Global Cultures (MA)

How will I be taught?

Forms of teaching and assessment, formative and summative, are varied and stimulating, incorporating a wide range of methods and approaches. These approaches include lectures, seminars and tutorials, in which you will have the opportunity to benefit from discussions, group work and writing tasks. The skills subsequently developed during the taught (Postgraduate Diploma) stage of the degree will prepare you for the process of researching and writing your dissertation in the second stage of the programme: the master’s degree (dissertation) Stage.

During the Postgraduate Diploma stage you will be taught through a combination of lectures, tutorials, workshops and seminars. Lectures take a range of forms but generally provide a broad structure for each subject, introduce key concepts and convey relevant up-to-date information. In tutorials and seminars, you will have the opportunity to discuss specific themes or topics, to consolidate and get feedback on individual learning and to develop skills in oral presentation. Communication skills are developed in tutorials, where you will be required to make individual contributions to group study, for example by summarising a particular reading or debate for the group.

Participation in diverse learning activities, such as small-group discussions, debates, oral presentations, independent research tasks and written assignments will develop your intellectual and presentation skills.

The School of Modern Languages at Cardiff University benefits from a regular programme of  talks by visiting scholars whose specialisms are relevant to the programme. You will be able to attend these talks in order to broaden your understanding of issues that are key to this programme of study. This master’s programme also incorporates regular contributions from professionals in the cultural and heritage sectors.

The teaching approach set out above aims to enrich your learning experience and deepen your theoretical understanding of the subject of global culture, strengthening your graduate prospects in a global career market.

How will I be assessed?

Assessment will be made up of formative and summative assessment.

Formative Tasks

Formative tasks do not contribute towards your final degree classification but are designed to give you an opportunity to develop skills and practice for summative assessments.  They enable you and your tutors to evaluate the development of your skills and progress in each module. Formative tasks will normally involve written coursework or a class assessment or may comprise individual student presentations.

Summative Assessments

Summative assessments contribute towards final degree classification. Results in these assessments:

• Determine formal progression from the Postgraduate Diploma stage to the master’s Degree (Dissertation) stage; and
• Determine the final award.

The nature of the summative assessments in the Postgraduate Diploma stage will vary by module, but will typically involve final written coursework (essays), practical assignments, such as oral presentations or poster presentations, or workshops. Summative assessment in the master’s Degree (dissertation) stage comprises the dissertation (15,000 words).

You will have an opportunity to review and discuss the type(s) of assessment associated with each module with a member of staff when making decisions about your study pathway.

How will I be supported?

On this MA programme, the programme convenor has the overview of programme delivery while core modules and options are managed by module tutors. In the first instance, you will work with the programme convenor to identify your key research interests and to create a programme of study with an appropriate module selection. You are assigned to a personal tutor, who is responsible for your pastoral care and academic development. You will also benefit from the individual supervision of your written assessments by individual members of staff with appropriate research interests. You will be assigned to a dissertation supervisor based on their interests and relevant staff expertise.

A range of other staff are available to provide further support, including the School’s professional services team, specialist librarians, and a Disability and Diversity Officer who ensures that reasonable adjustments are made for students with disabilities.

Study skills are incorporated into the core Research Methods and Practice module, but you also have access to the University’s Academic Study Skills programme, delivered by the Academic Study Skills and Mentoring Team.

All modules within the programme make extensive use of the University’s virtual learning environment, Learning Central, where you can access discussion forums and find course materials, including recordings of lectures, links to related materials, etc.

The programme convenor also supports you in your career planning, in conjunction with the University’s Careers Service.

What skills will I practise and develop?

Knowledge & Understanding:

On successful completion of the programme you will be able to demonstrate:

• The ability to critically evaluate and apply theoretical frameworks relating to the globalisation of culture and transnational cultural interactions;
• The ability to critically assess the role of a range of cultural organisations and individuals in the global context, including creative practitioners, cultural institutions, international organisations, heritage professionals and consumers;
• The ability to undertake comparative analysis of cultural production and consumption in a global context.

Intellectual Skills:

On successful completion of the programme you will be able to demonstrate:

• The ability to design and execute independent research projects focusing on global culture in the context of comparative area studies;
• The ability to assess the benefits and challenges of inter- and multidisciplinary research in the study of global culture;
• The ability to analyse the potential utility of such research to those working in the cultural sector or to cultural policymakers;
• The ability to reflect on your own learning by making use of constructive feedback.

Professional Practical Skills:

On successful completion of the programme you will be able to demonstrate:

• The ability to evaluate and synthesise arguments and data from multiple disciplines in the context of comparative areas studies;
• The ability to offer an analysis of key global challenges facing the cultural sector, for example in relation to cultural diversity, the dynamics of transnational interactions, and individual creativity;
• The ability to write to a high standard for a broad range of audiences including academia, funding bodies, policymakers, arts institutions and the media.

Transferable/Key Skills:

On successful completion of the programme you will be able to demonstrate:

• The ability to work independently, demonstrating organisational and time-management skills;
• The ability to communicate ideas effectively and fluently, both orally and in writing;
• The ability to apply logical and reasoning skills through discussion and debate.