PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION
PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION
Programme title:
MA in Political Sociology (Russia and Eastern Europe)
Final award (BSc, MA etc):
MA
(where stopping off points exist they should be detailed here and defined later in the document)
UCAS code: (where applicable)
n/a
Cohort(s) to which this programme
specification is applicable:
2015 onwards
(e.g. from 2015 intake onwards)
Awarding institution/body:
University College London
Teaching institution:
University College London
Faculty:
SHS
Parent Department:
School of Slavonic and East European Studies
(the department responsible for the administration of
the programme)
Departmental web page address:
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/ssees/
Method of study:
Full-time / Part-time
Criteria for admission to the program:
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/graduate/taught/degrees/political-sociology-russia-eastern-europe-ma
Length of the programme:
One year (full-time) or two years (part-time)
(please note any periods spent away from UCL, such
as study abroad or placements in industry)
Level on Framework for Higher Education Qualifications (FHEQ)
Master Level (Level 7)
Relevant subject benchmark statement
(SBS)
Not applicable
Brief outline of the structure of the programme and its assessment methods:
The MA Political Sociology (Russia and Eastern Europe) aims to provide students with a unique blend of in-depth area knowledge, analytical and research skills and broader theoretical understanding of social
and cultural issues relevant to both Russia and Eastern Europe and
the wider world.
The programme centres on sociology but is interdisciplinary in nature,
combining topics and methods drawn from other fields in the social
sciences and humanities to analyse the relationships among individuals, groups, institutions, governments and environments. Courses
draw on theoretical insights from sociology, anthropology, gender and
sexuality studies, the study of religion, cultural studies, urban studies
as well as nationalism studies. The programme values both historical
inquiry and engagement with the present, especially large-scale developments such as urbanisation, the movement of peoples, transnational
exchange, identity formations and ethnic and diasporic cultures.
Students take 180 credits in total. 120 credits are taken from taught
courses. The taught courses comprise 30 credits of courses in methods of social and cultural analysis chosen from a list of core electives
and 90 credits from a wider list of elective courses, focusing on the
societies and cultures of some or all regions of Eastern Europe and the
former Soviet Union, including Russia, Ukraine, Baltic States, Western
Balkans, Central and Eastern Europe, as well as courses dealing with
broad thematic issues related to these regions, such as ethnopolitical
conflict, gender/sexuality or religion. Students also have the opportunity to study a language of the region. In addition all students must
undertake a free-standing dissertation worth 60 credits and a Dissertation Preparation module (0 credits).
Graduates from the programme will be well placed to embark upon
careers in fields requiring advanced analytical skills, such as the media, the arts, NGOs, international organisations, diplomacy or the law
or to continue on to a research degree.
Board of Examiners:
Name of Board of Examiners:
SSEES MA Umbrella Board
Professional body accreditation
(if applicable):
Date of next scheduled accreditation visit:
EDUCATIONAL AIMS OF THE PROGRAMME:
a) to provide students with the opportunity to study to analyse the relationships among individuals, groups, institutions, governments and environments in a sociological perspective across a range of contexts drawing on insights from other disciplines;
b) to provide students with a sociologically based interdisciplinary understanding of domestic socio-political and
cultural issues and processes in Russia and Eastern Europe in the context of the legacies of the communist
past and the ongoing integration into wider European and global frameworks;
c) to enable students to enhance their mastery of skills essential for social and cultural research and to enable
students to carry on to doctoral research;
d) to give students the opportunity for training in and application of these skills;
e) to develop allied skills of self-expression and communication;
f) to enable students to follow careers that draw on the skills and expertise gained through the MA.
PROGRAMME OUTCOMES:
The programme provides opportunities for students to develop and demonstrate knowledge and understanding,
qualities, skills and other attributes in the following areas:
A: Knowledge and understanding
Knowledge and understanding of:
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
a). How to appraise political and cultural
events and processes critically, synthesise data from printed and digital sources,
solve problems of conflicting inputs and
interpretations, deep-level text analysis,
use research resources (particularly research library catalogues, on-line bibliographic data bases and institutional internet pages).
a) and b): Through seminars and classes. Students are
required to attend all classes, study extensively on their
own, prepare presentations for class discussion and
complete assessed and non-assessed course-work as
directed, with detailed feedback from the course tutors.
Use of sources and access to information will also be
developed through the Dissertation Preparation Programme.
b). Subject specific skills, for instance,
use of key concepts and methodologies
of the social sciences.
c). Aspects of politics and culture, religion
and ideology, history, international relations in the area and periods studied.
c): Through the optional courses.
d). Optionally, a foreign language from
the area covered by the course.
d): Through specialist language classes.
e). In-depth knowledge and understanding of the topic chosen for the dissertation.
e): The dissertation is an independent piece of research
undertaken with guidance from a supervisor in outlining
the topic and planning the work.
Assessment:
Students are assessed by a variety of methods, including ‘unseen’ examinations, long essays, course work
and a dissertation.
B: Skills and other attributes
Intellectual (thinking) skills:
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
The programme aims to help students
Acquisition of a) and b) is fostered in all courses offered
in the programme: all courses introduce information that
requires critical evaluation and present students with
conflicting assessments arising from the same evidence
or material. Students are encouraged to offer constructive critiques and discussion of each other’s findings.
a) to be rigorous and cautious in their assessment of evidence, and to understand through
practice and experience the nature and limits
of historical evidence.
b) to question interpretations, however
authoritative, to reassess evidence for
themselves and to be aware of their own
values and assumptions.
Assessment:
Assessment is carried out through ‘unseen’ examinations, course work, long essays and a dissertation.
C: Skills and other attributes
Practical skills (able to):
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
This programme aims to help students
with the following practical skills:
a) effective communication in writing and
improvement of their mastery of written
English;
b) as an option, acquisition or development of knowledge of a foreign language;
c) use of databases, digital resources,
word-processing programmes and audiovisual materials;
d) presentation of non-assessed seminar
papers;
e) comprehension and discussion of the
ideas introduced in seminars;
f) practice of research techniques in varying contexts;
g) development of time-management and
work-organisation skills;
h) independent choice of long essay and
dissertation topics;
i) flexibility in structuring written work in
the light of new information discovered
while preparing it.
a) through the writing of long essays and dissertations
b) through intensive language teaching by specialist staff
c) through instruction and consultation with tutors and library staff
d) through regular seminar presentations
e) through seminar discussion
f) through work in libraries and collections
g) through the setting of clear deadlines for the completion of tasks and the submission of written work
h) & i) through advice to and discussion with students
These skills are fostered in the work of all the constituent
courses.
Assessment:
(a)-(c), (f)-(i) by ‘unseen’ examination, course work, long
essays and dissertation. (d) & (e) are not formally assessed in the programme.
D: Skills and other attributes
Transferable skills (able to):
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
The programme will help students to:
a) long essays, course work, dissertation
b) classes with specialist teachers
a) write good essays and dissertations;
b) optionally, learn a new foreign language or improve existing skills;
c) use computer resources and information technology
d) present material orally;
e) listen and contribute in discussion;
f) be open to ideas, attitudes & values different from their own and use these to reflect on their own values and assumptions;
g) study and process a wide variety of
written and digital materials;
h) make original contributions to scholarship by following through their ideas;
i) assess evidence for themselves and
challenge previous interpretations;
j) learn to engage positively with other individuals in group situations, to be aware
of group dynamics and the skills (tact,
flexibility, supportiveness) required for
collaborative and collective work.
c) submitting word-processed written work; using data
bases, web sites, on-line resources
d) seminar presentations and papers
e) seminars and paper presentations
f) reading about and discussing the past
g) library work, essays, seminar presentations, dissertation
h) essays, dissertation, seminar papers and discussion
i) essays, dissertation, seminar discussion
j) seminar work
Assessment:
(a)-(c), (f)-(i) by ‘unseen’ examination, long essays, dissertation. (d), (e) and (j) are not formally assessed on
this programme.
The following reference points were used in designing the programme:
 the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications
(http://www.qaa.ac.uk/en/Publications/Documents/Framework-Higher-Education-Qualifications-08.pdf);
 the relevant Subject Benchmark Statements
(http://www.qaa.ac.uk/assuring-standards-and-quality/the-quality-code/subject-benchmark-statements);
 the programme specifications for UCL degree programmes in relevant subjects (where applicable);
 UCL teaching and learning policies;
 staff research.
Please note: This specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the programme and the learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be expected to achieve and demonstrate if he/she takes full
advantage of the learning opportunities that are provided. More detailed information on the learning outcomes, content and teaching, learning and assessment methods of each course unit/module can be found in the departmental
course handbook. The accuracy of the information contained in this document is reviewed annually by UCL and
may be checked by the Quality Assurance Agency.
Programme Organiser(s) Name(s):
Dr Seán Hanley
Date of Production:
May 2014
Date of Review:
September 2016
Date approved by Head of Department:
Jan Kubik, 23 September 2015
Date approved by Chair of Departmental
Teaching Committee:
Anne White, 14 September 2015
Date approved by Faculty Teaching Committee
October 2015