Programme Specification for the 2024/5 academic year
MA Society, Culture and Media
1. Programme Details
| Programme name | MA Society, Culture and Media | Programme code | PTA1HPSHPS85 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Study mode(s) | Part Time Full Time |
Academic year | 2024/5 |
| Campus(es) | Streatham (Exeter) |
NQF Level of the Final Award | 7 (Masters) |
2. Description of the Programme
This interdisciplinary pathway captures the distinctive approach to sociology, anthropology and cultural and media studies at the University of Exeter, taking a multifaceted perspective to some of the biggest issues and questions facing contemporary societies.
You will examine traditional and digital media and their relationship with the social and cultural contexts of their production and use. You will be introduced to the ways in which sociologists, anthropologists and cultural theorists have conceptualised media in Western society and beyond, and analyse the key conceptual and empirical approaches to the study of audiences, news and broadcasting, advertising, television research, gaming and celebrity studies, among others. You will explore various facets of media through an intersectional lens, critically appraise social change through specific examples, and reflect on how gender, class, sexuality and race have been represented and the implications of these depictions on individual and collective identities.
3. Educational Aims of the Programme
The programme will draw on the department’s research strengths and interdisciplinarity to introduce students to different conceptual perspectives, social research methods and empirical issues and provide them with a sound foundation in sociology, anthropology and cultural and media studies at postgraduate level. More specifically, it aims to:
- Explore a wide range of media from an intersectional perspective and learn how media are produced, evaluated and consumed
- Understand the relations between different media and power and the ways in which media, and more generally culture, inform identity, human agency and subjectivity
- Analyse portrayals of gender, class, race and sexuality in news and broadcasting, the entertainment industry, celebrity culture, advertising and gaming, among others
- Join a truly multicultural and culturally enriching postgraduate and research environment
- Develop a wide range of key transferrable skills that are highly valued by employers within a range of professions
4. Programme Structure
The MA Society, Culture and Media is a one-year full-time programme of study at National Qualification Framework (NQF) level 7 (as confirmed against the FHEQ). This programme is divided into units of study called ‘modules’ which are assigned a number of ‘credits’. The credit rating of a module is proportional to the total workload, with 1 credit being nominally equivalent to 10 hours of work.
The programme is studied over 12 months (full time) or 24 months (part time) and is University-based throughout the period. The programme comprises 180 credits in total: taught modules worth 120 credits in total and a supervised dissertation worth 60 credits. Teaching takes place over two terms (October to May), followed by completion of the dissertation over the summer (June to September). Each taught module spans one term and is normally taught through seminars, underpinned by reading and essay assignments.
5. Programme Modules
The following tables describe the programme and constituent modules. Constituent modules may be updated, deleted or replaced as a consequence of the annual programme review of this programme.
https://www.exeter.ac.uk/study/studyinformation/modules/?prog=spspa
You may take optional modules as long as any necessary prerequisites have been satisfied, where the timetable allows and if you have not already taken the module in question or an equivalent module.
You may take elective modules up to 30 credits outside of the programme as long as any necessary prerequisites have been satisfied, where the timetable allows and if you have not already taken the module in question or an equivalent module.
Stage 1
This programme consists of 120 credits of compulsory modules, plus 60 credits of modules selected from a list of options offered in the Department of Philosophy, Sociology and Anthropology.
120 credits of compulsory modules, 60 credits of optional modules
Compulsory Modules
| Code | Module | Credits | Non-condonable? |
|---|---|---|---|
| SOCM027 | Social Theory | 30 | Yes |
| SOCM904 | Dissertation | 60 | Yes |
| SOCM047 | Understanding Media | 30 | Yes |
Optional Modules
| Code | Module | Credits | Non-condonable? |
|---|---|---|---|
| MA Society Culture and Media options | |||
| SOCM046 | Meaning, Making Consuming | 30 | No |
| CMMM003 | Gaming in Everyday Life: A Global Perspective | 30 | No |
| CMMM004 | Investigating Media Infrastructure | 30 | No |
| CMMM006 | Soft Power and International Communications | 30 | No |
| SOCM950 | Science Technology and Society | 30 | No |
| SOCM022 | Food, Body and Society | 30 | No |
| SOCM020 | Research Methods in the Social Sciences | 30 | No |
| EAFM910 | Stars, Stardom and Celebrity From the Classical Era to the Contemporary | 30 | No |
| EASM171 | Expanding Queerness: Critical Debates in Theory, Literature, Film and Television | 30 | No |
| EASM185 | Story Machines: Interactive Texts and Narrative Games | 30 | No |
| POLM158 | Digital Politics and Policy | 30 | No |
| BEM3070 | Media, Al and the Metaverse | 15 | No |
| SOCM033 | Data Governance and Ethics | 15 | No |
| SOCM034 | Social Data Science and Policy Analytics | 30 | No |
| POLM024 | Security, Society and Algorithms | 30 | No |
| SSIM917 | Programming for Social Data Science | 15 | No |
6. Programme Outcomes Linked to Teaching, Learning and Assessment Methods
Intended Learning Outcomes
A: Specialised Subject Skills and Knowledge
| Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) On successfully completing this programme you will be able to: | Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) will be... | |
|---|---|---|
| ...accommodated and facilitated by the following learning and teaching activities (in/out of class): | ...and evidenced by the following assessment methods: | |
1. Demonstrate an advanced understanding and critical awareness of contemporary social and cultural issues |
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Intended Learning Outcomes
B: Academic Discipline Core Skills and Knowledge
| Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) On successfully completing this programme you will be able to: | Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) will be... | |
|---|---|---|
| ...accommodated and facilitated by the following learning and teaching activities (in/out of class): | ...and evidenced by the following assessment methods: | |
5. Analyse and synthesise different types of sociological and anthropological material, modes of reasoning and evidence |
|
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Intended Learning Outcomes
C: Personal/Transferable/Employment Skills and Knowledge
| Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) On successfully completing this programme you will be able to: | Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) will be... | |
|---|---|---|
| ...accommodated and facilitated by the following learning and teaching activities (in/out of class): | ...and evidenced by the following assessment methods: | |
9. Think independently and at an advanced level |
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7. Programme Regulations
Classification
Full details of assessment regulations for all taught programmes can be found in the TQA Manual, specifically in the Credit and Qualifications Framework, and the Assessment, Progression and Awarding: Taught Programmes Handbook. Additional information, including Generic Marking Criteria, can be found in the Learning and Teaching Support Handbook.
8. College Support for Students and Students' Learning
Personal and Academic tutoring: It is University policy that all Faculties should have in place a system of academic and personal tutors. The role of academic tutors is to support you on individual modules; the role of personal tutors is to provide you with advice and support for the duration of the programme and extends to providing you with details of how to obtain support and guidance on personal difficulties such as accommodation, financial difficulties and sickness. You can also make an appointment to see individual teaching staff.
Student/Staff Liaison Committee enables students and staff to jointly participate in the management and review of the teaching and learning provision.
9. University Support for Students and Students' Learning
Please refer to the University Academic Policy and Standards guidelines regarding support for students and students' learning.
10. Admissions Criteria
Undergraduate applicants must satisfy the Undergraduate Admissions Policy of the University of Exeter.
Postgraduate applicants must satisfy the Postgraduate Admissions Policy of the University of Exeter.
Specific requirements required to enrol on this programme are available at the respective Undergraduate or Postgraduate Study Site webpages.
11. Regulation of Assessment and Academic Standards
Each academic programme in the University is subject to an agreed College assessment and marking strategy, underpinned by institution-wide assessment procedures.
The security of assessment and academic standards is further supported through the appointment of External Examiners for each programme. External Examiners have access to draft papers, course work and examination scripts. They are required to attend the Board of Examiners and to provide an annual report. Annual External Examiner reports are monitored at both College and University level. Their responsibilities are described in the University's code of practice. See the University's TQA Manual for details.
14. Awarding Institution
University of Exeter
15. Lead College / Teaching Institution
Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS)
16. Partner College / Institution
Partner College(s)
Not applicable to this programme
Partner Institution
Not applicable to this programme.
17. Programme Accredited / Validated by
Not applicable to this programme.
18. Final Award
MA Society, Culture and Media
19. UCAS Code
Not applicable to this programme.
20. NQF Level of Final Award
7 (Masters)
21. Credit
| CATS credits | 180 |
ECTS credits | 90 |
|---|
22. QAA Subject Benchmarking Group
Level 1
23. Dates
| Origin Date | 04/09/2019 |
Date of last revision | 04/10/2023 |
|---|
