Module: Media Audiences & Consumption

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Media Audiences & Consumption
Module Code	MCO1048 (ITS: CM5360)
Faculty	Communications	School	Humanities & Social Sciences
NFQ level	9	Credit Rating	5

Description

This module addresses the importance of audience studies for media studies and for society, culture and politics more generally. It aims to familiarise students with a broad range of theories and methods used in the study of film and television audiences in both a historical and contemporary context. It does so by focusing on the relationship between media texts and audiences, the social and cultural contexts of reception, and the ways in which meanings are generated for, and by, audiences. Through an examination of these elements, the module addresses the issues of media effects, influences and pleasures.

Learning Outcomes

1. Demonstrate a detailed understanding of a range of key theoretical and empirical approaches to audiences.
2. Identify the range of relationships that exist between the media and their audiences.
3. Evaluate different theoretical and methodological approaches to the academic study of audiences.
4. Apply abstract knowledge of media audiences to empirical contexts.

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	24	Theories and methodologies of film and television audiences
Seminars	12	Discussion of class material and student research projects
Independent Study	33	Independent study
Independent Study	106	Essay preparation and writing
Total Workload: 175

Section Breakdown
CRN	20696	Part of Term	Semester 2
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Madeline Boughton	Module Teacher	Colm Kearns, Eileen Culloty

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Essay	n/a	100%	n/a

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Indicative Reading List

Books:
None

Articles:
None

Other Resources

None

This is the 5 credit version of the CM536 10 cr module. This version is only available to MSc Science Communication students