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Sociology (The Sociology of Media and Culture) is no longer accepting new applications.
Teaching
The course offers teaching on the sociology of media and culture, including relevant work in social, cultural and media theory, and teaching on research methods. Students work towards a written dissertation supported by supervisions and a dissertation workshop.
| One to one supervision | Students will typically receive one supervision on each of the topics they choose to study for the field review essay; these supervisions may be in groups and will be part of the teaching provided in Lent term. In addition, students will typically receive approximately eight hours of supervision on their dissertation, spread across the three terms. The University of Cambridge publishes an annual Code of Practice which sets out the University’s expectations regarding supervision. |
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| Seminars & classes | Core course: 16 hours (eight two-hour sessions) in Michaelmas term. Research methods: core course: eight hours in Michaelmas terms plus any specialist research methods courses and modules selected by students (students can choose from a wide range of additional courses on research methods, both qualitative and quantitative). In Lent term students will have the opportunity to discuss with a supervisor the topics they have chosen to study for the field review essay (see "Supervision" above). |
| Lectures | Students can attend any lectures offered by the University. |
| Practicals | Dissertation workshop: ten hours. |
| Journal clubs | Within the department various journal clubs are offered. |
| Literature_reviews | Written assignments require students to conduct extensive literature reviews in their chosen areas of |
| Posters | The department runs a dissertation workshop in the second term. |
Feedback
Students receive written feedback on each essay and the dissertation. Feedback is also given during the dissertation workshop on the direction and progress of the dissertation research.
Assessment
Thesis
Students write a dissertation of not less than 15,000 and not more than 20,000 words on a subject approved by the Sociology Graduate Education Committee, falling within the field of the pathway chosen at the beginning of the course. The dissertation counts for 60 per cent of the final mark.
Essays
Students write:
- Two research essays (these do not count towards the final mark)
- Research essay 1 (formative; diagnostic) of not less than 2,500 and not more than 3,000 words
- Research essay 2 (formative) of not less than 2,500 and not more than 3,000 words
- Field review essay of not more than 5,000 words on topics approved by the Sociology Graduate Education Committee. This essay counts for 40 per cent of the final mark