Sociology e-degree launched

Three Manchester universities are to launch jointly the United Kingdom's first electronic postgraduate degree in sociology.

Manchester, Salford and Manchester Metropolitan universities have pooled resources for the degree, in which students will choose initially from modules covering visual culture and the contemporary city, survey methodology and classical sociological thought. Modules on the sociology of cyberspace, ethnographic methods and modern sociological thought will be available soon.

Students will learn information and communication technologies and will be able to undertake all their coursework without visiting any university.

Peter Halfpenny, course director, said: "Industry now expects graduates to be literate in the use of information and communication technologies and this programme will produce students with highly marketable skills."

Participants will gain an advanced certificate after three modules or a postgraduate diploma after six. A full masters award will be given for completion of six modules and a dissertation.

Details: www.man.ac.uk/sociologyonline