Programme Specifications

Programme summary

1. Programme Aims

• To develop knowledge and understanding of key issues concerning the media, culture and society through specialist inter-disciplinary study and research.
• To master key concepts, theories, methods and specialist skills required to interpret and analyse media, cultural and social processes and structures.
• To address issues of social inequality, cultural diversity and social change and the contribution of the media to both.
• To engage critically with rival arguments about media, culture and society.
• 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 (2008)
• The Benchmark Statement for Sociology (2007)
• Framework for Higher Education Qualifications (2008)
• University Learning and Teaching Strategy
• External Examiners’ Reports for BSc Sociology and BSc Communication and Media Studies  

3. Programme Learning Outcomes

3.1 Knowledge and Understanding

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

1. Differentiate between the major traditions of thought and analysis which have contributed to the study of media, culture and society.
2. Critically appraise contemporary debates on media, culture and society, identifying key arguments and developing their own distinct perspective.
3. Compare and contrast the major quantitative and qualitative styles of research and investigation relevant to the study of media, culture and society, as well as their strengths and weaknesses.
4. Identify the main aspects of the historical development of key media and cultural practices and institutions, including the press, broadcasting, advertising and PR and digital media.
5. Assess the inter-relations between media and cultural structures and practices and their economic and political dynamics at both national and transnational levels.
6. Discuss the ethical and policy issues posed by the practices of media and cultural institutions, considering relevant forms of regulation, including self-regulation.
7. Examine the ways in which media and cultural forms construct shared meanings, taking into account the roles of media producers, regulators and owners, media texts and genres, as well as media audiences and users.
8. Evaluate the role of media and culture in the organisation of everyday life, social identities and belief systems, paying attention to their involvement in establishing forms of inclusion as well as exclusion.

3.2 Skills and other attributes

a. Subject-specific cognitive skills:

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

1. Draw on concepts and theories from  sociology, psychology, communication and media studies and other relevant disciplines and combine them productively to interpret media, culture and society.
2. Critically appraise contemporary developments in media, culture and society and contribute effectively to the debates surrounding them.
3. Formulate research questions appropriate to the problem studied and employ appropriate methods and resources in addressing them, providing justification as appropriate.

b. Subject-specific practical skills:

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

1. Use a range of qualitative and quantitative methods of data gathering and data analysis relevant to the study of media, culture and society.
2. Retrieve information from specialist electronic and other sources relevant to the study of media, culture and society, and evaluate the materials collected critically taking into account the nature of the source.
3. Explain the relevance of media, cultural and sociological understanding and analysis to public and social policy and private enterprise to specialist and non-specialist audiences.

c. Key transferable skills:

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

1. Gather, organise and deploy ideas and information in order to formulate arguments cogently and persuasively and express them effectively in oral and/or written forms, including under-pressure, appropriate for the chosen audience;
2. Organise and manage self-directed projects (with appropriate guidance).
3. Work individually, flexibly and independently showing self-discipline, self-direction and reflexivity.
4. Work productively in a group or team, displaying at different times abilities to listen, contribute and lead effectively, and work towards the attainment of a common goal.
5. Master relevant applications of Information Technology, including data analysis and data visualisation packages.
6. Follow briefs to deliver work to the required length, format and deadline, utilising appropriate time-management and workload-management skills.
7. Consider and evaluate their own work in a reflective manner, identifying key strengths and weaknesses and developing strategies for self-improvement.

4. Programme structure

Programme Code SSUB05

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. 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.

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.

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.

4.1 PART A

Compulsory modules (total modular weight 90 credits):

Optional modules: Students take three 10 credit options across both semesters, from a choice of: 

The student 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.

 4.2 PART B

4.2.1 Part B standard route

Compulsory modules (total modular weight 80 credits):

Optional modules: Students take 40 credits worth of options across two semesters. One of these can be a 20 credit Part C option. A selection will be offered from the following list, plus language modules:

4.2.1 Part B for students opting to take the Study Abroad scheme in Semester 1

 Compulsory modules (total modular weight 30 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 list provided on the standard route above.

4.2.2 Part B for students opting to take the Study Abroad scheme in Semester 2

Compulsory modules (total modular weight 30 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 list provided on the standard route above.

4.3 PART I

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

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.

4.4 PART C

Compulsory modules (total modular weight 80 credits):

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

If a student has taken an option in either its 10 or 20 credit version at Part B, then she or he is not allowed to take it again at Part C.

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.