English Language Foundation

This unit focuses on your ability to understand and use the English language accurately when you read, speak, listen and write. We will concentrate on the English you need for undergraduate level study in your chosen subject area, covering grammar, subject area vocabulary and the four language skills of reading, writing, listening and speaking.

A key element of the unit is the grammar of the language, and particularly the verb tense system in English, because your ability to use the verb tense system accurately will be extremely important when you come to write essays and reports. This unit will focus in particular on the grammar of the language.

We will also focus on reading, listening and speaking skills in the context of your chosen subject area. Beginning with short texts, we will practise each skill and practise it again, so that gradually you will see, hear and feel that your command of the language is improving. 

A recurring focus of the unit will be your acquisition of 'learner autonomy'. This means your ability to acquire the language yourself, without needing a teacher's help. This is important because from next year you will not have an English teacher to help you. So we will consider and practise strategies to help you gain confidence in your own ability to increase your knowledge of and ability to use the language, including for instance guessing meaning of difficult words, deciding which words are important in a text, recognising differences between formal and informal language, and other strategies, so that as the first semester continues, you begin to feel more confident in your use and experience with the English Language.

Academic Skills Foundation

When you begin your undergraduate level studies, you will be expected to have knowledge of and ability to use a large range of 'study skills'. You will also be expected to have some knowledge of the subject area you will  be studying. This unit deals with both of these aspects of your preparation for undergraduate level study. 

All of the academic skills are practised in English, so you will use your developing acquisition of the language from the partner unit 'English Language Foundation' to practise and gain mastery of these skills. You will also use your language and study skills as you learn the foundation of your subject area, putting the skills into practice as you learn.

Developing English Language Skills

This unit builds on the progress you made during its partner semester 1 unit 'English Language Foundation' and increasing your level from that which you had achieved by the end of semester 1. 

We will recycle the tense system in English and other elements of the grammar system, but you will  now learn how to use other aspects of the grammar, including the passive voice, as well as linking words and phrases and devices which enable you to write longer sentences but retain grammatical accuracy. 

You will notice that we gradually introduce more specialist language that you need in preparation for your degree and we will expect you to use and develop the skills that you gained in the previous units so that you are able to work more independently.

Academic Skills Development

This unit builds on the skills learnt and practised in its partner semester 1 unit 'Foundation Academic Skills'. We will add more skills to the list, including summarizing and synthesising, argumentation, critical thinking and referencing and citation skills, as well as several others and practise and test them in the same way as with the semester 1 unit.

We will also investigate the research skill and you will learn how to prepare a research proposal and conduct a literature review, and how to plan a research project, learning about the research tools available and how they can be used to conduct research in your chosen field. 

You will continue to broaden your knowledge of key current issues and theory in your chosen subject area, and apply the critical thinking and argumentation skills you acquire in this unit to argue for and against propositions you have studied in the form of in both essays and presentations and in seminar situations, ensuring that you are ready to step up to your chosen undergraduate course with a base level of subject area knowledge from which to continue your academic development as you progress to level 4 study.

Inside The Journalism Industry

This unit will introduce you to the political, commercial and regulatory contexts within which the journalism industry operates and the ethical and legal foundations of sound journalistic practice. You will learn to critique the industry and demonstrate your understanding of key regulatory, legal and political & economic pressures.

Reporting And Writing

This unit teaches the researching and writing of news stories and feature articles. You will learn how to identify what is newsworthy and then how to write for a series of platforms across a number of subjects, in an ethical and professional manner.

Sport In Society

This unit provides you with an introduction to sport and its place in our world, now and in the past. It is a key building block to your study of sports journalism. It introduces some socio-cultural, historical and philosophical theories and analyses that help develop an understanding of sport in society. It covers the origins, history and development of various individual sports and issues arising, including relations with the media and media practices. This knowledge will inform your own sports reporting and analysis of sports journalism

Introduction To Digital Storytelling

The purpose is to equip you with practical digital storytelling skills. You will learn to record and edit audio and video, use them to develop your storytelling skills and to upload them online.

Radio, Audio And Podcasting

This unit enables you to expand your radio, audio production, podcasting and presentation skills base. You will develop various types of programme content through the use of studio and location recording techniques alongside building your abilities in relation to digital audio editing.

Multimedia Newsdays

The purpose of this unit is to enable you to put your broadcast & online skills and your journalistic knowledge into actual practice in an environment that replicates industry practice. As such, it not only hones your skills and develops your knowledge but prepares you for placement work over the summer break and during your final year at University.

During a series of 11 production days, some of which will be consecutive, you will find your own news stories, and produce your own news programmes and online news.

You will be required to engage professionally with news sources and providers outside of the university environment.  

Public Relations And Marketing

This unit will provide you with an understanding of the role of public relations as a key tool for reputation management, and the role that communications plays within the marketing communications strategy of any organisation. The unit will enable you to understand the main functions of the marketing communications mix including key areas of integrated marketing communications systems: public relations, advertising, and digital media.

The Art And Craft Of Journalism

Students preparing for a career in Journalism, and a successful final year, need to be aware of the art and craft of writing beyond what is required for an academic degree. This unit broadens the students’ critical awareness of fine journalism, and the craft required to produce it.

This unit is designed to accomplish two goals: first to improve the students’ awareness and critical appreciation of fine journalism; and second, to improve their writing. Exemplar examination and editing workshops will occur throughout the term, and result in long-form piece(s) of journalism that displays this newfound knowledge. The students are assessed on the overall quality of writing that results from this new appreciation of writing and the application of best-practices. Formative feedback will be conducted during the term in the form of editing and review workshops.

This unit, delivered in the second half of the second year, prepares students for their third year, where they should display a higher level of writing and journalism competence then that produced during the previous terms.

Practical Sports Journalism

This unit gives you the chance to learn how to – and then practise – a range of sports reporting, broadcasting, writing and editing skills in live situations. It is based on contemporary journalistic practices in print and multi-platform sports journalism. You will examine, understand and deliver different types of sports story, ranging from routine match reports to in-depth investigative features and the different reporting strategies employed accordingly. This also includes audio-visual material and broadcasting.

Law, Regulation & Public Administration

This unit both deepens and broadens the basic legal, civic and regulatory knowledge you acquired in unit as Introduction to the Journalism Industry. The knowledge you acquire in this unit will enable you to report confidently on civic structures and to do so in a legally safe, regulatory compliant manner.

Practical Special Project - Cnc

This unit allows you to demonstrate the skills, ideas and learning acquired during your degree in an extended piece of work that is self-initiated and managed, and supported by your assigned supervisor. The project needs to be in one of the areas of your degree, and have a clear and strong link to it. The project content should be taken from your main area of interest within your course. The topic will require the prior approval of the unit coordinator.

In this unit you will develop your practical project, individually or in groups. In the area of radio&audio, media communications and journalism: the project can be undertaken individually or as a group.

In the area of video/television: the project can only be undertaken as group activity.

The project is the bridge between your studies and the world of work, and you should approach it in a professional manner and demonstrate independent thinking, responsibility, perseverance and high standards, all necessary to enter your professional life or postgraduate study.

Dissertation Special Project - Cnc

This unit allows you to demonstrate the skills, ideas and learning acquired during your degree in an extended piece of work that is self-initiated and managed, and supported by your assigned supervisor. The project needs to be in one of the areas of your degree, and have a clear and strong link to it. The project content should be taken from your main area of interest within your course. The topic will require the prior approval of the unit coordinator.

In this unit you will develop your research project, in the form of an undergraduate dissertation. Your project will follow the guidelines of ethical practice for the British Sociological Association, confirmed through the compilation and approval of CATS ethics form.

The project is the bridge between your studies and the world of work, and you should approach it in a professional manner and demonstrate independent thinking, responsibility, perseverance and high standards, all necessary to enter your professional life or postgraduate study.

Sport, Media And Culture

This unit studies the relationship between sport, media and culture. It examines the complex interdependence of sport and media and the ethical implications as well as the links between sport and sponsorship, advertisers and stakeholders. It will enable you to understand how the industry of sport and sports media functions as a commodity in the modern globalised world.

Advanced Multimedia Journalism

This unit builds on your newsday unit from Level 5, enabling you to develop your broadcast and online skills in an environment that continues to replicate industry practice. To that end you will complete 15 newsdays, five of which will be consecutive.

The aim is to help you – in a professional setting - build the skills necessary for your final special project. Therefore the focus of the content will be on longer form radio and television pieces and on more complex digital work than that you completed last year.

In the process, you will strengthen your critical understanding of all forms of radio, television and online news and improve your craft skills, leaving you well placed to embark upon your final special project.

Once again, you will be required to engage professionally with news sources and providers outside of the university environment. 

The assessments will give you the opportunity to present prospective employers with a show reel of high quality varied work.

Radio 24/7 For Journalists

This unit enables you to produce a variety of journalistic radio programming and other audio content to a professional industry standard. You will develop your ability to formulate, develop and deliver your ideas whilst working within professional production constraints.