Programme Specifications

Media and Education


1 : Awarding Institution / Body
Aberystwyth University

2a : Teaching Institution / University
Aberystwyth University

2b : Work-based learning (where appropriate)


Information provided by Department of Theatre, Film and Television Studies:


Information provided by School of Education:



3a : Programme accredited by
Aberystwyth University

3b : Programme approved by
Aberystwyth University

4 : Final Award
Bachelor of Arts

5 : Programme title
Media and Education

6 : UCAS code
P3X3

7 : QAA Subject Benchmark


Information provided by Department of Theatre, Film and Television Studies:

Communications, Media, Film and Cultural Studies

Information provided by School of Education:

Education Studies



8 : Date of publication


Information provided by Department of Theatre, Film and Television Studies:

  • September 2023


Information provided by School of Education:

September 2023



9 : Educational aims of the programme


Information provided by Department of Theatre, Film and Television Studies:

  • To provide students with a grounding in the range of approaches developed for understanding mediated communication, from their foundations in linguistic and visual communication to specific modes of communication in, for instance, journalism, advertising, different kinds of writing, and the current transformations of these in digital environments

  • To bring these to bear specifically on current developments in new media, paying attention to processes of globalisation, and convergence and their implications

  • To develop in students the knowledge and abilities to be able to consider critically and productively the role of traditional and new media in contemporary social and political processes

  • To develop in students a range of skills and understandings that will enable them to take up employment within the wide range of jobs and industries concerned with the production, organisation, storage, distribution and use of mediated knowledge and communication


Information provided by School of Education:

  • To provide students with an opportunity to develop an understanding of the complex body of knowledge associated with Education

  • To enable students to critically engage with the key issues and current research in Education.

  • To enable students to critically reflect on and manage their own learning and performance;

  • To provide students with an opportunity to acquire the employability skills and personal attributes and values that are necessary for employment, training, or further education.



10 : Intended learning outcomes


Information provided by Department of Theatre, Film and Television Studies:


Information provided by School of Education:



10.1 : Knowledge and understanding


Information provided by Department of Theatre, Film and Television Studies:

  • Key concepts and theories of communication and mass communication

  • The role of media in the history of communication

  • Contemporary transformations of mediated communication associated with globalisation, digitisation and media convergence

  • The role of mediated communication within specific (e.g. political) situations


Information provided by School of Education:

  • A1 To understand the structure and development of the Education system within the UK and internationally and to be aware of assessment systems in place at each phase of the Education system.

  • A2 To understand how learners’ physical, intellectual, linguistic, social, cultural and emotional development can affect their learning

  • A3 To be aware of methods of safeguarding children and to understand a range of professional frameworks.

  • A4 Understand a range of strategies to establish a purposeful learning environment and promote good learning, achievement and behaviour.

  • A5 To be aware if the interdisciplinary nature of ICT and digital competency

  • A6 To be aware of the SEN code of practice for Wales and to be aware of strategies to support learners

  • A7 To understand the practical and ethical issues when working with and researching children

  • A8 To understand and evaluate issues relating to learner well-being and health.

Learning and Teaching

The above learning outcomes are developed through the following:

  • Lectures 

  • Seminars 

  • Individual tutorials 

  • Group work 

  • Personal research 

  • Workshops 

Assessment Strategies and Methods

The learning objectives will be assessed via the following:

 

  • Written assignments 

  • Examinations 

  • Placement Portfolio 

  • Undergraduate Dissertation 

  • Posters 

  • Oral Presentations 

  • Teaching/ Lesson Plans 

  • Interactive artefacts 



10.2 : Skills and other attributes


Information provided by Department of Theatre, Film and Television Studies:

  • The ability to examine critically a wide range of communication situations and forms, exploring their history, meanings and implications

  • The ability to seek and to draw upon a wide range of sources

  • The ability to measure critically the status and strength of knowledge-claims

  • The ability to apply course-derived understandings to current social and political policy-debates

  • The ability to analyse forms of language and visual communication for their complex meanings

  • The ability to use a range of digital media and software applications, with due attention to issues of purpose and audience address


Information provided by School of Education:

10.2.1 Intellectual skills

By the end of their programme, all students are expected to be able to:

  • B1 Analyse and interpret a range of academic texts and government documents

  • B2 Critically evaluate a range of source materials

  • B3 Apply theory to practice

  • B4 Understand a range of learning and teaching styles

  • B5 Communicate knowledge to others in written and spoken forms

Learning and Teaching

The above learning outcomes are developed through the following:

  • Lectures

  • Seminars

  • Group work

  • Personal research

  • Workshops

Assessment Strategies and Methods

The learning objectives will be assessed via the following:

  • Written assignments

  • Examinations

  • Placement Portfolio

  • Undergraduate Dissertation

  • Posters

  • Oral Presentations

  • Teaching/ Lesson Plans

  • Interactive artefacts.

10.2.2 Professional practical skills / Discipline Specific Skills

By the end of their programme, all students are expected to be able to:

  • C1 Demonstrate the ability to understand the diverse learning needs of learners and evaluate how to provide the best possible education for them to maximize their potential, whatever their individual aspirations, personal circumstances or cultural, linguistic, religious and ethnic background;

  • C2 Understand the role of multi-agency approaches to supporting learners.

  • C3 Be aware of, and work within, the statutory framework relating to their responsibilities

  • C4 Understand and apply psychological theories of learning and teaching

Learning and Teaching

The above learning outcomes are developed through the following:

  • Lectures

  • Seminars

  • Group work

  • Personal research

  • Workshops

Assessment Strategies and Methods

The learning objectives will be assessed via the following:

  • Written assignments

  • Examinations

  • Placement Portfolio

  • Undergraduate Dissertation

  • Posters

  • Oral Presentations

  • Teaching/ Lesson Plans

  • Interactive artefacts.



10.3 : Transferable/Key skills


Information provided by Department of Theatre, Film and Television Studies:

During the course of and on completion of this scheme, the following transferable skills will be fostered:

  • Oral and written communication will be developed through a range of assessed and non-assessed tasks. Students will be expected to produce a wide range of written work, from traditional academic essays and examinations to notebooks of reflective practice. Oral communication will be developed in seminar and workshop contexts, where the students will be expected to prepare and deliver presentations on set topics and discuss issues (both theoretical and in relation to certain texts/media), as well work towards the production of websites, short films etc. through practical modules.

  • Personal initiative will form a key element in the successful completion of this scheme. Students will be expected to formulate their own work routine and demonstrate self-discipline and planning by meeting deadlines. Scope for following personal interests and developing creativity will also be allowed in some modules, where students will be able to formulate their own assignment tasks (based on the approval of the module co-ordinator) or produce films/websites on topics of their choosing.

  • Many of the modules, particularly those that involve a 'practical' element, will require the students to work in teams. Further collaboration will be encouraged during seminar contexts where students will need to work collaboratively on set mini-tasks.

  • Other transferable skills will include competent use of ICTs and other technologies. Students will be expected to word process their written work, regularly access e-mail, find and retrieve information on-line (as well as in the library context) and operate production/editing equipment.

  • Students will have the opportunity to develop and apply a range of research skills


Information provided by School of Education:

By the end of their programme, all students are expected to be able to:

  • D1 Demonstrate independent working and thinking

  • D2 Research, assimilate, select and organise relevant academic material

  • D3 Evaluate key theories

  • D4 Work as part of a group

  • D5 Communicate to a range of audiences

  • D6 Demonstrate effective time management

  • D7 Demonstrate critical self-reflection

  • D8 Argue coherently by analysing evidence and applying logical thinking

Learning and Teaching

The above learning outcomes are developed through the following:

  • Lectures

  • Seminars

  • Group work

  • Personal research

  • Workshops

Assessment Strategies and Methods

The learning objectives will be assessed via the following:

  • Written assignments

  • Examinations

  • Placement Portfolio

  • Undergraduate Dissertation

  • Posters

  • Oral Presentations

  • Teaching/ Lesson Plans

  • Interactive artefacts.



11 : Program Structures and requirements, levels, modules, credits and awards



BA Media and Education [P3X3]

Academic Year: 2024/2025Joint Honours scheme - available from 2019/2020

Duration (studying Full-Time): 3 years
Last intake year: 2023/2024

Part 1 Rules

Year 1 Core (40 Credits)

Compulsory module(s).

Semester 1
FM10620

Studying Media

Semester 2
FM10720

Studying Communication

Year 1 Core (40 Credits)

Compulsory module(s).

Semester 1
ED14520

Children's Development and Learning

Semester 2
ED14420

Partnerships in Principle and Practice

Year 1 Options

Choose one of the following

Semester 2
FM10220

Studying Television

FM11520

Making Short Films 1

Year 1 Options

Choose one module (20 credits)

Semester 1
AD13620

Sgiliau Allweddol i Brifysgol

ED13620

Key Skills for University

ED14620

Health and Wellbeing in the Early Years

Semester 2
AD14320

Datblygiad Iaith

ED13720

Play and Learning:Theory and Practice

ED14320

Language Development

Part 2 Rules

Year 2 Core (20 Credits)

Compulsory module(s).

Semester 1
ED20120

Psychology of Learning and Thinking

Semester 2

Year 2 Options

Joint Honours Media and Communication Studies students must take at least 20 credits and, subject to the demands of their scheme, may take up to 80 credits of the following Critical Theory modules in their second year.

Semester 1
FM22320

Youth Cultures

FM22620

Media, Politics and Power

Semester 2
FM21920

Advertising

FM25520

Digital Culture

Year 2 Options

Joint Honours Media and Communication Studies students may take up to 40 credits from the following creative practice modules:

Semester 1
FM26520

Creative Documentary

Semester 2
FM25420

Creative Studio

Year 2 Options

OPTIONAL MODULES : You must take 20/40-60 credits, ensuring a total of 100-140 credits over the 2nd and final years, from:

Semester 1
AD20220

Llythrennedd Mewn Plant Ifanc

AD20600

Gweithio Gyda Phlant

AD24320

Diogelu ac Ymarfer Proffesiynol

ED20220

Literacy in Young Children

ED20420

Education, Diversity and Equality

ED20600

Working with Children

ED24320

Safeguarding and Professional Practice

Semester 2
AD20320

Dulliau Ymchwil

AD20620

Gweithio Gyda Phlant

ED20320

Research Methods

ED20620

Working with Children

ED20820

Making Sense of the Curriculum

ED22420

Discourses Language and Education

Year 2 Options

Joint Honours Media and Communication Studies students may choose from these Film and Television Studies modules:

Semester 1
FM20120

LGBT Film & Television

FM20420

The Story of Television

FM23820

Work in the Film & Television Industries

Semester 2
FM21520

Film Stardom and Celebrity

FM24420

Art Cinema

Final Year Core (20 Credits)

Compulsory module(s).

Semester 1
ED30120

Assessment and Education

Semester 2

Final Year Options

OPTIONAL MODULES : You must take 20/40-60 credits, ensuring a total of 100-140 credits over the 2nd and final years. You must only take either the AD or the ED module

Semester 1
AD30620

Hawliau Plant

AD33600

Traethawd Hir

ED30420

Special Educational Needs

ED30620

Children's Rights

ED33600

Major dissertation

Semester 2
AD30320

Datblygiad Mathemategol yn y Blynyddoedd Cynnar

AD33640

Traethawd Hir

AD34720

Cyfathrebu

AD34820

Datblygiad Emosiynol a Chymdeithasol

ED30320

Mathematical Development in the Early Years

ED33640

Major dissertation

ED34720

Communication

ED34820

Emotional and Social Development

Final Year Options

Joint Honours Media and Communication Studies students must take at least 20 credits and, subject to the demands of their scheme, may take up to 80 credits of the following Critical Theory modules (NB: the Independent Research Project is worth 40 credits, 20 in each semester):

Semester 1
FM36000

Independent Research Project

FM38320

Gender and the Media

FM38420

Videogame Theories

Semester 2
FM31920

Advertising

FM34120

Media Semiotics

FM36040

Independent Research Project

FM36720

Media Law and Regulation

Final Year Options

Joint Honours Media and Communication Studies students may take up to 40 credits of the following Creative Practice modules:

Semester 1
FM33500

Experimental Media Production

FM33700

Documentary Production

Semester 2
FM33540

Experimental Media Production

FM33740

Documentary Production

Final Year Options

Joint Honours Media and Communication Studies students may take up to 40 credits of these Film and TV options:

Semester 1
FM31020

Screening the Brave New World: television in 20th-century Britain

FM34520

Experimental Cinema

FM38220

Cult Cinema: Texts, Histories and Audiences

Semester 2
FM30020

Contemporary Film and the Break-Up of Britain

FM30320

Contemporary TV


12 : Support for students and their learning
Every student is allocated a Personal Tutor. Personal Tutors have an important role within the overall framework for supporting students and their personal development at the University. The role is crucial in helping students to identify where they might find support, how and where to seek advice and how to approach support to maximise their student experience. Further support for students and their learning is provided by Information Services and Student Support and Careers Services.

13 : Entry Requirements
Details of entry requirements for the scheme can be found at http://courses.aber.ac.uk

14 : Methods for evaluating and improving the quality and standards of teaching and learning
All taught study schemes are subject to annual monitoring and periodic review, which provide the University with assurance that schemes are meeting their aims, and also identify areas of good practice and disseminate this information in order to enhance the provision.

15 : Regulation of Assessment
Academic Regulations are published as Appendix 2 of the Academic Quality Handbook: https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/aqro/handbook/app-2/.

15.1 : External Examiners
External Examiners fulfill an essential part of the University’s Quality Assurance. Annual reports by External Examiners are considered by Faculties and Academic Board at university level.

16 : Indicators of quality and standards
The Department Quality Audit questionnaire serves as a checklist about the current requirements of the University’s Academic Quality Handbook. The periodic Department Reviews provide an opportunity to evaluate the effectiveness of quality assurance processes and for the University to assure itself that management of quality and standards which are the responsibility of the University as a whole are being delivered successfully.