Media and Communications BA (Hons)

Program Overview

The Media and Communications BA (Hons) at the University of Sussex equips students with critical thinking skills and practical experience in media production. It combines theoretical study with hands-on projects in audio, visual, and digital content creation. Electives from other subjects allow students to tailor their degree to their interests, and optional components such as study abroad and placements enhance career prospects.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

This 3-year full-time program explores the role of media in shaping the social, cultural, and political landscape. It combines theoretical study with practical experience, equipping students with critical thinking skills and hands-on experience in creating audio, visual, and digital content.

Objectives:

• Develop critical and historical understanding of media.
• Gain practical experience in media production.
• Enhance study skills, including time management, note-taking, and essay writing.
• Become a critical thinker.
• Tailor the degree to individual interests through electives from other subjects.

Outline:

Year 1:

• Core Modules:
• Autumn:
Digital Technology, Media and Society, Questioning the Media A
• Spring:
Culture and the Everyday, Debates in Media Studies A
• Electives: Students can choose four electives across Years 1 and 2 from other subjects to enrich their learning experience.

Year 2:

• Core Modules:
• Autumn:
News, Politics and Power A
• Spring:
Researching Media and Communication
• Options: Students can choose options to broaden their horizons and tailor their course to their interests.
• Autumn: Media and Crisis, Media, Memory, History, Sound, Culture & Society, Theory, Taste and Trash, Video Journalism
• Spring:
Audio and Podcasting Journalism, Digital Culture and Algorithmic Society, TV: Fictions and Entertainments
• Electives: Students can choose four electives across Years 1 and 2 from other subjects to enrich their learning experience.

Year 3:

• Core Modules:
• Autumn:
Media and Communications Dissertation Preparation
• Spring:
Media and Communications Dissertation
• Options: Students can choose options to broaden their horizons and tailor their course to their interests.
• Autumn: Celebrity, Media and Culture, Cities, Capital, Culture, Globalisation and Communication, Journalism, Politics and Society, Media, War and Terrorism, Questioning the Digital, Social Media and Critical Practice, The Politics of Representation

Teaching:

• The program utilizes a combination of lectures, seminars, workshops, and practical sessions.
• Students have access to professional facilities, including a newsroom, editing suites, and a sound studio.
• The program is taught by a team of experienced academics and practitioners.

Careers:

Graduates are well-equipped for a range of careers in the media and creative industries, including:

• Journalism
• Advertising
• Marketing and Publishing
• Press and Public Relations
• Heritage and Curation
• Education

Other:

• The program is located in Brighton, a hub for digital and media-related industries.
• Guest speakers provide insights into industry careers.
• Dedicated support is offered in Year 2 to help students secure work experience.

Note:

The program is starting in 2025.