AS/A2 Media Studies (level 3)

This course is designed to enable you to:

Enhance your enjoyment and appreciation of the media and its role in your daily life

Develop critical understanding of the media through engagement with media products and concepts and through the creative application of production skills

Explore production processes, technologies and other relevant contexts

Become independent in research skills and create your own production work

Is it for me?

The course suits those who can demonstrate a keen interest in the media including TV, newspapers, magazines, films, internet and new technologies. You should enjoy practical work and using technical equipment as well as analysing how the media works and its influences on audiences.

Assessment is both coursework and exam based.

What’s involved?

Media Representations and Receptions

This unit assesses your textual analysis skills and your understanding of the concept of representation. You will write about an unseen media text in the exam and also bring in your own case studies based around social groups.

Production Processes

This unit assesses the ability to plan and construct media products using technical and creative skills. You will carry out and present appropriate research and produce at least two practical pieces using contemporary media technologies.

Media Investigation and Production

This unit assesses your ability to explore a media concept and then create practical work based on your findings. There are three components: a written investigation into media texts based on one or more of the key media concepts; a media production and an evaluation of how the production is informed by the investigative research.

Media – Text, Industry and Audience

In this unit, you will be required to select three different media to study in more depth. You will explore key aspects such as audience, genre, narrative and representation as well as putting them into a context such as how they are distributed. You will have your own case studies and answer three essay questions in the exam.

Entry Requirements:

A minimum of 5 GCSEs at grades A* to C including English Language.

Which courses go well with this?

This course combines well with any English AS Level and other creative arts or humanities courses.

Progression:

Students who have previously studied Media have gone on to degrees such as Multimedia, Media and Culture, Marketing and Media, Media and English.