MSc Culture and Society

London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London

The MSc Culture and Society gives you the opportunity to develop expertise in the social study of cultural processes. Its ethos emphasises tight integration of leading-edge cultural theory, innovative methodologies and attention to the most significant cultural trends and practices, globally and locally.

As a student on MSc Culture and Society you have free range to study and research any social processes that fall within the many broad understandings of culture. For example, we study areas such as textual or visual analyses of cultural texts; ethnographies of culture and media industries; studies of urban space, design or city culture; consumption and consumer culture; multi-culturalism and ethnicity; gender and sexuality; class and cultural capital. Moreover, the degree actively encourages you to think and research globally.

MSc Culture and Society students come from a diversity of backgrounds - anything from economics through anthropology to cultural and media studies and on to arts, design and humanities. The degree core course is designed to support all students, from whatever background, in developing a foundation in sociological approaches to cultural research.

Teaching methods

LSE is internationally recognised for its teaching and research and therefore employs a rich variety of teaching staff with a range of experience and status. Compulsory courses and optional courses involve teaching by LSE staff renowned for their expertise in the field of cultural research. Staff reflect an interdisciplinary range of approaches to the connections between culture, society, economy, and media within a broad social sciences framework.

Courses may be taught by individual members of faculty, such as lecturers, senior lecturers, readers, associate professors and professors.

Assessment

All taught courses are required to include formative coursework which is unassessed. LSE uses a range of formative assessment, such as essays, problem sets, case studies, reports, quizzes, mock exams and many others. This is designed to help prepare you for summative assessment which counts towards the course mark and to the degree award. The courses are examined through formal written examinations, essays and other assignments. Your dissertation will also contribute to your final grade.

Careers

Graduates have gone on to a diverse range of destinations including doctoral degrees, cultural policy and management jobs, teaching, creative industries (including advertising and marketing), performance arts and more.