UDMEPURE - BA Media and Public Relations
Course Specification
Validation status | Validated | |||||||||||
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Highest award | Bachelor of Arts | Level | Honours | |||||||||
Possible interim awards | Bachelor of Arts, Diploma of Higher Education, Certificate of Higher Education, Bachelor of Arts | |||||||||||
Total credits for course | 360 | |||||||||||
Awarding institution | London Metropolitan University | |||||||||||
Teaching institutions | London Metropolitan University | |||||||||||
School | School of Computing and Digital Media | |||||||||||
Subject Area | Creative Technologies and Digital Media | |||||||||||
Attendance options |
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Course leader |
About the course and its strategy towards teaching and learning and towards blended learning/e-learning
The BA Media and Public Relations combines the study of the media and public relation to enable students to develop their employability profile and career options in public relations, media relations and corporate communications roles.
The media are central to the experience of modern life: television, radio, print media, cinema, social media and the Internet all operate as channels for information, education, politics, art and entertainment. They are also channels central to the professional practices of public relations, media relations, and corporate communications. Understanding the media is critical to understanding how to use the media as a part of public and media relations strategies. This course explores the relationship between the media, and public relations practice developing a critical and vocationally focussed approach that combined practical and theoretical study.
Through studying the BA Media and Public Relations students will develop a critical understanding of the difference the media make to the social, political, and economic worlds we inhabit, as well as the ways in which they shape our symbolic world: the world of perceptions, meanings and values.
Students will also learn about the principles of public relations, media relations and corporate communications, including embedding public relations practice in new media technologies.
The course is taught using a combination of traditional, and innovative teaching methods, fostering problem-based and inquiry-based learning, and reflective engagement. This active learning is supported by a combination of lectures, workshops, seminars, tutorials, specially prepared online resources, work placement and field trips. Development of employability and professional practice is integrated into the curriculum. Students are encouraged to reflect on their learning process, preparing for knowledge creation, life-long learning and leadership.
A blended learning strategy is employed to enhance the learning experience, facilitate communication between students and tutors and develop collaboration among students. The Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) will be used as a platform to support online activities, facilitate formative assessment and related feedback, as well as a tool to integrate useful online learning materials provided by research institutions, academic publications, professional organisations and other relevant sources.
In addition, students will be able to develop practical skills including photography, video production, and audio production. Student will also be developing transferable skills that will be of value in a variety of academic and employment contexts, with various modules helping to develop a range of critical abilities, a creative and imaginative approach to problem solving, and skills of analysis and presentation.
Course aims
The BA Media & Public Relations aims to prepare students to live and work in contemporary society by enabling them to develop competencies to forge successful careers in the media, public relations, media relations, corporate communications and related roles. It aims to do these things by:
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Introducing students to a range of appropriate theoretical, methodological and practical frameworks for understanding the media, their production, consumption, and symbolic meanings, and the relationship between these and the professional practice of public relations, media relations, and corporate communications.
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Encouraging students to develop mastery in the critical analysis of media texts, institutions, and audiences including their historical contexts by successfully applying their learning in a range of ways including work related learning and independent project work, in particular through applying that learning to the analysis, understanding and practice of public relations, corporate communications, and media relations in the development of reflective professional practice.
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Expanding the intellectual and imaginative capacities of students through the development of a reflective understanding of the changing nature of media and public relations roles in society, by emphasising their responsibilities for reflecting on and questioning the diverse ideas, values and practices which underlie these changes.
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Enabling students to develop practical and transferable skills including but not limited media production, report writing, product pitching, presenting, project work and time management. Enabling students to take responsibility for defining their future career profiles through the choices that they make in their studies.
- Providing a supportive and nurturing educational environment where students are encouraged to pursue their intellectual, professional, or creative development and encouraged to form peer support networks as part of the wider learning community.
Course learning outcomes
The following learning outcomes incorporate and depend on systematic understanding of the key aspects of the knowledge base of Media and Public Relations, including a coherent and detailed knowledge of some specialist areas in depth.
On successful completion of this course students will be able to:
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deploy accurately established techniques of analysis and enquiry within Media and Public Relations;
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devise and sustain arguments, and/or to solve problems, using ideas and techniques, some of which are at the forefront of Media and Public Relations;
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describe and comment upon particular aspects of current research, or equivalent advanced scholarship, in Media and Public Relations, recognising the uncertainty, ambiguity and limits of knowledge;
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manage their own learning, and to make use of scholarly reviews and primary sources (for example, refereed research articles and/or original materials appropriate to Media and Public Relations;
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apply the methods and techniques that they have learned to review, consolidate, extend and apply their knowledge and understanding, and to initiate and carry out projects;
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critically evaluate arguments, assumptions, abstract concepts and data (that may be incomplete), to make judgements, and to frame appropriate questions to achieve a solution - or identify a range of solutions - to a problem;
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communicate information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialist and non-specialist audiences;
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exercise initiative and personal responsibility, including decision-making in complex and unpredictable contexts;
- undertake appropriate further training of a professional or equivalent nature
Assessment strategy
Assessments are designed to facilitate learning and personal development by supporting the learning outcomes at programme and module level and by allowing opportunities for extensive formative feedback. Assessments are designed to test the full range of academic competencies expected of students, and to allow opportunities for students to demonstrate their individual strengths, interests, and achievements. Published assessment criteria operate at programme and module level to facilitate student understanding, learning and engagement.
Organised work experience, work based learning, sandwich year or year abroad
Students are required to choose between fifteen credit work based learning or entrepreneurial alternative core modules at Level 5. Students will have an opportunity to engage with work experience and prepare a reflective piece of assessment associated with this placement. In addition, students have the opportunity to be part of the Study Abroad programme which involves an exchange with universities in the United States. Further, our students can engage with the Erasmus study programme and spend a semester at a university in another European country.
Modules required for interim awards
See Course Structure
Arrangements for promoting reflective learning and personal development
Reflective learning and personal development planning are core dimensions of this course. A variety of learning, teaching and assessment methodologies are deployed in order to assist the student in her self-reflected personal development and in acquiring the tools to engage in living as a citizen and pursuing economic activity in contemporary societies.
In the course of their study, students are asked to engage with theory and practice in a way that is grounded and concrete as well as dealing with abstract concepts. Reflective learning will vary across modules but will involve at all times engagement with peers and tutors in dealing with both formative and summative feedback on essays and reports; practice based modules all offer the opportunity for reflection on abstract theory and critical analysis of academic literature and policies; theoretical modules present opportunities to engage with abstract theory and test this against concrete examples.
Arrangements on the course for careers education, information and guidance
Career guidance and industry contextualisation is embedded throughout the programme. Visiting lecturers from the media industry will be arranged each year. Alumni lecturers from the media, digital media and communications subject area will also be organised regularly. Staff maintain strong links with the industry and receive requests for candidates for both volunteer or junior positions in the industry which are then passed on to the students. Further, the student has the opportunity to access the university careers service.
Other external links providing expertise and experience
Industry professionals are involved in delivering some specialist lectures. In addition, students have the opportunity to attend staff student seminars where papers are delivered by a variety of specialists from the Media and Academia.
Career opportunities
Graduates of this degree typically enter careers in media-related roles in the corporate and third sectors, including media relations work, public relations work, marketing work and media management roles.
Students often pursue further study opportunities at master's level specialising in either media or marketing roles.
Entry requirements
In addition to the University's standard entry requirements, you should have:
- a passion for the media and desire to forge your career in media, marketing, public relations, or communications roles
All applicants must be able to demonstrate proficiency in the English language. Applicants who require a Tier 4 student visa may need to provide a Secure English Language Test (SELT) such as Academic IELTS. For more information about English qualifications please see our English language requirements.
Official use and codes
Approved to run from | 2016/17 | Specification version | 1 | Specification status | Validated |
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Original validation date | 09 Aug 2016 | Last validation date | 09 Aug 2016 | ||
Sources of funding | HE FUNDING COUNCIL FOR ENGLAND | ||||
JACS codes | P300 (Media Studies): 50% , P210 (Public Relations): 50% | ||||
Route code | MEPURE |
Stage 1 Level 04 September start Offered
Code | Module title | Info | Type | Credits | Location | Period | Day | Time |
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MC4003 | Introduction to Public Relations | Core | 30 | |||||
SM4001 | Media Genres | Core | 30 | NORTH | AUT+SPR | MON | AM | |
SM4013 | Media Histories | Core | 30 | NORTH | SPR+SUM | WED | PM | |
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SM4018 | Social Media Businesses | Core | 30 | NORTH | AUT+SPR | WED | PM |
Stage 2 Level 05 September start Offered
Code | Module title | Info | Type | Credits | Location | Period | Day | Time |
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MC5000 | Advertising Concepts Theory and Practice | Core | 30 | |||||
SM5011 | Television Studies | Core | 30 | |||||
SM5068 | Researching Media Audiences | Core | 15 | NORTH | AUT | TUE | PM | |
MN5W50 | Creating a Winning Business 1 | Alt Core | 15 | NORTH | AUT | FRI | AM | |
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MN5W55 | Learning through Work | Alt Core | 15 | NORTH | AUT | THU | AM | |
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MC5054 | Consumer Public Relations | Option | 15 | |||||
SM5051 | Crime and the Media | Option | 15 | NORTH | SPR | THU | AM | |
SM5052 | Youth Culture and the Media | Option | 15 | NORTH | AUT | THU | AM | |
SM5066 | Documentary Photography and Photography Journalism | Option | 15 | |||||
OL0000 | Open Language Programme Module | Option | 15 | NORTH | SPR | NA | ||
NORTH | AUT | NA |
Stage 3 Level 06 September start Offered
Code | Module title | Info | Type | Credits | Location | Period | Day | Time |
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MC6060 | Public Relations in Practice | Core | 15 | |||||
SM6003 | Media, Culture and Identity | Core | 30 | NORTH | AUT+SPR | MON | PM | |
SM6052 | Media, Power and Politics | Core | 15 | NORTH | SPR | WED | PM | |
MC6P09 | Marketing and Communications Project | Alt Core | 30 | |||||
SM6P05 | Media and Communication Dissertation | Alt Core | 30 | NORTH | AUT+SPR | WED | PM | |
MN6055 | Managing Corporate Reputation | Option | 15 | |||||
SM6054 | Analysing Popular Music | Option | 15 | NORTH | AUT | WED | AM | |
SM6064 | Globalisation and the Media | Option | 15 | |||||
SM6065 | Situation Comedies | Option | 15 | |||||
OL0000 | Open Language Programme Module | Option | 15 | NORTH | SPR | NA | ||
NORTH | AUT | NA |