MA Social Media and Social Research Programme Specification 2024-25

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1	ACADEMIC QUALITY TEAM
2	Programme Specifications 2024-25
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5	Programme Title			MA Social Media and Social Research
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7	This document applies to students who commenced the programme(s) in:			2024			Award type			MA
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9	What level is this qualification?			7			Length of programme			1 year
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11	Mode of study (Full / Part Time)			F/T
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13	Will the programme use standard University semester dates?			Yes			For York Online programmes, will standard dates for such programmes be used?			NA
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15	Awarding institution			University of York			Board of Studies for the programme			Sociology
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17	Lead department			Sociology			Other contributing departments			N/A
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19	Language of study and assessment			English			Language(s) of assessment			English
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21	Is this a campus-based or online programme?			Campus
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23	Partner organisations
24	If there are any partner organisations involved in the delivery of the programme, please outline the nature of their involvement. You may wish to refer to the Policy on Collaborative Provision
25	N/A
26	N/A
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28	Reference points
29	Please state relevant reference points consulted in the design of this programme (for example, relevant documentation setting out PSRB requirements; the University's Frameworks for Programme Design (UG or PGT); QAA Subject Benchmark Statements; QAA Qualifications and Credit Frameworks).
30	There is no QAA Sociology Subject Benchmark Statement for PGT level but the UG benchmarking was consulted as well as the QAA ‘Framework for Higher Education'.
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32	Credit Transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning
33	Will this programme involve any exemptions from the University Policy and Procedures on Credit Transfer and the Recognition of Prior Learning? If so, please specify and give a rationale
34	No
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36	Exceptions to Regulations
37	Please detail any exceptions to University Award Regulations and Frameworks that need to be approved (or are already approved) for this programme. This should include any that have been approved for related programmes and should be extended to this programme.
38	N/A
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40	Internal Transfers
41	Please use the boxes below to specify if transfers into / out of the programme from / to other programmes within the University are possible by indicating yes or no and listing any restrictions. These boxes can also be used to highlight any common transfer routes which it would be useful for students to know.
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43		Transfers in:	Yes. Restrictions = meeting entry grades and availability of space on the desired programme. Transfer must be by end of Week 4				Transfers out:	Yes. Restrictions = availability of space on the desired programme within Sociology or another Dept and meeting entry requirements.
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46	Statement of Purpose
47	Please briefly outline the overall aims of the programme. This should clarify to a prospective student why they should choose this programme, what it will provide to them and what benefits they will gain from completing it.
48	Social media are radically transforming the world we live in. But how can we understand their impact upon the work in which we live? Operating on a global scale, they are central to the functioning of new types of capitalism and are rapidly reshaping the social world. Understanding social media is key to understanding the changes that we continue to experience. It is only by combining a knowledge of social research methods with a knowledge of social media that we will be able to get beyond superficial understandings and really get to grips with these changes. This programme prepares you to be both a skilful and knowledgeable researcher and an informed critical analyst of social media. The Social Media and Social Research programme engenders a cutting edge and dynamic area of knowledge for contemporary media workers, social researchers, and technology designers by combining social scientific research practices with comprehensive knowledge of the use of social media in contemporary society. As a Social Media and Social Research student, you will learn to harness a critical social science understanding of relevant social, economic, cultural and political factors, and design and apply appropriate social scientific methods and research practices. In particular, the role of social media data, generated by people, organizations and automated technologies, will be at the vanguard of your thinking by critically evaluating on-going public debates, new examples of culture, society and technology, and formulating approaches to investigating ‘real world’ problems . As a graduate of the programme you will be prepared for a range of careers in the commercial, voluntary, and policy sectors, including media management, policy research, social media analysis, journalism, communications, and academic research. You will be in a position to contribute sociological knowledge and skills to an emerging and vibrant social media landscape and shape the future of that area through critical evidence-based decisions that benefit members of society. You will also have the skills to thrive in an interconnected global workplace.
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59	If there are additional awards associated with the programme upon which students can register, please specify the Statement of Purpose for that programme. This will be most relevant for PGT programmes with exit awards that are also available as entry points. Use additional rows to include more than one additional award. Do not include years in industry / abroad (for which there are separate boxes).
60	Exit Award Title			Is the exit award also available as an entry point?	Outcomes: what will the student be able to do on exit with this award?				Specify the module diet that the student will need to complete to obtain this exit award
61	Postgraduate Certificate			Exit Award only	Students will have a basic understanding of the key aspects of sociology and social research achieving PLOs1-2, 4 and 6				60 credits excluding dissertation module
62	Postgraduate Diploma			Exit Award only	Students will have a deeper understanding of the key aspects of sociology and social research, achieving PLOs 1-3 and 5-7				120 credits excluding dissertation module
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64	Programme Learning Outcomes
65	What are the programme learning outcomes (PLOs) for the programme? (Normally a minimum of 6, maximum of 8). Taken together, these outcomes should capture the distinctive features of the programme and represent the outcomes that students progressively develop in the programme and achieve at graduation. PLOs should be worded to follow the stem 'Graduates will be able to...'
66	1	Exercise specialised knowledge and understanding of social media and their importance for social, cultural and global processes and how it applies to a range of areas including everyday interactional practices, cultural production and circulation, and political and institutional engagement.
67	2	Critically interpret, analyze, and evaluate social theories, concepts, methodologies and arguments in order to articulate a clear understanding of the sociological study of social media, culture and globalization.
68	3	Develop informed and advanced research strategies based upon critical consideration of the advantages and disadvantages of different methods, in order to identify the epistemological approaches in social scientific research.
69	4	Critically select and use a range of social scientific research methods, both quantitative and qualitative, which are appropriate to meet the requirements in industry, national and local government and public services.
70	5	Develop arguments to support the use of emerging forms of social and behavioural data (both large, and small-scale) in order to understand the relationship between social media and contemporary sociological research.
71	6	Draw upon concepts, theories and methods in order to advance and utilise social research practices in the contemporary context.
72	7	Utilize extended social research expertise to critically evaluate social research, and to design research appropriate for the investigation of cultural, social, and global aspects of social media and emerging communication technologies.
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74	Diverse entry routes
75	Detail how you would support students from diverse entry routes to transition into the programme. For example, disciplinary knowledge and conventions of the discipline, language skills, academic and writing skills, lab skills, academic integrity.
76	We support students from diverse entry routes to transition into the programme through support from academic advisors who direct students to additional sources of advice and help over and above the academic skills embedded into the design of our postgraduate modules.
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79	Inclusion
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81	Please confirm by ticking the box on the right that the design, content and delivery of the programme will support students from all backgrounds to succeed. This refers to the University's duties under the Equality Act 2010. You may wish to refer to the optional Inclusive Learning self-assessment tools to support reflection on this issue.										TRUE
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83	Employability
84	Please give a brief overview - no more than 5 sentences - of how the programmes helps develop students' employability. Your Faculty Employability Manager can help reflection on this issue. This statement will be used by Marketing as the basis for external content with respect to employability.
85	The programme helps students to develop excellent employability skills that they can utilise in a range of different future careers. Throughout the programme, students are encouraged to develop their critical thinking and to work ethically, are equipped with opportunities to source and evaluate information, and to engage in personal reflection. Students are also given opportunities to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of key criminological issues, and to communicate complex ideas in a range of written and verbal formats that are also relevant for and used in the contemporary workplace.
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90	[For Undergraduate and Integrated Masters Programmes Only]
91	Are you offering any variations of this programme, such as additional years abroad or industry?
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93	Year abroad			FALSE		Will the year abroad programme be available directly via UCAS; for students to transfer in having entered the main programme; or both?				N/A
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95	Year in industry			FALSE		Will the year in industry programme be available directly via UCAS; for students to transfer in having entered the main programme; or both?				N/A
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97	Year in enterprise			FALSE
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99	Placement year			FALSE
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