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Media, Culture and Technology MA
| Course title: | MA in Media, Culture and Technology |
| Apply: | direct to the University |
| Start (ft): | September/ January |
| Mode: | full-time |
| Duration: | 1 year full-time |
| Location: | Luton campus, Park Square |
| Faculty: | Faculty of Creative Arts, Technologies & Science |
| Department: | Bedfordshire Institute of Media and the Creative & Performing Arts: Division of Media Arts & Production |
The School's facilities have been greatly enhanced with the opening of our £5.5m Media Arts Centre.
The Centre offers a television studio, a white space studio and a performance studio, two electronic newsrooms and a radio station, along with ten digital video suites, numerous multimedia computer suites, and creative writing labs with additional studios for animation and design work.
Summary
The course investigates the major developments and current debates in media theory as they relate to media artefacts, such as the internet, films, video games, television programmes, and increasingly, mobile computing.
This occurs in both theoretical and practical components of the course and uses an extensive and diverse range of literature and course materials which draw on a wide range of intellectual traditions.
The MA offers the opportunity to pursue a specialist subject demonstrating your skills, ideas and learning in an extended piece of written or practical work - for example, web-based work, mobile computing, an art installation or digital video.
The course offers opportunities to research into a range of media disciplines relating to media, culture and technology. It offers a broad range of modules and, due to the size and breadth of interest in the School of Media, Art and Design.
You will be able to develop a substantial portfolio of digital designs and explore many of the latest developments in communication technology.
Students can choose to be supervised for their Independent Studies in a wide range of specialist subjects. For example, interface design, mobile computing, aesthetics, cultural studies, digital television, computer games, and cyber culture.
Students on the course also benefit from a growing postgraduate research environment and the presence of a leading journal in new media theory, Convergence: The Journal of Research into New Media Technologies, which is edited by staff in the School.
Why choose this course?
The course has been running successfully for over ten years, and was launched as part of our strategic development of research on the new media and convergence
We boast a £5.5m Media Arts Centre containing television studio, white space studio, performance studio, two electronic newsrooms, radio station, ten digital video suites, multimedia computer suites, creative writing labs, and studios for animation and design work
The Research Institute for Media, Art and Design is the editorial base for Convergence: The International Journal of Research into New Media Technologies and stages regular research seminars, screenings, guest speakers, and reports on our various research projects
We were ranked third in the country for our Media courses in the Guardian 2007 league tables
Career Opportunities
Career paths open to you include web design, mobile computing design (WAP, Palm Technology), media researcher, journalism, arts administration, advertising and public relations.
Assessment
Essays, written exercises, presentation of practical work, group work and self-directed independent study (written or practical).
Further details about the course
The programme commences with an induction at the start of the first semester. This includes an introduction to business skills and gives you an opportunity to meet and get to know your class colleagues.
"The course offers a unique combination of theory and practice with particular emphasis on your own project work. It focuses on new technology and examines cultural and historical parallels of how new media is shaping the modern world. Your project work varies from in-depth dissertations to practical projects such as exploratory internet sites, fine art, computing and mobile technology."
[Eloise Huxor, Award Leader]
Areas of study include:
Research Methods
Media Theory
Interface Design for the Web
Publishing and Technology
Critical Issues in Multimedia
Media and Cyber culture
Representation and Reality
Independent Study
Aesthetics and New Media
Multimedia: The Industry and Applications
Entry requirements
A lower second class first degree or postgraduate qualification such as a Postgraduate Certificate in Media Studies or the equivalent
Special entry requirements
All applicants must have the ability to study and complete all assessments with a suitably high standard of English, which in the case of overseas students will be assessed in accordance with University policy.
Find out more
For detailed information on the content of this programme, please contact Professor Garry Whannel, Acting Postgraduate Field Chair.
Related Links
Further Study Opportunities
Students who achieve a high grade will be encouraged to pursue further research by registering for an MPhil/PhD.
General Enquiries
- www.beds.ac.uk/howtoapply for information about standard entry requirements, application routes, open days, fees and funding.
- T: +44 (0)1582 489286 UK/EU Admissions
- T: +44 (0)1582 489326 International Admissions
- Order a prospectus form. Enquire about courses and order a printed undergraduate or postgraduate prospectus.
- T: +44 (0)1234 400 400 University switchboard
