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Program

Media (Screen & Sound Prod) - 3438

Program Summary

Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

Contact: sam@unsw.edu.au

Campus: Sydney

Career: Undergraduate

Typical Duration: 3 Years  

Typical UOC Per Semester: 24

Min UOC Per Semester: 6

Max UOC Per Semester: 24

Min UOC For Award: 144

UAC Code: 422720

Domestic Entry Requirements: See Domestic Entry Requirements

International Entry Requirements: See International Entry Requirements

Award(s):

Bachelor of Media (Major)

View program information for previous years

Program Description

THIS PROGRAM IS FOR STUDENTS COMMENCING IN 2015 ONWARDS.

The Bachelor of Media (Screen and Sound Production) [UNSW BMedia (S&SP)] is designed to provide you with foundational and applied skills, knowledge and capabilities relevant to career pathways in a broad range of audio-visual, digital and screen production industries. The emphasis is on the acquisition of relevant creative and professional skills relevant to current media industry contexts, along with a sophisticated conceptual understanding of the increasingly convergent role of media and film in contemporary societies.

Through a suite of electives, you will gain practical experience in digital film and sound production, animation, interaction and game design in a degree that is both ideas driven and vocationally relevant in its orientation. You will gain foundational practical experience in the thoughtful and creative application of established and emerging media technologies, while also being immersed in the history, culture and philosophy of media and film studies through a diverse suite of core and elective courses. The balance between practice and theory, film and media enables you to be at the forefront of an increasingly convergent media landscape.

At level 1 you will study introductory courses in film and media studies and also take a range of foundational courses in video production, sonic arts as well as a course that introduces you to foundational principles of graphic design, animation and interaction design.

At Levels 2 and 3 you select from a wide range of production and project-based courses to expand and deepen your knowledge and understanding in the technical, analytical and conceptual application of various media forms including audio-visual production, screenwriting, animation and game design. Concurrently, you will continue to expand your knowledge of the histories, theories and cultures in the disciplinary courses in film and media studies. It is here that you will develop discipline specific and generic skills in critical and creative thought, writing, research and presentation.

Program Objectives and Graduate Attributes
The UNSW BMedia (S&SP) aims to prepare graduates for a leadership role in the thoughtful application of screen and sound production technologies informed by a solid understanding of film and media histories, theories and cultures. Graduates will also gain a deep understanding of the convergence of film and media industries in the contemporary world. You are not simply skilled up in the use of video and sound recorders, computers and media applications, but are encouraged to become thoughtful and resourceful professionals capable of tackling complex issues by drawing on your integrated practical and theoretical expertise. You will become immersed in the current culture of contemporary screen and sound production and theory. You are encouraged to test out emerging ideas and developments and look for novel ways to approach the planning and production of contemporary audio-visual and digital media projects. Graduates will gain foundational expertise in a range of screen and sound production tools, but more importantly, you will be able to interpret and reflect on emerging audio-visual practices and increasingly diverse screen environments, enabling you to take leading, imaginative and inventive roles in the rapidly changing media industries.

The Learning Outcomes for this Program are as follows:

At the conclusion of this program, you should be able to:
  1. Show enterprise, initiative and creativity in the practical application of screen and sound production techniques.
  2. Apply an appreciation of, and respect for, the cultural diversity of film and media audiences, media forms and delivery contexts.
  3. Create effective and engaging screen and sound texts.
  4. Situate the historical development of screen and sound as part of the constantly evolving film and media landscape.
  5. Understand the aesthetic, technical, and cultural dimensions of screen and sound media.
  6. Discuss, analyse and evaluate written and audio-visual texts.
  7. Contribute to, and work within, an international community of media professionals.
  8. Relate creative production to theoretical and critical knowledge.
  9. Adapt to changes in the audiences, platforms, tools and practices of screen and sound media production.
  10. Conduct scholarly and creative research as applied to and appropriate for the fields of audio-visual media.
  11. Deploy ethically informed and socially aware practice.
  12. Collaborate effectively across a range of contexts in film and media professions.

Career Opportunities

This program provides foundational skills and concepts relevant to career pathways in a broad range of audio-visual production industries. Examples include film and video director, editor, sound designer, producer and other roles within video and audio production, digital media, screen production, game design, and other areas of the expanding media industry. With its training in research, self directed learning, critical thinking and collaborative working skills, this program also allows graduates to achieve the skills necessary for and adaptable to employment in areas as diverse as film criticism, media administration, festival programming, communication research and media marketing.

Program Structure
The UNSW BMedia (S&SP) can be completed full-time in Single mode (normally 3 years), or in Dual Mode (the equivalent of two years full-time study) or part-time. The basic requirements of the program are simple. The BMedia (S&SP) has a depth component and a breadth component. If you are enrolled in Single mode you do both the depth and breadth component while in Dual Mode you only complete the depth component.

If you study in either the single or dual mode, you will complete:
  1. 24 UOC of Media Studies core and prescribed electives (four courses)
  2. 24 UOC of Film Studies core and prescribed electives (four courses)
  3. 48 UOC of Screen and Sound Production core and prescribed electives (eight courses)
If you study in the single mode, you will also complete:
  1. An optional home minor stream of 24 UOC (four courses) selected from the list of UNSW BA approved home minor streams
  2. 12 UOC of Free Electives (two courses) which can be taken within or outside the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
  3. 12 UOC of General Education (two courses) which must be taken outside of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
OR
  1. An optional external minor stream of 24 – 36 UOC (four to six courses) selected from the list of UNSW BA approved external minor streams*
  2. 12 - 24 UOC of Free Electives (four courses) including at least 12 UOC taken within the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.
*An external minor satisfies the 12 UOC of General Education required in the single program.

Please refer to the list of optional minors under "Area(s) of Specialisation”.

OR
  1. 12 UOC of Prescribed Electives (two courses) of any other courses offered from within Arts and Social Sciences
  2. 24 UOC of Free Electives (four courses) which can be taken within or outside the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
  3. 12 UOC of General Education (two courses) which must be taken outside of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

Optional Major in Film Studies

You complete at least 24 UOC of Film studies courses as part of the core and prescribed electives requirements. If you wish to, you can take additional Film Studies courses with your Arts and Social Sciences Prescribed Electives and Free Electives. If you complete 60 UOC of Film Studies courses which meet the requirements for a BA Film Studies Major, then you can graduate with a Film Studies Major.

Media Studies Core and Prescribed Electives (24 UOC – 4 courses)

You must complete the core course:
You must complete three prescribed electives, including at least one at level 2 and one at level 3.

Level 1
Level 2
Level 3

Film Studies Core and Prescribed Electives (24 UOC – 4 courses)

You must complete the core course:

You must complete three prescribed electives, including at least one at level 2 and one at level 3.

Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
NOTE: If you are enrolled in Media/Law Dual mode you must complete at least one of the following courses at level 1 in addition to the Film and Media Studies core courses in Semester 2:
OR

Screen and Sound Production Core and Prescribed Electives (48 UOC – 8 courses)

You must complete the core courses:

Level 1
You must complete at least two prescribed electives at level 2 selected from the following list:

Level 2
You must complete at least two prescribed electives at level 3 selected from the following list:

Level 3
NOTE: If you are enrolled in Media/International Studies dual degree mode you must choose ARTS2092 Global Media as your Prescribed Media Elective. This course meets the core requirement for the Bachelor of International Studies in place of ARTS2240 Environment, Sustainability and Development. You do not complete ARTS2240. Instead you choose a course from outside the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences that meets their General Education requirement. To complete your General Education requirement, you also complete 24 UOC not 30 UOC of Screen & Sound Production prescribed electives. With the remaining 6 UOC you choose your second General Education course.

UNSW Arts and Social Sciences Prescribed Electives

Arts and Social Sciences Prescribed Electives are any courses chosen by you from the offerings of UNSW Arts and Social Sciences for which you are qualified to enrol. You can add depth to your program by completing more PR & Advertising Electives or undertake other courses from other areas of study within the Faculty.

Free Electives

A Free Elective is any course offered either within or outside UNSW Arts and Social Sciences into which you can enrol.

ARTS2050 Academic Writing for the Humanities

This course is available as an Arts and Social Sciences Prescribed Elective or Free Elective if you wish to develop your academic writing skills.

General Education

General Education is the completion of two courses (12 UOC) offered outside UNSW Arts and Social Sciences. This requirement is met if an external minor (for example, Economics) is completed. Indigenous Studies courses (ATSIxxxx) can be studied as General Education only if you are not following a minor in Indigenous Studies.

Suggested Arts and Social Sciences Prescribed Electives and Free Electives

You are encouraged to select from among the following courses offered by UNSW Arts and Social Sciences to fulfill part of your Arts and Social Sciences Elective or Free Elective requirement. Note that pre-requisites may apply for some courses.

Award with Distinction

If you secure a WAM of 75 across your program and you have completed at least 48 UOC of your program at UNSW you are eligible for the award of Pass Degree "with Distinction".

Honours

Once you have completed your Bachelor of Media (Screen and Sound Production) (in either Single or Dual mode) you can apply for admission to do an Honours year in the Bachelor of Media (Honours) program 4510. Entry to Honours requires a WAM of 70 or higher in the stream in which you want to study at Honours level.

Bachelor of Media (Honours) program 4510

Sample Program

Bachelor of Media (Screen and Sound Production) - Sample Program - Single Mode (Example Only)
 
Below is a guide to help you enrol in your program. To be full-time you must enrol in 24 UOC each semester.
 
LEVEL 1
 UOC
S1 ARTS1060 Intro to Film Studies (6 UOC) ARTS1090 Media, Culture & Everyday Life (6 UOC) Home Minor
(6 UOC)		  24
S2
Free Elective (6 UOC)
 MDIA1006 Mediated Storytelling (6 UOC) MDIA1005 Creative Sound Technologies (6 UOC) General Education
(6 UOC)		  24
LEVEL 2 UOC
S1 Prescribed Media Studies Elective (6 UOC)
Prescribed Screen & Sound Production Elective (6 UOC)
 Prescribed Screen & Sound Production Elective (6 UOC) Home Minor
(6 UOC)		  24
S2 Prescribed Film Studies Elective (6 UOC)
Prescribed Screen & Sound Production Elective (6 UOC)
 General Education
(6 UOC)		 Home Minor (6 UOC)  24
LEVEL 3 UOC
S1 Prescribed Film Studies Elective (6 UOC)
Prescribed Media Studies Elective (6 UOC)
 
OR
 
Prescribed Film Studies Elective (6 UOC)
Prescribed Screen & Sound Production Elective (6 UOC)
 Home Minor
(6 UOC)		  24
S2
Prescribed Media Studies Elective (6 UOC)
Prescribed Screen & Sound Production Elective (6 UOC)
Prescribed Media Studies Elective (6 UOC)
 
OR
 
Prescribed Film Studies Elective (6 UOC)
 Free Elective
(6 UOC)		  24


Academic Rules

Single Mode

To qualify for the award of the degree at Pass level, you must:
  1. enrol in the Bachelor of Media (Screen and Sound Production) and complete 144 UOC;
  2. complete the requirements for the cores
  3. complete the requirements for prescribed electives
  4. complete 12 UOC of Arts and Social Sciences Prescribed Electives*
  5. complete 24 UOC of Free Electives*
  6. complete 12 UOC of General Education**
  7. complete at least 30 UOC of Level 1 courses before enrolling in Level 2 courses
  8. complete at least 96 UOC overall before enrolling in Level 3 courses
*you may substitute the Arts and Social Sciences Prescribed Electives and/or Free Electives for an optional minor from the list of UNSW BA approved home minor streams

**you may substitute 12 UOC of General Education courses for 12 UOC in an external minor from the list of UNSW BA approved external minor streams.

Dual Mode

To qualify for the award of the degree at Pass level, you must:
  1. complete 96 UOC in the Bachelor of Media (Screen and Sound Production) and complete 96 UOC;
  2. complete the requirements for the cores
  3. complete the requirements for prescribed electives
  4. complete at least 30 UOC of Level 1 courses before enrolling in Level 2 courses
  5. complete at least 48 UOC overall before enrolling in Level 3 courses

Fees
For information regarding fees for UNSW programs, please refer to the following website:  UNSW Fee Website.

Important Information
The Academic Rules for the UNSW BMedia (S&SP) and the online enrolment facility provide you with a wide range of course choices. The online enrolment facility checks that you meet the enrolment requirements for individual courses but not that a course complies with Program Rules. You are responsible for ensuring you are enrolling in accordance with the Academic Rules outlined above. You should take care not to assume that because you have enrolled in a course online that the course is automatically credited to your degree program. If you need more help or want to check that your enrolment meets the program rules, get in touch with the Arts and Social Sciences Student Centre.

Further Information
Contact the UNSW Arts and Social Sciences Student Centre for advice.
Tel: + 61 2 9385 2289
Email: arts@unsw.edu.au
Location: Room G1 Ground Floor, Morven Brown building (C20)
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm
Frequently asked questions

Glossary of Terms
Area(s) of Specialisation
Multimedia work bench

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