Welcome to the Department of Sociology, Lancaster University

1. Welcome to the Department of Sociology, Lancaster University

2. BA (Hons) programmes:Media and Cultural StudiesSociology Combined degrees Criminology and Sociology (v. popular joint degree) Religious Studies and Sociology Film Studies and SociologyOrganisation Studies and SociologySocial History Political Sociology ‘Non standard’ combinations

3. Why come to Lancaster? • One of the world’s top Universities: listed in the top one percent of universities in the world http://www.lancs.ac.uk/about-us/rankings-and-reputation/ • Ranked in top 10 of UK Universities The Times, the Complete University Guide, the Guardian 2011 • 1st of all northern Universities National Student Survey, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, Sunday Times University Guide 2011 The student experience: • Lancaster’s college system • all Undergraduates offered on campus accommodation • Our unique degree structure... more on this later

4. The Colleges 8 undergraduate 1 postgraduate Bowland, Cartmel, County, Furness, Fylde, Grizedale, Lonsdale, Pendle The Graduate College: (MA, MSc, PhD, post-Doctoral research) Students choose their college separately from their department - they make friends outside their subject as well as in their department, sharing knowledge, understanding & culture • a close-knit community: the city of Lancaster; the “town” of campus; the “village” of each college • help make Lancaster a very friendly University • you are not just one face in 10,000! • organise events, sports, socials and more...

5. Why come to the Department of Sociology at Lancaster? • Lancaster has one of the best Sociology Departments in the world; in top 5 in UK • The Department has two highly successful degree programmes • Our staff undertake research on a range of topics • This research forms the basis of our teaching curriculum Our teaching is constantly evolving New courses recently introduced: Health and Bodies; Media and Violence; Friendship and Society; Terror

6. Research excellence Recently published books from Sociology staff:

7. Teaching excellence Our external examiner of the BA Media and Cultural Studies degree says: “A very exciting and innovative programme. Members of the team are clearly committed to enhancing its provision in imaginative ways. Indeed, their dedication to making the key conceptual and methodological debates pertinent to this area of enquiry come alive for their students is, in a word, remarkable.” Sociology was rated with 'full confidence in the quality of our teaching' the highest category in the most recent official UK Teaching Quality Assessment.

8. Our degrees aim to: • teach a range of key theories, concepts and approaches in interesting and relevant ways • help students apply theoretical ideas to ‘real world’ social and cultural issues and problems • innovate in teaching methods and keep our classes small • intellectually challenge and stretch all our students (research led teaching) • train all our students in a full range of transferable skills, so they are ready to begin their careers We have the freedom to adapt our curriculum continually to reflect current issues. This means the degree programmes are up-to-date and relevant.

9. How you are taught: Lectures and Seminars Lectures: usually one or two hours long and involve larger classes Seminars: usually one hour, and consist of smaller groups of 10-13 students. They are participatory or student-led. Assessment: weighted towards coursework (e.g. 70% coursework, 30% exam) We also teach through: workshops, group work, individual supervision, film screenings…

10. Your first year at Lancaster • Three ‘Part I’ courses: your ‘major’ plus two ‘minors’ • The three courses are equally weighted • You sign up for courses in Intro Week when you arrive • Flexibility: after the first year you can change your major degree • You all do a Part I course in your major subject: • BA Sociology students: Part I Sociology • BA Media and Cultural Studies students: • Part I MCS • You choose a minor in • (Examples): • Sociology • Media and Cultural Studies • Gender and Women’s Studies • Religious Studies • Criminology • You choose a minor in • (Examples): • English Literature • Marketing • Politics • History • Computing

11. Sociology Part 1 Blocks on topics such as: Questions of identity; 2. Key thinkers; 3. Mobile lives; 4. Community and belonging

12. Media and Cultural Studies Part I Blocks on topics such as: • 1. Key themes in Media and Cultural Studies • 2. Media Lives • 3. Marginal cultures • 4. Identity, resistance and protest in contemporary Britain

13. Gender and Women’s Studies Part I Run and taught from the Sociology Department Examines the different ways in which men and women are located in society and culture, past and present Examples: History of feminism in Britain; Disability; Law; Crime; Masculinities; News Media; Race; Class; Eating disorders; Makeover TV; Religion; Work; Leads on to many Part 2 courses

14. On our first year courses: You are taught by professors who shape the discipline You are assessed by 60% course work, 40% exam You get regular feedback on short assignments Sara Davenport

15. MONA-LA TOP TIPS AUBREY Join Facebook group to meet others who are in your course/ college before starting uni Print off the lecture slides for each lecture: Allows you to take down more notes which will help you in your exams and for essays Work out how a laundrette works =) Do some reading (introductory) on the subject before you have your very first lecture, you do not want to be in there on the first day and not have a clue about what your being taught Don't hesitate to ask if you need help because there is always someone there to help you. Get involved in as many things as you can, e.g. clubs and societies, because this is an easy way to make friends Get a job over the summer for extra boost with money Save up for a great printer, this helps me keep track of all my work. Buy a calendar. My calendar keeps me in check every day. It tells me where I am, when I am. Being organised and prepared for university life keeps the stress away. Try and be open minded: be accepting of others opinions as it is a course which evokes debates and discussion Read briefly over main theorists i.e. Marx, Weber, Durkheim If you need help, your seminar tutor is there for you!: Some people may be too worried to get help but your tutor wants you to do well! Keep up to date with your work and don't be too nervous because everyone is in the same position. Learn to budget Make sure you balance the social and working side to university Be willing to read as much as you can: Even if you're not keen on reading, each week try and do the set readings as they will help you to make sense of the seminars and lectures Be yourself! Making friends can be scary but remember everyone is in the same position. People will love you for who you are! Try not to work in your bedroom: Your room is a space to relax and switch off. Try and work in the library or Learning Zone where there is less distractions to distinguish a time for working and a time socialising. Try and have the confidence to speak in seminars: Engaging in class seminars will build confidence for skills you need in the future for example presentations and even job interviews Learn to cook a few simple meals Learn how to find books in the library. At first, I was confused about the class mark system and would spend hours in the library trying to find books. Of course there are people to help you out. But it's much easier and quicker when you know your way around!

16. 2nd year Core Courses BA Sociology: Understanding Social Thought Research Skills and Techniques BA Media and Cultural Studies: Critical Cultural Theory Cultural Analysis

17. Option Courses – Years 2 and 3 Image of ‘branded baby’ from counter cultural organisation adbusters Indicative list: Consumer Culture and Advertising Information Society Media in the Global Age Living With Capitalism Society and Nature Friendship, Intimacy and Society Football and Society Virtual Cultures Introducing Mobilities Gender, Sexuality and Society Imaging the Body The Chinese Century? Newspapers, Journalism and Society Television, Society and Morality Globalisation and Transnational Politics Nation, Migration and Multiculturalism Gender Performativities

18. SOCL309Television, Society and Morality Students on this course will be able to… • Critically engage with the content of contemporary media. • Have an understanding of the evolving role of television. • Consider a range of contemporary moral issues. • Demonstrate an understanding of the social origins of the idea of ‘moral order’, ‘moral culture’ and ‘postmodern ethics’. • Engage with the philosophical debates around ‘morality’, ‘virtue’, ‘duty’ and ‘good and evil’. • Undertake their own analyses of television programmes in these terms BLOOD, SWEAT and T-Shirts Laura M

19. SOCL316Sociology Goes to Hollywood Students on this course will… • Improve skills to employ sociological theory reflexively in the analyses of films, through discussions and writing. • Be able to critically evaluate different theories and approaches to cinema. • Analyse in detail a chosen film. • Give a coherent account of diverse ideas and actions • Demonstrate confident knowledge of the issues involved in the analysis of films in a sociological perspective • Think critically about cinematic objects and artistic ideas SOCIOLOGY goes to Debbie

20. SOCL340Newspaper, Journalism and Society Students on this course will be able to… • Describe and locate newspapers in terms of history, forms conventions and logic. • Situate print media within a framework of cultural-theoretical questions concerning communication, commodification, reception/readership, history and culture. • Compare and analyse a range of differing theoretical approaches on the social and cultural significance of newspapers in contemporary cultures. Laura T-F

21. All Students have the opportunity of spending their second year abroad Lancaster has well-established exchange Programmes with Canadian, US and European Universities Studying abroad is not as expensive as you might think as we have reduced fees which helps with the cost of flights. Details at: http://www.lancs.ac.uk/users/international/abroad/finance.htm

22. Sample topicschosen by past students: Surveillance society Environmental protesters Charity advertising Culture jamming Advertising culture Body image and eating disorders Celebrity culture and role models The smoking ban Terrorism The work of a nightclub bouncer The internet, online identities, and youtube The emotional cost of care work’ Social class and pony clubs Third year compulsory dissertation/ independent research project Britain is becoming a surveillance society where individuals are filmed hundreds of times a day by security cameras. (Photo: David Moir/Reuters)

23. Extra curricular activities Lancaster University Volunteer Unit - INVOLVE • Largest in the country • Offers fantastic opportunities for all students to gain work experience in schools, with the police, and with a range of social and charitable organisations. • Some international opportunities • Lancaster also has long-running, successful and student-led: • Newspaper: Scan • Radio: Bailrigg FM • Student Union

24. Student societies 50% of students at Lancaster University are members of a Society. There are between 60 and 70 societies • Alternative Music • Amnesty Society • Gospel choir • Dance • Ballroom • Art • Cheerleading • Backpacking • Green Action • Ecology • Organic garden • Music society • United nations • Philosophy • Debating • Photography • Role playing • Theatre Group • Unicef • Creative Writer’s group • Cinema • Criminology Society • SocSoc `Strange doodles‘ photograph of a factory in Lancaster

25. Some of the Sports.... • Plus a new Sports Centre • 8 Tennis Courts • 5 Netball Courts • 2 Multi-Use Games Areas • 2 Floodlit Synthetic Grass pitches • 3 Rugby Pitches • 6 Association Football pitches • Crown Bowling Green • Trim Trail & Woodland Walk • Swimming Pool • 100 Station Gym • Climbing Wall • Sports Hall - includes: • 8 badminton courts • Trampolining support rigging • Cricket nets • Archery • Sauna and Steam room Classes: • Aerobic Workouts • Weights Inductions • Life Fitness Inductions • Combined Inductions • Climbing Inductions • Climbing Classes • Dance Classes • Squash • Tai Chi • Yoga • Judo • Trampolining • Circuit Workout Clubs: • Boat • Sub-aqua • Judo • Ski • Cycling • Rugby • Football • Canoe Club • Netball • Tennis • Kickboxing • Cricket • Fencing • Martial Arts • Parachute and Freefall

26. What are Sociology and Media and Cultural Studies for? Studying these disciplines DIRECTLY impacts on the world we live in Relevant for: • politics • education • media, culture and creative industries • planning • law • business

27. And afterwards: jobs… Employers know that students from Lancaster are: • critical • innovative • bright • broad-based Our students are very employable Value of the media degree: Students with academic-led degrees are more attractive to employers than students with practical media degrees We teach and support transferable skills in: • Critical thinking • Research methods • Analysis • Presentation • Communication • Team-work • Web-work and IT

28. Our students go on to: • Graduate employment in: • Public relations • Advertising • Journalism • Qualitative market research • Teaching • Social work • Police Force • Accounting • Universities: research and teaching • Consulting • Human Relations • Management Training • Law • See: http://www.prospects.ac.uk/ • Postgraduate training: • PGCEs (teaching qualification) • Social Work Training • One-year journalism or media production training courses • Masters courses in areas such as: • Sociology, Media and Cultural Studies, Marketing, Information Technology, Human Resources… • Ph.D. research The University is singled out for its high levels of graduate employment in The Sunday Times University Guide 2012. An above-average proportion of students get graduate-level jobs (74 percent) and Lancaster's unemployment rate is low.

29. If Media and Cultural Studies or Sociology at Lancaster is for you, what next? Obtain ‘A’ level / ‘AS’ level / BTEC or equivalent Your offer will be ABB or equivalent Places limited this year due to government cuts and high competition. So, if you want to come to Lancaster, put us as your first choice!

30. Thank you! Any Questions? Contact us: Anne-Marie: a.fortier@lancaster.ac.uk Beckie: rebecca.coleman@lancaster.ac.uk Ruth & Kate: Sociology.admissions@lancaster.ac.uk