Semester one

Core modules

THEORIES OF COMMUNICATION
The module is intentionally eclectic.You will cover (in a loosely historical way) the arguments, advantages and problems of the main sociological, cultural and psychological theories about the media. It aims to provide a comprehensive introduction to the most important ways of approaching the fundamental issues posed by the relationships between the media of communication and social and economic life. It will also enable you to understand the problems posed by different intellectual traditions, and to place those theories in their proper contexts.

THEORIES OF DEVELOPMENT
This module focuses on different theories and approaches to development. It considers key development theories and approaches such as modernization, dependency and Neo- Liberalism and will provide you with an opportunity to critically assess their relevance to specific contexts in developing countries.

DISSERTATION
A taught module and group workshops in the first semester will guide you in conducting a major piece of independent research. This module will be supplemented by individual supervisions beginning from the second semester. The aim is to give you a guided framework within which you can demonstrate your ability to carry out advanced independent study and write it up in the form of a dissertation. The dissertation is a 15,000-word piece of original research on a topic agreed with your supervisor and related to the political, economic, cultural and/or sociological factors which shape the practices and outcomes of mass media, including media texts and the audience reception of them.