Transnational Studies - Society, Culture, Language: University of Southampton

Course Description

At a time when national frameworks are increasingly being called into question by globalisation, this programme analyses the historical, social, cultural and linguistic effects of the traffic across national boundaries of capital, people and ideas, focusing primarily on Spanish-, French-, German- and Portuguese-speaking areas (the Americas and Europe). Their interdisciplinary approach combines specialist teaching from across the humanities and social sciences.

The MA is a stand-alone programme which also forms part of a 4 year degree focusing on socio-political, historical, cultural and linguistic aspects of transnationalism.

This provides progressive study and research training with multiple exit points to suit different student needs (at MA, MPhil or PhD levels)

MA programme structure and aims

• The course will train you to analyse cultural, historical and linguistic processes in the context of transnational processes. You will be invited to explore these across a wide range of geographical locations.
• Compulsory core units: Problematising the National, Language, Discourse and Identity, Cultural Flows, and Transnational Movement in the Age of Globalisation
• Research skills taught throughout the course
• 15,000 word dissertation
• Opportunities to start or develop a foreign language.

Throughout the programme you will:

• work across cultures at a conceptual and practical level
• critically evaluate existing scholarly perspectives
• study transnational aspects of culture, linguistics and history at an advanced-level, utilising theoretical texts, primary source materials and key secondary literature
• develop your knowledge and understanding of theories of transnationalism, globalisation, postcolonialism, nationalism and imperialism
• gain the practical and intellectual skills with which to develop a sophisticated and nuanced understanding of transnational phenomena.