MN5557 Marketing and Society

Academic year

2025 to 2026 Semester 2

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

15

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 11

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Availability restrictions

Available to All Full-time PGT Programmes in the Management Department and the MSc Finance and Management. Not available to the Banking and Finance Postgraduate Programme, the MSc Finance Programme or the PGT Programmes in the Economics Department.

Planned timetable

2-5pm Thurs

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Ms J F Brooks

Ms J F Brooks
This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

Julie Brooks

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

This module examines the effects of marketing on societies. The powerful social and cultural influence of marketing has been widely recognised. Through branding and communication marketing shapes consumption, identity and relationships. Our appearance, ideas and behaviour are influenced by marketing in ways more subtle and pervasive than we might think. What we eat, drink and wear; where we live and how we travel; our work and leisure; even the most intimate details of our lives respond to the powers of marketing. The future of marketing is challenged by the negative connotations of globalisation. Actions by certain firms have caused strong reactions to negative effects on workers, consumers and environments, such that a plethora of anti-corporate protest movements has been mobilised in recent decades.

Assessment pattern

100% coursework

Re-assessment

100% coursework

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

One three hour class per week to include lectures and in class discussions x 11 weeks.

Scheduled learning hours

33

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

117

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.

Intended learning outcomes

  • By the end of the module students will understand the conceptual frameworks informing analyses of marketing’s impact on consumers, workers, societies and the environment and apply them to diagnose critical issues;
  • On completion of this module students will be able to analyse the complex and dynamic influences that marketing has on cultures and societies;
  • On completion of this module students will be able to apply a knowledge of terminology, trends, methodology, principles, theories and structures in relation to marketing, consumerism, materialism, globalisation and resistance.
  • By the end of this module students will have attained facilitation skills, including: the ability to lead a discussion while ensuring wide participation from all individuals and to summarise key issues arising from a broad topic, presenting them succinctly verbally, as well as in writing and or visually.
  • By the end of this module students will have the ability to collect, interpret and synthesise a range of perspectives on complex topics; communicate ideas and information in a captivating and engaging way through written, verbal and visual presentation and reflect on performance, considering the differences between expectations and reality