Course Description Document

Course Title	Digital Media
Course Code	9589
Award Title	Master of Arts (MA)
Awarding Body	University of Southampton
Teaching Institution	University of Southampton
Regulated by	Office for Students
Accreditation	None
Regulations	The Regulations of the University can be found on the University's Governance Webpages: https://www.southampton.ac.uk/about/governance/regulations-policies
Location of study	Winchester
Length of the course	1 Years
Tuition Fees	Fees for students can be located by the student fees page. https://www.southampton.ac.uk/studentservices/money-matters/student-fees/index.page

Course Overview

Contemporary global challenges in the media landscape, new technologies and local realities require a responsive media education. MA Digital Media offers a unique blend of theory and practice in media studies, underpinned by interdisciplinary methodologies and led by faculty with extensive industry networks and practitioner backgrounds. With strategically led integration into the School’s research culture and access to cutting-edge technical facilities at Winchester School of Art in Park Avenue and Capital House, you will be equipped to excel in the dynamic field of digital media with skill sets of critical and independent thinking, media theory and media literacy, creative methodologies and a strong portfolio of practical and theoretical work.
Special Features of the Programme:
This programme involves engagement with University research groups and access to critical and creative media practitioners.
The programme will involve exhibition of student group projects to facilitate connections to industry networks and visibility of the course. It will involve collaboration with MA Contemporary Curating and MA Arts and Cultural Leadership. It will also continue to host an annual Symposium (successfully presented since 2015) in which WSA and external researchers present their research and engage in discussion sessions alongside students.
The provision of practical and theoretical work done on the course will be distributed among students through the choice of a Final Project format, either as Theory (10,000 words) or Integrated Theory and Practice (7,000 words and 3,000 words equivalent of practice-based research). The preference for the format will be included as a required aspect of Portfolio checklist in the Admissions stage and will allow us to estimate the programme requirements ahead of time. This is NOT to be treated as a pathway, but rather as a desired format of project to be assessed on. The students with Integrated Theory and Practice projects will participate in the Final Degree show alongside other practical courses; all students with Theory projects will participate, organise and showcase their work in a digital publication.
Your contact hours will vary depending on your module/option choices. Full information about contact hours is provided in individual module profiles.

Aims of the Course

The aims of the programme are to:
• promote originality, creativity, insight and critical reflective abilities.
• apply a range of critical, creative techniques and research methods to your specialist field.
• behave ethically and with integrity and a strong sense of social responsibility.
• develop a range of professional skills relevant to the creative industries including the use of digital tools.
• take responsibility for independent learning and continuing professional development.
• give you the ability to take an international perspective with a critical awareness of current issues and developments in your subject and profession.

Course Structure

The tables below provide a list of the modules that make up your course.

Each module is worth a specified number of credits: you can take a combination of core and compulsory modules enabling you to cover key subject knowledge. Some courses have option modules which enable you to develop your own interests.

Your programme requires a certain number of credits. The number of option modules you can take depends on the number of core and compulsory modules and this is also influenced by the requirements of the regulatory requirements for professionally accredited courses. Some courses also have pre and co-requisites, and these are included in individual module information.

Your learning will be led by the latest research, and modules can change periodically to reflect developments in the discipline. You can always find the most up-to-date information about your modules and who is teaching them via the information on our webpages and, post enrolment, via the Faculty hub.

If we have insufficient numbers of students interested in an option module, it may not be offered. If an option module will not be run, we will advise you as soon as possible and help you choose an alternative module.

The core and compulsory modules available on your course are as follows:

Part I The core modules provide in-depth knowledge relevant to the specialist concepts and methods of Digital Media Practices. The compulsory modules consider a broad range of subject specific topics. You will develop a theoretical and creative grounding to critically explore contemporary transformations associated with the media industries and digital technologies, including topics such as media arts, visual culture, algorithmic culture, social media platforms and participatory cultures, media infrastructures and critical image work. Additionally, you will engage in academic skills related to conducting research, creative practice, synthesising and analysing data and writing up your work in accordance with academic expectations appropriate to this level of study. The optional module in Semester 2 provides you with an opportunity to further enhance the career-orientation of your studies and tailor your programme towards your professional aspirations. You will be able to apply the knowledge and skills you develop on the programme through a Final Project, giving you an opportunity to develop an area of personal expertise. Taught modules are delivered in Semesters 1 and 2, while the Final Project module is a student–led independent project carried out over the summer period (sometimes referred to as Semester 3). Typical course content You will develop a theoretical and creative grounding to critically explore contemporary transformations of media industries and digital technologies. Central to this approach is a culture of research-led teaching underpinned with access to excellent learning resources (including e-books, academic journals, and subscription-based online content), opportunities to participate in research events, present your work in a Symposium and an Exhibition. Building on this theoretical and creative grounding, you will explore the applied dimensions of digital and critical media strategies and techniques within a specific media practice from your chosen discipline. This may include audio-visual media industries (film-making, photography, sound), GLAM sector, journalism, digital media and media research, and be relevant to creative, educational, commercial, charity, and activist organisations. Indicative content: •Digital Media •Critical Media •Algorithmic Culture •Visual And Screen Cultures •Studies Of Science and Technology •Creative Industries •Labour and Policy •Social Media Platforms and Participatory Cultures •Contemporary Art •Media Arts •Recombinant and Appropriative Media •Media Infrastructures •Critical Image Work •Journalism and Documentary •Interdisciplinary Methodologies •Digital Activism •Identity and Intersectionality •Curating •Play and Gamification •Political Communication •Transmedia
Part I Optional Modules You should choose option modules totaling 7.5 ECTS (15 CATS) in Semester 2. All option modules are offered subject to availability and timetabling constraints.
Code	Module Title	ECTS	Type
ARTD6217	Experimental Publishing	7.5	Optional
ARTD6218	Exploring the Visual Language of Display	7.5	Optional
ARTD6219	Visual Culture	7.5	Optional
ARTD6304	Global Marketing	7.5	Optional
ARTD6303	Entrepreneurship	7.5	Optional
ARTD6302	Digital Cultures	7.5	Optional
ARTD6301	Creative Thinking and Problem Solving	7.5	Optional
ARTD6300	Sustainability in Business and Design	7.5	Optional
Part I Core and Compulsory Modules The following modules must be taken:
Code	Module Title	ECTS	Type
ARTD6264	Critical Media Practice	7.5	Compulsory
ARTD6268	Media Research and Methodologies II: Research Proposal Development	7.5	Compulsory
ARTD6265	Digital Media I: Critical Theory	15	Compulsory
ARTD6267	Media Research and Methodologies I	7.5	Compulsory
ARTD6266	Digital Media II: Collaborative Critical Practice	15	Core
Part I Research You will produce a Final Project directly relevant to your research interests. The following module must be taken:
Code	Module Title	ECTS	Type
ARTD6269	Final Project (Digital Media)	30	Core

Learning and Teaching

Your overall workload consists of class contact hours, independent learning, and assessment activity, with each ECTS credit taken equivalent to 20 hours of student effort. While your actual contact hours may depend on the option modules you select, the information available on our webpages give an indication of how much time you will need to allocate to different activities.

When not attending lectures, seminars and other timetabled sessions you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. Typically, this will involve reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects, undertaking research in the library, preparing coursework assignments and presentations, and for other types of assessments and examinations.

Full information about contact hours is provided in individual module information.

How we'll assess you

Your course provides you with opportunities to test your understanding of the subject informally before you complete the formal assessments that count towards your module mark. Each module normally contains at least one piece of practice or formative assessment for which you receive feedback.

Formative assessments are developmental, and any results do not count towards your module mark, but they are an important part of your learning.

Summative assessments usually take place at the end of each module, although some may have interim assessments throughout. Assessment methods might include written examinations and a range of coursework assessments such as essays, reports, portfolios, performance, presentations and projects for example. The marks from summative assessments count towards your module mark.

The information available on our website gives an indication of the assessment methods used on your course.

Staff involved in delivering the different elements of the course

You will be taught by an experienced teaching team whose expertise and knowledge are closely matched to the content of the modules on your course. The team includes senior academics, professional practitioners with industry experience, demonstrators and technical officers.

Postgraduate research students who have undertaken appropriate training may also contribute to the teaching of seminars if their research specialism is directly related to the topic of the module and may also be involved in practical classes, project work and field trips. All contributions will be carried out under the supervision of the module leader.

Fees

What your fees pay for

Your tuition fees pay for the full cost of tuition and standard exams.

Extra costs you may experience

Accommodation and living costs, such as travel and food, are not included in your tuition fees. There may also be extra costs for retake and professional exams.

Depending on the nature of your course, you may be able to choose modules which may have additional costs, such as field studies, travel overseas or industrial placements which will change the overall cost of your course. Details of these costs can be found in module information.

Please also ensure you read the section on additional costs in the Fees, Charges and Expenses Regulations.

The following course-related costs are not included in your fees:

Type	Details
Calculators	Where a calculator is required, all Casio Calculators are allowed but they must be Non-Programmable, Scientific models. More information is available in the Examination Regulations https://www.southampton.ac.uk/studentadmin/assessment/assess-overview/exam-regulations.page
Stationery	You will be expected to provide your own day-to-day stationery items, e.g. pens, pencils, notebooks, etc. Any specialist stationery items that you may need will be specified in the relevant module profile.
Textbooks	Where a module specifies essential texts, the Library will identify the optimal option(s) to support the module via the course Reading List. This may include e-books (ideally with unlimited concurrent usage) or a digitised chapter extract, supported by a limited number of print books (where available). You may request that the Library purchases additional print copies via 'suggest a book', borrow an additional copy via our inter-library-loans service or you may prefer to buy your own copies for high demand titles.
Printing	In most cases, written coursework such as essays and projects are submitted online. However it may be necessary to submit a hard copy of some projects, business projects and dissertations. The costs of printing a hard copy for submission of such work will be your responsibility. You will also have to cover the cost of photocopying. https://www.southampton.ac.uk/isolutions/students/printing.
Accommodation and Travel	Students are responsible for daily travel expenses.
Books and Stationery equipment	You will be expected to provide your own day-to-day stationery items, e.g. pens, pencils, notebooks, etc. Any specialist stationery items will be specified under the Additional Costs tab of the relevant module profile.
Equipment and Materials	The practical materials you use will be relevant to your personal project; be aware that costs will reflect the relevant scale and type of work you engage in.
Optional Visits (e.g. museums, galleries)	The programme may include short-distance mandatory study trips. Because of the size of the programme, students will be expected to cover the cost of travel, admission and food unless otherwise specified in the module profile, but all efforts will be made to keep costs down.
Parking	Free parking is not normally available on campus to students.
Printing and Photocopying Costs	In most cases, coursework will be submitted online. There may be occasions where your practice might require printed materials. A list of the University printing costs can be found here: http://www.southampton.ac.uk/isolutions/students/printing/
Textbooks	Where a module specifies core texts these should generally be available on the reserve list in the library. However, due to demand, students may prefer to buy their own copies. These can be purchased from any source. Some modules suggest reading texts as optional background reading. The library may hold copies of such texts, or alternatively you may wish to purchase your own copies. Although not essential reading, you may benefit from the additional reading materials for the module.

Bursaries, scholarships and other funding

We award scholarships and grants for travel, academic excellence, or to students from underrepresented backgrounds.

You may be able to get a University of Southampton bursary to help with your living costs.

If you are a care leaver or estranged from your parents, you may be able to get a specific bursary.

You may be able to get a scholarship or grant that's linked to your chosen subject area.

Financial Support

The Student Services Centre offers support and advice regarding student finances. You may be able to access our Student Support fund and other sources of financial support during your course. You can find more information about financial support via our webpages: https://www.southampton.ac.uk/studentservices/money-matters/student-support-fund/index.page

Academic support

The Student Support Hub is your first point of contact when it comes to seeking support. The team will answer your questions or concerns about your wellbeing, fees and funding, accommodation and visas. The team will help make sure you receive the support you need, guiding you to further support services where required. You can find more information about student support via our webpages:

https://www.southampton.ac.uk/studentservices/index.page

One of the most important people you will meet while you are a student at Southampton is your Personal Academic Tutor, who will be allocated to you for your arrival at the University and who is normally a member of academic staff in your own or a closely related subject area. Your Personal Academic Tutor will offer one-to-one support and advice throughout your time at Southampton and will support you in your studies or with other issues you may have. You can find out more via our webpages:

https://www.southampton.ac.uk/studentadmin/academic-support-guidance/personal-tutor.page

Disclaimer

As a research-led University, we undertake a continuous review of our courses to ensure quality enhancement and to manage our resources. As a result, this course may be revised during a student's period of registration; however, any revision will be balanced against the requirement that the student should receive the educational service expected. Please read our Disclaimer to see why, when and how changes may be made to a student's course.