5 September 2011

Dear Postgraduate

MLitt/Diploma/Certificate in Media and Culture

Welcome to our Masters programme in Media and Culture. To help you prepare, I have attached details of the structure and content of the programme and some further information which I hope you will find useful. I am very happy with the range of optional modules that we are able to offer you this semester within this interdisciplinary academic programme. Please consider these study modules carefully and decide which two optional classes you feel would be best for you this autumn.

There will be some induction events for new students in the week beginning Monday 12 September 2011. Each student will have an initial individual advisory meeting with me, to confirm your module selections. These meetings will be on Monday 12 September 2011, in room G11, Pathfoot Building (we will confirm the time of your own individual meeting soon). There will also be an informal meeting for all new postgraduates in our Division on Tuesday 13 September at 1pm, where you can meet your lecturers and other students from Media and Culture and our other programmes. There is also a very useful introduction to our university library and IT services at 2pm that day.

If you have any further enquiries or would like to arrange to pay a visit to the Division ahead of registration week, please contact Mrs Kalene Craig (kalene.craig@stir.ac.uk).

MONDAY 12 SEPTEMBER 2011

Advisory Session Pathfoot building, Room G11

TUESDAY 13 SEPTEMBER 2011 LOCATION

1300 – 1400 Welcome Meeting Pathfoot building, Room G18

1400 – 1500 Essential Guide to Library and IT Services, Cottrell building, Logie Theatre

I look forward to meeting you soon.

Yours Sincerely

Dr Graham Meikle

Programme Director

GRADUATE STUDIES OFFICE

DR RICHARD HAYNESDirector of Graduate Studies OfficeUniversity of StirlingStirling FK9 4LR Scotland UK

T: +44 (0) 1786 467971 F: +44 (0)1786 466855

r.b.haynes@stir.ac.uk

MLitt in Media and Culture

Programme Director: Dr Graham Meikleemail: graham.meikle@stir.ac.uk

Philosophy and ObjectivesThe MLitt in Media and Culture is for people who want to better understand the twenty-first century media environment. The contemporary media are being shaped by emerging transformations and by contested continuities. Established media industries struggle to deal with the shock of the new — a proliferation of competing platforms, a reconfiguration of audiences, and a digital context in which media products can be shared, copied and remixed by millions. At the same time, assumptions and precedents from the twentieth century persist in the shaping of policy and regulation, in debates about censorship and subsidy, in struggles over intellectual property, copyright and access.

This degree explores such aspects of contemporary media culture, offering courses which explore areas such as digital cultures, creative industries, cultural theory, media economics, screen studies, and media rights and intellectual property. Students will take a flexible and comprehensive programme of courses that will develop their understanding of contemporary media to an advanced level.

This degree will be of particular interest to those who plan to work in the creative industries, as well as those already working in this field. It will benefit those seeking a competitive edge in a careers market that values high-level skills in communication, research and critical thinking. It will also provide an excellent preparation for those wishing to continue their studies to PhD level.

Programme Structure The teaching year at Stirling is divided into two semesters, which run from mid-September to December, and from mid-February to the end of May. Each semester, you will take four modules; all candidates for the MLitt also complete a dissertation of approximately 12,000 words.

Core Autumn modules:The Practice of Cultural TheoryTraining for Masters in the Arts and Humanities

Core Spring modules:Digital Cultures

Summer:Dissertation: This develops and implements an original research proposal on a topic of your choice, to be negotiated in consultation with a supervisor.

In the Autumn semester, you may choose from among the following options. Note that not all of these may be offered in any given year.

Two options from:Media EconomicsThe Media EnvironmentInterpreting NewsPostcolonial CinemaScriptwritingMedia RelationsOrFilm Studies: Form & Analysis

In the Spring semester, you may choose from the following options. Note that not all of these may be offered in any given year.

Three options from:Media RightsCreative Industries: Contemporary Issues

Archives in the Digital AgeTransnational CinemaScreen GenresMedia Policy and RegulationOrFilm Studies: History, Theory, CriticismAnd one option

Dissertation

A detailed dissertation proposal must be submitted by the end of the Autumn semester and students will be expected to stay within the areas of current staff interest and expertise. Supervisors will be allocated at the beginning of the Spring semester and each student will be required to make substantial progress on preparatory chapters of their thesis during the Spring semester.

Each dissertation will be 12,000 words in length and might take the form of a written publishable academic article or a project report, depending on its focus. Dissertations must be submitted by 21 August 2012 or the nearest working day in advance of this date.

Appendix 3:1 Common Grading Scheme

The University grading schemes for Undergraduate and Taught Postgraduate programmes are detailed in the attached tables.

CGS CNS Description (level 11) 1A** 20  

Distinction level 1A* 191A 181B 171C 162A 15  

Very Good 2B 142C 132D 12  

Good2E 112F 103A 9  

Pass3B 83C 74A 6  

Marginal Fail 4B 54C 45A 3  

Clear Fail 5B 25C 1X 0 No Grade

ASSESSMENT SCHEMEThe formal regulations regarding assessment are contained in the University Calendar. Assessment is by means of coursework as specified for each module (the optional modules Media Rights and The Media Environment include exams). Examples of assessment tasks include essays, literature reviews, research reports, seminar presentations, and participation in online projects such as class blogs. All candidates for the MLitt will complete a 12,000 word dissertation on a topic chosen in consultation with a supervisor.

For each module of study, the marks achieved by the student in any/all coursework component(s) and in any final examination element will be assessed on their respective weightings and converted into an overall mark per module. The pass mark will be 50% for each module of study and 50% for the final dissertation. Students will be assigned grades against percentages as, (see page 23 for full details of grading scheme): 1a,1b,1c Distinction Level2a,2b,2c Very good2d,2e,2fGood3a,3b,3c Satisfactory4a,4b,4c Marginal fail (Possible QP Grade)5a,5b,5c Clear failX No grade

Plagiarism in Coursework and Dissertation

The University has a formal policy on plagiarism which can be found at http://www.quality.stir.ac.uk/ac-policy/assessment.php

The University's ' Little Book of Plagiarism ' offers advice on what plagiarism is and how to avoid it. It can be accessed at http://www.quality.stir.ac.uk/ac-policy/assessment.php Note that the Department of Film, Media & Journalism requires that all students use an author, date system of referencing such as Harvard or APA.

Eligibility to proceed to the Spring semester

A candidate who, on the basis of his/her assessed performance in the Autumn semester and in accordance with the regulations set out below, is unable to qualify for the award of either the MLitt or the Diploma, will not be allowed to proceed to the Spring semester.

Illness

Examinations or coursework may be deferred due to student illness or other exceptional circumstances, subject to the approval of the Programme Director. Unless there are medical grounds, coursework assignments will not normally be accepted after prescribed submission deadlines, nor will students be permitted to resit examinations.

Eligibility to proceed to the Dissertation

Assessment Details of the assessment for each module are given in the section below. A grade is given for each module according to the University’s Common Grading Scheme for Postgraduate Programmes, which is set out in the General Regulations section of the Taught Postgraduate Calendar.

Progression arrangements At the end of the Autumn semester, students must have grade 3C or better in all modules to progress as a candidate for the Diploma or M Litt.

At the end of the Spring semester, in order to progress to the M Litt dissertation, students must have grade 3C or better in all modules.

A student who fails any of the modules in one semester may be required by the Admissions, Progress and Academic Rewards Committee to withdraw from the programme.

For the award of the Certificate a student must complete 60 SCQF credits and comply with existing programme regulations. Students are not normally admitted to the Certificate in the first instance.

For the award of the Diploma a student must successfully complete 120 SCQF credits (passing all taught modules) and comply with the existing programme regulations.

For the award of the M Litt a student must successfully complete the Diploma programme and achieve a passing grade in the dissertation (180 SCQF credits in total).

Dissertation M Litt students write a dissertation between 12,000 and 15,000 words (excluding appendices) on a topic approved by the Programme Director. The Examiners may allow a dissertation which is considered unsatisfactory to be revised and submitted for re-assessment within a specified time period.

Distinction At the discretion of the Examination Board, exceptional candidates may be awarded the M Litt or Diploma with Distinction. The normal criteria are set out in the General Regulations section of the Taught Postgraduate Calendar.

  0900-1000 1000-1100 1100-1200 1200-1300 1300-1400 1400-1500 1500-1600 1600-1700 1700-1800 1800-1900

 

MONDAY ACCP30.L LTA1, weeks 2-5, 8-12

 MCCP07.S, P.G18, weeks 2-6, 8-12

 

 

MMAP11.S C.2X6, weeks 2-6, 8-12     PREP61.L, P.D1, weeks 2-6,8-12

 

TUESDAY

 MMAP12/PREP64/MERP08.L, P.LTA96, weeks 2-6, 8-12

 

 PCMPX1.L, C.2A19, weeks 2-6, 8-12   PREP61.L, P.D3, weeks 2-6

   MCCPX8.L, P.G18, weeks 2-6, 8-12    

 

WEDNESDAY

 

 

PREP61.VS, P.D1, weeks 2-6

   FMSP01.S, P.G18, weeks 2-6, 8-11 FJNP01.L, P.D6,

weeks 1-6, 8-11FJNP01.L, P.D6, weeks 1-6, 8-11  

    FMSP03.L (tbc) weeks 2-6, 8-12   

                     

THURSDAY MCCPX2.L, P.G18, weeks 1-6, 8-11    FMSP01.FS, P.G18, weeks 2-6, 8-11  

   PREP63.L, P.D3, weeks 1-6, 8-11  

 

                     

  FMS9SW.L PLTA96, weeks 2-6, 8-11    

FRIDAY   MMAP13.L, P.D1, weeks 2-6, 8-11  

L= Lecture S= Seminar FS=Film Screening WS=Work Shop P=Practical C. = Cottrell Building P.= Pathfoot Building

ACCP30 Accounting & Finance MMAP11 Media Economics PREP63 Media Relations

FMSP01 Film Studies: Form and Analysis MMAP12/PREP64/MERP08 Research Methods PREP61 Strategic Public Relations Planning

INVP01 Corporate Finance MMAP13 Media Environment MCCPX8 Interpreting News

INVP02 Financial Reporting PCMPX1 Public Communication Management FMS9SW Scriptwriting

MCCPX2 The Practice of Cultural Theory FJNP01 Finanical Journalism

FMSP03 Postcolonial Cinema MCCP07 Dissertation Seminars (Media and Culture Students Only)