Media Studies Post 16

Media Studies

Entry Guidance:

5 GCSEs at grades A* to C or equivalent, including grade B in Media Studies, or if Media Studies was not taken at GCSE, a grade B in English. It is not necessary to have taken Media Studies at GCSE to study the subject at A Level. This course will only run if a sufficient number of students express an interest.

Syllabus Outline:

The course is divided into four units:

AS
Unit 1 - Investigating the Media
Unit 2 - Creating Media

A2
Unit 3 - Media: Critical Perspectives
Unit 4 - Media: Research and Production

The first two units will lead to an AS qualification. The A2 part of the course will take place in the second year and will be added to the AS to make a full A-level qualification.

The course will include the detailed study of a range of media across three platforms – print based media, moving image based media and e-media. Unit 2 allows students to create their own media products such as magazine pages, TV advertisements, music videos, radio programmes, short films and documentaries. Unit 4 offers the opportunity to produce an in depth written investigation on students’ own areas of interest within contemporary media, and the opportunity to build upon practical skills at AS by producing a practical production linked to the written investigation.

Students opting for a course in Media Studies must be well motivated, reliable and able to undertake much of their own research.

Methods of Assessment:

First Year (AS)	Unit 1	Written Exam	50% AS/25% A2
	Unit 2	Coursework	50% AS/25% A2
Second Year (A2)	Unit 3	Written Exam	50% AS/25% A2
	Unit 4	Coursework	50% AS/25% A2

 

General Comments:

The skills acquired on this course would be valuable in any career involving communication, sales, journalism or working directly in the media. There are a wide and growing range of degree and higher education courses in Media Studies and Production currently available at Colleges and Universities.