Curriculum Information

Document Version

QAA Benchmarks

Educational Aim

Learning Outcomes

Course Structure

Level 4 Modules

Level 5 Modules

Level 6 Modules

Teaching and Assessment

Learning and Teaching Methods

Employer Engagement

Means of Assessment

• Portfolio

• Presentation

• Reflective Report

• Essay

• Annotated Playlist

• Zine

• Podcast

• Video Essay

• Vlogs

• Focus Groups

• Website Portfolio

• Reflexive Learning Diary

• Debate

• Dissertation or Major Project

• Academic Poster

• Live Briefs

• Media Campaigns

• Community Cinema Event

Learning Support

Induction

The team provides a full programme of induction for both new and returning students each year. This is where, in particular, Level 4 students are given a full induction to the course in their first week to help them plan their studies and understand how the university works. Moreover, various Level 4 core modules will support students’ various skills development. This includes scholarly analytical skills in Rethinking Media Theory, industry knowledge and professional profile enhancement in Contemporary Popular Television and Media, Culture and the Creative Industries in Wales, practical content creation skills in Communication Now, and journalistic skills in Introduction to Journalism. As such, Level 4 modules provide ‘immersive learning’ experiences which aim to develop core skills for the rest of the course, and includes activities that help students become familiar with the course, university and its surrounding area.

Personal tutor

Students will be allocated a Personal Academic Coach (PAC) who follows their academic progress throughout the course, and gives pastoral guidance where appropriate. Personal tutors may change to reflect changes in staffing, or to ensure the best support within the Personal Academic Coaching system.
Office hours Each member of staff has office hours details posted on their doors and digitally at the start of each term. This is to ensure that the course team informs students when they are available for drop-in sessions to discuss course work or other issues. Moreover, the course team is available – both in class and office-based – throughout the week during standard working hours.

Tutorials

A tutorial is a one-to-one or several-to-one discussion with a tutor to discuss progress on a module. Each module may be delivered in different
ways depending on the content. The nature of the creative process means that contact needs to be flexible, so tutorials may, for example take the form of informal trouble-shooting sessions within class time.
Seminars A seminar is normally a many-to-one discussion with a tutor in which a small group of students can discuss their progress together. This is often more beneficial as students get an opportunity to see what other students are doing, and build their confidence in providing constructive support to others. This format of learning is particularly well suited to the theoretically based modules within the course.
Formative Assessment Many modules provide the opportunity to submit work for feedback (e.g. a plan for of a piece of written work). However, due to the inclusion of assessment tutorial help and support slots, Dissertation supervisory meetings, and so on, students receive formative feedback in a more formal manner during these session.

Progress meetings

Students are each appointed a Personal Academic Coach at the start of the academic year, and also traditionally make good use of office hours for less formal progress meetings with module leaders.
Research Supervision For Level 5 work experience-led studies, and the Dissertation at Level 6, where students are expected to be working largely independently, they will are allocated a supervisor who will guide them throughout their work/research. Students and staff will keep in touch using a variety of methods including email and meetings.

Online Resources

The course teaching team make extensive use in all modules of Blackboard/Unilearn in order to provide electronic copies of lecture and seminar material and of follow-up reading. An increasing number of relevant media, culture and journalism texts are now available as e-books via the Atrium library's online catalogue. Also, the course team uses a variety of methods to provide and links to online resources

Advice Centres

The Student Advice Zone is in the Library on the ground floor of the Cardiff campus. Students can have most queries answered here, or make an appointment to see a specialist advisor on matters relating to finance, health and wellbeing, as well as support with study skills.
DDS Service

Any students identified as in need of additional specialist support on account of disability are referred to the university’s Disability Service; this service provides information, advice and guidance to and co-ordinates support for USW students who have disabilities, including physical, sensory, mental health or unseen disabilities, specific learning difficulties (e.g. dyslexia) and autism.
IT/Library

Students use the LRC in the Atrium and can request material from the LRC at Trefforest. They are also able to submit inter-library loan requests where necessary. With regard to academic journals, all the most relevant journals for media and cultural studies and journalism are available, mostly in both hard copy and electronic formats. LRC induction sessions are held at the start of the academic year. Library staff are invited into the classroom on certain modules to provide information sessions aimed at raising awareness of the range and utility of the resources available.

Course Exit Points

Progression Route

Within the Faculty of Creative Industries, a possible progression route is currently that of MA by Research. The course also equips our graduates for a range of a range of cognate taught postgraduate options at other institutions.

Entry Requirements

Admission to the course is typically through the following qualifications:

Admission to the course is typically through the following qualifications:

A typical A-level offer is: BCC – CDD (equivalent to 104-80 UCAS tariff points).A typical Welsh Baccalaureate offer is: Pass the Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate Diploma with Grade C/D in the Skills Challenge Certificate and BC – CD at A Level (equivalent to 104-80 UCAS tariff points).A typical BTEC offer is: BTEC Extended Diploma Distinction, Merit, Merit – Merit, Merit, Pass in a relevant subject (equivalent to 112-80 UCAS tariff points).Additional requirements: GCSEs: The University normally requires a minimum 5 GCSEs including Mathematics/Numeracy and English at Grade C or Grade 4 or above, or their equivalent, but careful consideration is always given to individual circumstances.

Inclusive Curriculum Statement

The University of South Wales operates a policy of inclusive learning, teaching and assessment to ensure that all students have an equal opportunity to fulfil their educational potential. Course teams will have considered ways of designing out any potentially disadvantageous element of courses during the course design process. However some specific needs may remain, details about how to apply to have your needs assessed can be found at: http://unilife.southwales.ac.uk/pages/3040-disability-and-dyslexia-service/

Addendum for Delivery at a Partner Institution

N/A