Module: MCO6011-20 Dissertation: Creative Industry Project

Credit Value: 20

Module Tutor: Matthew Freeman

Module Tutor Contact Details: m.freeman@bathspa.ac.uk

Please note that in order to take this module you must have studied EITHER MCO6000-40 Dissertation I or FSS6000-40 Film and Screen Studies Dissertation I

1. Brief description and aims of module:

Dissertation: Creative Industry Project allows for Media Communications and Film and Screen Studies students to consider and plan for the industry application of their academic research. With Dissertation teaching core aspects of planning, researching and writing an academic dissertation, this module stresses dialogues between the academic study of film and media and the wider industry application of this research. You must consider how the arguments, analysis and findings of their dissertation might benefit some form of industry, and how you will plan to utilise this research in your post-degree career planning. As such, the weekly lectures will serve as important career-planning and development sessions, with workshops devoted to graduate job searching, networking, media industry careers and sector-specific ways of harnessing academic research skills to forge career opportunities in and across the media industries.

2. Outline syllabus:

• Introducing the Module

• Graduate Job Searching

• Media Industry Careers 1 (e.g. Digital Marketing, Film and Television, Journalism)

• Media Industry Careers 2 (e.g. Digital Marketing, Film and Television, Journalism)

• Media Industry Careers 3 (e.g. Digital Marketing, Film and Television, Journalism)

• CV Writing and Cover Letters

• Social Media Networking

• Preparing for Industry Presentations

• Report Writing

• Industry Presentation Showcase

3. Teaching and learning activities:

Research Skills

Developing students’ abilities to research independently is a key employment skill. On this module, you will learn the complexities and ethical considerations of how the media industries use research to understand your audiences, and develop a capacity to carry out such research.

Personal and Professional Development

This module is designed to further develop key skills and practices within the academic study of media communications and film and screen studies by encouraging you to consider how your studies can specifically aid their career aspirations. A number of the skills developed in support of student employability are addressed alongside taught workshops, activities and assessments specific to this module, such as graduate job searching, media-industry research skills and lectures devoted to identifying other key skills across the film and media industries.

Industry Presentation

You will develop an ability to communicate ideas in public is a valuable employability attribute. The industry presentation allows you to draw on careers and industry sessions and consider how your dissertation research, methods and findings can be applied as part of a career plan.

Report Writing

Learning how to present information and research data in the format of a professional report is a key skill across a number of media sectors and organisations. The report assessment allows you to develop their report-writing skills, following industry-style standards and styles.

Assessment Item 1:

• Assessment Type: CW

• Description: Industry Presentation (5 min)

• % Weighting: 50

Assessment Item 2:

• Assessment Type: CW

• Description: Report (2500 words)

• % Weighting: 50