PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION: MSc Media and Communications (Data and Society)
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. Application Code
9. First written/last amended
LSE
N/A
MSc
Media and Communications (Data and
Society)
12 months
Media and Communications
N/A
P3U4
October 2014
10. The programme aims to:
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;
A broad-based understanding of data, information and knowledge as
aspects of contemporary society, including theoretical and analytic
perspectives;
An up to date engagement with diverse theoretical, conceptual and empirical
developments in research on media and communications, including in
relation to the implications of data, both historically and in the present, for
social, political and economic organization;
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 data 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, ,
with a focus on data, communications and society.
11. Programme outcomes: knowledge and understanding; skills and other attributes
After studying on the programme, students are expected to have:
 Acquired a broad based understanding of the development and forms of media
systems from multiple perspectives;
 Acquired a broad understanding of data, information and knowledge within the
context of an understanding of contemporary society, including familiarity with
historical, theoretical, and analytic approaches to data and information;
 Acquired a knowledge of a range of theoretical, conceptual and empirical
developments in research on media and communications, and in particular recent
research on the embedding of data and information processes in society;
 Completed 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 data related fields;
Within the context of broader social science research skills, to have acquired
methodological skills intended for understanding how data are analysed using
different methods.Acquired the 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 most
courses are held during May and June, but some may be held in January.
Dissertations are completed during the summer months.
Assessment strategies:
Students are assessed by essays, other written or practical assignments, 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 (Data and Society) 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, communications, data or information technology 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











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;
Student Staff Liaison Committee termly meetings;
Review and promotion process includes an assessment of teaching;
Academic advisers monitor student progress;
External Examiners’ Reports.
School level quality assurance processes include:
1. a system of initial programme approval, with input from the providers of resourcebased services (including the Library, IT Services and the Academic Planning and
Resources Committee) and including an external assessor's report, to be conducted
by the School's central academic bodies;
2. a system of initial course approval, with input from the providers of resource-based
services and conducted by the School's central academic bodies;
3. a system of approval of major modifications to programmes and courses, conducted
by the School's central academic bodies;
4. a system of central review of departmental taught provision every five years or so,
informed by available evidence, including student views, the main purposes being to
promote development, identify and disseminate good practice, and to flag any
concerns over standards to departments, without adjudicating on them;
5. a system of gaining student feedback on their teaching and learning experience in the
School;
6. periodic review by the School's academic bodies of its internal Codes of Practice;
7. due and appropriate consideration of national quality assurance requirements through
the School's committee structure; and
8. departments have the following arrangements in place for assuring their quality and
standards:
8.1. Staff-Student Liaison Committees for all students that meet regularly, with
minutes of meetings produced and circulated to staff and students;
8.2. Departmental Staff meetings that involve all staff, meet at least three times per
academic year, and consider information from any other extant departmental
committees. Minutes should be produced and circulated to staff;
8.3. A Teaching Committee that involves appropriate departmental staff, meets
regularly each academic session and considers all aspects of departmental learning
and teaching, including new programme and course proposals. Minutes should be
produced and circulated to members;
8.4. A system for ensuring the effective participation in the School's annual
programme monitoring exercise;
8.5. A system for considering course and programme results annually, and revising
taught provision as appropriate;
8.6. A system for considering student survey course results annually, and revising
taught provision as appropriate;
8.7. A system for considering external examiners' reports, and acting on them, on an
annual basis, with the School having an associated responsibility (a) to ensure that
the system functions and (b) for any School-wide lessons on both good practice and
areas of concern from the reports collectively.