(PhD) Doctor of Philosophy
Government (Ideology and Discourse Analysis)
Current
University of Essex
University of Essex
Government
Colchester Campus
Doctorate
Full-time
PHD L20D48
06/03/2024
Details
Professional accreditation
None
Admission criteria
IELTS (International English Language Testing System) code
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
External Examiners for research degrees are appointed student by student due to the highly specialised nature of the awards. The names and institutions of External Examiners for research degrees are therefore not published on the programme specification. Supervisors discuss with students appropriate External Examiners and nominees are appointed in accordance with the University’s Ordinances. More information can be found in the Principal Regulations for Research Degrees and the accompanying Code of Practice.
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
Due to the individualised nature of Postgraduate Research Degree’s, project aims and outcomes are usually determined during the research proposal stage, and adapted as necessary throughout the research period. Students will be supported through discussions with their supervisory teams and during Supervisory Panels, using the published milestones as a framework for their research journey.
This PhD programme has three principal aims.
First, it introduces, develops, and critically engages key strands of poststructuralist discourse theory, including post-Marxism, deconstruction, structural linguistics, and psychoanalytic theory. In particular, it clarifies key theoretical categories by examining their associated conceptual frameworks and presuppositions, by probing their value for political analysis and ideological critique, and by exploring their usefulness in relation to selected case illustrations.
Secondly, the programme engages with a set of contemporary debates in political and social theory, for which the categories of discourse and matter have become central.
Thirdly, the programme furnishes postgraduate students with the requisite skills and abilities to design and conduct Doctoral research in the field of Ideology and Discourse Analysis.
More specifically, its objectives are:
- To develop a systematic knowledge and understanding of the conceptual foundations of the discipline of political theory.
- To promote the critical use of evidence, and the effective application of methods of political analysis.
- To develop a capacity for independent study and research, including a critical awareness of research design; In some cases, to provide the opportunity, through a range of options, to study sub-disciplinary and/or area-oriented fields in depth.
- To develop a capacity to make coherent and reflective argument, and to present and communicate ideas effectively.
- To enhance the analytical and evaluative skills required for personal and professional development, and for successful employment or further study.
- To provide students with specialised knowledge of theoretical approaches at the forefront of contemporary modes of political and ideological analysis.
- To deploy the insights discussed at a theoretical level to analyse substantive political cases.
Here questions concerning the impact of ideological and symbolic processes on the formation of political discourses, identities and communities are of crucial importance.
Analyses of contemporary political movements and phenomena are incorporated into the programme to ensure that students acquire the skills needed for the analysis of concrete ideologies within a post-foundationalist framework.
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: An ability to use and comprehend the fundamental concepts and logics of ideology and discourse analysis, focussing on debates in post-Marxism, genealogy, deconstruction and psychoanalysis.
A2: The methodological skills and capacity to devise and execute independent theoretical and empirical research at the Doctoral level in the fields of social and critical political theory, especially with respect to conducting research in Ideology and Discourse Analysis.
A3: The capacity to read, analyse and engage with the key texts and thinkers discussed in the field of Ideology and Discourse Analysis, and Contemporary Political Theory.
A4: A thorough understanding of the different concepts and theoretical approaches to the study of populism, neoliberalism and radical democracy in the field of critical political theory.
Learning methods
A1-A4 Participation in and presentations to seminars and classes, individual guidance on researching and writing essays, oral and written feedback on essays, individual interviews and group sessions with Study Skills Officer.
A1-A2 Especially in GV909 Research Seminar in Political Theory and Methods.
A1-A2 Especially in supervised dissertation.
A3-A4 Especially in GV978 (Ideology and Discourse Analysis) and GV988 (Ideology and Discourse Analysis).
Assessment methods
The Research Seminar (GV909) and GV908: Political Theory, GV978 and GV988: (Ideology and Political Discourse) are assessed 100% by continuous assessment through written essays.
Taught modules assessed 50/50 by continuous assessment through written assignments and essays, and three-hour closed examinations at end of module.
B: Intellectual and cognitive skills
B1: The ability to read, interpret and engage critically with the key texts and concepts discussed in contemporary political theory.
B2: Advanced qualitative research methods.
B3: Communication and dissemination of research.
B4: To evaluate and analyse evidence
B5: To reason critically.
B6: To argue coherently and concisely
B7: To communicate ideas effectively in writing
B8: To carry out independent research
Learning methods
B1-7 Participation in and presentations to seminars and classes, individual guidance on researching and writing essays, oral and written feedback on essays, individual interviews and group sessions with Study Skills Officer.
B4 Especially covered in GV909 Research Seminar in Political Theory and Methods.
B8 Especially covered in supervised dissertation.
Assessment methods
B1-7 Written assignments, essays, dissertation, and written examinations.
B8 An independent dissertation.
B1-7 Written assignments, essays, dissertation, and written examinations.
B8 The MA dissertation.
C: Practical skills
C1: Organise and structure an extended argument. Clear, focused, relevant and effective expression and communication.
C2: Use concepts correctly
C3: Compile systematic bibliographies.
C4: Provide references according to accepted conventions.
C5: Use libraries and IT to access information and scholarly resources
C6: Sift and synthesise complex information
Learning methods
C1-6 participation in and presentations to seminars and classes, individual guidance for essays, individual supervision of dissertations, oral and written feedback on class presentations and essays.
C5 specifically in induction sessions for library use.
Assessment methods
C1-6 written assignments and essays, closed examinations, supervised dissertation.
C1 especially in dissertation.
C2 essays, examinations, and dissertation.
C3-6 specifically in essays and dissertation.
D: Key skills
D1: Clear, focused, relevant and effective expression and communication.
D2: Access and organise information from a variety of electronic sources
D3: Understand the use of quantitative evidence
D4: To manage projects and timetables. To find, understand and organise information. To work with ideas.
D5: Advanced knowledge of different modes of explanation and theoretical perspectives in political economy or related fields at an appropriate level.
D6: Positive response to feedback and criticism.
Learning methods
D1-5 participation in and presentations to seminars and classes, written assignments and essays, dissertation.
D4 specifically in scheduling and balancing requirements for four courses taught in parallel.
D6 specifically in individual guidance on essays, oral and written feedback on essays.
Assessment methods
D1-4 written assignments and essays, examinations, dissertation.
D6 classroom presentations, written assignments and essays.