This well-established postgraduate course is taught as an intensive year-long programme, and offers students an interdisciplinary approach to the study of new media and communications practices. It typically aims to explore: How do the media shape culture and society? What role does the media play in people's lives? Is the media creating a global culture? Are audiences now producers? Do social networking sites influence personal communication? Are young people disconnected from traditional politics? It focuses on a critical understanding of the rapid changes in media and communications and their social and cultural consequences within an international context. Students have the opportunity to meet professionals working in the broadcast, advertising and marketing industries and we also organise field trips (eg to the BBC TV Centre). The masters course combines theoretical and empirical study of the media including issues of media audiences together with the study of developments in information and communication technologies. The department scored highly in the 2008 RAE exercise with a rating that made it the top department of its size in the UK. We have a long tradition of research in Sociology and Communications and all of our staff are research active. Aims The course will meet the needs of advanced students with backgrounds in media, sociology and other relevant disciplines, as well as professionals in the communications/broadcast industry seeking to gain a more sociologically informed understanding of those industries.

Students of this master's course typically go on to further advanced academic research or to pursue careers within the media industries (eg press/communications officer; Head of Information). Past students have worked in developing countries for NGO’s or as technology consultants.