University home > Unit and programme catalogues in 2020/21 > Programme catalogue > Faculty of Social Sciences and Law > School of Sociology, Politics and International Studies > Social and Cultural Theory (MSc) > Specification
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Programme code | 9SOCI009T |
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Programme type | Postgraduate Taught Degree |
Programme director(s) |
Siobhan McAndrew
|
Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
School/department | School of Sociology, Politics and International Studies |
Teaching institution | University of Bristol |
Awarding institution | University of Bristol |
Mode of study | Full Time |
Programme length | 1 years (full time) |
This programme aims to enhance the understanding of key theoretical issues and perspectives across the areas of sociology and cultural studies, and related fields; and to develop interrelationships between social and cultural theory and politics. A growing literature in sociology and related disciplines, has in recent decades experienced and addressed what has become known as 'the cultural turn', including questions of identity, authority and legitimacy, 'representations', disciplinarity, interdisciplinarity, and the role of the critical intellectual. The School of Sociology, Politics and International Studies has a strong and internationally recognised staff who are significant contributors to these themes and debates. The programme will enable students to address these issues from a position of substantive knowledge and skilled theoretical critique . It will provide them with a good grounding in a number of relevant intellectual traditions, conceptual frameworks, and individual thinkers. The dissertation element of the MSc enables students to pursue an independent, in-depth study in the discipline supported by a strong research culture. Graduating students will be well-placed to develop research careers following their interests in this field.
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning and Teaching Methods |
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|
1. lectures or presentations by members of staff. |
Methods of Assessment | |
1. assessed essays (or project for some units). |
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning and Teaching Methods |
---|---|
|
1. lectures or presentations by members of staff. |
Methods of Assessment | |
1. assessed essays (or project for some units). |
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning and Teaching Methods |
---|---|
|
1. lectures or presentations by members of staff. |
Methods of Assessment | |
1. assessed essays (or project for some units). |
Statement of expectations from the students at each level of the programme as it/they develop year on year.
Level M/7 - Postgraduate Certificate |
Able to present, discuss, and write about work in the course in a way which reflects a grasp of key ideas and arguments with coverage of the indicative literature in the area. (credit units 60) |
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Level M/7 - Postgraduate Diploma |
Able to present, discuss, and write about work in the course in a way which reflects a grasp of key ideas and arguments with coverage of the indicative literature in the area. (credit units 120) |
Level M/7 - Postgraduate Masters |
Able to present, discuss, and write about work in the course in a way which reflects a grasp of key ideas and arguments with coverage of the indicative literature in the area.Able to formulate an independent piece of work, specifically a dissertation topic which will involve new work in the exploration of theoretical ideas , a specific substantive question, or both. |
The intended learning outcome mapping document shows which mandatory units contribute towards each programme intended learning outcome.
For information on the admissions requirements for this programme please see details in the postgraduate prospectus at http://www.bristol.ac.uk/prospectus/postgraduate/ or contact the relevant academic department.
School of Sociology, Politics and International Studies http://www.bristol.ac.uk/spais/
Unit Name | Unit Code | Credit Points | Status | |
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Dissertation | SOCIM1000 | 60 | Mandatory | AYEAR |
Understanding Culture Not available in this year | SOCIM0014 | 20 | Mandatory | |
Sociological Theory and the Concept of Culture | SPAIM0049 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
Students must choose 80 credit options of optional units, with at least 60 credits in (SOCIM options listed) and maximum 20 credits in (POLIM options listed): | ||||
Care, Labour and Gender | SOCIM0004 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Religion and Politics in the West | SOCIM0006 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Religion, Ethnicity and Value Change | SOCIM0010 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Philosophy and Research Design in the Social Sciences | SOCIM0012 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods in the Social Sciences | SOCIM0013 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Contemporary Identities and Inequalities | SOCIM0015 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Gender, Family and Migration | SOCIM0023 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Understanding Social Movements | SOCIM0028 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
From Structuralism to Post-structuralism | SOCIM0029 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Digital Economy and Society | SOCIM0031 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Rationality and Absurdity | SOCIM0033 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Interpreting Gender | SOCIM3103 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Advanced Qualitative Research | SOCIM3132 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Further Quantitative Methods | SPOLM0016 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Sociological Theory and the Concept of Culture | SPAIM0049 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
Care, Labour and Gender | SOCIM0004 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Advanced Quantitative Research | SOCIM3133 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Students may also be able to choose a maximum of 20 credit points from the following list of Politics units, depending on availability: | ||||
Understanding Popular Culture in/and World Politics | POLIM0002 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Climate Change and International Security | POLIM0004 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Global Justice | POLIM0005 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
European Security | POLIM0019 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
The Politics of Insecurity | POLIM0020 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Global Civil Society | POLIM0022 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
China's International Relations | POLIM0023 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Japan and East Asia: Socio-Economic Development | POLIM0027 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
The Politics of (Un)sustainability | POLIM0028 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
The Middle East in International Relations Theory | POLIM0037 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
China’s Political Economy: Trade and Finance in China | POLIM0040 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
The Politics of Brexit | POLIM0043 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Gender and Security | POLIM0045 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Transitional Justice in the Aftermath of Conflict | POLIM0049 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Security Governance | POLIM1006 | 20 | Optional | TB-1,TB-2 |
Gender and Development | POLIM2032 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Managing and Evaluating Development | POLIM2036 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Environmental Politics | POLIM2041 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Gender, Masculinity/ies and International Relations | POLIM3016 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Foreign Policy Analysis | POLIM3017 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Europeanisation | POLIM3028 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
International Human Rights | POLIM3030 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Sino-US Relations in Global Politics | POLIM3033 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Japan and East Asia: Socio-Economic Development | POLIM0027 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
China’s Political Economy: Trade and Finance in China | POLIM0040 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
MSc Social and Cultural Theory | 180 |
The pass mark set by the University for any level 7(M) unit is 50 out of 100.
For detailed rules on progression please see the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes and the relevant faculty handbook.
All taught masters programmes, unless exempted by Senate, must allow the opportunity for students to exit from the programme with a postgraduate diploma or certificate.
To be awarded a postgraduate diploma, students must have successfully completed 120 credit points, of which 90 must be at level M/7.
To be awarded a postgraduate certificate, students must have successfully completed 60 credit points, of which 40 must be at level M/7.
An award with Merit or Distinction is permitted for postgraduate taught masters, diplomas and certificates, where these are specifically named entry-level qualifications. An award with Merit or Distinction is not permitted for exit awards where students are required to exit the programme on academic grounds. An exit award with Merit or Distinction may be permitted where students are prevented by exceptional circumstances from completing the intended award.
The classification of the award in relation to the final programme mark is as follows:
Award with Distinction*: at least 65 out of 100 for the taught component overall and, for masters awards, at least 70 out of 100 for the dissertation. **Faculties retain discretion to increase these thresholds.
Award with Merit*: at least 60 out of 100 for the taught component overall and, for masters awards, at least 60 out of 100 for the dissertation. Faculties retain discretion to increase these thresholds.
* The MA in Law has separate regulations for awarding distinction and merit.
** For the award of Distinction, the Faculty of Engineering requires at least 70 out of 100 for the taught component overall and, for masters awards, at least 70 out of 100 for the dissertation.
All taught masters programmes, unless exempted by Senate, must allow the opportunity for students to choose, or be required, to leave at the postgraduate diploma or certificate stage.
To be awarded a postgraduate diploma, students must have successfully completed 120 credit points, of which 90 must be at level M/7.
To be awarded a postgraduate certificate, students must have successfully completed 60 credit points, of which 40 must be at level M/7.
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.
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