BA (Hons) Media, Culture and Communication with Integrated Foundation Year
| Program start date | Application deadline |
| 2024-09-16 | - |
Program Overview
The BA (Hons) in Media, Culture, and Communication with Integrated Foundation Year program provides a comprehensive understanding of media and culture in the contemporary world. It equips graduates with critical thinking, analytical, and research skills for diverse media-related professions. The program combines a foundation year with three years of specialized study, including cultural studies, communication studies, film studies, and media studies. Graduates have secured employment with leading media organizations such as BBC, Channel 4, and The Guardian.
Program Outline
Degree Overview:
Objective:
The BA (Hons) in Media, Culture, and Communication with Integrated Foundation Year program aims to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of media and culture in the contemporary world. It equips graduates with the critical thinking, analytical, and research skills necessary to thrive in a diverse range of media-related professions.
Program Description:
This four-year program combines a foundation year with three years of specialized study in media, culture, and communication. The foundation year equips students with essential academic and study skills, preparing them for the rigors of undergraduate-level work. The subsequent three years delve into critical approaches to media studies, including cultural studies, communication studies, film studies, and media studies. Students explore a variety of related topics, including everyday life, popular culture, digital media cultures, cultural representation, and gender and ethnic identities and sexualities. Throughout the program, students benefit from the guidance and support of expert faculty, including researchers at the Centre of Research in Media and Cultural Studies. They also have the opportunity to learn from and collaborate with professionals working in the field, such as scriptwriters, filmmakers, radio producers, and independent film producers.
Outline:
Course Structure:
- Foundation Year: Students complete five modules, including Introduction to English, Journalism, and Media Theory, Essential Study Skills, Foundation Project, Multimedia Communications, and Practical Numeracy Skills.
- Year 1: Students undertake core modules such as Introduction to Digital Media Cultures, The Making of Popular Culture, Understanding Media and Culture, and Sounds and Visions: Broadcasting Histories, Texts and Contexts. They also choose two optional modules from a selection including Single Camera Production and Introduction to PR Theory and Practice.
- Year 2: Students engage in core modules like Cultural Theory and Popular Culture 1, Thinking Outside The Box: TV, Past, Present and Future, Interrogating Factual Media, and Researching Media in Theory and Practice. They also select two optional modules from a range of choices, including Practical Public Relations: Strategy and Theory, Podcasting, and Ready Player One: Operating within the Streaming Industry.
- Final Year: Students complete a major independent-led research project, along with core modules like Media Research Project and Media and Society. They also choose two optional modules from a selection including Advanced Public Relations, Film, Horror and the Body, Popular Music Cultures, and Loving The Alien: Science Fiction, Horror and Fantasy Television.
Assessment:
Assessments aim to evaluate student understanding and progress through various methods, including:
- Essays
- Reports
- Written coursework
- Projects
- Presentations
- Examinations
Teaching:
Teaching Methods:
The program utilizes a variety of teaching methods to cater to different learning styles, including:
- Lectures
- Seminars
- Group work
- E-learning resources
Faculty:
Students are taught by expert faculty members with extensive experience and research expertise in the field of media and cultural studies.
Careers:
Career Opportunities:
The program prepares graduates for a wide range of careers in the media industry, including:
- Television
- Radio
- Journalism
- Marketing
- PR
- New media
Graduate Outcomes:
Many graduates secure employment with leading media organizations such as BBC Radio 1, Capital FM, Channel 4, Heart FM, Metro Radio, Sky TV, BBC Sport, MTV, ITV Studios, Talk Sport, The Guardian, Jamie Oliver Productions, Lime Pictures, Absolute Radio, BBC Radio 6 Music, I Daniel Blake, BBC World Service, regional newspapers, and PR companies.
Other:
Work Placements:
The program encourages students to gain practical experience through work placements with media organizations such as BBC, Tyne Tees Television, and regional production companies.
Practical Experience:
Students can participate in various practical activities, including:
- Contributing to Spark Sunderland, a student-run radio station.
- Working alongside BBC Newcastle journalists in the mediaHUB.
- Writing for student-run websites covering sports, news, and entertainment.
- Contributing to the "On Campus" page in the Sunderland Echo newspaper.
Guest Speakers:
The program invites guest speakers from the media industry to share their expertise and insights with students.
The annual fee for this course is £9,250 if you're from the UK/Ireland/EU settled/pre-settled. If you're a full-time UK/Irish/EU settled/EU pre-settled student, you may be eligible to receive financial support to cover your fees for the full four years. UK and EU settled students may also be eligible to receive a maintenance loan. Please note, this course isn't available to international students.
