(MSc) Master of Science
Politics, Communications and Data Analytics
Current
University of Essex
University of Essex
Government
Colchester Campus
Masters
Full-time
MSC L2P312
10/05/2023
Details
Professional accreditation
None
Admission criteria
A 2:2 degree in any subject.
IELTS (International English Language Testing System) code
IELTS 6.5 overall with a minimum component score of 5.5
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
Dr Adrian Florea
Senior Lecturer in International Relations
University of Glasgow
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
- Provide an introduction and solid foundation to understand innovative methods for generating new knowledge through the analysis of data
- Provide appropriate research methods to grasp cutting-edge international debates in media and politics
- Introduce students to big data, new forms of data, and computational methods
- Teach research design principles within a strong framework of social science applications.
- Familiarize students with analytic methods from both the social sciences and journalism.
- Leverage an interdisciplinary outlook to endow students with tools for the study of real world problems in a rigorous fashion
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: A detailed understanding of key concepts, issues and theories used in the politics and media
A2: A deep understanding of the connection between public policy, politics and media
A3: A comprehensive understanding of the quantitative methods and tools employed in conducting research in social science and journalism and the ability to apply these methods
A4: A critical awareness of the use of big data in the formulation of public policy
A5: A comprehensive understanding of how to communicate and present the findings of big data and make connections to policy
Learning methods
All teaching materials will be available online to be as inclusive as possible.
A1-5 Lectures, participation in and presentations to seminars and classes, writing essays and dissertation, oral and written feedback on essays.
A2 specifically in GV903, GV924, GV926 and LT969
A3 specifically in GV903 and in supervision of individual dissertations.
A4 specifically in GV918
A5 specifically in GV924 and GV918
Assessment methods
Methods of assessment take into account different learning styles and abilities. Assignments can be conducted remotely. Assessments will help prepare students to write policy reports, and conduct research papers and analysis in the field of environmental studies.
B: Intellectual and cognitive skills
B1: Abstract and synthesise information from a range of sources in politics, public policy and media studies
B2: Make systematic observations and insightful generalisations about data or behaviour and analyse relevant material
B3: Critically evaluate contrasting theories in politics and media studies
B4: To develop their critical thinking and analytical skills.
Learning methods
All teaching materials will be available online to be as inclusive as possible.
B1 specifically in GV924
B2 specifically in GV903, GV924, GV926 and LT969
B3 specifically in GV926 and GV924
B4 specifically in GV903, GV924, GV926 and LT969
Assessment methods
Methods of assessment take into account different learning styles and abilities. Assignments can be conducted remotely. Assessments will help prepare students to write policy reports, and conduct research papers and analysis in the field of environmental studies.
B1-4. Written assignments and essays, written examinations
B1-4. The dissertation.
C: Practical skills
C1: Gather and process information from a variety of sources
C2: Plan, undertake and present an independent piece of work
C3: Utilise specialised techniques for the collection, analysis, presentation of data
C4: Advanced techniques and tools relevant to the collection, quantitative analysis or presentation of data
C5: Know how to handle complex data structures and implement appropriate models.
C6: Master mathematics and statistical theory
Learning methods
All teaching materials will be available online to be as inclusive as possible.
C3 specifically in GV903 and GV918, and in supervision of individual dissertations.
C1-4 specifically in options chosen in consultation with PGT Director.
C1-4. The dissertation.
C5- specifically GV903 and GV918
C6- specifically GV903 and GV918
Assessment methods
Methods of assessment take into account different learning styles and abilities. Assignments can be conducted remotely. Assessments will help prepare students to write policy reports, and conduct research papers and analysis in the field of environmental studies. Students will learn about gathering data and properly presenting the data and analysis.
D: Key skills
D1: Communicate ideas, information and arguments
D2: Use appropriate and advanced computational tools and software, such as R and Python
D3: Analysing complex data-sets, using quantitative analysis and statistics. Master ordinary least squares, maximum likelihood estimation, generalised linear models, time series analysis, panel and multilevel models, event-history analysis, and similar techniques.
D4: Abstracting insightful generalisations and testing abstract hypotheses. The development of problem-solving skills in a work environment situation
D5: The capacity to work in a team within a work environment.
D6: Under guidance, working independently, demonstrating initiative, self-organisation and time-management. The capacity to reflect on and evaluate one`s own performance.
Learning methods
All teaching materials will be available online to be as inclusive as possible.
Assessment methods
Methods of assessment take into account different learning styles and abilities. Assignments can be conducted remotely. Assessments will help prepare students to write policy reports, and conduct research papers and analysis in the field of environmental studies. Group assignments will ensure that students engage in mutual learning and team work.
D 22-3, specifically GV903 and GV918
specifically in GV90.
D 1-4, 6, supervision of dissertations supervision of individual dissertations.
D5 specifically in options chosen in consultation with PGT Director, specifically in GVXXX and LT324.