Sociology and Media Studies – (B.Sc.)

Contents

There are close links between this degree and the Communications and Media Studies degree: the central distinction between the two is that Sociology and Communications focuses more closely on sociological theory and method, and contains no practical media production modules.

Typical Modules

Level 1

* Introduction to Media Studies
* Media, Culture and Society
* Introduction to Social and Cultural Research
* Introduction to Social Enquiry
* Introduction to Sociology
* Individual and Social Processes

Level 2

* Research in Practice
* Media, Culture and Representation
* Global Communication
* Social Divisions
* Work and Society
* Sociology of Everyday Life: Issues in contemporary culture

Level 3

* City Lives: Bodies, Spaces and Interaction
* Television Studies
* Comedy, Culture and the Media
* Understanding Audiences
* Health and the New Politics of Protest
* The Age of New Media
* Crime, Deviance and Addiction

Teaching and LearningOur approach

We pursue excellence in both teaching and research. Our aim is to produce degree programmes which combine innovative and classical teaching methods with leading-edge research, and which recognise the value of practical work experience in the learning process. We take great pride in both the quality of teaching and the extensive pastoral care of our students.

Staff expertise

All members of the academic staff are actively engaged in research and many have international reputations in their field. Their innovative findings feed into your course to ensure that teaching is up-to-date. We have an unusually strong concentration of sociologists who specialise in the study of issues related to science, technology and the environment.

How will I be taught?

The course is taught through a mixture of lectures, seminars, tutorials, practical laboratory sessions and small group projects.

Lectures - Most modules involve one or two hours of lectures a week. These provide a broad overview of key concepts and ideas relating to your course and provide you with a framework from which to carry out more in-depth study.

Seminars - These relatively small groups (3-15 students) are used to discuss the content of lectures and issues arising from the modules. Seminars are often student-led. You can use seminars to clarify your own ideas in an atmosphere of discussion and debate.

Laboratory/research work- All students take part in practical modules. In the first year you will experience the similarities and contrasts between methods of enquiry used in psychology, sociology and social anthropology. The investigative methods used in projects include observation, interviewing, questionnaire design, psychological testing, experimentation and more specific research techniques. As you progress through the course, direction by staff over the design and implementation of projects is reduced.

One-to-one - You will get one-to-one supervision on your final year dissertation and at all levels you will have a personal tutor who is available to discuss personal and academic problems. When you go on placement, you will also be allocated a work placement tutor who will monitor your progress and provide further support if you need it. Lecturers are usually available to answer particular queries outside of scheduled hours - either in one-to-one tutorials or by email.

AssessmentLevel 1 does not count towards your final degree mark but you must pass this level to continue with your course. Level 2 is worth a third - Level 3 is worth the rest. The final year dissertation is worth a third of Level 3 marks.

Methods of assessment vary and depends on which modules you select. Some courses are assessed on coursework only, some by (seen or unseen) examination only, and some by a combination of the two.