Programme Specification: MSc Media and Communications
MSc Media and Communications (Research)
1. Awarding Body
2. Details of accreditation by a
professional/statutory body, e.g. ESRC;
BPS etc
3. Name of final award
4. Programme Title
5. Duration of the course
6. Based in the Department/Institute:
7. Relevant QAA subject benchmark
statements
8. UCAS Code
9. First written/last amended
LSE
N/A
MSc
MSc Media and Communications
MSc Media and Communications (Research)
12 months
Media and Communications
N/A
P4U1 (P4U6 Research)
November 2010
10. The programme aims to:
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Provide postgraduate level training and research involving: A broad based
understanding of the development and forms of media systems in relation to political
economy, regulation and power, production and organisation, processes of mediation
and influence, communication content and audience response;
An up to date engagement with diverse theoretical, conceptual and empirical
developments in research on media and communications;
A mix of core and optional courses, culminating in an independent research project in
media and communications, that provides an ideal preparation for research or
employment in media and communications and related fields;
The flexibility to tailor the programme to pursue particular topics of interest by
selecting from a wide range of courses taught by leading experts in the Department of
Media and Communications and other departments at LSE.
11. Programme outcomes: knowledge and understanding; skills and other attributes
Broad knowledge of the following:
 A broad based understanding of the development and forms of media systems in
relation to political economy, regulation and power, production and organisation,
processes of mediation and influence, communication content and audience
response;
 An up to date engagement with diverse theoretical, conceptual and empirical
developments in research on media and communications;
 A mix of core and optional courses, culminating in an independent research project in
media and communications, that provides an ideal preparation for research or
employment in media and communications and related fields;
 The flexibility to tailor the programme to pursue particular topics of interest by
selecting from a wide range of courses taught by leading experts in the Department of
Media and Communications and other departments at LSE.
Ability to conduct research to a postgraduate level involving appropriate social scientific
methodologies, either quantitative or qualitative, and combine theory and research.
12. Teaching, learning and assessment strategies to enable outcomes to be achieved
and demonstrated
Teaching and learning strategies:
 To enable students to develop an understanding of a range of theoretical and
methodological approaches to the study of media and communications;
 To provide students with access to knowledge of conceptual developments and
debates in the related fields of research;
 To provide students with a foundation of relevant skills (qualitative, quantitative
empirical and theoretical);
 To allow flexibility for students to pursue in class and independent research on
particular topics of interest in their field of studies;
 To combine diverse teaching and learning methods that include lectures, seminars
and workshops in order to maximize analytical thinking, as well as to advance
transferable skills;
 Formal teaching takes place in Michaelmas and Lent Term. Examinations for all
courses are generally held during May and June. Dissertations are completed during
the summer months.
Assessment strategies:
Students are assessed by essays, written examinations and the dissertation which must be
submitted at the end of the academic year. Students are expected to submit formative essays
in both Michaelmas and Lent Term for which they receive detailed feedback.
13. Programme structures and requirements, levels, modules and awards
See the MSc Media and Communications and MSc Media and Communications (Research)
programme regulations.
Additional information
14. Criteria for admission to the programme
Students will need to have at least an upper second class honours degree or its equivalent in
social sciences. Applications are particularly welcome from those with professional
experience in the media or communications field.
15. Indicators of quality
High and strict entrance requirements (see 14)
Research quality: The department demonstrated its excellent research quality in the 2008
RAE, being rated third in the country on grade point average.
Members of the Department are authors of key texts in their areas of expertise and enjoy
international reputation.
External Examiners’ reports for programmes reaffirm the excellent quality of teaching in the
department.
The Department is one of the pioneering programmes to use online teaching and learning
resources.
16. Methods for evaluating and improving the quality and standard of teaching and
learning
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School survey of teaching quality;
Department survey of graduates;
Teaching Committee meetings at least once a term;
Annual departmental programme review reports;
Annual departmental course review reports;
Peer to peer teaching reviews;
All members of staff are assigned a mentor;
Staff Student Liaison Committee termly meetings;
Review and promotion process includes an assessment of teaching;
Academic advisers monitor student progress;
External Examiners’ Reports.
School quality assurance processes include:
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regular staff appraisal and review;
improvements in teaching technique are affected by the Teaching and Learning
Centre (TLC) through observations, advice and further training;
induction programme and mentoring scheme for new members of staff;
Staff/student liaison committee;
centrally administered student satisfaction questionnaires by the Teaching Quality
Assurance and Review Office;
an improved system for ensuring that External Examiner’s
comments/recommendations are fed through to Departments and acted upon;
the School’s Teaching, Learning and Assessment Committee (TLAC) which regulates
all aspects of teaching quality;
annual monitoring of courses and periodic reviews every 3-5 years. The outcomes of
the annual reviews are presented to TLAC;
the School’s Undergraduate Studies Sub Committee and Graduate Studies Sub
Committee which oversee all taught programmes and ensure that significant changes
to programmes and courses pass through a sequence of formal stages to ensure that
curricular changes are appropriate and compatible with other developments.