Media and Cultural Studies BA (Hons)

Media and Cultural Studies

In three years on our degree course you will have the opportunity to study everything from newspapers to television, music to advertising, film to the internet, and will be taught by experts in areas that range across television advertising, popular culture, pornography, gender, war reporting, children and the media, and environmentalism.

With their help, you will get to consider the pivotal role played by media and culture in shaping both your identity and our understanding of national and global events.

Studied as either Single Honours or jointly with another subject, Media & Cultural Studies at Worcester is an academic rather than a practical degree. As such, the broad knowledge you will gain will offer enhanced employment opportunities across the media and cultural industries. Furthermore, in a ‘media society’, where an understanding of how to communicate is all-important, graduates of media and cultural studies courses now work in a wide range of other industries, doing things like designing websites, writing publicity and press material, and running media training. With employment sectors including marketing, public relations, event management, teaching, business, and the public sector, it is perhaps unsurprising that Media Studies is now one of the top ten most employable degree subjects.

You can take the course as a Single Honours subject, or combine it with, for example, Journalism or a practical course such as Creative Digital Media.

Graduate ProfileJodie-Marie Preddy

'After graduating from Worcester, I am now studying for my Masters in Gender, Sexuality and Culture. It was during my time at Worcester, I began to explore issues of gender and sexuality, and I am now hoping to take these interests further and develop them into a career. I really enjoyed my time on the Media and Cultural Studies course.'
 Jodie-Marie Preddy

  • 240-260 UCAS Tariff points
Most of the theoretically-focused modules will include a lecture designed to stimulate and motivate students and to guide them through subsequent general reading. Students can expect also to engage with structured and general reading, screenings, observation and experiential learning. There will be additional involvement in interactive learning through, for example, seminar discussions, team presentations and simulation exercises.

Modules shared with the Art and Design Field, e.g. multimedia, particularly promote independence and autonomy and students are required to join learning teams and maintain a learning journal.

Assessment tends to focus mostly on essays and reports. A few modules require an oral presentation but there are no formal examinations (one optional module has an in class assignment based on a short film screening). This makes the course interesting and we give you all help you need while you are learning how to do these tasks.

UCAS is the central organisation through which applications are processed for entry onto full-time undergraduate courses in Higher Education in the UK.

Media & Cultural Studies BA (Hons) (Single Honours) P392 BA/MCS   

It is also possible to study this degree in combination with other courses. The UCAS Codes for these combinations are:

Media & Cultural Studies BA (Hons) and :

   Course Code  Short form of course
     
 American Studies  TP73  BA/ASMCS
 Animal Biology  CP23  Mod/ABMC
 Archaeology & Heritage Studies  NP93  BA/HtgMcs
 Art & Design  WP13  BA/Art/Mcs
 Biology  CP13  Mod/BioMCS
 Business Management  NP23  BA/BusMcs
 Computing  GP43  Mod/CMCS
 Creative Digital Media  WPF3  BA/CDMMCSt
 Design  WP23  Mod/CDMCS
 Drama & Performance  WP43  BA/DPSMCS
 Education Studies  XP33  BA/EdsMcs
 English & Literary Studies  QP33  BA/EngMcs
 Film Studies  P390  BA/FSMCS
 Health & Well-being  BP93  Mod/HeMc
 History  VP13  BA/HisMcs
 Human Biology  CPC3  Mod/HBMC
 Journalism  PP53  BA/JMCS
 Physical Education  PC36  Mod/MCStPE
 Politics: People and Power  PL32  BA/MCSPPP
 Psychology  CP83  Mod/McPs
 Screen Writing  PW3V  BA/MCStSW
 Social Welfare  PL35  BA/MCSSW
 Sociology  LP33  BA/McsSoc
 Sports Coaching Science  PCH6  Mod/MCSSC
 Sports Studies  CP63  Mod/McSp
 Digital Film Production  PG34  BA/MCSTBM
 Fine Art Practice  PW32  BA/MCSVA

For the latest information, check the UCAS website at www.ucas.com

Graduates of media and cultural studies work in a wide range of careers where communication skills are central, including marketing and public relations, publishing, media and journalism, business and industry, charities and public administration.

The course also provides a sound basis for postgraduate study.

Media and Cultural Studies is a good foundation for working in the media and media related industries. Students have found employment in the following areas:

  • Radio presenters both local and national
  • Media researchers
  • Journalism
  • Event organisers
  • Media planners
  • Television
  • Theatre
  • Marketing
  • Public Relations
  • Campaigns
  • Teaching

Look at some of the examples of skills developed by studying Media and Cultural Studies. You will be able to use them on your CV to demonstrate the range of qualities you can offer:

  • Practical experience
  • Working in a team
  • Working independently
  • Communicating with others
  • Writing effectively
  • Clear & Logical thinking
  • Finding information
  • Evaluating ideas
  • Showing initiative
  • Advance planning and working to deadlines
  • Organising yourself

Student Profile:

Reetta Haverinen

Reetta Haverinen

Studying Media and Cultural Studies has been the most eye opening experience to me. I have never actually realised the power that the media has on the lives of people on regular basis. During my years of studying Media and Cultural Studies I have developed a much deeper understanding of the many different meanings that media actually have. I have also learnt to evaluate different media forums as sources of information and have become critical about different theories often related to particular media phenomenon. 

What I appreciated most is the way that Media and Cultural Studies has been planned and organised at the University of Worcester and the way different modules emphasise different aspects of Media and Culture. There are modules that concentrate on gender representations in the media and modules that teach the students to gain a deeper understanding of the way we view things - for example, television in our everyday life and what kind of impact it has on our decisions and values. Altogether I can honestly say that I will never view the world around us in the same way I have before.

Student Profile:

Media and Cultural Studies student

Ashley Boyd

Studying Media and Cultural Studies provided me with a great deal of possibilities in choosing what I wanted to study; ranging from theoretical to practical topics. The University environment encourages individual growth and you don’t just feel like another student. The lecturers are engaging and are always available to help you. I would recommend the course to anyone with an interest in the media and the desire to explore it in greater depth.