Global Studies and Media

Core modules

Foundations in Global Studies

This module introduces principle themes and concepts in Global Studies and the various disciplinary perspectives useful for examining global processes, relationships and experiences. While the focus of the module is on 'the global' particular emphasis is placed on the significance of local histories and geographies shaping the contexts through which different understandings and experiences of the global are produced.

Issues in Intercultural Communication

The study of Intercultural Communication is an integral part of Global Studies. The module addresses issues directly associated with the process of communication in intercultural, inter-group, and interpersonal contexts. The general theme of the module is to engage you in a discussion of the inter-relationship between culture, communication and intercultural communication, from an interdisciplinary perspective.

Understanding Media

This module explores representation and identity; media production and regulation; the way media forms are consumed; and what it's like to work in the media. Throughout this module, you'll investigate the place of media within culture and society more generally and be introduced to principle theories, concepts and approaches.

Screen and Sound Media: Culture and Practice

This module introduces you to a range of key academic texts that examine and theorise screen media (film, television, the computer etc.) and sound media (popular music etc.). You'll also produce a group project based on media culture or media practice.

Core modules

Researching Global Experience

In this module, you’ll learn a range of practical skills for carrying out research in a global context. The primary goal is to prepare you for your In-Country Study but the module also provides the skills needed for completing a dissertation in Global Studies.

Media, Theory and Society

Develop your knowledge of theoretical approaches to understanding the media and culture. This module will help you to understand some of the key theoretical approaches that are used in the study of media, communication and culture. You'll develop a familiarity of important theoretical approaches used in contemporary media and for the use of cultural analysis.

Humanities in the workplace

This module will give you a taste of live industry experience. You will complete a placement for a minimum of 37 hours, write a report around your experience and follow clear work-based learning objectives.

Global Studies optional modules

In-Country Study

In Country Study (ICS) is an innovative module that encourages you to engage with issues of social and cultural change in your study site, either abroad or in the UK. You’ll learn to reflect critically on the ways in which these issues are both local and global, gain experience in conducting socio-cultural research in a locality, and communicate clearly the results of your research.

Gender and Nation

This module analyses the nexus of gender and nation as it plays a role in an increasingly globalised world. Despite, or maybe because of, globalisation, nationalism is increasing in many parts of the world, and the role of gender in the construction of these nationalisms will be under investigation here

Intercultural Communication in an International Context

In today’s complex world, we have to deal with the phenomenon of globalization. It prompts us to cross borders more frequently and communicate with people from diverse cultures and social groups, either in person or electronically. Managing cultural differences skilfully is thus a human and workplace imperative. This module focuses on understanding and researching culture and communication in a variety of social, business and professional contexts, it adopts a multidisciplinary and multinational perspective, with a special focus on western and non-western perspectives on human communication and interaction.

Changing Europe: People, Places & Politics

This module explores the persistence of place in contemporary Europe. You’ll learn key concepts and processes relevant to European society and politics, and be able to understand and analyse key debates such as the effects of globalization, left and right populism, responses to economic crisis and multiculturalism.

Media optional modules

The City and Popular Culture

This module will investigate the effect that urbanisation has on popular culture by exploring a selection of case studies such as: urban exploitation, street-corner society, suburban life and the night-time economy. You'll focus on using your analysis skills and develop research skills either individually or by working within a small group.

Analysing Popular Music

Analysing Popular Music has two major concerns: firstly, to develop a social understanding of transatlantic popular music, and secondly, to develop a cultural-historical perspective on its development over the past hundred years and more. This module introduces you to theoretical approaches to the study of popular music, allowing you to engage in independent critical analysis of popular music and popular musical cultures.

Creative Documentary

This module will encourage you to examine the key critical issues of documentary production such as authenticity and ethics. To prepare you for your dissertation in Year Three, you'll create a 5-10 minute documentary as a group (or individually) and be encouraged to creatively and critically engage with the given styles and genres of documentary.

Researching Media, Communication and Culture

This module introduces the key empirical methods and analytical approaches of Media and Cultural Studies. It enables you to produce original research, and to gain greater understanding of the methods you might use in your Media dissertation. It outlines a range of methods, and shows how these can be applied to particular media and cultural case studies.

Intermediate Media Practice and Production

During this module you'll undertake an in-depth media production project for and with a local external not-for profit, charitable or voluntary organisation. This module will focus on developing your skills in media production and you'll reflect on issues surrounding citizenship and media access.

Core module

Dissertation

The final year dissertation module enables you to undertake a sustained, single piece of independently researched work on a topic of your choice, under expert supervision.

Global Studies optional modules

Global Citizenship

This module explores contemporary debates on citizenship as a central element in arguments about identity, globalisation, social justice, participation and inclusion/exclusion. You’ll engage critically with theories of citizenship and their intersections with gender, ethnicity and multiculturalism.

Development in the 21st Century

This module engages with debates about the causes and consequences of global inequality. We compare different explanations for persistent patterns of poverty, marginalisation and exclusion and evaluate what policy solutions different perspectives offer for resolving what continues to be a pressing global concern.

Small Islands, Big Issues: Small Island Developing States in a Globalising World

This module aims to address aspects of globalisation in relation to a group of communities that are geographically dispersed yet share many characteristics and are commonly impacted upon by evolving global structures and processes.

Conflict and Contemporary Violence

Since the events of September 11th 2001, the way we study and respond to conflict and violence has changed significantly. The aim of this module is to understand violence as part of a set of problems relating to globalisation. You will explore discourses of violence via global media sources, such as film, news reporting, television and magazines. You will understand how these are interpreted in local contexts and their impacts on cycles of violence and/or conflict resolution at both a local and global level.

Gender Politics in Europe

This module focuses on comparative studies of European states and an analysis of gender in the EU. Explore women as actors in mainstream politics, social movements and activism and examine contemporary European political and social issues and their relation to gender, such as reproductive rights, domestic violence and trafficking.

Global Environmental Challenges

How do ecological issues effect global poverty and inequality? How does access to water  and other resources connect with dynamics of violence? What solutions are there for managing climate change? This module examines forms of global environmental change. With a focus on global challenges, you will explore the links between environmental issues and society to engage with the key environmental questions today's world governments are wrestling with.

Media optional modules

Lifestyle and Consumer Culture

Explore key approaches to understanding lifestyle and the culture of consumption. You'll be introduced to many important theoretical approaches to understand lifestyle and consumer culture and you'll use many case studies such as travel and tourism to evaluate these.

Cultural Policy

Explore a range of debates within the developing field of policy study which relate to the development of media. You'll examine some of the key institutions within which policies relating to film, television, the visual arts, heritage and other creative industries are determined. You'll explore questions such as: what is cultural value and how important are the cultural and creative industries?

The Body and Popular Culture

How is the body represented in popular culture? Examine key ideas such as how we might understand the various meanings surrounding the body across a range of media and cultural forms. By studying a selection of case studies, you'll explore the way that the body is addressed and located within popular culture, for example, from music to sport.

Client-Led Media Practice and Production

During this module you'll be able to focus on the development of skills in media production by completing a media project that will be set to a 'real brief'. This is an opportunity for you to enhance your employability options by participating in live projects with a real purpose. This module will encourage you to make connections between theory and practice.