Media Skills BA (Hons) top-up

30 credits

This module gives final year students the opportunity to work on a major piece of independent work, which consolidates and further develops the skills and knowledge they have acquired across the whole of their degree, in an area of applied practice; workplace problem solving, or dissertation research.  You will organise an end of year exhibition and symposium event specifically to showcase your work. In doing so, you will develop your critical analytical and transferable employability skills.  You will focus on one of the following: a dissertation; a Final Major Project (FMP) or, an Applied Research Problem Brief (ARPB).  The main feature of the module is that work carried out in one of these three areas will lead to real and specific outputs.  Where you choose to write a dissertation you will present your main findings at the symposium; those choosing a FMP will be able showcase their work online and at exhibition; those choosing an ARPB will implement their solutions in the field and have the potential to develop consultancy skills.  You will enter into learning contracts and will work independently under the guidance of a supervisor. 

30 credits

This module seeks to synthesise and draw together your understanding of theoretical and contextual approaches to the interpretation of media and culture, that you have learnt about in the first two years of the degree, and enable you to apply this in an analysis of contemporary issues, practices and debates. This heightened understanding of theory will, at the same time, enhance your analysis of the contemporary issues and concerns reviewed in the module.

30 credits

This special study examines art / media management and production in relation to opportunities and challenges posed in the current digital landscape. Students are able to familiarise themselves with how projects are managed; rights management issues, defining and understanding rights in the context of their own topical areas of interest; professional practice; and/or, production work. Looking at such rights as copyright, brand rights, image rights, privacy, freedom of expression and information, censorship, and regulation - students explore how these work in practice. They also develop knowledge and understanding of the use of agreements and of licensing, and relate these to art / media production and, professional practice. Students have a wide range of case studies to focus on: film, music, fashion, advertising, PR, publishing, and art; global media production and cultures of appropriation.

30 credits

This special study module is an introduction to political communication from the lens of hybrid media environments. It enables you to examine the new research agenda and the emerging practices in this field of study beyond the limits of the media effects approach applied to traditional or mass media. The topics covered on the module are partly linked with the research interests and projects of teaching staff and will enable you to benefit from research-informed teaching in your final year of study. You will undertake extensive exploration of the new challenges facing political communication in multi-platform contexts, drawing on pertinent theoretical debates and current media stories. You will deliver an assessed presentation, and produce an extended and focused practice-based or essay-based project on a particular topic negotiated with the module leader.

30 credits

The module offers you the opportunity to gain an understanding of what it is like to work within the media industries. You will arrange and carry out a period of work experience within a media organisation working in a professional environment. The placement will typically be for two weeks, and usually completed over the summer period, although those who show initiative in negotiating more substantial work experience will be able to extend this. This practical hands-on experience will be supported in the classroom where you will be encouraged to reflect on your experience, evaluate your skills and plan for future in relation to graduate employability. You will also locate and evaluate your experience in relation to wider debates and issues relating to work in the media industries, changing production contexts and new professional identities.

30 credits

This is the module that can make you rich! Television is allegedly the second highest paid industry in the country (working in oil is more lucrative - but very uncomfortable). A reliable route to creative success and untold wealth in television now is the drama series. Mainstay of both terrestrial and digital channels, the returning series is TV's holy grail – pulling audiences back for episode after episode, season after season, box set after box set. It can be a goldmine.

Taught by two highly experienced TV professionals, this module will consider how a returning drama series is conceived and constructed. You are introduced to concepts of dramatic structure and story-lining, using case studies of successful US and British models, together with practical exercises on serialisation and script writing. Working from concept to storyline to script, you will develop your own original drama series (or comedy), and undertake research into the current broadcasting landscape – its channels, schedules and market imperatives. The final assessment is an industry-standard pitch accompanied by a short script sample, aimed at UK television. You will demonstrate your research and a knowledge of social and commercial context in a supplementary market evaluation.

This module isn't just for would-be writers: it's for anyone keen to understand contemporary broadcasting, refine their communication skills, and learn how to present their work and themselves in a professional context. At the end of this stimulating and entertaining course, you will have created your own drama series and (potentially) your own industry calling card.

30 credits

This is a practical module designed to enable you to experience and work in a professionally-focused industry environment, and develop television production skills such as multi-camera operation, sound, mixing and teleprompting. You will learn how to work and operate a professional broadcast studio as well as developing TV production skills. In addition, you will build on and reinforce employability skills such as problem-solving, time management and dependability sought by employers looking to fill graduate positions. You will be encouraged to reflect on your professional practice and critically evaluate your teaching and learning contributions.

This module builds practical and theoretical knowledge and skills towards the creation of a final year production piece. You can make either TV drama or TV documentary but must use the production studio for at least part of their production. This caveat will contribute to the wide range of skills that the industry demands of graduates.