Masters Degrees (Campaign)

Working in politics has never required as many professional competencies as in this historical period. Playing an active role in an electoral campaign or in the life of a party, but also writing about politics on a daily basis, are activities that, without specific training and without the mastery of the most up-to-date techniques, risk being unproductive.

In such a framework, the Master’s Degree in Political Marketing has been designed to enable all those who wish to be or are already involved in these topics to acquire a store of operational knowledge and capabilities of excellence that will support them in concretely contributing to the results.

Objectives

The Master’s Degree in Political Marketing is aimed at providing the knowledge and abilities necessary to effectively and professionally manage the communication and marketing processes that support political campaigns and activities.

In particular, on completing the course, participants will be able to:

structure precise operational plans and strategies for the promotion of a political candidate or group

make the best use of social media and of the web for political-electoral marketing and communication ends

learn about new visual and off-line means of communication for a winning placement in the political-electoral market

enhance their public speaking capabilities also in terms of consultancy to others

correctly set up and manage an electoral campaign

know and understand the peculiarities of the different electoral systems

utilising and designing political-electoral research and surveys

identify and add value to different leadership styles

know the best techniques for the organisation of a political event

realising effective fundraising campaigns

managing press office activities aimed at the promotion of political candidates or parties

master the most evolved spin doctoring techniques

acquire an overview of some of the best practices in the international context

TARGET RECIPIENTS

The Master’s Degree in Political Marketing is a course of excellence aimed at a maximum of 20 participants that wish to acquire competencies of excellence in the effective management of the communication and marketing processes linked to political activities and electoral campaigns.

CONTENTS

Political-Electoral Marketing

Strategy

Market research for politics

Segmentation, targeting and positioning for politics

Political-Electoral marketing mix

Marketing 2.0 and 3.0 for politics

Web and Social media for politics

Web and Social Media campaign planning, implementation and control for politics

Using Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Google+ for political communication

Political blogging

Emailing techniques

Public speaking

Verbal and Non-verbal communication

Feedback effectiveness

Active listening

Steps for an effective public presentation

Political Press Office

Political journalism

The Press Office

The planning of activities

Implementing actions and monitoring results.

Organising events

Choice and ideation of the most suitable event in order to reach objectives

Project definition

Budget definition through the evaluation of economic aspects

Promotion: online through social media and offline through traditional media

Practical organization of the event.

The electoral system and its specificity

Plurality systems

Majority systems

Proportional systems

Mixed systems

Political-electoral research and surveys

Pre-election polls

Candidate and party campaign analyses

Leader and political party positioning analyses

Campaign impact evaluations

Election projections and post-election surveys

Leadership for politics

Interpersonal influence

Leadership styles

The techniques

Spin Doctoring

Role and activity evolution

Strategies and techniques

Excellency cases

Fundraising for politics

Fundraising techniques and tactics

Fundraising patterns

The management of the relationship with donors

Budgeting and staffing models

Effective and ethical profiles

Phone banking, canvassing and special events

Electoral campaign management

Traditional vs digital campaigns

Human resources management and organisation for an electoral campaign

The thematic campaign

Territorial campaign

Cases studies

Innovative communication techniques for politics

Graphic, video and digital design

Modelling and 3D animation

Augmented reality

Mobile apps

Video mapping

International excellency cases

Edsegovi’s HOLOS model (Mexico)

STRUCTURE

The course is structured over 12 months:

- 6 months of lectures, once per week

- 6 months of final project work

- Company visits

- Cultural programme

- Italian language course included

INTERNATIONALITY

Rome Business School is an International Institution that has already hosted students from more than 140 countries.

Rome Business School employs university lecturers, company trainers, consultants, managers and entrepreneurs chosen because of their proven experience and skills. The faculty has a strong multicultural inclination, with representatives from diverse backgrounds and nationalities. It will synergistically leaves you with a patrimony of knowledge for your personal development.

Our selected renewed and highly competent formators are always assessed and rated by students, thanks to our quality assurance system.

Rome Business School is developing an International didactic and corporate Network, thanks to several partnerships with business schools, universities and companies

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This new Masters degree from the world ranking Department of Journalism and Mass Communications aims to equip students with the skills, knowledge and strategic approach to develop and analyse social change campaigns, with a particular focus on the role of communications and the media. Now in its second year, this is the only MA of its kind in the UK.

This innovative course builds on our close links with leading campaigners and communicators in London's vibrant social change sector. An advisory panel, with representatives from Amnesty UK, Campaign Bootcamp, FairSay, Friends of the Earth, NCVO, RIBA, WaterAid and The National Council of Voluntary Organisations among others, will ensure we always reflect the skill sets in demand and deliver an exciting learning experience. A limited number of work placements and internships will be available.

The course is aimed at those with some experience or interest in social change, the media, and communications or campaigns within not for profit organisations. The course will help you improve your practical skills, develop a deep understanding of the theories and frameworks that underpin and shape campaign communications, and enjoy the space to reflect critically on current and past practice. It is designed to help you start, or progress, a career in charity, pressure group or public sector campaign communications. It may also be of interest to those working in corporate social responsibility.

The course team has extensive experience both in developing social change campaigns and in academic research into the connections between media and social change. The course is jointly led by Michaela O’Brien and Dr. Anastasia Kavada with additional teaching by practitioners and members of CAMRI. It is taught at our campuses in the West End of London, and also at the Harrow campus.

The course offers a number of delivery modes to suit the different needs of students and can be taken as either part-time or full-time.

There are three core modules. The first develops practical planning and campaign communications skills; the second considers media and activism theories; and the third combines theory with practice, reflecting on applying concepts like power and ethics within the setting of campaign communications. Each module has assessments – e.g. essays, campaign plans, reflective blogs, debates and presentations - rather than exams.

These three core modules make up the Postgraduate Certificate.

Students can take another three modules - chosen from a very wide range of options including practical media and content production skills; diversity issues; development and policy; social media; theories of communication and more - to complete a Postgraduate Diploma.

Students wanting to take the Masters course also complete either a 15,000-word research dissertation, or a professional practice project (which can be work-based).

Modules

The following modules are indicative of what you will study on this course.

Core module semester one
-CRITICAL ISSUES IN CAMPAIGNING

Core modules semester two
-MEDIA, ACTIVISM AND POLITICS
-PLANNING CAMPAIGN COMMUNICATIONS

Option modules - You choose three option modules from the following menu. You may choose to focus on practical skills, on new technologies, on diversity or development, or on media audiences and industries.

Semester one - Choose two of the following in addition to the core module:
-Approaches to Social and Cultural Diversity
-Global Media
-Media Management and Content Production (PR and the Media)
-Media Production
-Political Economy of Communication
-Reporting Diversity: Gender, Sexuality, Age, Disability
-Social Media and e-Marketing
-Social Media: Creativity, Sharing, Visibility
-Technology and Communications Policy
-Theories of Communication.

Semester two - Choose one of the following in addition to the core modules:
-Approaches to Media and Communications Research
-Critical Theory of Social Media and the Internet
-Development and Communications Policy
-Media Audiences
-Online Journalism
-Reporting Diversity: Faith and Religion
-Reporting Migration, Race and Ethnicity
-Sociology of News
-Web Production: Westminster News Online

Associated careers

This course is particularly relevant if you want to start, or to progress, a career in communications and campaigning for social change, whether in a charity or non-governmental organisation; in a public sector body; in a political party or election campaigning setting; or even in a corporate social responsibility role. It could also be a stepping-stone towards a PhD and an academic career in this growing field of study.

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Overview

Passionate about PR and communications? Want to boost your employment prospects? Southampton Solent’s MA PR & Multimedia Communications programme is designed to help graduates build on traditional paradigms of public relations, exploring critically how the PR industry relates to advertising, marketing and journalism.

With an emphasis on the emergence of ‘peer-to-peer’ communications on digital platforms, this course can help improve the employability of both recent graduates and existing practitioners.

- The course curriculum emphasises content creation and management across paid, owned, earned and shared platforms.
- Students study alongside industry experts with a wealth of first-hand insight to share.
- The course is delivered through interactive seminars. These small group sessions allow for open discussion and regular feedback.
- Students will learn how to commission work and manage relationships with advertising, marketing and brand journalism specialists.
- Work placements and freelance projects are a core part of the curriculum, helping to ensure that students graduate with a range of relevant workplace experience.
- Small class sizes allow for flexibility in the curriculum, helping students to tailor the course to their own interests.
- Assignments can be adapted to suit each student’s unique career ambitions or, if they are working, their employer’s needs.
- Students benefit from a range of guest speakers and practical events including a crisis simulation, an ‘eCampaign’ in a day, and participation in industry events.

The industry -

Modern PR practitioners have to grapple with communication that knows no boundaries. The stakeholder relations manager, the corporate journalist, the digital promoter, the brand content manager - these are the jobs of the future, and the graduates filling these posts will need to know how to do their public relations in an integrated way.

The corporate narrative now has to compete with the user generated content. Traditional news and feature journalism is being pushed aside by citizen journalism and brand journalism, causing PR practitioners to re-think their influencer strategies. Advertisers who were once focused on campaigns in print media are now using rich online content, while native advertising is blurring the lines between public relations and advertising. Those who can surf the waves of this multifaceted world will be the most effective (employable) strategic communicators.

The programme -

As the roles of digital newsroom manager, multimedia advertiser, marketing professional, and corporate PR continue to converge, it is increasingly important that students gain first-hand experience of these functions. With opportunities for networking, live client briefs and portfolio development all built into the course, graduates leave Southampton Solent with a wealth of industry relevant experience to show potential employers.

The ‘Professional Development’ unit gives students work-placement and freelance opportunities, enhancing their professional skillset. Students will also be able to pitch for paid work at Solent Creatives, who specialise in connecting students with businesses who need creative support. These projects can help students to strengthen their portfolio of professional work. For full details of each individual unit, please see the ‘course content’ tab.

Learners are encouraged to carry out additional work experience alongside their regular studies. The course team’s close links with industry have helped past students to negotiate placements at top local and national agencies.

As one of the country’s top creative universities (Which? University Student Survey, 2014), Southampton Solent is proud to offer students a range of high-end media facilities. Students also have the opportunity to access an extensive media loans service, where they can borrow high-end video production and photography equipment.

The course concludes with a major project or dissertation. This is another opportunity for students to specialise their knowledge, conducting in-depth research into an area that complements their unique career ambitions.

Course Content

Units include:

- PR in a Multimedia World (30 credits) - this unit covers how the theory and practice of PR changes as communication moves across paid, owned, shared and earned media. Paradigm shifts from traditional PR approaches are considered in the context of actual PR campaigns currently running.
- Multimedia Campaign Planning (30 credits) - students get the opportunity to develop and implement a number of campaign activities across a wide variety of platforms, testing their ability to integrate paid, owned, shared and earned media in a PR campaign.
- Media Measurement & Evaluation (15 credits) - this unit introduces students to the measurement techniques applied in advertising, marketing, promotion and PR sectors, including the evolution of RoE (return on engagement).
- Research Methods (15 credits) - this unit raises the students’ research skills to master’s level and includes SPSS software and other methodologies that are relevant to their particular areas of interest. This is a shared unit.
- Professional Development (30 credits) - this unit positions the MA programme in terms of the student’s career aspiration, identifying skill sets and development needs in a personal development programme. This forms the basis of a freelance/workplace project and informs the student’s choice of dissertation topic.
- Major Project/Dissertation (60 credits) - the culmination of this MA programme. Theory and practice learned in the previous units inform a final research project.

Teaching, learning and assessment -

Work experience:

One unit (Professional Practice) requires a work placement or freelance project to be completed. Students are encouraged to source their own client (through Solent Creatives) or to find a work placement that is appropriate to their career ambitions. The course team will be available to provide support and guidance as necessary.

The placements and projects vary in length, depending on client needs. The minimum required is a two week placement, but on average the client projects last much longer.

Assessment:

Assessment methods include essays, practical portfolios, reflective reports, and campaign outputs. The major project/dissertation unit includes a presentation during the early stages of development. ‘PR in a Multimedia World’ includes an exam.

Our facilities -

We have a fully equipped IT centre with both PC and Mac computers. These feature industry-standard image manipulation, video and audio editing software. Access to camera equipment and professional recording devices for podcast and video creation is highly likely, and access to photographic equipment is always available.

Web-based learning -

Solent’s virtual learning environment (VLE) provides quick online access to assignments, lecture notes, suggested reading and other course information. The unit materials are posted on the VLE and students are expected to have reviewed them prior to attending class. The materials include journal articles, videos and web-based resources.

Why Solent?

What do we offer?

From a vibrant city centre campus to our first class facilities, this is where you can find out why you should choose Solent.

Facilities - http://www.solent.ac.uk/about/facilities/facilities.aspx

City living - http://www.solent.ac.uk/studying/southampton/living-in-southampton.aspx

Accommodation - http://www.solent.ac.uk/studying/accommodation/accommodation.aspx

Career Potential

This course provides students with the skills required to progress onto a range of roles in the public relations and communication industry.

Suitable roles for graduates include:

- Public relations (agency and in-house)
- Marketing
- Digital and social media communications
- Crisis management
- Internal communications
- Research and analysis
- Content management
- Stakeholder relations
- Customer communications analysis
- Brand partnership

Links with industry -

Live client briefs are used for the ‘Multimedia Campaign’ unit. The ‘Professional Practice’ unit requires every student to undertake a work placement or freelance project. Students who are in work while taking the course have the opportunity to adapt the topic of their assignments to suit the needs of their employers. Adaptable units include:

- Dissertation/Final Project
- Multimedia Campaigns
- Professional Practice
- Evaluation and Measurement
- PR in a Multimedia World

There is a strong relationship between the course and the Chartered Institute of Public Relations, as evidenced by the participation of the CIPR Presidents in our eBook in a day events. These events have been organised by the MA students for the past two years.

Transferable skills -

MA PR and Multimedia Communication here at Solent offers students the opportunity to develop multiple transferable skills. Graduates will have gained a range of writing, digital, account management, research presentation, marketing and public speaking skills which are valued in many industries.

Further study -

Graduates will be in a good position to pursue further professional qualifications. Chartered Institute of Public Relations diplomas are available in areas of expertise such as crisis management and internal communication. Membership of the CIPR encourages continued professional development (CPD).

MPhil/PhD options are open to those wishing to pursue academic research and teaching.

Tuition fees

The tuition fees for the 2016/2017 academic year are:

UK and EU full-time fees: £6,500 per year

International full-time fees: £10,930 per year

UK and EU part-time fees: £3,250 per year

International part-time fees: £5,465 per year

Other costs -

Students may travel to central London for an agency visit. This has taken place three times over the past six years. Coach tickets can be found for less than £20, and all day tube passes cost around £10.

Graduation costs -

Graduation is the ceremony to celebrate the achievements of your studies. For graduates in 2015, there is no charge to attend graduation, but you will be required to pay for the rental of your academic gown (approximately £42 per graduate, depending on your award). You may also wish to purchase official photography packages, which range in price from £15 to £200+. Graduation is not compulsory, so if you prefer to have your award sent to you, there is no cost.
For more details, please visit: http://www.solent.ac.uk/studying/graduation/home.aspx

Next steps

Do you want to work on PR campaigns, deliver communications strategies and create exciting multimedia content? Southampton Solent University’s public relations and multimedia communications programme is both academically challenging and industry focused, helping to equip you with the essential skills that PR employers require.

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Digital Marketing is the chosen marketing approach for many companies and is now a major component of any marketing plan. The MSc Digital Marketing degree enables you to develop digital marketing plans and strategies, through an emphasis on solving real problems for real clients, whilst being taught by award winning lecturers who are enthusiastic about their subjects. You will develop the skills to formulate appropriate responses (from both a client and agency perspective) to complex marketing problems, within fast paced, challenging marketing environments.


Course content
You will develop your employability and enhance your CV from day one, with a focus on the skills that employers want within this dynamic industry. Modules in social media marketing, campaign planning, customer insight and global marketing will prepare you for a number of digital marketing opportunities on graduation.

This degree route provides a critical appreciation of the elements which digital marketing strategies cover, including web site development and analytics, consumer behaviour, social media marketing, digital campaign planning and branding within the global marketing context.

You will be introduced to current and relevant examples of digital marketing and be given the opportunity to develop digital marketing plans for a range of companies and situations.

Contemporary issues in digital marketing will be discussed and used in class groups to develop your understanding of the opportunities and multi-channel management decisions facing marketers.

Using this knowledge, allied to the use of models and tools, will prepare you for employment in areas such as, campaign management, paid search advertising, social media marketing and other digital marketing roles.

Fees for 2017

Home fees - 1 year full-time: £8000.00

International fees: £10,920.00

Our facilities
Over the past few years, we’ve redeveloped both of our campuses so that you have the best facilities available for your degree. We pride ourselves on the quality of the learning environment we can offer our students.

At Bognor Regis campus there is an integrated approach to the provision of learning resources and support.

We offer a substantial collection of books, journals and other materials to help you further your research.

A range of study areas for group and quiet study including Wi-Fi areas for laptop use are available, or you can use our open access PC and Mac areas.

We use an electronic learning environment with an expanding portfolio of online library resources from anywhere at any time.

There are also purpose built classrooms for the teacher training courses, as well as lecture and seminar rooms.

Our award winning Learning Resource Centre is at the heart of the campus. It hosts a modern library service with areas for quiet and silent study on both floors.

Also situated in the LRC is the Support and Information Zone, Costa Coffee and over 80 open access work stations.

An equipment loans centre offers laptops, tablets and other electronic devices for short and long term loans.

You will be assigned a Personal Tutor from the start of your course who will work with you throughout your studies to help you achieve your academic best.

Where this can take you
There are a number of roles for which the course will prepare you, both client side, as well as within an agency. These could include account management, campaign management, search engine optimisation and customer relationship management.

Indicative modules
Marketing Management
Consumer Behaviour
Digital Campaign Planning
Social Media Marketing
Global Marketing
Customer Insight and Analytics
Research Methods
Agency Life
Project
Teaching and Assessment
The course is mainly assessed through coursework.

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This MA examines contemporary issues concerning justice. You will learn how to conceptualise and study the possibilities of human rights, going beyond legal formulations to look at the conditions in which human rights claims are made- http://www.gold.ac.uk/pg/ma-human-rights/

Human rights mobilise millions of supporters across borders, inspiring passion and hope. And they operate at and between all the scales involved in globalisation: local, national, international, transnational. They are moral claims to justice. Although often associated with law, human rights are not the same as legal rights – human rights can be claimed where no legal rights are codified, even if changes in the law are invariably called for as part of attempts to realise human rights in practice.

Human rights are carried by different actors:

-grassroots social movements, small Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and huge International Non-Governmental Organisations (INGOs)
-lawyers and judges
-bureaucrats and experts in Inter-Governmental Organisations (IGOs) even, sometimes, national politicans
-journalists, novelists, translators, artists, film-makers

These different actors are often at odds with each other in defining and defending particular justifications of what human rights are and should be.

In this Masters you will learn about how human rights are constructed, exploring framings of human rights through case studies; and you will begin to practice some of the methodologies and methods that are currently used in NGOs and grassroots activist networks trying to remedy global injustices.

The focus on culture that runs through the programme makes for an emphasis on concrete, situated practices and meanings. Can human rights contribute to a global culture in which injustices figure as ‘wrongs’? Or are human rights invariably skewed, constructing injustices in ways that suit international elites better than they suit people who are suffering? Do human rights do violence to local cultures? Are they an appropriate response to local violence? In this MA we contextualise the study of how human rights are constructed in micro-processes, in the media and face-to-face in relation to debates over macro-structures, processes of globalisation and the institutions of global governance.

In terms of social justice, the MA is set up to study human rights beyond narrow, legalistic definitions. We look at what really makes a difference in terms of realising human rights in practice. Can human rights really be constructed in ways that challenge and overturn established social structures? Can rights be claimed in such a way that they can really protect us as human beings against the ‘creative destruction’ of global capitalism, state repression, the subjugation of women, and hatred and violence against minorities of all kinds – sexual, ethnic, religious?

This course covers the following disciplines: sociology, politics, anthropology, law, geography, english, literature, cultural studies, criminology

Contact the department

If you have specific questions about the degree, contact Kate Nash.

Modules & Structure

The MA in Human Rights, Culture and Social Justice is taught in the Department of Sociology, where there are a number of people who are working on areas broadly related to human rights as well as directly on how human rights are constructed and claimed.

In the first part of the course you will take the core module ‘Constructing Human Rights’ in which you will be introduced to debates over the possibilities of human rights, different ways of conceiving culture and the role that is played by a diverse range of organisations involved in challenging injustices connected to globalisation. You will also consider practical attempts to realise human rights.

You will take two short, skills-oriented modules 'Researching Human Rights' and 'Organising Human Rights' in which you will be introduced to methods and skills that will be of direct practical use in working for NGOs (eg evaluating user engagement, team-building and decision-making through role play, tracing the media impact of a campaign).

In the second term, you will choose among a number of options. You can choose to take 'Practicing Human Rights' and make use of some of the skills you have learned in a placement. Students who choose this option find and negotiate a placement in an organisation or a grassroots campaign whose work can be related to human rights and attend a series of workshops that allow them to reflect on the practical work, on their professional skills and on the broader significance of their observations.

While the core modules of the programme are taught by lecturers in Sociology, you may choose your option modules from those that are run here or in other departments, including Politics, Media and Communications, and Anthropology.

Finally you will write a dissertation based on research you will carry out, possibly related to the NGO or network you have worked in, and making use of a range of concepts and methods taught in the Department. You will be supervised by someone with expertise and interest in the topic you are studying and the methodologies and methods you plan to use.

Option modules

You will choose option modules worth 60 credits in Sociology, Media and Communications, the Centre for Cultural Studies, English and Comparative Literature, Anthropology, Politics, Music and Educational Studies.

This includes the following option module, available to Human Rights students only:

Practising Human Rights (30 credits)
This series of workshops accompanies your placement in an organisation or grassroots activist network. We will discuss diaries that each participant will carry out during the placements in the context of broader debates about human rights on the one hand, and about professional practice, organisations and activism on the other hand. As a requirement for this option, you will negotiate a placement in an organisation whose work can be related to human rights or practical involvement in a grassroots campaign.

Skills & Careers

As issues of globalisation and justice are frequently in the media, and government policy in the UK, US, and elsewhere in Europe is now supposed to be guided by considerations of humanitarianism and human rights, there is a need for graduates with knowledge of human rights.

There are openings for careers in organisations including charities, humanitarian and human rights NGOs and even multi-national corporations, many of which are now concerned with their image in terms of human rights.

Funding

Please visit http://www.gold.ac.uk/pg/fees-funding/ for details.

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The MSc Digital Marketing at Liverpool John Moores University will extend your knowledge of traditional marketing and equip you with the new knowledge and approaches needed to reach digital audiences.

-Course available to study full time (1 year) and part time (2 years)
-Programme at the cutting-edge of digital marketing practice, led by staff with strong links to professional bodies
-Developed in partnership with industry and delivered by both academics and industry professionals
-Accreditation by the Institute for Direct and Digital Marketing recognising that course content is of a professional standard relevant to potential marketeers
-Assessment through live client briefs and consultancy or project work brings the opportunity to gain work experience and develop a digital portfolio as a showcase for potential employers

Digital Marketing is one of the biggest growth areas in present times. For those with a talent for understanding brand identity, there are many new and exciting opportunities to explore tone-of-voice, and to make connections through these ever evolving modes of digital communication.
A new breed of marketing professional is in demand, someone who is able to combine traditional marketing methods with new techniques and platforms to reach a digital audience and who is also creative, innovative and responsive.

Initially you will explore digital marketing principles and practices, emerging technologies and consumer behaviour in the digital age. You will develop a good understanding both of traditional marketing and of new ways of working in a digital environment, making the programme relevant to those who have studied marketing and those who are from technology backgrounds.

The IDM accreditation recognises that the course content is of a professional standard relevant to those who want to work in marketing. It gives you the opportunity to take the IDM Certificate in Digital Marketing alongside your studies, a professional qualification widely recognised by employers.

What you will study on this degree

Please see guidance below on modules for further information on what you will study.

Digital Marketing in Context

You will develop a critical, theoretical understanding of the field of digital marketing, gaining an in-depth appreciation of the key areas of digital including email marketing, online promotion, social media management, mobile marketing and SEO

Digital Marketing (current and emerging technologies)

Explore the key concepts and trends within digital marketing while building confidence to work with some of the significant, emerging technologies in this exciting new field. The module provides hands-on, interactive workshops which will allow you to gain the necessary practical skills for working with the various technologies in the field of digital marketing

Marketing, Consumer and Business Insights

By completing this module, you will understand the nature of the marketing function and the importance of marketing within the modern organisation

Digital Marketing Strategy and Planning

This module will provide you with a detailed understanding of how to plan a digital marketing campaign. You will evaluate relevant academic frameworks and up-to-date industry sources will be used to plan a detailed campaign based on a 'live' brief

Digital Marketing Campaign Management

This module complements 'Digital Marketing Strategy and Planning' and allows you to work alongside your client and develop your 'live' project

Research Methods for Digital Marketing

Develop an understanding of the key research methods necessary to analyse important consumer and market trends. This module prepares you for your dissertation

Dissertation

Complete a 15,000 word research study on a theme of your choice

Further guidance on modules

The information listed in the section entitled 'What you will study' is an overview of the academic content of the programme that will take the form of either core or option modules. Modules are designated as core or option in accordance with professional body requirements and internal Academic Framework review, so may be subject to change. Students will be required to undertake modules that the University designates as core and will have a choice of designated option modules. Additionally, option modules may be offered subject to meeting minimum student numbers.

Please email [email protected] if you require further guidance or clarification.

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Digital marketing is driving customer insights, and proves key in improving return on investment and company performance. There is a shortage of skilled people who can manage this process and interpret data to provide a justification for decision making; meaning this MSc Strategic Digital Marketing course is attractive to employers.

Strategic Digital Marketing is an essential aspect of any marketing strategy. By studying this course you will develop the skills and knowledge much sought after in the market place, allowing you to contribute strategically to a business’s success in the digital marketing arena.

You will explore contemporary approaches to strategic marketing in a digital context, and how these can be applied now and in the future. This will give you, your organisation, or prospective employer, a distinct competitive advantage.

The course also provides many opportunities for you to network with fellow students, sharing your experience and workplace ideas, and offers an innovative approach to the issues that today’s marketers face.

The course is currently being considered for accreditation by the IDM (Institute of Direct and Digital Marketing).

See the website http://courses.southwales.ac.uk/courses/1247-msc-strategic-digital-marketing

What you will study

This course focuses on strategic entrepreneurial marketing and the development of new business models and value propositions based on in-depth insights of both customer and industry/market sector analysis.

It has a clear emphasis on the strategic utilisation of digital marketing theory, strategy, tools and tactics as well as analysis and evaluation of key analytics and metrics in meeting organisational key performance indicators.

You’ll study 180 credits on the course. These credits are made up of the following modules:

- Digital Marketing Management (September – December)
On this module you will learn key aspects of strategic digital marketing planning as well as the changing nature of customer markets and strategic business models. You will be expected to set strategic digital marketing objectives to meet strategic business aims.

- Strategic Entrepreneurial Marketing (September – December)
Gain an understanding of key constructs associated with Strategic Entrepreneurial Marketing, Strategic Entrepreneurial Marketing interfaces with business strategy; and the differentiation between Strategic Entrepreneurial Marketing, and normative marketing planning and management.

- Content Marketing and PR (January to March)
You will be provided with a solid foundation for writing and factual story-telling as well as verbal communication within a marketing and PR context.

- Digital Tools, Technologies and Metrics (January to March)
You will learn about how digital tools and technologies can be used to engage and influence customer conversations and interactions as well as customer retention. You’ll also understand and critique best practice and relevant tools and technologies, application, remuneration and controls to deliver results and find out about how digital tools and technologies interface with business activities to meet strategic aims and objectives.

- Campaign Planning for Marketing and PR (April – May)
On this module you will learn about key constructs associated with Campaign Planning for Marketing and PR; and how strategic digital Campaign Planning for Marketing and PR interfaces with overall organisation strategies and actions.

- Research Methods
Develop your understanding and skills of research in a management and/or professional development context whilst undertaking a critical review of research methodologies and methods.

- Dissertation
A significant piece of research into an appropriate area of study.

Learning and teaching methods

The course is delivered full-time daily and is term-based. Part time students, depending on prior qualifications and experience will be counselled on the flexible options available to them.

You will study through a series of lectures, workshops and internship/work-based learning. The course team work closely with digital marketing professionals who co-deliver elements of the course.

Teaching staff come from a range of academic and practitioner backgrounds. Their expertise comes from a wide range of private and public practice areas as well as academic and research-focussed subjects.

Alumni form an important part of delivery through communicating experiences and inspiring our students. Through social media, we have captured graduates who have studied the course and related modules. It is hoped that this group will facilitate networking and information sharing. A LinkedIn course area has been developed to ensure prospective and current students and alumni can engage and build their professional network.

Work Experience and Employment Prospects

The MSc Strategic Digital Marketing draws students from a range of backgrounds who share the common goal of wanting to develop as strategic digital marketers. Graduates should greatly enhance their career prospects across a variety of industries in both private and public sectors but may also choose to start up their own business in this growth area. Career options include Social Media Lead, Digital Marketing Manager, Digital Strategy Manager, Marketing Manager, Digital Communications Manager or E-Marketing Manager.

Throughout the course guest speakers representing employers from public, private and third sector industries and organisations provide students with career advice. These sessions will provide you with a broad overview of the different opportunities available to you.

Assessment methods

You will be assessed on a variety of methods, including individual coursework (reports and portfolio work), group projects (reports, presentations, and case studies) and a dissertation/business research project. There are no examinations.

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The master of arts programs in advertising and public relations are intended for those who wish to acquire advanced understanding of and skills in the development of highly effective persuasive communication. The programs focus on prevailing communication theories, current research findings, and advanced practical techniques. The faculty seeks to educate highly competent, focused students who will be recognized for their leadership qualities: the ability to discern issues both in the practice of their profession and in their role in society; the ability to develop and execute successful communication programs; and the ability to lead others effectively.

Two programs are offered: (1) a two-year thesis program with specialization in advertising or public relations (Plan I), and (2) a one-year professional program combining advertising and public relations (Plan II).

Visit the website https://apr.ua.edu/gradinfo/

Degree Requirements

- Plan I, the Two-Year Research Program -

The two-year master's degree program is intended for students seeking a strong research emphasis in their study of advertising and public relations. The Plan I program focuses on important problems and questions, gathering evidence, and setting standards for inference. The program specifically prepares students in the areas of (a) mastering the body of scholarly knowledge of advertising and public relations, and (b) contributing to the advancement of knowledge in these fields through basic and applied research. Students may decide to continue their studies, pursuing doctorates in advertising or public relations. Students in the Plan I program specialize in either advertising or public relations, learn the concepts and methods involved in productive scholarship, and collaborate with faculty members in conducting research.

Plan I requirements. Plan I is normally a two-year program and requires (a) a minimum of 30 hours of approved graduate courses, (b) demonstration of proficiency in research skills, (c) passing of a comprehensive written examination, and (d) completion and successful defense of a master's thesis. Students admitted to the program with little or no previous coursework in advertising or public relations may be required to take one or more undergraduate courses in the department to supplement their graduate studies.

Plan II, the One-Year Professional Program

The professional program is an intensive, professionally oriented, one-year program that combines advertising and public relations. Recognizing the increasingly close links between the advertising and public relations professions, the Plan II program provides advanced preparation in both disciplines. The program provides intensive training to meet specific objectives. Graduates will be prepared to:

- develop a thorough understanding of the institutions and processes involved in advertising and public relations, through a combined program of study

- use research both to generate communication strategies and to evaluate the success of communication programs

- write idea-driven persuasive communication

- plan, implement, and evaluate media plans for advertising and public relations programs and campaigns

The Plan II program is for recent college graduates who see the advantages of having advanced skills in advertising and public relations. The students will recognize that preparation in the liberal arts, business administration, or communication has provided them with important knowledge but has not sufficiently prepared them in the communication concepts and skills needed to be a leader.

Speaking and writing skills are emphasized in all courses, with frequent papers and presentations. One course each semester emphasizes writing skills involved in the advertising and public relations professions.

Plan II requirements. The one-year Plan II program requires (a) completion of a specific 33-hour program of graduate courses, (b) demonstration of proficiency in research skills, (c) passing of a comprehensive written examination, and (d) completion of a master's project in the course APR 598 Communication Workshop. Students admitted to the program will receive a list of critical readings and will be expected to become familiar with these materials before beginning the program. The program starts with a series of orientation sessions aimed at evaluating each student's grasp of the critical readings and ability to proceed with the program without further background study.

APR Graduate Course Descriptions

Note: Plan I and Plan II programs have different course requirements.

ADVERTISING & PUBLIC RELATIONS COURSES

APR 522. Media Planning: Three hours. Development of media objectives, strategies, and budgets and implementation of media plans for advertising and public relations. Each student prepares and presents a media plan.

APR 550. Communication Research Methods: Three hours. A survey of qualitative and quantitative methods in communication research.

APR 551. Seminar in Communication Theory*: Three hours. A study of the development of selected theories of communication as they pertain to interpersonal, public, and mass communication.

APR 570. Contemporary Advertising and Public Relations: Three hours. An advanced survey of the academic and professional literature underlying the contemporary practice of advertising and public relations.

APR 572. Persuasive Communication: Three hours. The practice of creating, writing, editing, and producing persuasive communication for advertising and public relations. Writing skills are exercised extensively in this course.

APR 582. Advertising and Public Relations Management: Three hours. Problems and decision-making processes involved in the management of advertising and public relations programs and organizations.

APR 583. Research Applications in Advertising and Public Relations: Three hours. Prerequisite: MC 550. Application of research methods and procedures for problem solving and impact assessment in advertising and public relations programs.

APR 590. Visual Communication: Three hours. The practice of developing ideas and creative strategies for professional evaluations about design and its application. Each student prepares a portfolio.

APR 592. Integrated Communication Project. A message-oriented course. Students conceptualize and execute integrated communication programs. Topics vary.

APR 596. Independent Study or Research: One to three hours. Prerequisite: consent of the academic adviser and instructor.

597. Communication Campaign Workshop I: Three hours. Research to develop an advertising and public relations campaign for a specific organization. This is the preparation stage for the major case study prepared by the student in APR 598.

598. Communication Campaign Workshop II (Master’s Project): Three hours. Development and presentation of a complete advertising and public relations plan and proposal for the specific organization studied in APR 597. Integration of theory, concepts, and techniques in a complete communication program.

599. Thesis Research: Three hours. Prerequisite: consent of the academic adviser.

Find out how to apply here - https://apr.ua.edu/gradinfo/applicationadmission/

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If you are a graduate aiming for a career in public relations, this is the course for you. The public relations and media industries are constantly changing. To stay ahead of the game you must develop up-to-date multimedia communications skills and knowledge.

Course details

This course explores the changing nature of the communications landscape in the 21st century and develops your professional skills and experience.

This course gives graduates the freedom to develop up-to-date skills and specialisations for the global digital communications industry.

Working with an academic team, which includes professional journalists, digital content producers and public relation's professionals; you are supported to develop your craft in the latest storytelling techniques to forge a successful career in digital media.

You also work with research active staff to develop reflective awareness of contemporary issues in the communications field and develop your academic skills and writing.

This course is primarily taught in Teesside's purpose built digital working-environments, developing skills in creating meaningful content, which attracts an audience. This course attracts graduates from all over the world and students are offered the opportunity to build a portfolio of work that translates globally.

What you study

Core modules
-Content Production
-Current Issues in Public Relations
-Multimedia Narratives
-Professional Development in Communications
-Researching Communications

And one optional module
-Final Project (Dissertation)
-Final Project (Multimedia Publication Relations Campaign)

Modules offered may vary.

Teaching

Traditional lectures and seminars are employed, particularly around those subjects requiring a detailed, factual knowledge base. We see it as an essential component of the programme that you engage in reflective practice which informs your future personal development.

Our assessment methods range from practical production tasks to traditional essay assignments. You produce a professional-level multimedia public relations campaign addressing a range of styles, genres, platforms and audiences. You produce an essay on a topic related to public relations theory and a formal business report on a new media application in an organisational context.

You write an academic essay which helps provide a broader context for the practical work undertaken for your Final Project.

For your Final Project, you research, analyse and implement a promotional multimedia campaign for a real-life business client.

Employability

A qualification and experience in public relations opens up a vast range of opportunities in all areas of the media and communications industries.

Graduates have forged successful careers internationally, including China, Malaysia, Nigeria and the Middle East. This course has also attracted those currently working in the media industry or looking to translate their experiences working in other countries to the UK jobs market.

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If you are a graduate aiming for a career in public relations, this is the course for you.

Course details

The public relations and media industries are constantly changing. To stay ahead of the game you must develop up-to-date multimedia communications skills and knowledge. This course explores the changing nature of the communications landscape in the 21st century and develops your professional skills and experience.

During this course you work as public relations professionals with industry partners on real-life briefs and in work-based placements. You also work with research active staff to develop reflective awareness of contemporary issues in the communications field and develop their academic skills and writing.

This course is primarily taught in Teesside's purpose built digital working-environments, developing your skills in building meaningful content, which attracts an audience. This course attracts graduates from all over the world and students are offered the opportunity to build a portfolio of work, which translates globally.

What you study

We produce graduates who are confident multimedia public relations professionals, with a range of higher-level professional skills and a reflective awareness of contemporary issues in the communications field. The course focuses on new and emerging areas within the discipline, from both a practical, professional perspective and a critical, analytical point of view. We develop reflective practitioners with sophisticated transferable skills who are able take responsibility for their own future learning and development.

Core modules
-Content Production
-Current Issues in Public Relations
-Multimedia Narratives
-Professional Development in Communications
-Researching Communications

And one optional module
-Final Project (Dissertation)
-Final Project (Multimedia Publication Relations Campaign)

Modules offered may vary.

Teaching

Traditional lectures and seminars are employed, particularly around those subjects requiring a detailed, factual knowledge base. We see it as an essential component of the programme that you engage in reflective practice which informs your future personal development.

Our assessment methods range from practical production tasks to traditional essay assignments. You produce a professional-level multimedia public relations campaign addressing a range of styles, genres, platforms and audiences. You produce an essay on a topic related to public relations theory.

You write an academic essay, which helps provide a broader context for the practical work undertaken for your Final Project.

For your Final Project, you research, analyse and implement a promotional multimedia campaign for a real-life business client or undertake a self-conceived piece of independent research and produce an extended essay under the guidance of a nominated supervisor.

Employability

A qualification and experience in public relations opens up a vast range of opportunities in all areas of the media and communications industries.

Graduates have gone on to forge successful careers in public relations, social media optimisation and events management for a range of local and national companies.

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On this challenging, hands-on course designed by industry professionals, you'll create advertising from your very first week and become adept at communication through practical, studio-based learning. Simulating the advertising industry, you'll work in art director/copywriter partnerships to devise campaigns for real products in a wide range of media, resulting in a thorough and professional portfolio.

From idea conception to delivery, you’ll learn how to work to a client's brief and present your ideas effectively. As a member of Design & Art Direction (D&AD) – the industry's most influential body – the course gives you the opportunity to exhibit your work at the New Blood competition and meet key industry figures, whilst workshops and placements at top international agencies will equip you with the contacts and understanding to win the job you want after graduation.

Based on real agency briefs, you'll undertake the strategic planning, conceptual thinking and execution skills – visual and written – necessary to turn a business objective into an engaging, relevant, coherent campaign. Starting with 'traditional media' (posters, press, radio and TV), the course builds your capabilities to encompass the latest online and social media techniques needed to reach diverse target groups in a dynamic multimedia environment. Identifying and understanding the relevant target audience is critical to a successful campaign, so we'll encourage you to consider the impact of your work within ethical, economic, psychological and socio-political frameworks. You'll also gain the critical understanding which underpins the work of the mature, reflective, professional practitioner.

Students on the course win prestigious awards year after year, in industry competitions including D&AD and YCN.

MA Creative Advertising is a founder member of the D&AD university network.

The Institute of Practitioners in Advertising (IPA) supports our intensive MA Creative Advertising course, which mirrors professional life in an agency creative department as closely as possible. By teaching you to think strategically and to write and art direct advertising across all media, we will help you to develop the skills, knowledge and confidence required for a successful career.

We regularly update a blog to give you a better feel for the course:

Web: MA Creative Advertising blog (http://theschoolofcommunicationdesign.wordpress.com/category/ma-creative-advertising/)

Visit the website https://www.falmouth.ac.uk/creativeadvertising

Building professional experience

A unique feature of the MA, our London Study Week puts you at the heart of the creative advertising industry, building knowledge and making contacts. What's more it will give you a vital and thorough grounding in agency structure and how it corresponds and responds to clients' business. We also visit a leading headhunter, who'll show you a variety of portfolios that demonstrate best practice in terms of creativity and winning jobs.

Our graduates are employed worldwide by agencies, media companies and in-house advertising units such as DDB, Wieden & Kennedy, BBH, the BBC, Saatchi & Saatchi, Havas Worldwide, Figtree, Ogilvy One, Dyson, VCCP, Mindshare, Leo Burnett, TBWA, Agency Republic, McCann-Erickson, Publicis and 180 Amsterdam.

To read about some of our recent student successes in the ad industry, see the section entitled Alumni Profiles.

How the course is taught

You'll be taught in small groups, through individual and team tutorials, seminars and workshops, supported by lectures from key figures in advertising and related media. The course replicates the experience of working in a typical full-service agency and your project work will be delivered within that context. As well as working individually, you'll work in copywriter/art director pairs and groups to strengthen your communication and negotiation skills. Our Virtual Learning Environment provides information to assist you with research and project work.

Course outline

This is a one-year, full-time course delivered over 45 weeks and divided into three 15-week study blocks:

- Study Blocks 1 & 2

Study Block 1 focuses on strategic thinking as the first step in fulfilling clients' briefs. If your specialism is art direction, you'll learn vital layout and typography skills, as well as developing your appreciation of photography, film, illustration and fine art, and their application to advertising. For copywriters, a range of practical projects will further your writing skills, helping you write in a clear, lively and visual style to stimulate your audience.

During London Study Week, we visit a number of major advertising agencies (see Building professional experience).

- Study Block 3

In Study Block 3, you'll produce a portfolio that will help your transition into this competitive industry. Working with a partner – copywriter or art director – your portfolio can include live projects negotiated with agencies and clients, supported and advised by the course team.

The course's practical elements are substantiated by theoretical studies in Visual Culture & Communication, where you'll research and analyse advertising within changing cultural contexts. The Applied Technology unit gives you hands-on IT training, including using software packages like InDesign, Photoshop, imaging, file conversion, typography and web development.

MA Creative Advertising course map (https://www.falmouth.ac.uk/sites/default/files/download/ma_creative_advertising_course_map_0.pdf)

Facilities

- Full IT facilities
- Course-specific computer suite
- Large Mac suite where most of the IT lectures take place

Assessment

- Assessment at the end of each study block
- Combination of visual, verbal and written assignments
- Final, external assessment takes place in September

Careers

Potential careers include:

- Copywriter, art director or creative director
- Strategic planner
- Marketing director, communications officer or event manager
- Web content producer
- Research and further education

Interview and selection process

Along with your application form you will need to send us at least three other pieces of creative work and answer the creative brief (below). Your creative work samples can be anything you feel is appropriate such as creative writing, photographs, videos, drawings, films, 3D work.

MA Creative Advertising creative brief (https://www.falmouth.ac.uk/sites/default/files/download/ma_creative_advertising_creative_brief_2015.pdf)

Once you have applied the course team will assess your application. If we think you have the potential to study at Falmouth we will invite you to an interview. We would really like to see you in person but we can hold a telephone interview if this is not possible. Where possible we like to interview at our postgraduate open days, but we do hold interviews throughout the year.

Find out how to apply here - https://www.falmouth.ac.uk/apply

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The Cross-Cultural Communication and Media Studies MA provides theoretical, research and practical training in areas of international and intercultural communication and the media. It combines theory and practice of journalism, public relations practice, and theoretical analysis of the media.

The Media Studies pathway is a specialism on the Cross-Cultural Communication MA. It is designed for students who wish to combine the study of cross-cultural communication with developing skills and knowledge relevant to various aspects of media.

This specialist pathway is delivered by academic staff in media and cultural studies from the School of Arts and Cultures.

The pathway is suitable if you have some journalism and/or PR knowledge through your undergraduate studies or voluntary work. It is also suitable for journalists or PR professionals wishing to develop academic knowledge and research methods. The pathway draws on our research in media, communication and cultural studies.

You will develop:
-Critical understanding of media, culture and society
-Knowledge to theorise and analyse media, journalism and public relations
-Knowledge of media law and advertising regulations in a transnational context
-An understanding of strengths and weaknesses of different types of data dissemination
-Analytical and critical skills to assess and conduct research in the field of media, journalism and PR
-The ability to deliver and evaluate a PR event in the public, private and voluntary sectors
-Skills to set up a campaign network and deliver PR campaign messages
-Skills to produce effective press releases and script, shoot and edit digital films
-Skills to produce news reports in a range of media forms
-Skills to script, shoot and edit digital films

Delivery

Modules are delivered through a range of means, including:
-Lectures
-Seminars
-Workshops
-Group projects

Each module tends to last one semester. Some optional modules are taught in short, intensive blocks and/or on occasional weekends.

The course consists of three main parts, each comprising 60 credits.

Work experience

You are encouraged to apply your research interests to real world case studies, particularly of international organisations or workplaces with which you have a connection.

For example, your empirical project submitted in research file three can be in connection with voluntary work (for a charity or NGO) or an internship, arranged over the summer towards the end of the course.

As a part time student you can conduct a research project of relevance to your employer and/or industry.

[[Pathway[[
The Cross-Cultural Communication MA has six specialist pathways:
-Applied Linguistics
-Education
-International Management
-International Marketing
-Media
-International Relations

Facilities

As a student in the School of Education, Communication and Language Sciences you'll have access to facilities and a growing collection of online resources, including:
-A well-stocked Education Resource Centre
-Language Analysis Lab
-A phonetics lab
-An audio-video lab
-A recording studio

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Why take this course?

As technologies continue to develop in terms of availability and functionality, even greater opportunities will arise for those individuals who are able to combine traditional marketing insight with a true understanding of digital technology, capturing these benefits and articulating them at both an academic and vocational level. These individuals will be at the forefront of the on-going “digital revolution”.

If you have a good undergraduate degree in business, technology, computing, design, psychology or other relevant subject, this course will allow you to build on your previous degree providing you with knowledge, technical skills and practical experience of digital media and marketing concepts.

What will I experience?

You will be taught by academically qualified and enthusiastic staff with relevant experience including, research, consultancy and links with industry.

You will also benefit from our wide links with companies and organisations willing to provide opportunities for invited guest speakers and live case studies.

What opportunities might it lead to?

Graduates of this programme have gone on to successful careers in digital marketing, social media, e-commerce and mobile advertising in all types of businesses around the world. In addition, this programme provides a solid basis for entrepreneurial-minded students who wish to start their own digitally-based businesses.

Module Details

The aim of this programme is to make you aware of the current practices relating to digital marketing. You will become aware of the latest developments in the field and you will also be equipped with the practical skills to implement them.

MA Digital Marketing includes two teaching periods and is followed by 2-3 months of independent study during which time you complete a practical project.

Teaching Period 1

Essentials of Marketing: This will provide you with a solid foundation for the advanced study of marketing. No prior knowledge of marketing is assumed but students will be expected to assimilate information rapidly and reflect upon the concepts discussed.

Contemporary Issues in Marketing: This unit will examine a number of contemporary issues related to marketing theory and practice. The unit will draw extensively on the expertise of industry experts and students will be expected to engage with the issues that marketing managers are dealing with.

Digital Marketing Strategy: The unit focuses on examining the strategies and methods used to design and manage digital media based marketing campaigns. An intrinsic part of this unit is to develop an understanding of the importance of applying a range of analytical and conceptual models to the technical and creative aspects of design of digital media marketing

Teaching Period 2

Digital Communication and Media Development: You will review the digital media development process, assess the potential of a range of applications and use software and multimedia-authoring tools to develop a digital marketing campaign.

Digital Media Marketing Development Project: The project enables you to demonstrate and showcase what you have learnt during the taught programme.

The project consists of:
Systems specification for a digital marketing campaign
Functional model/prototype developed from the above, using appropriate software tools
Critical assessment of the project in terms of design, functionality and end user interface

Programme Assessment

Teaching methods range from tutor-led presentation of material, in-class exercises to case study analysis, problem solving exercises, student presentation and in-class discussion. There will be significant use and exploration of marketing software systems and media application software.

Assessment will take the form of coursework assignments which may involve group work, presentations, case study analyses or reports and examinations which may be closed or open book. You will be allocated a personal tutor for the duration of their programme to offer you help and advice during your studies. A project supervisor is allocated to each student in April/May and provides support throughout the project period.

Student Destinations

On graduating from this course, you will possess the knowledge and practical skills to utilise digital media in the marketing environment. Research indicates that this combination of skills is in short supply and so highly sought after by many companies and organisations. You will have a distinct marketing speciality that will enable you to differentiate yourself in the employment market.

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This course is designed to produce the future leaders of the Public Relations Industry. You will not only learn the practical skills required to embark on a career in PR but also the research and analysis skills that will help you get ahead. You will create campaigns, pitch to clients, stage a press conference and create videos and blogs, as well as write research reports, essays and a dissertation. You will also explore issues affecting the industry, such as professional ethics and the impact of digital media.

The course has close links to the London-based PR industry, and is one of a select few chosen by the professional body PRCA for its University partnership initiative. These connections with leading PR practitioners help you gain the practical knowledge and understanding you need to work in PR.

Course content

The course combines practice skills with analytical tools and is highly participative. You will take part in workshops, debates, seminars, presentations and group exercises including making pitches and presenting creative campaign ideas. The course runs for one year (full-time) or two years (part-time).

There are no formal examinations on this course. You are assessed on course work including essays, presentations, blogs, group work and your participation in class exercises.

Modules

The following modules are indicative of what you will study on this course.

Core modules
-CONTEMPORARY THEORY AND ISSUES IN PR
-DISSERTATION RESEARCH SKILLS
-PLANNING AND MANAGING A PR CAMPAIGN
-PUBLIC RELATIONS AND THE MEDIA
-UNDERSTANDING PUBLIC RELATIONS

Optional modules - The option modules are taught by leading practitioners and allow you to develop your interest in specialist sectors within the PR industry. You choose two option modules.
-ADVERTISING PLANNING AND STRATEGY
-BRAND MANAGEMENT AND COMMUNICATIONS
-CAMPAIGNING FOR SOCIAL CHANGE
-CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS
-FASHION PR
-ONLINE PR
-POLITICAL COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Associated careers

This course is particularly relevant if you want to start, or to progress, a career in public relations or one that involves communications with either internal or external stakeholders.

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The Media and Public Relations MA gives you the opportunity to combine public relations practice with theoretical analysis of the media, with the latter being contextualised within social, cultural, economic and political issues.

The course is suitable both for students who have some PR knowledge through their undergraduate studies or voluntary work, and PR professionals who wish to develop their academic knowledge and research methods.

Teaching draws on current research carried out by specialists in media, communication and cultural studies. You will develop:
-A critical understanding of media, culture and society
-Knowledge to theorise and analyse media and public relations
-Knowledge of media law and advertising regulations in a transnational context
-An understanding of strengths and weaknesses of different types of data dissemination
-Analytical and critical skills to assess and conduct research in the field of media and PR
-The ability to deliver and evaluate a PR event in the public, private and voluntary sectors
-Skills to set up a campaign network and deliver PR campaign messages
-Skills to produce effective press releases and script, shoot and edit digital films

Delivery

The course consists of compulsory and optional modules and a dissertation which enables you to undertake independent research into a theme or issue relating to public relations.

Part-time students take 80 credits of compulsory modules in year one and 100 credits (40 credits optional modules and the 60 credits research dissertation) in year two.

Teaching is conducted through a variety of forms including lectures, seminars, workshops, discussion groups. You are expected to work both independently and in groups, and to read widely, participate actively in discussions and develop topics for investigation based on advice from tutors. Modules are assessed by coursework which consists of essays, oral presentations, reports, projects and dissertation.

Accreditation

This course is fully accredited by the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR), Europe's largest PR professional body.

You will be affiliated to the CIPR North East regional group. You are welcome to attend any of the events that the group offers to its members at competitive prices, including:
-Meetings
-Breakfast briefings
-Seminars

Membership allows you to network with members. You can seek career advice and guidance, as well as interviewees for dissertation projects.

Facilities

Most of the teaching and learning on this course takes place in the Armstrong building. The Armstrong building has been redeveloped to provide spaces that create the appropriate environment for the delivery of high quality teaching, learning and research, including lecture theatres, seminar rooms, PC clusters and student lounges.

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