Department of Social Sciences Digital Media and Society MA Global Media and Cultural Industries MA Media and Cultural Analysis MA

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1 Digital Media and Society MA Global Media and Cultural Industries MA Media and Cultural Analysis MA

2 1 2 Welcome The Social Sciences Department is a vibrant home for interdisciplinary scholarship bringing together media and communications, sociology, social psychology and social policy. Our aim is to produce both fundamental and applied research of exceptional quality. Our Masters courses reflect these research and academic strengths, bringing together our learning and teaching to the cutting edge of social sciences advancement. Our graduates reflect this approach, being highly trained, successful individuals, capable of working in a wide range of careers worldwide. Contents 01 Welcome 03 The Department 04 Why Choose Loughborough? 05 Masters Courses 06 Extra-Curricular Opportunities 07 Quotes from Students 09 MA in Digital Media and Society 11 MA in Digital Media and Society 13 MA in Global Media and Cultural Industries 15 MA in Media and Cultural Analysis

3 3 4 The Department Why Choose Loughborough? The Social Sciences Department is based in a supportive and friendly environment with a lively international community of highly regarded academics, researchers, students and support staff. We pride ourselves on providing our students with the best teaching, opportunities and support to ensure they meet their full potential. At the heart of all that we do is our world renowned research, which helps to inform and keep our teaching at the cutting-edge of social sciences development. Facilities The houses state-of-the-art facilities for media and communications research. The Loughborough Qualitative Digital Research Lab (LiQUiD Lab) consists of a suite of rooms containing state-of-the-art equipment for the development of qualitative research involving the use of digital and audiovisual methods and media. The Communication Research Centre Loughborough University s Communication Research Centre (CRC) is located within the and brings together internationally leading researchers from a range of disciplinary backgrounds. The Centre s work is intrinsic to the three Master s programmes, ensuring they are up-to-date and at the cutting edge of Social Science development. The Centre s interests span the range of communication studies from culture and media to discourse and social interaction. It is also home to a wide range of research projects on topics from political communication to media and religion, and members also have expertise in a wide range of social research methods. The CRC is comprised of two core research groups; the Culture and Media Analysis Research Group (CaMARG) and the Discourse and Rhetoric Group (DARG). CaMARG brings together staff and students in the Department engaged in studying, researching, and writing about all aspects of both media and cultural life. It is interdisciplinary, drawing on insights from across the social sciences and humanities to explore institutional formations, expressive forms, and everyday practices. DARG is home to a community of academics, postgraduate students and visitors who pursue research into a broad range of topics but share an interest in language, how it is used socially, and what effects it has in interaction and in text. Industry Links Several international journals are edited by members of the department including the European Journal of Communication and Media, Culture and Society and members have acted as consultants for a wide range of national and international bodies including UNESCO, the United Nations, Ofcom, the Department for Children, Schools and Families, and the Institute for Public Policy Research. Our innovative research has received international recognition within the social sciences, including the award of the Queen s Anniversary Prize in 2005 for outstanding work at world-class level. One of our professors was recently appointed a member of the House of Lords in the UK Parliament. Choosing a university involves more than just selecting a degree. You are making a decision about where to spend the next few years of your life. There are many reasons why we are proud of what Loughborough has to offer you here are just a few; Research that Matters Loughborough University is a research intensive institution which undertakes high quality research across all its subjects. Over the years the University has produced work which has influenced academic disciplines, public policy, the professions, business and industry. The widespread involvement of our staff in research activity ensures that our postgraduate students are part of a vibrant research culture in which they are taught and supported by academics at the forefront of their disciplines. An Attractive Campus Environment Loughborough is the largest single-site campus in the UK, consisting of 437 attractively landscaped acres. It lies within walking distance of the town itself and is easily accessible by rail. It has a fast rail link to London and is within 30 minutes of Nottingham, Leicester and Derby. It is also close to Junction 23 of the M1 and to East Midlands International Airport. Fantastic Facilities There are a wide range of sporting, study, shops and catering facilities dotted around campus for your convenience. This includes the Students Union which, as well as providing support and representation, caters for a wide variety of interests and hobbies offering over 100 different clubs and societies to try. More information on our campus facilities can be found in our prospectus. Belfast 60 min Dublin 60 min Glasgow Edinburgh 75 min Liverpool 120 min Exeter Manchester 130 min Derby East Midlands International Airport Birmingham Leicester 45 min Cardiff Newcastle Bristol 180 min 180 min Leeds 100 min Oxford 90 min Southampton Nottingham Loughborough London 90 min Dover Student Experience Loughborough University has been voted England s Best Student Experience for six years in a row by its students. This accolade is testament to the rounded experience that Loughborough provides its students, both academically and from an extra-curricular perspective. The combination of these produces students with a diverse portfolio of skills and experience crucial to the contemporary work-place.

4 5 6 Our Masters Courses The Department is pleased to offer three different MA courses across a wide range of academic disciplines. All three courses address issues of internationalisation and the globalisation of media, communication, and culture, drawing on the research carried out within the Communications Research Centre in the Department. The courses also benefit from the Department s interdisciplinary teaching team, drawn from a range of disciplines as well as the staff s world-leading research. This work contributes to this fantastic range of courses designed to equip students with cutting edge insight and understanding into media, communications and culture. MA in Media and Cultural Analysis This course focuses on understanding and explaining the ways in which the media represent the world, how they are used in public and private life, and the role of media and communications in shaping contemporary identities. MA in Global Media and Cultural Industries This course takes a different perspective on the media which focuses on understanding and explaining the industries involved in media production and the ways in which states and other institutions intervene in them. MA in Digital Media and Society This course concentrates on the ways in which the Internet and new technologies such as smartphones are changing our social world and creating opportunities for new forms of social interaction. Course Structure Each course is studied over one-year, in which students take five compulsory modules, two optional modules, and a dissertation on a specialist subject within the field, chosen by the student. Students take three or four modules in the autumn session (October-December), the remaining three or four modules in the spring session (January-April), then carry out a research project leading to their dissertation from May to September. Teaching and Learning Our three Masters courses all involve a range of teaching and learning techniques. These range from traditional lectures and seminars to practical media analysis and hands-on project work. As well as communicating theoretical knowledge, a range of teaching and learning methods is used to develop students transferable skills such as critical thinking, team working and project management. We also offer students the opportunity to take a module featuring lectures from people working in media and cultural industries. We operate a personal tutor system so that all students get individual academic support. Assessment All three courses culminate in an individual dissertation and students receive one-to-one expert supervision the planning and writing of their research project. Coursework is also completed throughout the course duration. Extra-Curricular Opportunities Many of our students come to study in the Department to develop a critical and analytical approach to the media and communications industries, but there are also extra-curricular opportunities available to all of our students which help to develop vocational skills, whether this is orientated to a job in the media industries or further study. Media Centre for Students A state of the art 1.2m media centre is based on the first floor in the Students union building offering fantastic opportunities to get involved in something completely new. Students are able to edit, write or design for LABEL, the student magazine; write, produce or present a show on LSUTV the award winning TV station; have their own show and become a DJ on LCR, the Union s radio station; practice, learn an instrument or make their own music in Loop Recording Studios. Culture and Media Analysis Research Group (CAMARG) Weekly Seminars One of the great things about studying media and communication at Loughborough is that you can hear about the latest research in the weekly seminars run by the Culture and Media Analysis Research Group. CaMARG also runs more informal sessions where recent debates and issues relating to media and cultural industries are discussed and debated. Further information on all of our extra-curricular activities is available in our prospectus. Finance and Scholarships Please see our website to find out the latest information on finance, fees and scholarships available for both UK and International students.

5 7 8 What our students say My name is Lei WEN (Lily). I graduated from the Media and Cultural Analysis course in After returning to China, I worked in the British Consulate-General in Guangzhou. The research skills and capabilities I acquired in Loughborough definitely helped me with not only finding the job but performing well at it. I m currently working as the project manager of the Guangzhou Centre at the University of Birmingham, managing the research and education projects in Guangzhou and the partnership between the University of Birmingham and the city of Guangzhou. In my course I learnt not only academic skills but also practical knowledge of the media and cultural industries. Most of my classmates I keep in touch with are working in important media and cultural enterprises. Moreover, the vibrant international student community of Loughborough University makes the study experience lots of fun. I m still in touch with friends I made there from different countries. It s an experienced not to be missed. Lei Wen, China Studying my MA was one of my best periods in my life. It undoubtedly gave me a much more precise and wider vision of the world we live in. Mainly, it helped me to understand even more that the process of globalization may be not only a financial and capital one, but also a cultural one. João Cotrim, Portugal I decided to come to study my MA in Loughborough as I wanted to enhance my last year of study with the best experience possible, and I knew I would find it here in Loughborough. I really enjoyed the course as the topics we studied were various and the lecturers showed a real interest in teaching their knowledge of the media. The course provided me with the opportunity to find a good study environment with all the study facilities encouraging student success, and a welcoming atmosphere too. Charlotte Smeets, France In deciding to pursue my masters, Loughborough was my first point of call because of the Social Science Department s reputation as one of the highest ranked universities in the UK. Teaching and research supervision in the department is remarkable and the group seminars and presentations have helped to developed my skills in independent research. I intend to pursue a research degree in gender and welfare studies after my master s degree. Aurelia Ayisi, Ghana

6 9 10 MA 1 year full time Digital Media and Society MA Compulsory modules n Digital Cultures n Digital Economies n Digital Futures n Production and Reception Analysis n Social Research with Digital Media n Dissertation Optional modules n Media & Modernity n Media & Cultural Industries n The Politics of Representation n Popular Music & Modern Times n Media, Nations & Nationalisms n Global Communications n Media & Cultural Work n Tourism, Culture & Society n Sex Industries n Political Marketing n Heritage Industries n Capitalism and Culture The Course Digital media have become an integral part of contemporary life. The internet and mobile technologies are inextricable from the ways we socialise, live out our working lives, navigate our way through cities, do our shopping, read the news, listen to music, conduct business, global trade and politics, and experience and make art. Web platforms such as social networking sites, media-sharing sites, blogging and tweeting are becoming as much a part of our worlds as are established forms of electronic communication like . Our MA in Digital Media and Society is designed to provide students with an in-depth understanding of current thinking and debates on the implications of these developments. Assessment Coursework for each module plus a dissertation of 12,000 words. Careers and Further Study Due to the increasing centrality of digital media to the contemporary economy, this degree will be relevant to students who are planning a variety of careers. It will provide knowledge and expertise appropriate to work in the communications industries, internet-based businesses, and government agencies related to digital media. The course will also equip students for a research or academic career in digital media or related fields. Entry Requirements This course is designed to appeal to students from a variety of cultural, national, and academic backgrounds. Students would normally have a good first degree (2.1 or higher) in the social sciences or humanities, but applicants with appropriate professional expertise will also be considered. Decisions about selection are normally made on the basis of applications and references are heavily relied upon, though some students may be interviewed. Funding Opportunities There are a wide range of scholarships available to international students wishing to study postgraduate courses at Loughborough. For full details, see: university Loughborough is really friendly, the campus and its facilities are amazing, and the range of courses on offer really gives you plenty of choice. My Personal Tutor and lecturers are all very helpful and approachable, and the help I have received from the University s support services has been excellent. If I had to rate them, I d have to give them all top marks! Lukas Stepanek, MA in Media and Cultural Analysis

7 11 12 MA 1 year full time Global Media and Cultural Industries MA Compulsory modules n Media and Cultural Industries n Digital Futures n Media and Cultural Work n Textual Research Techniques n Production and Reception Analysis n Dissertation Optional modules n Politics of Representation n Media and Modernity n Communication and Citizenship n Sex Industries n Digital Economies n Global Communications n Popular Music and Modern Times n Media, Nations, and Nationalisms n Political Marketing n Heritage Industries n Capitalism and Culture n Digital Cultures The Course Global media and cultural industries are important sources of employment and economic growth internationally. This course focuses on the growth of these global industries and the roles that states play in governing them. It also explores the ways in which media institutions, media practitioners and regulatory bodies operate and interact in continually changing technological, social and cultural contexts. The course draws on the considerable expertise in transnational and comparative research as well as expertise in the political economy of communication housed within the Communication Research Centre. Assessment Each module is assessed by coursework assignments which explore the theoretical and applied perspectives introduced in lectures and seminars. The final assessment of the course is a dissertation of 12,000 words based on an original research project carried out by each student with one-to-one guidance from a supervisor. Careers and Further Study The course provides theoretical knowledge of media industries including political communication and PR, the music industry, the heritage industry as well as more traditional areas of press and broadcasting. It also provides a range of skills which are crucial to a career in the cultural industries, the media and communications sector, and government and regulatory agencies, including critical writing, media analysis, project design and management. Students have also gone into a range of media careers in both traditional media industries including publishing, journalism and broadcasting as well as associated communications professions such as PR and event management. Entry Requirements This course is designed to appeal to students from a variety of cultural, national, and academic backgrounds. Students would normally have a good first degree (2.1 or higher) in the social sciences or humanities, but applicants with appropriate professional expertise will also be considered. Decisions about selection are normally made on the basis of applications and references are heavily relied upon, though some students may be interviewed. Funding opportunities There are a wide range of scholarships available to international students wishing to study postgraduate courses at Loughborough. For full details, see: university I have gained a comprehensive understanding of the subject, from this course which has helped me in my career as a Director at Wuxi Television Station. My colleagues as well as my boss are happy with my interesting and fresh ideas in program making. LI Jian, China

8 13 14 MA 1 year full time Media and Cultural Analysis MA Compulsory modules n Politics of Representation n Media and Modernity n Media and Cultural Industries n Textual Research Techniques n Production and Reception Analysis n Dissertation Optional Modules n Media and Cultural Work n Communication and Citizenship n Digital Futures n Sex Industries n Global Communications n Popular Music and Modern Times n Media, Nations, and Nationalisms n Capitalism and Culture n Political Marketing n Heritage Industries n Digital Cultures n Digital Economies The Course The course provides a critical introduction to key areas of media and cultural analysis. The core modules on the course address three major concerns: the role of the media in everyday social life and in the public domain; how the media construct and communicate meaning; and the ways in which the media are involved in and contribute to the distribution of power in social life. The course is specifically concerned about how these issues play out in an international context. Optional modules cover a range of topics from popular music to digital cultures. The modules include options which involve theoretical perspectives from a range of social science disciplines, as well as modules which involve doing hands-on media research projects. Assessment Each module is assessed by coursework assignments which explore the theoretical and applied perspectives introduced in lectures and seminars. The final assessment of the course is a dissertation of 12,000 words based on an original research project carried out by each student with one-to-one guidance from a supervisor. Careers and Further Study Questions about the ways in which the media communicate with audiences and the role of mediated communication in everyday life have become increasingly central and all businesses and public institutions now have a core concern with how to communicate with their public. MA Media and Cultural Analysis provides students with a broadly based understanding of how media communicate in these different settings as well as transferable skills such as project management, critical media analysis and team working. As a result our students go on to work in media, marketing and PR divisions of major public and private institutions. They also go on to work in mainstream media careers such as journalism and broadcasting. The comprehensive theoretical introduction to media, communications and culture that the programme provides makes it an ideal stepping stone into a research career. Many of our students have also gone on to do PhDs in media, communications and culture in the UK and abroad. Entry Requirements This course is designed to appeal to students from a variety of cultural, national, and academic backgrounds. Students would normally have a good first degree (2.1 or higher) in the social sciences or humanities, but applicants with appropriate professional expertise will also be considered. Decisions about selection are normally made on the basis of applications and references are heavily relied upon, though some students may be interviewed. Funding Opportunities There are a wide range of scholarships available to international students wishing to study postgraduate courses at Loughborough. For full details, see: university I was delighted to return to Loughborough as a postgraduate as I was so impressed with the quality of teaching, facilities, and activities available when I was an undergraduate. The standard and quality of teaching in the Social Sciences Department is exceptionally high: all of the lecturers are willing to help with any problems regarding course content, coursework and so on. The course itself has been really interesting and diverse; no two modules are the same, and they all provide you with rich material that gets you excited and motivated to learn more. What really stands out for me is that the course allows or so much freedom, and the ability to study and research in to areas that are specifically interesting to you. Daniela Rodriguez-Torralba, MA in Media and Cultural Analysis

9 Further information: MA degrees: /pg-taught/pg_taughtoverview Postgraduate prospectus: International students: Loughborough University Leicestershire LE11 3TU, United Kingdom T: +44(0) E: YouTube