Course description
MSc
This course at Oxford Brookes University is aimed at those graduates who have a first degree in any discipline other than a technically based media subject and who wish to study Digital Media Production at master’s level. As a result of the teaching and learning experience on the programme, you should be in a position to show originality in the application of the state-of-the-art methods to create multimedia products of highest commercial standard. The taught part of the course covers video production using Avid technology, TV newsroom operation, computer-aided design, computer-generated animation and the creation of multimedia applications such as CDs, DVDs and websites. In addition, you will carry out an individual project and will work in a group to tackle the production of media materials for genuine customers.
You will demonstrate the ability to deal with complex issues systematically and creatively, and will show originality in tackling and solving problems. This will enhance your prospects in obtaining employment in the media industry.
We have excellent facilities to support your learning and use the latest industry standard tools, such as Avid, Solid Works and ProTools. Teaching is based at our new purpose-built building on the Wheatley Campus. Facilities include a sound and video recording studio, post-production studio and a fully operational TV newsroom.
Course content
The course is structured around three time periods: Semester 1 runs from September to December, Semester 2 from January to May, and the summer period completes the year until the beginning of September.
To qualify for a master’s degree you must pass all taught modules and the Dissertation, together with the Research and Study Methods module.
* Video Production is intended to give you an understanding of, and the ability to apply, the skills required for sound and video recording, including the techniques used to design, author and produce electronic media. The module will take you through the entire process of making interactive video-based multimedia products. This includes pre-production planning, production phase involving industry standard tools for recording and post-production using the latest techniques of data manipulation.
* Web Media provides you with an understanding of the processes and practices needed to generate and manipulate web content. You will develop a blog and build an online portfolio of work including digital text, images and audio material.
* Computer Aided Graphics Design is intended to give you a thorough understanding of how computer aided graphics designs are created using a PC-based CAD system. You will concentrate on developing and enhancing your technical ability as applied to computer aided design, as well as gaining an informed understanding of the computer aided design creativity. The module takes you through the entire process of generating computer aided designs as part of your practical and project work.
* Advanced Computer Aided Animation is intended to give you a thorough understanding of how 3D complex animations are created using a PC-based CAD system. You will concentrate on developing and enhancing your technical ability as applied to computer animation, as well as an informed understanding of the computer aided animation creativity. The module will take you through the entire process of making 3D animations as part of your practical work and projects. The projects are the core of the animation, providing you with the environment for learning and academic development together with the evolution of skills in the creative and technical aspects of computer aided animation.
* Newsroom Operation covers the entire workflow for a broadcast TV newsroom from an original news story, through the write-up, planning and capturing footage, to editing and broadcasting. Using the latest industry-standard equipment in a fully operational newsroom, you will gain an understanding of the creative and technical processes involved in TV production.
* Professional Media Production aims to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of management techniques relevant to video/multimedia production. Working in teams, you will acquire the knowledge required to plan, organise, finance, produce and evaluate media materials for external customers.
* Research and Study Methods is designed to introduce you to the research and study methods that will underpin work carried out for your dissertation. The module, delivered in a seminar style, will provide you with research skills, planning techniques, progress management and review, and ability to use ICT support materials. You will be given guidance on the analysis and technical presentation of research material.
* The Dissertation is an individual research and development project of 10,000-15,000 words on a topic closely related to your programme of study. The work may be undertaken in close co-operation with a research, industrial or commercial organisation.
Teaching, learning and assessment
Learning methods include lectures, directed reading, workshops, seminars, and practical and project work.
Teaching is organised on a module-credit basis, involving approximately 200 hours of student input and approximately 36 hours of staff contact, normally delivered through a weekly three-hour teaching block over a 12-week period.
Each course module is assessed individually, generally on the quality of written or design work, and to some extent on verbal presentations. Assessment methods may include essays, seminar papers, class tests, project work, design and oral presentations, workshops, simulations, and practical exercises.
Teaching and learning also draws on the diverse professional backgrounds, experience and knowledge of academics and visiting lecturers from industry.
Quality
Teaching staff are drawn primarily from the School of Technology. Visiting speakers from business and industry provide further input. The programme benefits from the rigorous validation and review processes at the University, and the external examiners are very positive about the course.
