Programme Specification: MSc Culture and Society
1. Awarding Body
2. Details of accreditation by a professional/statutory body, e.g. ESRC;
BPS etc
LSE
None
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
MSc
Culture and Society
Full-time 12 months; part-time 24 months
Departments of Sociology
N/A
8. Application Code
9. First written/last amended
10. The programme aims to:
L3UC
November 2010
 provide a high quality postgraduate education which introduces students to major social scientific approaches to cultural theory and cultural research;
 provide a research training for students wishing to go on to MPhil/PhD research, and to encourage the development of independent research skills;
 prepare students for doctoral or professional research in the sociology of culture and for entry into a variety of culture-related careers.
11. Programme outcomes: knowledge and understanding; skills and other attributes
 to enable students to develop an understanding of a range of theoretical and methodological approaches to the study of culture;
 to provide students with access to knowledge of conceptual developments and debates in research on culture;
 to provide students with a foundation in research relevant skills in the field of culture
(with particular emphasis on qualitative empirical and theoretical skills);
 to enable students to acquire the skills to think analytically and to facilitate their critical awareness of the academic and professional literature relevant to their studies of culture;
 to allow students the flexibility to pursue particular topics of interest to them in a variety of areas related to the social scientific study of culture;
 to provide transferable skills in critical evaluation, marshalling of varied evidence, organisation of complex materials and effective written and oral communication;
 generally to provide a stimulating and supportive learning environment for students on an individual basis, in groups and in collaboration with supervisors.
For further information relating to careers .
12. Teaching, learning and assessment strategies to enable outcomes to be achieved and demonstrated
Cultural Theory and Cultural Forms (the degree’s full unit core course which is run over both
MT and LT) involves a one hour weekly lecture with associated seminars. In addition, students must take in MT one further half-unit core course, choosing between a media-based theory course (Theories and Concepts in Media and Communications) or a social-theory based course (Sociological Theory Part I). The half-unit methods course is taught in LT and involves

a mixture of lectures and workshop-based practical classes focussed specifically on methodological issues in cultural research. Optional courses (to a total of one full unit) typically involve a combination of lectures and seminars. Students will be assessed by written examinations, essays related to the substantive courses and the dissertation, which must be submitted by early September.
13. Programme structures and requirements, levels, modules and awards
See MSc Culture and Society programme regulations
Additional information
14. Criteria for admission to the programme
Students should have at least an upper second class honours degree or its equivalent usually in a social science subject, although applicants from relevant humanities subjects may also be considered. Applications are particularly welcome from those with professional experience in the cultural industries.
15. Indicators of quality
Entrance requirements (see 14)
Members of department serve on relevant editorial boards of refereed journals
Research quality: taught by members of Media and Sociology, which as part of the Sociology submission achieved a UoA - 5 in 2001 RAE
Members of the department are authors of key texts in the programme subject area
Members of the department are recipients of research grants in the programme subject area
(and research results inform the courses offered)
The LSE Careers Centre website provides data on career destinations of LSE graduates.
16. Methods for evaluating and improving the quality and standard of teaching and learning
Departmental mechanisms:


Staff-student termly meetings
Review and promotion process includes an assessment of teaching

Tutor monitoring of student progress

Department of Sociology Teaching and Learning Committee

Complaints/consultation procedure
 External examiner’s reports
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Staff mentoring includes teaching
School mechanisms:

The Teaching and Learning Centre is available to monitor and observe teaching and offers constructive advice on how to improve the standard of teaching and quality.

Departmental TLAC review once every five years.
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The Teaching Learning and Assessment Committee which regulates all aspects of teaching quality;
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The Graduate Studies Sub-Committee which oversees all graduate programmes and ensures that significant changes to programmes and courses pass through a

sequence of formal stages, so that curricular changes are appropriate and compatible with other developments.