Loughborough University
Leicestershire, UK
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Loughborough University

Programme Specifications

Programme Specification

MA Media programmes

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 MA/PGDip/PGCert
Programme title Media and Cultural Analysis (SSPT36); Global Media and Cultural Industries (SSPT46); Digital Media and Society(SSPT47); Global Political Communication (SSPT50)
Programme code SSPT36, SSPT46, SSPT47, SSPT50
Length of programme One year
UCAS code N/A
Admissions criteria

Media and Cultural Analysis: http://www.lboro.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/courses/departments/socialsci/mediaculturalanalysis/

Global Media and Cultural Industries: http://www.lboro.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/courses/departments/socialsci/globalmediaandculturalindustries/

Digital Media and Society: http://www.lboro.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/courses/departments/socialsci/digitalmediaandsociety/

Global Political Communication: http://www.lboro.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/courses/departments/socialsci/globalpoliticalcommunication/

Date at which the programme specification was published Tue, 25 Nov 2014 09:25:43 GMT

1. Programme Aims

  • To enable students to gain a systematic and critical awareness of current issues and debates in communication media studies and related disciplines.
  • To develop students' skills and competencies in a comprehensive range of research methods and techniques relevant to the investigation of media communications and related disciplines.
  • To enable students to interpret evaluate and apply advanced knowledge in the discpline in an innovative way.
  • To prepare students for employment in diverse professional environment through a combination of independent work and industry exposure.

Specific to the Media and Cultural Analysis degree pathway:

  • To foster students' ability to critically analyse current research and advanced scholarship about the relationship between media and modernity.
  • To foster students' ability to critically analyse current research and advanced scholarship about the politics of representation.

Specific to Global Media and Cultural Industries degree pathway:

  • To foster students' ability to critically analyse current research and advanced scholarship about digitilisation of media and cultural industries.
  • To foster students' ability to critically analyse current research and advanced scholarship about the political economy of media and cultural industries.

Specific to Digital Media and Society degree pathway:

  • To foster students' abiloity to critically analyse current research and advanced scholarship about digital culture.
  • To foster students' ability to critically analyse current research and advanced scholarship about digital economies.

Specific to Global Political Communication degree pathway:

  • To foster students' ability to critically analyse current research and advanced scholarship about the production, dissemination and reception of political communication in a global context.
  • To foster students' ability to critically analyse current research and advanced scholarship about political marketing.

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

3. Programme Learning Outcomes

3.1 Knowledge and Understanding

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

K1. The major traditions, theories and frameworks of inquiry relevant to the analysis of media, communications and associated disciplines.

K2. The historical expansion of communications media, the institutionalisation of media systems, various audiences uses of the media, and the implications of new media for cultural life.

K3. The range of relevant research methods employed in the analysis of media and culture.

Specific to the Media and Cultural Analysis degree pathway:

K4. The major arguments and issues in contemporary debates in the analysis of media and cultural texts and audiences.

K5. The ways media and communicative forms construct the shared meanings that comprise public cultures and subcultures and of the issues of representation these practices raise.

Specific to Global Media and Cultural Industries degree pathway:

K6. The major arguments and issues in contemporary debates about media and cultural industries.

K7. The development of the global character of media and cultural industries.

Specific to Digital Media and Society degree pathway

K8. The major arguments and issues in contemporary debates about the social and cultural impact of digital media.

K9. The relationships and tensions between old and new socio-economic practices and structures in the digital environment.

Specific to Global Political Communication degree pathway:

K10. The major arguments and issues in contemporary debates about political communication in local, national and global context.

K11. The development of new forms of political communication and the transformation of traditional forms of political communication.

3.2 Skills and other attributes

a. Subject-specific cognitive skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able, with reference to media communication and culture, to:

C1. Generate research data according to set procedures and methods.

C2. Independently organise, classify and critically evaluate information gathered in the course of their projects and assignments.

C3. Use advanced concepts and theories drawn from media, communications and associated disciplines to analyse relevant empirical evidence.

C4. Discuss their research and the issues it raises reflexively.

Specific to the Media and Cultural Analysis degree pathway:

C5. Interpret media texts, representations and cultural identities.

Specific to Global Media and Cultural Industries degree pathway:

C6. Interpret industry data and policy documents.

Specific to Digital Media and Society degree pathway:

C7. Analyse and interpret digital social, cultural and economic practices.

Specific to Global Political Communication degree pathway:

C8. Analyse and interpret political/media texts, representations and processes.

 

 

b. Subject-specific practical skills:

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

P1. Engage with major thinkers, debates and intellectual paradigms within the fields of media, communication and culture, productively employing the insights gained in their own work.

P2. Demonstrate  their capacity to develop appropriate research strategies to address the issues they have selected for sustained investigation in self-chosen projects.

P3. Analyse new and emerging trends and interrogate both common sense understanding and received wisdom in relevant areas of inquiry.

P4. Discuss historical transformations in media, communication, and culture and wield this understanding in appraising current patterns of development, such as cultural globalisation and media convergence.

c. Key transferable skills:

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

T1. Critically evaluate a range of academic and industry sources.

T2. Communicate effectively to specialist and non-specialist audiences.

T3. Deploy qualitative and quantitative research techniques.

T4. Plan, organise and manage, with appropriate supervision, a significant self-directed project.

T5. Work flexibly, creatively and independently, displayhing a high degree of self-direction and initiative.

T6. Deploy their independent learning ability required for continuing professional development.

 

4. Programme structure

 

MEDIA AND CULTURAL ANALYSIS (SSPT36):

Compulsory Subjects (total modular weight 135)

Code

Title

Modular Weight

Semester

SSP301

Media and Modernity

15

2

SSP302

Media and Cultural Industries: Political Economy and Public Policy

15

1

SSP303

The Politics of Representation

15

1

SSP317

Production and Reception Analysis

15

1

SSP503

Online Research Methods and Media Analysis

15

2

SSP399

or

SSP400

Dissertation

or

Dissertation (Placement Experience)

 

60

 

1 + 2

Optional Subjects (choose three optional modules, with a total modular weight of 45)

Students must choose one optional module in semester one and two optional modules in semester two.  In addition a 60 wgt dissertation module will run for the whole year, which will include compulsory attendance on  SSA306 which is a media landscapes module.

A selection from the following list will be offered each year. The selection for 14-15 is denoted with an asterisk:

SSP305*

Digital Futures: Explorations in New Media

15

1

SSP309

Popular Music and Modern Times

15

2

SSP311

Citizenship and Communications

15

2

SSP314*

Global Communications

15

1

SSP316*

Media and Cultural Work

15

2

SSP318*

Digital Economies

15

2

SSP319*

Digital Cultures

15

1

SSP320

Tourism, Culture and Society

15

2

SSP321*

Sex Industries

15

2

SSP323*

Marketing Politics

15

2

SSP324*

Cultural Memory and the Heritage Industries

15

1

 

GLOBAL MEDIA AND CULTURAL INDUSTRIES (SSPT46):

Compulsory Subjects (total modular weight 135)

Code

Title

Modular Weight

Semester

SSP302

Media and Cultural Industries: Political Economy and Public Policy

15

1

SSP305

Digital Futures: Explorations in New Media

15

1

SSP316

Media and Cultural Work: inequality and discrimination in the creative industries

15

2

SSP317

Production and Reception Analysis

15

1

SSP503

Online Research Methods and Media Analysis

15

2

SSP398

or

SSP400

Dissertation in Global Media and Cultural Industries

or

Dissertation (Placement Experience

 

60

 

1+2

Optional Subjects (choose three optional modules, with a total modular weight of 45)

Students must choose one optional module in semester one and two optional modules in semester two. In addition a 60 wgt dissertation module will run for the whole year, which will include compulsory attendance on  SSA306 which is a media landscapes module.

A selection from the following list will be offered each year.  The selection for 14-15 is denoted with an asterisk:

SSP301*

Media and Modernity

15

2

SSP303*

The Politics of Representation

15

1

SSP309

Popular Music and Modern Times

15

2

SSP311

Citizenship and Communications

15

2

SSP314*

Global Communications

15

1

SSP318*

Digital Economies

15

2

SSP319*

Digital Cultures

15

1

SSP320

Tourism, Culture and Society

15

2

SSP321*

Sex Industries

15

2

SSP323*

Marketing Politics

15

2

SSP324*

Cultural Memory and the Heritage Industries

15

1

 

DIGITAL MEDIA AND SOCIETY (SSPT47):

Compulsory Subjects (total modular weight 135)

code

title

modular weight

semester

SSP319

Digital Cultures

15

1

SSP305

Digital Futures: explorations in new media

15

1

SSP318

Digital Economies

15

2

SSP317

Production and Reception Analysis

15

1

SSP503

Online Research Methods and Media Analysis

15

2

SSP397

or

SSP400

Dissertation in Digital Media and Society

or

Dissertation (Placement Experience)

 

60

 

1+2

 
Optional Subjects (choose two optional modules, with a total modular weight of 45)

Students must choose one optional module in semester one and two optional modules in semester two. In addition a 60 wgt dissertation module will run for the whole year, which will include compulsory attendance on  SSA306 which is a media landscapes module.

A selection from the following list will be offered each year. The selection for 14-15 is denoted with an asterisk:

                                                                                                                               

SSP301*

Media and Modernity

15

2

SSP302*

Media and Cultural Industries: Political Economy and Public Policy

15

1

SSP303*

The Politics of Representation

15

1

SSP309

Popular Music and Modern Times

15

2

SSP311

Citizenship and Communications

15

2

SSP314*

Global Communications

15

1

SSP316*

Media and Cultural Work: inequality and discrimination in the creative industries

15

2

SSP320

Tourism, Culture and Society

15

2

SSP321*

Sex Industries

15

2

SSP323*

Marketing Politics

15

2

SSP324*

Cultural Memory and the Heritage Industries

15

1

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                                            

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GLOBAL POLITICAL COMMUNICATION (SSPT50):

Compulsory Subjects (total modular weight 135)

code

title

modular weight

semester

SSP314

Global Communications

15

1

SSP303

Politics of Representation

15

1

SSP317

Production and Reception Analysis

15

1

SSP323

Marketing Politics

15

2

SSP503

Online Research Methods and Media Analysis

15

2

SSP396

or

SSP400

Dissertation in Global Political Communication

or

Dissertation (Placement Experience)

 

60

 

1+2

Optional Subjects (choose two optional modules, with a total modular weight of 45)

Students must choose one optional module in semester one and two optional modules in semester two. In addition a 60 wgt dissertation module will run for the whole year, which will include compulsory attendance on  SSA306 which is a media landscapes module.

A selection from the following list will be offered each year. The selection for 14-15 is denoted with an asterisk:                                                                                                                               

SSP301*

Media and Modernity

15

2

SSP302*

Media and Cultural Industries: Political Economy and Public Policy

15

1

SSP305*

Digital Futures

15

1

SSP309

Popular Music and Modern Times

15

2

SSP311

Citizenship and Communications

15

2

SSP316*

Media and Cultural Work: inequality and discrimination in the creative industries

15

2

SSP318*

Digital Economies

15

2

SSP319*

Digital Cultures

15

1

SSP320

Tourism, Culture and Society

15

1

SSP323*

Sex Industries

15

2

SSP324*

Cultural Memory and the Heritage Industries

15

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5. Criteria for Progression and Degree Award

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

MEDIA AND CULTURAL ANALYSIS:

In accordance with Regulation XXI, but with the exclusion of module SSP399 (Dissertation), candidates who have a right of reassessment in a module may choose to be reassessed in the Special Assessment Period.

GLOBAL MEDIA AND CULTURAL INDUSTRIES:

In accordance with Regulation XXI, but with the exclusion of module SSP398 (Dissertation), candidates who have a right of reassessment in a module may choose to be reassessed in the Special Assessment Period.

DIGITAL MEDIA AND SOCIETY

In accordance with Regulation XXI, but with the exclusion of module SSP397 (Dissertation), candidates who have a right of reassessment in a module may choose to be reassessed in the Special Assessment Period.

GLOBAL POLITICAL COMMUNICATION 

In accordance  with Regulation XXI, but with the exclusion of module SSP396 (Dissertation),  candidates who have a right of reassessment  in a module may choose to be reassessed in the Special Assessment  Period.

 

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

This section relates to undergraduate degrees only.

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