MA Media (Full Time)

This MA offers the ideal opportunity for media graduates andprofessionals to advance their careers and explore the creative and commercial possibilities of their ideas, supported by a highly experienced academic team.

The course is part of Solent's Media programme. This is one of the few in the country offering a diverse range of pathways for postgraduates and attracting students with impressive portfolios of skills and interests.

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Feedback from external examiners repeatedly praises our teaching team for their approachability and face-to-face involvement with students. We also invite guest speakers from external media bodies, such as Abbey Road Productions, the BBC and the Royal Television Society.
All this, combined with our newly updated digital studio, means that you will study in a first-rate environment for research and experimentation.

Industrial focus

The qualifications and industry experience of our lecturers includes digital media, film-making, journalism and publishing, marketing, scriptwriting for radio, television, film and stage, and music theory and performance.

Course content

You will be required to study core units and will also be able to choose three options that will allow you to build a degree relating to your experience and interests.

Core units

Professional Development and Research Skills: This unit will enhance your research skills and prepare you for the successful completion of your major project. Emphasis is placed on research methods and techniques that can be used for employment in the media industries.

Master’s Project: You will design, execute and present an individually demanding piece of work that shows an in-depth understanding of the skills and debates in your particular discipline. Your project will be required to critically synthesise approaches and methodologies in the discipline and demonstrate initiative and autonomy in its execution.

Options

Social Media: You will examine diverse aspects of this rapidly expanding area including: Web 2.0 and the significance of the concept, social networking, productivity networking, user-generated content and political networks.

Identity, Culture and Conflict: You will explore areas of conflict arisingin relation to identity. The unit addresses the gendered and sexed identities and issues of conflict, for example, debates about the global HIV/AIDS pandemic. You will also consider race and ethnicity, and areas of global conflict.

Diaspora Visions: This unit studies and analyses the origins and histories of diasporas and the effect these have had on international relations and culture. You can specialise in a particular diaspora or follow a specific subject pathway.

Propaganda and Persuasion: You will study the history of propaganda and persuasive texts through a survey of mass media – from literature and the arts to press, radio, TV, film and digital forms – analysing how they are linked across the political, cultural and social domains.

Experimental Film History, Form and Practice: This unit offers an understanding of the history, codes, formats and practice of experimental film-making. You will also make a short experimental film, through practical workshop sessions in camera, lights, sound and digitalvideo editing.

Digital Studio: This unit places the processes of digital mediaproduction in historical and social contexts. It provides an overview of production development relevant to different digital formats, and opportunities to develop skills in one or more of the areas of study on offer, such as studios.

Documentary History, Form and Practice: As well as providing an overview of the codes and conventions of documentary, this unit allows students to make a short documentary film. You will study technical and creative aspects and master the full range of skills in camera, lights, sound and digital video editing.

Script to Screen: You will develop your own original (or adapted) story to create a professional screenplay, in conjunction with creating an industry-standard pre-production package which may be used for your final master’s project.

Producing Television: This unit covers each area of responsibility of the producer including: how to get the best out of people and the latest theories on group dynamics; communicating the most effective ways of developing ideas; running orders and formats; researching content to enhance entertainment value; and advising on legal and ethical issues.

Digital and Multi-Platform Storytelling: You will study the theory and practice of storytelling in the digital domain. Defined by the use of interactivity, digital narrative has the potential to immerse the audience in stories by engaging in decision-making and the implementation of user skills.

Assessment

Assessment ranges from presentations of ideas and concepts through to written essays and project work.

Key career skills

Writing, creative thinking, problem solving, teamwork, communication.

Projects/work experience

Students can choose to work on a practical media project or write a dissertation as their final piece of work.

Why Solent is special

• Approachable staff: We see our students as colleagues who teach us as much as we teach them. In order to keep our fingers on the pulse in the fast-paced, rapidly changing media environment, many of us continue to work as freelancers and consultants.
• Experienced staff: Our staff have been teaching in higher education for over a decade and have a wide range of experience in managing postgraduate learning.
• Satisfied students: Previous graduates generate a word-of-mouth publicity by telling others about their positive experiences in studying with us at postgraduate level. Many remain in contact with us long after they have graduated.
• Choice: Students indicate that the opportunity to choose a project or dissertation for their final piece is a feature of the course that appeals to them more than any other – it is often the reason why they choose us over our competitors.
• Speaker series: You will have the chance to meet and talk with media professionals from a broad range of media industries.

Fees

Fees for the 2013/14 academic year:

Please contact the Faculty Office.