MDS-30018 - Module Specification
School of Humanities
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

Programme/Approved Electives for 2020/21

Available as a Free Standing Elective

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2020/21

This module is designed to give students some experience of working in a media, communications or related placement. This may be a local newspaper, TV, or radio company, a news agency, or small TV production company. It may be working within newer online forms of media or working in the public sector on a media project for a local council or hospital, for example. In negotiation with the Module Leader, students will undertake one or more tasks or projects which have been determined by this external organisation. It may involve students working for some time off campus, perhaps on the premises of the external organisation. Students will experience working for a specific client, to their brief and deadlines, and begin to understand how they and their work relate to others in that or similar organisations. This experience should allow students both to reflect on and improve their current skills and understandings, and provide them with the valuable experience many employers are looking for in a competitive industry Students will be required to locate their own placement but under the supervision of your Module Leader. (Assessment: Project Report, 3000 words, 70%; Career Portfolio, 2000 words, 30%.)

Provide students with first-hand experience of the day-to-day operations of a relevant working environment and help them to learn the disciplines, routines, and relationships within a workplace.
Provide students with an understanding of service needs and experience of working to an external brief.
Allow students to develop essential skills that enable them to take more informed decisions about their career goals and enhance their employment prospects.

Intended Learning Outcomes

understand the aims and priorities of an external organisation; will be achieved by assessments: 1,2
work independently and effectively to a set goal; will be achieved by assessments: 1,2
reflect on their own performance and make recommendations for improvement; will be achieved by assessments: 2
help design aims, and organise, modify and monitor projects; will be achieved by assessments: 1
evaluate outcomes of work, judge situations, and solve problems; will be achieved by assessments: 2
develop career-related skills in seeking a placement and presenting oneself to an employer. will be achieved by assessments: 1

Study hours

15 hours formal and informal sessions with tutor
60 hours independent study work - securing placement and preparing for assessment
75 hours in placement

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment