Three year bachelor's degree
As global citizens, we are surrounded by a huge variety of messages, texts, images, and representations communicating a host of competing ideas, opinions, and values. But how much do we really know about how these texts and images are produced and shared? In what contexts do they circulate? How are they are received?
Media and media industries are themselves constantly changing. Understanding these changes is important as media continuously influence the way we live our lives, get in touch with others, and are informed about the world. Guided by decolonising the curriculum initiatives and agendas, the media programme pays special and critical attention to the role of media industries and representations in producing and reproducing intersectional inequalities and power asymmetries.
Leipzig is a significant creative centre in Germany and the area itself has a thriving media industry with a rich history and a vibrant contemporary landscape. The city is known for its diverse media sector, encompassing print, broadcasting, digital media, film, and more. A BSc in Business Management and Media can provide you with valuable skills and knowledge to excel in this dynamic industry. From understanding of contemporary organisations, operations, and processes to the traditional aspects of decision-making and driving innovation in the sector.
Three years (full-time)
English
This programme brings together two important areas of theoretical and practical study: the analysis and understanding of contemporary organisations, operations, structures, processes and decision-making in business and management; and the exploration of the proliferation, ubiquity and accelerating innovation of media communications, platforms, industries, forms, and patterns of media presumption.
The programme critically situates business and management in relation to a social, economic, political, cultural world supersaturated by media. Skills modules will cover key functions undertaken by business managers, entrepreneurs, or their teams. In the programme, students will be exposed to a range of live case studies and authentic business issues.
Programme structure: Information contained on the website with respect to modules is correct at the time of publication, and the University will make every reasonable effort to offer modules as advertised. In some cases changes may be necessary and may result in some combinations being unavailable, for example as a result of student feedback, timetabling, staff changes and new research. Not all optional modules are available every year.
This module introduces a variety of traditional and non-traditional ideas about management, followed by the theory and practice of team working and capability for management. The aim is to provide students with an essential understanding of the basic theories relevant to the management of work organisation and to enable students to identify and understand the limitations inherent within these theories.
In this module we challenge preconceived views about whether or not entrepreneurship can be taught, and the widely-held opinion that entrepreneurs are born, not made. We consider entrepreneurship in a wide variety of contexts and for a range of different purposes. This includes entrepreneurship for social or environmental good, or as a means of self-expression, as well as entrepreneurial start-up and classic profit-driven motivations of business founders. Theory and practice are combined throughout the module, and teaching is brought to life through the expertise of our entrepreneurs in residence. You will therefore meet practicing entrepreneurs and be provoked to consider your own values and how these might, in future, shape your own expressions of innovation and entrepreneurial behaviour, whether as an employee, in your home society, in a family business, or as a business founder or sole trader.
Business analytics focuses on developing new insights and understanding of business performance based on data analysis.
Designed to give you the kind of skills that are sought after in many organisations, this module introduces you to a range of quantitative techniques for collecting, analysing and interpreting data and develops your understanding of how to apply these techniques to management problems to draw practical conclusions. The module provides the foundations for statistical methods in follow-up modules.
The computing side of the module introduces the use of word processing, spreadsheet software for statistical calculations, and writing of management reports.
You will learn not only the fundamental analytical techniques, but also when and how to apply them to management problems and how to interpret the results. This module also involves you working as a junior business analyst on a simple but realistic case study and reporting results and conclusions to a fictional boss.
This module examines the key elements of marketing theory and practice, and how these connect with other aspects of business management. The module is arranged into three themes, with the first examining the fundamentals of market offerings, including brands, products and services. The second theme focuses on the competitive marketplace and explores how organisations understand and engage with consumers, including a look at recent developments in digital marketing. The final theme consolidates learning by considering how marketers obtain and utilise information to inform innovation and the marketing planning process. The module also aims to support students in the development of key transferable skills such as critical thinking, analysis and delivering effective business presentations.
This is an introductory first year module on old and new media and the different ways in which media and culture interlink with each other. The module starts with a discussion on the complex and interdependent ways in which mass media and social media operate and are intertwined in our contemporary society. Starting with the concept of ‘ideology’ we will see how today’s mass media and social media are constructed and deconstructed the politics of daily life. The module then moves on to discussions of ‘media and representation’ and the complex and often problematic ways in which media present and represent forms of gender, race, and class. Finally, we look at ‘media and participation’ in which we look at the different ways in which audiences and fans contribute to the media landscape. In Lent, our discussions of media and culture continue with a focus on topics such as ‘platform as infrastructure’ ‘news production’ and ‘media practices’.
The first-year module focuses on two stages for employability preparation: self-awareness and opportunity awareness. These are delivered in the Michaelmas and Lent terms.
During the module students will develop knowledge and awareness of the contemporary graduate labour market and effective strategies to start to successfully compete in the marketplace. They will also start to develop an understanding of personal and professional identity and personal branding strategies.
Modules are subject to change.
Key Perspectives on Media and Culture develops the critical and analytical approaches to media and culture. By focusing on a number of key content blocks, you will critically engage with key perspectives on media and culture. The module includes a practical component as well, in which you learn to integrate theoretical and practical approaches to the topics you study.
This module is designed around active learning – helping students to develop skills to conduct their own research. Lectures address cross-cutting methodological debates as well as established methods (such as interviewing, discourse analysis, ethnography and quantitative surveys). Most of the student’s time, however, is spent in seminars where they will try out methods such as interviewing, analysing media texts, and doing observation on campus. There are ample opportunities for feedback as students develop ideas for their project-based final assessment, and build diverse skills to support their final year dissertation.
The aim of the course is to provide an introduction to the analysis of economic issues from a business perspective. The course demonstrates the relevance of economic concepts and principles to business issues through teaching and application of introductory microeconomic theory to a range of issues affecting economic aspects of the business environment.
This module provides an introduction to the analysis and use of published financial statements and the concepts which underlie financial reporting by companies. It also considers the relationship between companies and their financial environment. The concepts and use of financial statements are placed within the current commercial context, so that you acquire an appreciation of the role of financial accounting.
The second year module builds upon the skills developed in the first year module and focuses on decision making and transition skills for graduate employability. This module focuses on the practical elements of career planning; creating realistic action plans and responding to each stage of the recruitment process with confidence
This module combines theoretical and practical approaches to the topic of viral media. Students critically investigate the role of viral content, practices and techniques in today’s digital media landscape. Students discuss the practical, ethical and cultural aspects of viral media as well and explore the links between viral theory and interrelated concepts such as remix culture, produsage, spreadable media and internet memes. As part of the assessment, students work in teams to produce and edit a short video that critically reflects on, and contextualises, a contemporary or historical example of viral culture.
Everyday life is often described as bombarding us with images, and contemporary culture is therefore frequently understood as a visual culture. But what do such statements actually mean? How far is our culture a visual culture? What role do media play in a visual culture? How is vision linked to practices – including representation, the gaze and embodiment – of power and inequality? In what ways might these practices be challenged or resisted? Does vision only involve seeing, or is visual culture multi-sensory?
This module will introduce theories and practices that have addressed these questions. It covers topics including: the relationship between vision and knowledge; the gaze and power (eg the gaze as gendered and raced); media, representation and identity; technologies of vision; material practices of vision. On this module students gain a critical understanding of the recent and ongoing themes in Media and Cultural Studies and Sociology on the topic of vision and visuals, media and culture, develop different reading and writing skills and participate in lively discussions and analytical exercises.
Plus any two of the following modules:
Modules are subject to change.
In this module, students theoretically and practically investigate the ways in which social media platforms are used by, and in the context of, activist campaigns and social movements. Students learn about theories, concepts and debates surrounding the topic of social media and activism. Students also learn how to practically produce an online social media campaign and how to report and reflect on the effectiveness of such a campaign. Students learn how to use different online platforms collaboratively to communicate a key message and how to integrate different forms of media into a single online campaign.
In this module, students will learn about the basics of journalism — reporting and storytelling using digital technologies. From audio recording and video production to writing, photography, and innovations using data, technology, and interviews, this module is an introduction to journalism of today and tomorrow. Students will also interact with key theories and practices of journalism, discussing and debating international perspectives. In the end, students will have a final journalistic product based on a story of their selection. The module meets for 1 hour lecture and 1.5 hour workshop.
Games, Play and Media presents students with the opportunity to put critical theories and concepts into practice through co-designing a video game pitch and engaging in the gamification of classroom activities. Topics on this module include: theories and concepts of gamification and its impact on contemporary media, between the real and the virtual; the function of video games as hybrid digital media, and how they combine code, visual meaning, and interactive game design; understanding games in relation to playful Media; meta-gaming, and Ludification; Ludefaction and Resistant Play; a history of urban play – analogue and digital play in the city; Indie games and alternative stories – gender, race, sexuality, ethnicity; Gamergate and the politics of game design; and how mainstream video games are designed and marketed
MCS.360 Independent Dissertation Project is designed to help students conduct their own personal research project on undergraduate level. Students have the choice to either write a fully written Research Dissertation (8000 words) or to pursue a Media Project Dissertation, which includes as a combined submission a Practical Work (format to be agreed with supervisor) and a Critical Reflection (4000 words).
The first term consists of an introductory lecture, followed by sessions in which students work intensively with their supervisor in small tutorial groups on different aspects of planning and carrying out the research project. During this process, students submit a 2000 word Proposal in which they further outline and detail their plans for their Research Dissertation or Media Project Dissertation. After that, students will meet with their supervisor for individual supervision.
In subsequent weeks, students continue to work largely on their own. Students meet individually with their supervisor for a maximum of four hours across the two terms. Dissertations are due at the beginning of the summer term.
Plus any three modules from the following :
Modules are subject to change.
Teaching is delivered via a combination of small group lectures and group-based tutorial coursework (oral and written presentation), and assessment is via individual coursework (oral and written presentation) and examinations.
You will be encouraged throughout to undertake independent study to supplement what is being taught/learnt and to broaden your personal knowledge.
BSc (Hons) Business Management and Media graduates will receive their degrees from Lancaster University in the UK.
With an BSc in Business Management and Media, you will have the skills to navigate theoretical and practical business management in your chosen career. Our programme provides students with the theoretical insights, analytical skills, and wide-ranging knowledge needed to explore the meaning of media in today’s economy and society.
Our location offers unique opportunities an addition to your newly developed skill set:
Leipzig (also known as Media City) will host the International Broadcast Centre (IBC) for UEFA EURO 2024.
Overall, Leipzig’s media industry offers diverse opportunities for individuals with a desire to study business management. Whether you aspire to work in traditional businesses, management, media, or creative industries, this programme can equip you with the necessary skills and knowledge to excel in this dynamic sector.
