Media Studies: Joint Degrees

• Combine Media Studies with a range of subjects to suit your interests
  
  
• Combine theoretical studies with practical production work 
  
  
• Unlock pathways to a wide range of media careers

“It was at Staffs that I gained the confidence, learned the skills and got the education that led to a job for six months after I graduated - and then jet off to the other side of the world.”

The media pervades every aspect of modern life. This joint award in media studies is about the study and application of the production, distribution and consumption of media. It gives you the opportunity for both theoretical and practical study of the media in all their many forms, practices, genres and contexts.

The core modules at Level 4, entering the digital age, will introduce you to the main issues, concerns and questions relating to the media. You take further media modules in diverse areas of your choice, such as video and radio production, film analysis and broadcasting.

Level 5 core modules explore the methodological and theoretical issues raised by the relationship between the media, culture and society. Option modules explore both theoretical and practical applications.

Many of the modules at Level 6 are based around guided independent work involving the writing of a dissertation or script, or the production of a video or audio piece of work – in short, project work, where you can follow your specific interests with specialist guidance.

Assessment is based on coursework essays, analytical exercises, seminar participation and presentations and on completed written or practical projects, such as a script, a video or a radio programme.

The background you will gain in the history of the media and skills of critical analysis and understanding, are of particular relevance to areas such as TV, radio, journalism, media administration and media education. The qualities of intellectual flexibility and initiative, as well as the skills in research and discursive writing, are relevant to a wide range of careers in business, the Civil Service, teaching, arts administration, archiving, journalism and broadcasting.

You may study two main subjects or areas, leading to a joint honours award. The award includes two equally weighed subjects, e.g. BA(Hons) Modern History and English. Alternatively you can study one subject as a major and one as a minor, e.g. BA(Hons) Film Studies with Sociology, where Film Studies makes up approximately two thirds of your programme of study.

Initially, you simply select the award code for the two subjects, and follow a joint honours programme. You don't need to choose a major until the end of Level 1 (or, on some awards, Level 2) (Note: Legal Studies can only be studied as a minor subject). Choosing to study a joint award gives you the freedom to broaden your knowledge base and offers you space to choose the subject you wish to concentrate on. Studying more than one subject for your degree means you don't necessarily have to specialise - you can keep your options open career wise and gain more skills.

English Literature - PQ33

International History - VW24

Journalism - PP53

Modern History - VP13

Scriptwriting - PWH8

Sociology - LP33 

• BA(Hons) Media Studies Programme Specification (PDF, file size: 105.39KB)

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