communication, media and culture - Oxford Brookes University ...

COMMUNICATION,
MEDIA AND CULTURE
BA (Hons) or BA/BSc (Hons) combined

Johnny Pawlik studied Communication, Media and Culture as he wanted to pursue a
career in advertising and marketing.
The CMC course offers many modules that are both interesting and give practical knowledge
which is extremely useful in a variety of work environments. Assignments are all coursework-based
which was really good for me as I feel that my true potential cannot be shown in exams.
The course lecturers are all really passionate about their subjects which really motivated me as
a student. All staff are friendly and approachable. This is particularly important especially if you
are ever struggling with assignments. Numerous students also get together after seminars to
discuss topics and help one another out.
Oxford Brookes is a culturally rich university and there are loads of societies that have enabled
me to make close friends with people from all over the world.
For more student profiles visit www.history.brookes.ac.uk

WHY
STUDY
COMMUNICATION,
MEDIA AND
CULTURE?
Communication, Media and Culture is an exciting,
contemporary subject that will provide you with the skills that
are vital in today’s competitive world. At Oxford Brookes you
can choose the field that interests you most, leading to an
understanding of how communication works at all levels.
Contents
2 Why choose Oxford Brookes? 4 Teaching and learning
5 Research and expertise 6 Course Structure 7 Career choices
8 Modules 13 Key Facts
1

WHY
CHOOSE
OXFORD
BROOKES?
Distinctive features
n
n
n
n
Choice of single or combined honours
Internationally recognised course tutors
First rate facilities
Oxford is a media and communications
hotspot
Established reputation
Our course tutors have a range of interests and
expertise and many are internationally recognised
for their work.
Student choice
We use a variety of assessment methods
alongside more traditional formats such as
essays and presentations. Our aim is to ensure
that you develop your particular strengths and
interests, as well as helping you to develop
communication and research skills for the world
beyond the university.
Study abroad
We encourage students to study abroad as part of
their degree programme. You can study for one or
two semesters at an approved institution in Europe,
the USA, Canada or Australia. The study credits
you earn abroad will be transferred to your Brookes
degree programme.
2
,,
The best part about studying at Oxford Brookes is its location. Oxford is a beautiful, vibrant
city visited by people all over the world for its culture, architecture and history. One in five of
Oxford’s population is a student, making the city even more welcoming to students. There
are plenty of friendly faces on campus creating a real sense of community.
Remi Edun, graduate

Support
Throughout your time at Brookes you will receive
excellent support from our dedicated staff, both
academically and personally. From academic
advisers and student support co-ordinators, to
specialist subject librarians and other learning
support staff, we will support you to ensure that
you get the best out of your studies.
Our student support co-ordinators are there
to support you in all aspects of your academic
career, from module choices to any personal
issues you may experience. We want your time
at Brookes to be as enjoyable and successful as
possible. That’s why we provide all the facilities
you need to be relaxed, happy and healthy
throughout your studies.
Through our Upgrade service we offer advice
on all aspects of study, from planning and
writing essays to statistical analysis, either in a
one-to-one situation or as a drop-in session.
Upgrade is a free service available to all
students at any level, and is unique to Oxford
Brookes.
www.brookes.ac.uk/services/upgrade
Resources
With over half a million books, DVDs and
CDs, a vast range of databases, e-journals
and reference materials, the library provides
all the resources you need for your study
of Communication, Media and Culture. Our
dedicated CMC librarian will help you access
relevant materials and guide you through the
huge range of information available to you.
Online Resources
Core materials relating to learning and
assessment are available online through
our virtual learning portals. These include
lecture schedules, module guides, supporting
materials, guidelines and criteria for coursework
along with notes on essay writing and report
presentation.
3

TEACHING
AND
LEARNING
One of the key features of the Communication, Media and Culture
course is the active participation of students in the process of learning.
Teaching
Our teaching involves a mixture of lectures,
seminars, tutorials and online methods, and
emphasises the role of students in initiating
enquiry, gathering information, and analysing
and presenting their findings.
Throughout the course you will be taught by
specialist lecturers with a wide range of interests
who research and publish in many of the areas
you will be investigating. This ensures that
you are introduced to the latest debates and
developments within the field.
Assessment
We use a range of forms of assessment, but
you are graded wholly on coursework. Wherever
possible your assignments are designed to
relate to real-life situations and reflect your own
interests.
As well as written work, some modules provide
the opportunity for group work and practicebased
assessment in order to assist you in
developing the key skills you will need for the
world of work.
4
,,
I definitely feel that I have improved my interpersonal skills and ability to work as part of a
team. I hope to find employment in creative advertising after I complete my degree.
Ewa K. Semenowicz, undergraduate

RESEARCH
AND
EXPERTISE
Our course tutors have a range of interests and expertise and many are
internationally recognised for their work.
Research and expertise
Communication, Media and Culture is recognised
for its excellent teaching and international research
reputation, allowing students to learn from the very
latest academic thinking.
Our lecturers are regularly asked by the media to
comment on issues currently in the news, such
as the right to privacy versus public interest, and
the relationship between creative industries, public
funding and commercial interests. They publish
widely, and are frequently invited to present their
work at national and international conferences.
Will I get involved?
We value research highly and actively
encourage you to become a researcher in
your own right. By designing and undertaking
your own research you will develop excellent
analytical and independent study skills, adding
weight to your CV.
,,
There’s so much to learn... there are a variety of different lecturers with different specialisms
who are really enthusiastic and helpful
Fiona Doran, graduate
5

COURSE
STRUCTURE
Communication, Media and Culture at Oxford Brookes offers a huge range
of modules, allowing you to select and explore those aspects of the field
that most interest you.
The modules that make up the programme are
organised around four key themes:
Interpersonal and Institutional:
These are modules that address interpersonal
and psychological aspects of communication
and identity formation, as well as questions
of corporate, organisational and institutional
communication such as management, business,
marketing, branding and corporate identity.
Production and Practical:
These are applied modules in which participants
learn how to use a form of communication
technology to create a product, including video
production, web design and computer-aided
design, or cultivate a practical skill such as
linguistic analysis, research methodologies, or
foreign language teaching.
Cultural and Critical:
These are modules that reflect on the changing
nature of contemporary culture, and the identities
and values of those who live within it. They focus
on the impact of online communication, digital
technologies and social networking, and the
influence of the rapidly-evolving modern media on
all our lives.
Language and Linguistics:
These are modules that investigate some aspect
of language, linguistics and discourse, such as the
importance of English as a global language, how
we manage conversations and interpret meaning,
how language develops in children, and the power
of language to persuade and shape our thinking.
During your time studying on the course, you
can choose to specialise in one or more of these
themes, or you can select a range of modules
from across all four themes, depending on your
interests.
6

CAREER
CHOICES
Ask any employer what skills they look for and you can be certain that
the ability to communicate will be high up on the list.
Research indicates that communication
skills are among those most highly valued by
employers in all sectors of the economy. In an
increasingly media saturated world, employers
need graduates with a critical understanding of
how the media and communications work at
individual and organisational levels.
Like other humanities degrees, Communication,
Media and Culture offers valuable skills such
as analytical thinking, research skills, selfdiscipline
and effective written and spoken
communication
Our graduates enter a very wide range of
careers, from marketing, advertising and
journalism to the civil service. Other relevant
employment sectors include media-based
industries, public relations, education, charity
fundraising, hospitality, film production,
publishing, web marketing and international
organisations such as the British Council.
Our Careers and Employment Centre is on
hand throughout your time at Oxford Brookes,
guiding your development from undergraduate
to professional. An invaluable resource to all
students, the Centre provides a wealth of
information throughout your studies, from career
guidance and advice, to application procedures
and practical interview skills.
www.brookescareerscentre.co.uk
7

MODULES
All our modules are reviewed regularly to ensure that they respond to
developments in the subject area and the needs of employers. The list
below is indicative of the range of modules that are currently available.
8
YEAR ONE
Understanding Communication
This module introduces you to the key
concepts and theories in the study of
communication. We will look at cultural
differences in communication, and how models
of communication can be applied to the real
world. You will be given the opportunity to
investigate how we learn to communicate and
how behaviour contributes to the effectiveness
of human interaction.
Understanding Media
Introduces the key concepts, theories and
themes within the study of the media. You will
investigate and critically reflect on different
aspects of mass communication and explore
the impact of contemporary media technologies
on individuals and society.
Academic Literacies: Communication
The aim of the module is to equip you with the
essential tools, skills and concepts needed for
the effective study of Communication, Media
and Culture in a university context.
Understanding Culture
You will study different aspects of popular
culture, the impact of global and digital culture,
the importance of race, gender and sexuality
within contemporary culture, and the ways in
which all these affect you.
Understanding Language
This module introduces you to key concepts in
the study of language and its use in contexts of
communication. It develops an understanding
of language description and associated
terminology and introduces students to wellestablished
frameworks for linguistic analysis
such as functional grammar, discourse analysis
and pragmatics. Students will learn how to
apply these concepts and analytical frameworks
to the analysis of written and spoken language.
You will develop insights into the nature and the
process of language use in communication.

YEARS 2 AND 3
Communication, Culture and Organisations
The module focuses on the importance of
communication within organisations from
both an individual and corporate perspective.
Corporate identity and culture will be examined
to help you understand the complexity of the
modern workplace. How do companies brand
themselves and their employees? Do we
lose a sense of identity within corporations or
find ourselves, through a sense of belonging
to an organisation with a strong culture?
The module will emphasise the positive
ways to encourage better communication
through an understanding of issues that
cause misunderstandings and conflict and
suggest ways to facilitate better organisational
communication.
Video Planning and Production
You will learn how to communicate effectively
through the medium of video through theoretical
and practical study. You will be introduced to
the various skills involved in producing a video,
such as script writing, budgeting, schedule
planning and time management.
Critical Media Literacies
Develops your understanding of a range of
critical approaches to media analysis. You will
be introduced to significant media theorists and
will consider the application and importance of
their ideas for constructing meaning in media
texts from individual, cultural and institutional
perspectives.
Design for Online Communication
Designing a successful website requires
specialist skills and knowledge. At its best,
effective online communication combines
theory, technical knowledge and creativity. This
module considers issues of design, layout,
usability and accessibility in the construction
of contemporary websites, and examines
what it takes to produce a site that is both
aesthetically pleasing and easily navigable. You
will be introduced to the fundamental practical
elements of web design, including HTML and
CSS, and create a website of your own design
using established software applications. No
prior experience of web design is required.
Intercultural Communication
Introduces you to an understanding of
intercultural 'self' and 'other'. The module
examines the processes involved in intercultural
contact and the role of cultural identity. You will
be shown how to examine your own cultural
identity from a critical 'outsider' perspective,
and how to use this understanding of your
own cultural bias in the co-construction of
intercultural exchanges and relationships in a
culturally diverse world.
Persuasive Communication
Asks the question ‘what are the strategies
and techniques that allow us to communicate
our knowledge of the world, and of ourselves,
to a variety of public and professional global
audiences?’ The module answers the question
by exploring the creative processes and
techniques of persuasive messaging. We will
explore what makes messaging effective,
attractive and ethical as well as looking at the
influences of audience and genre.
Methodology of Foreign Language Teaching
An introduction to the theory and practical
application of the principles of second or foreign
language teaching at secondary or adult levels.
You will develop an awareness of a range of
teaching techniques and apply these to the
language classroom. The module leads to
familiarity with aspects of grammar, vocabulary,
pronunciation and classroom management,
all part of the language teacher's repertoire.
The module also raises students' awareness
of issues in reading, writing and speaking
when teaching these skills in the classroom.
The module includes an important element of
microteaching in small groups.
New Media and Youth Identities
Considers how technologies and trends
such as mobile phones, gaming and social
networking sites offer new ways of expressing
and communicating selfhood, and how they
shift perceptions of private and public identity.
The convergence of new technologies and
of users/producers, and the commoditisation
of virtual identities will be considered, and
we will reflect on issues of engagement and
exclusion in terms of gender, age, class and
geopolitics, and also on adult perceptions and
representations of digital worlds. 9

10
Writing Technologies
You will examine the impact of the technology
of writing on individuals and society. Starting
with Socrates' infamous discussion of the
origins and doubtful value of writing, the module
goes on to examine Marshall McLuhan's
complementary analyses of preliterate societies
and the profound cultural changes that are
brought about by writing and print. Over the
course we will consider the philosophical,
historical, cultural and political importance of
different writing technologies and modes of
written communication, such as handwriting,
print, type, text and hypertext.
Group Dynamics
Much of the world's work is undertaken by
groups, and face-to-face interaction in small
groups is an important feature of most people's
everyday lives. Whether the group is a family, a
sports team, a work group, a network of friends
or a group of students working on a university
assignment, group membership has a profound
impact on us as individuals, shaping our
feelings, judgements and actions. This module
draws on research in the emerging field of
group dynamics and will be of interest to those
wanting to understand how groups function.
Publishing in the Digital Age
An examination of how digital technology is
revolutionising the publishing industry. The
module studies the impact of new technology
on the printed word, from the arrival of desktop
publishing systems to the interactive book,
focusing on current developments. Business
models are investigated alongside current digital
publishing strategies and practices.
Publishing Media Workflow
You will explore the operational roles of the
editorial and production departments within
the publishing process, and the skills and
knowledge for the management of a publishing
project. Basing its approach on market
considerations, the module focuses on the
principles of visual and graphic communication,
and production and delivery in a digital
environment. Particular attention is paid to the
effects of digital technology on the ways in
which products are developed and produced,
and opportunities afforded to publishers to
produce for different delivery environments
Cultures of Publishing
Through a combination of lectures and
seminars the module examines the culture and
ideology of post-1945 publishing. We consider
the development of publishing in this period,
its contemporary practice and likely future
developments. It also focuses on the publishing
of contemporary fiction, exploring phenomena
such as literary prizes, the interaction of
the media with the publishing industry, and
through readings of bestselling texts of the
period, asking how notions of literary value are
constructed.
Forensic Linguistics
Refers to the analytical study of texts which
have crime and criminality as a central issue.
We examine the concepts and methodologies
in forensic linguistic analysis, looking at the
ways linguistic analysis is applied to evidence
and documentation in criminal cases. Forensic
linguistics has been employed by government
intelligence agencies around the world in
national security and plays an important role
in political discourse. We will examine how
forensic linguistics has been employed in
these contexts by considering some relevant
examples of forensic linguistic investigation.
Analysing English Language
Looks at the theoretical and analytical
framework for the analysis of spoken and
written texts. You will be introduced to
systemic-functional linguistics models used in
the analysis of texts, exploring the relationship
between context and language in a range of
contexts.
Language, Culture & Globalisation
This module examines the ways in which
language operates in local and global contexts
as a means of socio-cultural representation. It
will explore sociolinguistics and the globalisation
of English as an international language. Topics
include the role of language in politics, gender,
and globalisation, the standardisation of
language and linguistic imperialism.
Children and the Media
You will explore the way in which children
interact with different forms of media and
consider this from a variety of perspectives
including developmental, sociological and

educational. The module will consider the
ways in which children react to and learn from
different forms of media, for example television,
video games, computer, mobile and imagining
technologies.
Learning Through Social Interaction
The module will examine a variety of learning
interactions in formal and informal settings. It
will explore the relationship between language,
understanding and learning contexts. The
content will draw from the fields of social
psychology, education, language studies and
communication. You will have the opportunity
to extend your understanding of the social
dynamics of learning by engaging with relevant
academic research and analysing it in the light
of your own experience.
Philosophy of Language
An introduction to one of the dominant
contemporary traditions in philosophy. The
Anglo-American analytic tradition places
great emphasis upon understanding how
language works. The aim of this module is to
provide students with a grounding in the basic
approaches to meaning and reference found in
the work of Frege, Ayer, Wittgenstein, Austin,
Grice, Quine, Putnam, Evans, Dummet, Searle,
Strawson, and so-called 'ordinary language'
philosophers. The use of these theories in other
areas of philosophy will also be explored.
Culture, Gender and Sexuality
An exploration of the relationship between
issues of gender, sexuality and culture as key
factors in human identity, development and
society. The module critiques traditional and
static understandings of gender and sexuality,
drawing on the insights of a diversity of
disciplines including those of gender studies,
critical theory, queer theory, feminist theology
and feminist criticism.
Psychology of Communication
Provides you with an opportunity to examine
in depth the communication process from a
psychological perspective. We will explore
the process of communicating meaning from
a psycholinguistic and a social cognitive
perspective. We will look at how individuals
make sense of their own communications
and those of other people in a social setting.
Examples of interpersonal communication will
be looked at, in particular the use of social
media and the internet.
Cities and Society
The module examines multiple perspectives on
the city as a global phenomenon. It examines
the rise and, for some, decline of cities. Cities
are seen as centres where creative movements
and changes have occurred throughout their
history. They have been a meeting point for
diverse groups who use urban space differently
and have unequal access to living space and
economic opportunities. We examine these
processes and how they impact upon the
culture, people and physical space of cities.
You will be encouraged to develop a critical
understanding of these various processes.
Digital Product
Investigates the practical aspects of
constructing a digital product. The current
state of digital publishing and likely future
developments are reviewed in a variety of
publishing arenas. We will examine the initiation,
design and production of an enhanced eBook
distributed on the web. Workshops enable
students to further their practical ICT skills in the
publication of a product using skills developed
in earlier modules.
Print and Society
Explores the impact of print on British culture,
socially, politically and from an economic
viewpoint. The module examines print as an
agent of social transformation and the role of
the publisher in the eighteenth, nineteenth and
early twentieth centuries.
Critical Discourse Analysis
An introduction to the key concepts and
debates in critical approaches to the study of
texts, looking at the theory and methodological
approaches to critical discourse analysis.
Incidences of written and spoken discourse in
a number of public genres, both nationally and
globally, will be explored. We will examine the
concept of 'legitimate' interpretation of texts
and you will have the opportunity to debate the
texts under discussion.
11

Wittgenstein's Later Philosophy
Designed to introduce you to the mature work
of Ludwig Wittgenstein (1889-1951), one of
the most influential thinkers in the history of
philosophy. Particular emphasis is placed upon
his masterpiece Philosophical Investigations in
which he attempts to dissolve many problems
central to philosophy through an investigation
of language and its use. The module contrasts
Wittgenstein’s radical conception of philosophy
with that found in other works, including those
of his younger self.
Dissertation
You will undertake an in-depth study of
a chosen topic relevant to the field of
Communication, Media and Culture with an
outcome of a dissertation of 8000-10000
words.
Interdisciplinary Dissertation
You will undertake an in-depth study of a
chosen topic relevant to your chosen field
including Communication, Media and Culture
with an outcome of a dissertation of 7000-
10,000 words. Students taking this module
must also register for the interdisciplinary
module in their other field.
Independent Study in Communication,
Media and Culture
You will have the opportunity to undertake
independent study, either individually or
in a group, on an appropriate topic in
agreement with the module leader and
under the supervision of staff in the field of
Communication, Media and Culture.
12

KEY
FACTS
DURATION
Full time:
3 years
Part time:
Up to 6 years
HOW TO APPLY
Application is
through UCAS. See
our website for course
codes
TYPICAL
OFFERS
A level:
BBC or equivalent
IB Diploma:
30 points
Advanced Diploma:
Level 3 will be
considered
BTEC Diploma in a
relevant field of study
at DMM
TEACHING
LOCATION
Harcourt Hill Campus
ACADEMIC
FACULTY
Faculty of Humanities
and Social Sciences
Contact tel +44 (0) 1865 484848 email query@brookes.ac.uk www.history.brookes.ac.uk
13

Oxford Brookes University
Harcourt Hill Campus
Oxford
OX2 9AT
tel: +44 (0)1865 484848
query@brookes.ac.uk
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3840