(BA) Bachelor of Arts
Journalism and Sociology
Current
University of Essex
University of Essex
Literature, Film, and Theatre Studies
Colchester Campus
Honours Degree
Full-time
Communication, Media, Film and Cultural Studies
Sociology
BA P540
10/05/2023
Details
Professional accreditation
None
Admission criteria
A-levels: ABB, including one essay based subject
BTEC: DDD, depending on subject studied - advice on acceptability can be provided.
IB: 32 points or three Higher Level certificates with 655, including a Higher Level essay based subject grade 5.
We are also happy to consider a combination of separate IB Diploma Programme Courses (formerly certificates) at both Higher and Standard Level. Exact offer levels will vary depending on the range of subjects being taken at higher and standard level, and the course applied for.
We can also consider combinations with BTECs or other qualifications in the Career-related programme – the acceptability of BTECs and other qualifications depends on the subject studied, advice on acceptability can be provided. Please contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office for more information.
Access to HE Diploma: 15 level 3 credits at Distinction and 30 level 3 credits at Merit, depending on subject studied - advice on acceptability can be provided.
IELTS (International English Language Testing System) code
English language requirements for applicants whose first language is not English: IELTS 6.0 overall, with a minimum of 5.5 in each component.
Other English language qualifications may be acceptable so please contact us for further details. If we accept the English component of an international qualification then it will be included in the information given about the academic levels listed above. Please note that date restrictions may apply to some English language qualifications
If you are an international student requiring a Tier 4 visa to study in the UK please see our immigration webpages for the latest Home Office guidance on English language qualifications.
If you do not meet our IELTS requirements then you may be able to complete a pre-sessional English pathway that enables you to start your course without retaking IELTS.
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
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
JOURNALISM:
- To create graduates who are thoroughly grounded in the theory and practice of journalism, able to make sound editorial judgements and behave in a professional manner.
- To help students develop their writing and broadcasting skills to a high level.
- To encourage students to develop their critical faculties, in particular to adopt an inquiring, sceptical and whole-hearted approach to their work.
- To encourage students to work effectively on their own and in teams to produce the best journalism.
SOCIOLOGY:
- To provide students with an understanding of the distinctive character of sociological thinking (B).
- To provide students with a knowledge of the main theoretical traditions of sociology (B).
- To provide students with an understanding of the main sociological methods (B).
- To develop students' capacity for critical enquiry, argument and analysis.
- To develop students' capacity for independent learning.
- To provide students with the knowledge and skills to enable them to proceed to further study and research.
Reference to the QAA Benchmarks for Sociology are indicated by the letter B.
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: Theoretical and practical approaches to journalism
A2: An understanding of the analysis and interpretation of empirical data (B)
A3: To develop intercultural skills (Study/Year Abroad variant only)
A4: To provide the opportunity to apply academic learning outcomes in a work-related context (Placement year variant)
A5: To develop essential work-based skills throughout the placement. (Placement variant only)
A6: The history and evolution of journalism, the current state of the industry and its future prospects
A7: The role of publishing and broadcasting in a modern society
A8: The UK legal system, and the law, regulatory framework and codes of practice relating to journalism
A9: The characteristics and needs of a range of print, broadcast and web-based journalism, production processes and professional practice in relation to newspapers, magazines, online content and broadcast journalism
A10: A knowledge of the relationship between theory, concepts and substantive issues and of key sociological concepts and theories and intellectual foundations of sociology (B)
A11: A knowledge of the principles of research design and the main approaches to data collection (B)
Learning methods
Lectures, workshops, group discussion and reflection, work experience, practical exercises, formative feedback.
The Sociology Department uses lectures to present material - ideas, data and arguments - in a clear and structured manner using examples, mapping the field and the contours of debates. Lectures are also used to stimulate students' interest in the area under discussion. In each course the issues and arguments covered in lectures are explored further through weekly classes or workshops for which students have to prepare. The curriculum is designed to involve clear progression between the foundational work in the first year and the subsequent compulsory courses. In particular there is a strong emphasis on developing students’ theoretical understanding of sociological work through the progressive structuring of the material in SC111, SC201 and SC301. Classes, and preparation for classes, provide the opportunity for students to develop their knowledge and understanding of the content of the courses. In addition student learning takes place through the work they do preparing essays and assignments. In the first year students have to produce a glossary of sociological concepts and a sociological journal on a topic of their choice for SC111 and have a required examination question on key concepts. SC111 also specifically introduces students to examples of ongoing research in the Department. Students also do methodological assignments for SC101 including a statistical test and a piece of observational work. In the second year theory course, SC201, there is a particular focus on reading key sociological texts. In their third year all students on the degree have to produce an essay on epistemological issues for SC301.
Assessment methods
A1-A5 Range of in-class tests, portfolio of work, reflective journals, group work, project work, essays and other coursework
A1: examination
Outcomes A6 to A8 are assessed through coursework and unseen written examinations. Coursework includes essays, a sociological journal, the glossary, a statistics test and an observational study. Written examinations not only include standard essay type questions, but SC201 involves a compulsory question interpreting a passage of text from a sociological classic.
B: Intellectual and cognitive skills
B1: Able to absorb and organise large amounts of informati
on in a short time, applying critical techniques to assess evidence on the basis of relevance, reliability and newsworthiness
B2: Theoretical and practical approaches to journalism
B3: Make good decisions and present clear, well-reasoned and coherent arguments, in writing or orally, often against a deadline
B4: Exercise judgement in designing, planning and delivering journalistic output
B5: Evaluate, interpret and demonstrate critical judgement in the understanding of developments in the news, of issues and concepts, and be able dispassionately to assess one's own work and the work of others
B6: Produce independent and imaginative treatments conforming to a clear framework of values
B7: An ability to understand, summarise and critically assess sociological work and to compare competing theories and explanations and develop a reasoned argument (B)
B8: An ability to formulate sociological questions and assemble, evaluate and interpret evidence (B)
Learning methods
Lectures, workshops, group discussion and reflection, work experience, practical exercises, formative feedback.
Students enhance the above intellectual skills primarily through the work they do for their modules, although lectures and classes provide a means of teachers demonstrating these skills through example and in the first year staff give specific presentations on their ongoing sociological research. Preparation for classes and class presentations involve the reading, interpretation and evaluation of original sociological texts and the collection and evaluation of empirical data. Class tutors provide feedback contributions to classes through comment and discussion. Similarly the preparation of essays and other assignments also develops the listed intellectual skills. Students are provided with feedback on all assessed work and this is crucial to their intellectual development.
Assessment methods
Assessment is by coursework, practical assignments, portfolios, group projects, peer assessment, critical commentaries, and written examinations and, in some cases, oral presentations.
Outcomes B7 to B8 are judged and evaluated in every piece of assessed work that the student has to do as part of the sociology modules on this degree scheme. B8 is specifically assessed through a coursework essay for SC201 and a compulsory examination question requiring the interpretation of a passage from a classic text. Not all assignments require the evaluation and interpretation of empirical evidence (B12) though many do, but these skills are particularly assessed in some of the assignments for SC101. On all courses students are required to marshal material in order to expound an argument.
C: Practical skills
C1: An ability to find, research and write news stories and features for various print, online and broadcast media
C2: An ability to conduct interviews, record information accurately and analyse it to a professional standard
C3: An ability to work in production for various media, using industry-standard software and hardware
C4: An ability to work independently, cooperatively and in editorial teams to produce finished work to agreed deadlines for various media
C5: An ability to operate in professional manner, observing ethical and legal constraints
C6: An ability to retrieve relevant sociological evidence using bibliographic and web searches and to summarise, report and evaluate arguments, texts and findings.
C7: An ability to frame a research proposal and to identify and apply the appropriate research methods and to apply introductory statistical techniques to sociological data
C8: An ability to demonstrate reflexive awareness in interpreting sociological material
Learning methods
Lectures, workshops, group discussion and reflection, work experience, practical exercises, formative feedback.
In the first year sociology modules, assignments cover tasks such as producing a bibliography on a sociological topic, producing a glossary, describing and evaluating a sociological text and producing a sociological journal. Throughout the three years of the degree practical skills are developed through preparation for classes, preparing essays and other assessed assignments, giving presentations and doing written examinations. In SC101, students carry out an observational study and SC111 requires students to produce a journal which demonstrates reflexive awareness in interpreting sociological material. The work for SC201 includes the detailed examination and interpretation of key sociological texts. Students receive detailed feedback on all their coursework and presentations. Study skills advice and training is available from the Student Support Officer in the Sociology Resource Room, which is dedicated to this purpose.
Assessment methods
Assessment is by coursework, practical assignments, portfolios, group projects, peer assessment, critical commentaries, and written examinations and, in some cases, oral presentations.
Skill C6 is specifically assessed in a first year SC111 assignment, but also forms part of the the majority of pieces of assessed coursework and written examinations, and particularly in the assignments for SC201, including a compulsory question unseen examination question on interpreting a passage from a classic text. C7 is assessed in SC101, C8 is assessed in the journal for SC111 and in observational work for SC101.
D: Key skills
D1: Ability to express oneself in a clear, focused, relevant and effective way, both orally and in writing
D2: Ability to use appropriate software and hardware to produce and present high quality editorial content
D3: An ability to read, interpret and draw inferences from official statistics; an ability to carry out simple statistical calculations
D4: Finding, understanding, organising and processing information. Applying knowledge and understanding to make judgements. Ability to question conventional wisdom and find innovative methods of research. Working to deadlines. Management of projects and timetables.
D5: Ability to plan, manage time, and advance and argue for proposals in editorial meetings, ability to respond constructively to criticism, ability to engage in collaborative writing and programme-making activities; ability to work co-operatively in a variety of group contexts, including practical production, taking on a number of different roles.
D6: Ability to take responsibility for own work and actions in individual and collective contexts, and to reflect on performance and make constructive use of written and oral feedback.
Learning methods
Lectures, workshops, group discussion and reflection, work experience, practical exercises, formative feedback.
Assessment methods
Assessment is by coursework, practical assignments, portfolios, group projects, peer assessment, critical commentaries, and written examinations and, in some cases, oral presentations.
Assessment is by coursework, practical assignments, portfolios, group projects, peer assessment, critical commentaries, and written examinations and, in some cases, oral presentations.
Communication skills are assessed throughout the degree through continuous assessed coursework (including oral presentation) and examinations.
IT skills are a component in the evaluation of most assessed work which require bibliographic and web searches.
Numeracy skills are assessed in the assignments for SC101, which includes the computer application of statistical procedures.
Problem solving skills are assessed in almost all assignments.
Since the curriculum is structured in a progressive manner, student skills in improving learning and performance are also assessed through the related structured progression of formal assessed work.