The degree is designed to develop advanced skills in social research methodologies. This programme of study prepares students for undertaking original research via postgraduate research degrees and/or enables students to take up related vocational opportunities in the social research field.

MODULES

The core of this degree is based on developing an awareness of the ontological and epistemological issues associated with understanding and, importantly researching, the social world. Students study philosophies of social research, including positivism, interpretivism, ethnography, critical realism, postmodernism and feminism. They will be engaged in practice based classes in order to develop their quantitative and qualitative skills of data collection and analysis. Department staff have specialist expertise in discourse and narrative analysis, ethnographic approaches and visual methodologies. All students take five modules and undertake a 15,000 word dissertation.

DELIVERY MODE Students can take this MA as one year full time or two years part-time. Students will be supported in their studies through small group and individual supervision. HOW TO APPLY

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

Normally, candidates should have obtained at least second class honours in a first degree from an approved institution in Arts or Social Sciences although other suitably qualified individuals may be considered. A postgraduate diploma in Social Research is also available. Students for whom English is not a first language are required to have gained an IELTS score of at least 6.5. 

CAREERS

This degree has strong vocational relevance as it provides students with advanced skills in qualitative and quantitative methodologies. This enables students to demonstrate high level of competency in numeracy, data retrieval, analysis and management and a host of interpersonal skills relating to interviewing and observation in a range of social milieu as well as the negotiation and delivery skills required for undertaking successful research projects. Students have gone on to careers as researchers for the Office of National Statistics and as managers and lobbyists developing policies and programmes of change for national and international charities where research skills are highly valued. Many of our students also progress to PhD study.