Postgraduate Prospectus 2013 - Swansea University

Geography
MRes Social Theory and Space
The MRes Social Theory and Space gives
you the opportunity to study the profound
impact of geography on society from the
perspective of social and spatial theory.
Spanning structuralism and poststructuralism,
semiotics and psychoanalysis,
and modernism and postmodernism, the
programme provides an advanced
understanding of contemporary social and
spatial theory, combined with a
theoretically informed and methodologically
rigorous research project.
The programme offers you an exciting
opportunity to undertake an advanced
research dissertation, on a topic tailored to
your individual interests, on a key aspect
of social and spatial theory. As the basis
for this research, you take three taught
modules, offered by members of the
University’s Geography Department, from
a list typically including:
• Social Theory and Space
• Consumer Culture: Modern and
Postmodern
• The Culture and Politics of Nature
• Urban Networks and the Knowledge
Economy
• Qualitative Research Methods
Your choice of modules relates to your
choice of dissertation topic. The
dissertation is a major piece of
independent research, guided by
appropriate supervisors, which represents
the culmination of the programme and
provides an outstanding basis for both a
range of research-related career options
and for future PhD research.
Related programmes include the MSc by
Research Social Theory. This scheme has
no taught element and is most suitable for
candidates with an existing background in
Human Geography or cognate discipline
who wish to pursue a wholly dissertationrelated
programme of study. Appropriate
topics of study may be discussed in
advance with the staff member most
closely related to the area in which you
wish to specialise.
MRes in Urban Studies
The MRes Urban Studies gives you the
opportunity to study the world’s cities and
the process of urbanisation from a variety
of theoretical and thematic perspectives.
From the roles of consumption and
globalisation in shaping cities in advanced
economies, to the livelihood and
development challenges facing cities in the
developing world, the programme
provides you with an advanced
understanding of contemporary issues
within Urban Studies, giving you the skills
to conduct theoretically informed and
methodologically rigorous urban research.
The programme offers you an exciting
opportunity to undertake an advanced
research dissertation, on a topic tailored to
your individual interests, on any urban
theme or issue. As the basis for this
research, you take three taught modules,
offered by members of the University’s
Geography Department, from a list
typically including:
• Urban Networks and the Knowledge
Economy
• Urban Livelihoods and City
Transformation
• Global Cities
• City Visions
• Social Theory and Space
• Consumer Culture: Modern and
Postmodern
• Qualitative Research Methods
• Quantitative Research Methods
Your choice of modules relates to your
choice of dissertation topic. The
dissertation is a major piece of
independent research, guided by
appropriate supervisors, which represents
the culmination of the programme and
provides an outstanding basis for both a
range of research and urban-related
career options and for future PhD research.
Related programmes include the MSc by
Research Urban Studies. This scheme has
no taught element and is most suitable for
candidates with an existing background in
Human Geography or Urban Studies who
wish to pursue a wholly dissertation-related
programme of study. Appropriate topics of
study may be discussed in advance with
the staff member most closely related to
the area in which you wish to specialise.
“There have been many
highlights to my studies at Swansea.
One particular one that stands out
was the MSc Environmental
Dynamics and Climatic Change
introductory field excursion to
Stackpole. This was an interesting
educational weekend away and
also a great way to meet the other
students on the course at an early
stage. I also greatly enjoyed the
dissertation period of the course as I
had an interesting topic and it
allowed me the freedom to put
some of the writing practice from
earlier on in the course to good use
in my own independent study.
”
Adam Bruce-Smith,
Environmental Recruitment
Consultant
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