(MA) Master of Arts
Advertising, Marketing and the Media
Current
University of Essex
University of Essex
Sociology and Criminology
Colchester Campus
Masters
Full-time
Sociology
MA NP5312
26/07/2023
Details
Professional accreditation
None
Admission criteria
A 2:2 degree , or international equivalent, in a social science, humanities or english or other discipline which must include at least two humanities or social science modules such as: Advertising, Communication, Economics, Marketing or Media (this can include the research project/dissertation).
Applications from students with a degree below a 2:2 or equivalent, or non-social sciences degree will be considered dependent on any relevant professional or voluntary experience in Media, Advertising, Marketing or Communications field.
IELTS (International English Language Testing System) code
If English is not your first language, we require IELTS 6.5 overall with a minimum component score of 6.0.
Course qualifiers
A course qualifier is a bracketed addition to your course title to denote a specialisation or pathway that you have achieved via the completion of specific modules during your course. The
specific module requirements for each qualifier title are noted below. Eligibility for any selected qualifier will be determined by the department and confirmed by the final year Board of
Examiners. If the required modules are not successfully completed, your course title will remain as described above without any bracketed addition. Selection of a course qualifier is
optional and student can register preferences or opt-out via Online Module Enrolment (eNROL).
None
Rules of assessment
Rules of assessment are the rules, principles and frameworks which the University uses to calculate your course progression and final results.
Additional notes
None
External examiners
Dr Umut Erel
Senior Lecturer
Open University
External Examiners provide an independent overview of our courses, offering their expertise and help towards our continual improvement of course content, teaching, learning, and assessment.
External Examiners are normally academics from other higher education institutions, but may be from the industry, business or the profession as appropriate for the course.
They comment on how well courses align with national standards, and on how well the teaching, learning and assessment methods allow students to develop and demonstrate the relevant knowledge and skills needed to achieve their awards.
External Examiners who are responsible for awards are key members of Boards of Examiners. These boards make decisions about student progression within their course and about whether students can receive their final award.
Programme aims
The core modules will investigate key theoretical and substantive debates in the critical study of advertising and marketing.
This will include an analysis of the advertising industry in Britain, North America and newly emerging economies like India, together with accounts of branding and brand cultures and the broader conceptualisation of advertising, marketing and consumption.
This will include recent work from within actor network theory on market devices.
Students will also be introduced to primary research materials, like market research data.
The core modules will explore debates about the historical rise of marketing-orientated businesses and the debate about the growth of the service advertising agency and the broader expansion of marketing-led innovations in economic life.
Learning outcomes and learning, teaching and assessment methods
On successful completion of the programme a graduate should demonstrate knowledge and skills as follows:
A: Knowledge and understanding
A1: Understand the significance of advertising, marketing and consumer behaviour.
A2: Distinguish between various approaches to the subject of advertising and critical marketing
A3: Understand key theoretical issues in the study of advertising, marketing and the media
A4: Develop a critical and reflexive approach to the study of marketing, advertising and the media.
A5: Develop an historical understanding of advertising, marketing and the media
A6: Understand various research methods for investigating and analysing advertising, the media and Understand various research methods for investigating and analysing advertising, the media and consumer behaviour.
Learning methods
Outcomes A1 to A6 are acquired through lectures, seminars, group and individual tasks, and directed independent study.
The development of the dissertation in consultation with a supervisor provides an additional opportunity for achieving learning outcomes A1 to A6.
Lectures and seminars introduce the required theories and understandings to facilitate students' exploration, the character, contexts, practices and interpretations of marketing, while demonstrating and encouraging a critical and reflexive approach.
Directed independent study and reading, along with individual and group tasks, enable the further exploration of the relevant areas.
Students are expected to extend and enhance the knowledge and understanding they acquire from lectures and classes by regularly consulting library materials relating to the course.
Assessment methods
Outcomes A1-A6 are formally assessed via coursework assignments, which may take a number of forms, including essays, case studies, theoretical and empirical studies.
They are also assessed via the dissertation.
B: Intellectual and cognitive skills
B1: Capacity to appraise theoretical ideas
B2: Assimilate and synthesise advanced theories and concepts
B3: Formulate logical and coherent arguments
B4: Interpret and critically evaluate empirical evidence
B5: Plan and undertake a substantial piece of independent research
Learning methods
Skills B1 to B4 are acquired and enhanced primarily through directed independent study, reading, group and individual tasks given for their courses, although lectures and seminars provide a means for teachers to demonstrate these skills through examples.
Students' independent study and preparation for tasks involves the reading, interpretation and critical evaluation of relevant frameworks, theories and understandings to facilitate students' assimilation and synthesis of these various theories and concepts, while demonstrating and encouraging a critical and reflexive approach to empirical evidence.
Lecturers provide necessary feedback on student work.
Lecturers also engage students outside the classroom through office hours, appointments and email communication.
Skill B5 is acquired through the work that students undertake for the dissertation.
The dissertation further provides an opportunity for students to acquire skills B1 to B4
Assessment methods
Skills B1 to B4 are formally assessed via coursework assignments.
The dissertation provides a further opportunity to assess skills B1-B4.
Skill B5 is assessed through SC 905 or BE 955 Research Methods and the dissertation.
C: Practical skills
C1: Analyse and evaluate empirical data
C2: Access and retrieve information from primary and secondary sources
C3: Written presentation skills
C4: Undertake independent research
Learning methods
Skills C1 to C4 are acquired and enhanced primarily through the work that students do for their modules, although lectures provide a means for teachers to demonstrate these skills through examples.
Research skills will be taught and assessed specifically in course SC 905 or BE 955.
Skill C4 is further acquired through the work that students do for the dissertation.
The dissertation further provides an opportunity for students to acquire skills C1 to C4.
Assessment methods
Skills C1 to C3 are formally assessed via coursework assignments.
This enables the demonstration of the relevant theories and empirical evidence and facilitates the demonstration of a critical and reflexive approach to empirical evidence.
Skill C4 is assessed through the dissertation and course work.
D: Key skills
D1: Communicate ideas and arguments in a coherent and effective manner
D2: Problem solving and analytical skills necessary to research media and business organisations
D3: Preparing informal presentations and communicating in a group
D4: Time management and working to deadlines
Learning methods
Verbal communication skills (D1) are developed through group tasks involving oral presentation and group discussion in the lecture.
Written communication skills (D1) are developed primarily through small group project reports and individual tasks.
IT skills (D2) are developed as individual tasks require extensive research involving web based material, internet and various electronic medias.
Problem solving skills (D4) are developed principally through specific problem based exercises and project given to the students.
Planning and organisation, enterprise and resourcefulness (D5-6) are essential to any learning process dependent on independent study and to some extent individual advice from teachers.
These skills are further developed as students pursue the learning activities associated with their courses.
Assessment methods
Skills D1 to D5 are formally assessed via coursework assignments: in relation both to process and product.
Skills D1 to D4 will be assessed through the content of submitted work.
Informal assessment: The assessment of the majority of key transferable skills forms an integral part of the overall assessment of the management degree schemes; however the approach to assessment varies.
Written communication skills, problem solving, and IT skills are assessed directly throughout the degree programme.
Personal skills are assessed through coursework.
Verbal communication skills are not formally assessed although.