds of communicative medium (face to face, telephone, social media and others).

C4. Discuss the problems of research requiring the collection, storage and analysis of linguistic data.

C5. Critically evaluate the theoretical linkages between psychological, linguistic and sociological levels of analysis in understanding the use of language in interaction.

C6. Demonstrate a reflexive approach to research and the issues it raises.

Specific to the Conversation Analysis MSc degree pathway:

C7. Evaluate and apply conversation analytic research and methods in understanding interaction in institutional settings.

C8. Is not applicable to this pathway.

C9. Prepare, in the style of a journal publication, a report of an empirical and/or theoretical project of work within the domain of conversation analysis.

Specific to the Discursive Psychology MSc degree pathway: 

C8. Evaluate and apply discursive psychological research and methods in understanding social interaction and behaviour.

C9. Is not applicable to this pathway.

C10. Prepare, in the style of a journal publication, a report of an empirical and/or theoretical project of work within the domain of discursive psychology.

 

b. Subject-specific practical skills:

On successful completion of the programme (PG Certificate in Conversation Analysis), students should be able to:

P1. Produce accurate and detailed transcriptions of recorded interaction.

P2. Prepare audio-visual recordings and communicate conversation analytic findings in presentations.

On successful completion of this programme (MSc, PG Diploma in Conversation Analysis, PG Diploma in Discursive Psychology), students should be able to:

P1. Produce accurate and detailed transcriptions of recorded interaction.

P2. Prepare audio-visual recordings and communicate conversation analytic findings in presentations.

P3. Use audio-visual software to edit, anonymise and organise recordings of social interaction.

c. Key transferable skills:

On successful completion of this programme (PG Certificate in Conversation Analysis), students should be able to:

T1. Assimilate and evaluate empirical evidence to support and counter existing theoretical and empirical claims.

T2. Communicate effectively in writing and presentations for academic and practitioner audiences.

T3. Work flexibly, creatively and with a high degree of initiative, both individually and in groups.

On successful completion of the programmes (PG Diploma in Conversation Analysis and PG Diploma in Discursive Psychology), students should be able to:

T1. Assimilate and evaluate empirical evidence to support and counter existing theoretical and empirical claims.

T2. Communicate effectively in writing and presentations for academic and practitioner audiences.

T3. Work flexibly, creatively and with a high degree of initiative, both individually and in groups.

T4. Demonstrate sophisticated skills of critical reasoning, debate and argumentation.

T5. Engage with current developments in theory and research on specific topics.

T6. Apply concepts, theories and practices in various, unfamiliar and varied various situations.

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

T1. Assimilate and evaluate empirical evidence to support and counter existing theoretical and empirical claims.

T2. Communicate effectively in writing and presentations for academic and practitioner audiences.

T3. Work flexibly, creatively and with a high degree of initiative, both individually and in groups.

T4. Demonstrate sophisticated skills of critical reasoning, debate and argumentation.

T5. Engage with current developments in theory and research on specific topics.

T6. Apply concepts, theories and practices in various, unfamiliar and varied various situations.

T7. Plan, organise and manage, with appropriate supervision, a significant self-directed project.

 

4. Programme structure

MSc in Conversation Analysis and MSc in Discursive Psychology:

In the following table, ‘c’ indicates a compulsory module. (Total modular weight 180)

Code

Module title

Modular weight

Semester

Discursive Psychology MSc

 

Discursive Psychology MSc (Part-Time)

Conversation Analysis MSc

Conversation Analysis MSc (Part-Time)

SSP601

Studying Discourse

15

1

c

c (Year1) 

c

 c (Year 1)

SSP602

Methods for Interaction Research

15

1

c

c (Year 1)

c

 c (year 1)

SSP603

Understanding Communication in Interaction

15

1

c

c (Year 1) 

c

 c (Year 1)

SSP604

Communication Practices in Institutional Settings

15

1

c

c (Year 1) 

c

 c (Year 1)

SSP605

Applications of Interaction Research

20

2

c

 c (Year 2)

c

 c (Year 2)

SSP606

Advanced Topics in Conversation Analysis

20

2

N/A

 N/A

c

 c (Year 2)

SSP607

Discursive Psychology: Fundamental Issues

20

2

c

 c (Year 2)

N/A

N/A 

SSP608

Advanced Studies in Professional and Clinical Interaction

20

2

N/A

 N/A

c

 c (Year 2)

SSP609

Discursive Psychology: Advanced Topics

20

2

c

 c (Year 2)

N/A

 N/A

SSP698

Dissertation Research Project

60

1+2

N/A

 N/A

c

c (Years 1 & 2) 

SSP699

Dissertation Research Project

60

1+2

c

 c (Years 1 & 2)

N/A

 N/A

Postgraduate Certificate in Conversation Analysis:

In the following table, ‘c’ indicates a compulsory module. (Total modular weight 60)

Code

Module title

Modular weight

Semester

Discursive Psychology MSc

 

Conversation Analysis MSc

SSP601

Studying Discourse

15

1

c

c

SSP602

Methods for Interaction Research

15

1

c

c

SSP603

Understanding Communication in Interaction

15

1

c

c

SSP604

Communication Practices in Institutional Settings

15

1

c

c

Postgraduate Diploma in Conversation Analysis and Postgraduate Diploma in Discursive Psychology:

In the following table, ‘c’ indicates a compulsory module. (Total modular weight 120)

Code

Module title

Modular weight

Semester

Discursive Psychology MSc

 

Conversation Analysis MSc

SSP601

Studying Discourse

15

1

c

c

SSP602

Methods for Interaction Research

15

1

c

c

SSP603

Understanding Communication in Interaction

15

1

c

c

SSP604

Communication Practices in Institutional Settings

15

1

c

c

SSP605

Applications of Interaction Research

20

2

c

c

SSP606

Advanced Topics in Conversation Analysis

20

2

N/A

c

SSP607

Discursive Psychology: Fundamental Issues

20

2

c

N/A

SSP608

Advanced Studies in Professional and Clinical Interaction

20

2

N/A

c

SSP609

Discursive Psychology: Advanced Topics

20

2

c

N/A

 

5. Criteria for Progression and Degree Award

In order to be eligible for the award, candidates must satisfy the requirements of Regulation XXI.

In accordance with Regulation XXI, but with the exclusion of modules SSP698 and SSP699 (Dissertation modules), provision will be made for candidates who have the right of re-examination to be reassessed in the University’s Special Assessment Period where modules allow.

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

NOT APPLICABLE TO POSTGRADUATE PROGRAMMES.

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