MRes/MPhil/PhD Media and Cultural Studies

Certificate Level

Critical Approaches to Media & Cultural Studies
This unit will offer an overview of key theories and debates which characterise the development of the field of media and cultural studies in order to encourage a critical understanding of the perspectives brought to the media from different intellectual positions.

Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to demonstrate an understanding of epistemological and ontological questions and debates that underpin research in media and cultural studies and demonstrate an understanding of the range of theories within the social sciences and humanities that have shaped, and continue to shape, research into questions of media and cultural analysis.

Teaching and Learning
12 x 1 hour lectures, 12 x 2 hour seminars, plus independent study.

The Research Environment and Research Management I
Issues relating to recognition and validation of research problems will be identified and explored along with the variety of contexts of research. Seminars will cover information technology for database management, recording and presenting information, constructing bibliographies and writing skills for different purposes.

Learning outcomes
By the end of the course students will be able to demonstrate the ability to recognise and validate research problems and to show a broad understanding of the contexts in which research takes place. They will be able to use information technology for database management, recording and presenting information and identify appropriate bibliographical resources. They will also be able to write clearly and in a style appropriate to purpose using the appropriate conventions.

Teaching and Learning
6 x 1 hour lectures and 12 x 1 hour seminars plus independent study.

Assessment
Individual portfolio of between 3,000 and 4,000 words.

Communicating Research
This unit will provide students with an understanding of the skills required for communicating research, in particular as they relate to writing and dissemination of research.

Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to construct coherent arguments and articulate ideas clearly to a range of audiences and constructively defend research outcomes at seminars. They will also be able to write clearly and in a style appropriate to purpose.

Teaching and Learning
Seminar/workshops/conference totalling 24 hours and independent study totalling 96 hrs.

Assessment
Presentation 40% and Critical Review of a research book or article for an identified readership 60%.

Diploma Level

Research Practice for Media & Cultural Studies
Students will be exposed to the range of methods used in key studies in the fields of media and cultural studies, including qualitative and quantitative, historical, ethnographic and textual analysis. They will critically assess the strengths and weaknesses of particular methods and their relationship to research questions and theoretical frameworks.

Learning Outcomes
Students will demonstrate competency in the rigorous formulation of research questions and through the selection of appropriate methods their translation into practical research designs. They will demonstrate knowledge of the range, value and utility of sources of data for research in media and cultural studies and techniques of data analysis.

Teaching and Learning
12 x 1 hr lectures, 12 x 2 hr seminars and independent study.

Assessment
Group Research Project

The Research Environment and Research Management II
Students will consider issues in relation to the ethics of research, project management, including the setting of research goals and prioritisation of activities. Students will also be encouraged to identify their training needs for professional development.

Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course students will demonstrate awareness of issues relating to the rights of other researchers of research subjects and of others who may be affected by the research. They will be able to apply effective project management through setting of research goals and their achievements and demonstrate self-awareness and the ability to identify their training needs.

Teaching and Learning
6 x 12 hr lectures, 12 x 1 hour seminars and independent study.

Advanced Study in Media & Cultural Studies
This unit will consist of a reading programme in the chosen area of research complemented by regular postgraduate workshops aimed at developing research ideas and topics, discussing research practice and process and presenting work in progress. In addition, students will attend the weekly Faculty Research Seminar.

Learning Outcomes
At the end of the unit students will be able to show original, independent and critical thinking and the ability to develop theoretical concepts through a critical review of relevant literature and to be able to produce a dissertation outline or a proposal for Mphil/PhD registration.

Assessment
Dissertation outline or proposal for Mphil/Phd registration.

Masters level

Dissertation
This unit aims to provide students with the opportunity to plan and complete an individual piece of scholarly research in an aspect of Media and Cultural Studies.

Learning Outcomes
Demonstrate original and critical thinking by the production of a dissertation which applies theory and methodological enquiry to a selected topic with the fields of Media and Cultural Studies.

Teaching and Learning
This unit will be taught through individual tutorials and private study. Each student will be allocated a personal tutor who will act as facilitator and mentor of individual learning.

Assessment
A scholarly dissertation of 15,00 – 20,000 words in length.

Professor Ann Gray
agray@lincoln.ac.uk

For further information about fees, scholarships and bursaries please see our Fees & Funding pages.

Fees and Funding