Program Overview

Course overview

This programme combines BA Music with a Minor pathway in Game Design Studies – a new and distinctive provision in the study of interactive audiovisual media. This new offering in Game Design Studies builds on the Department of Music’s established reputation for the study of sound and music in gaming and other multimedia, and teaching is supported by a range of dedicated, industry-standard facilities.

Introduction

While the Music component focuses on developing an in-depth and critical historical understanding of classical music repertoires, cultures, and practices, it also offers flexibility through a generous range of optional modules. Some modules are practical in nature, and cover composition, performance, orchestration, and music technology; others are more theoretical, examining classical music history, music analysis, and music psychology, or even the music industry.

The Minor pathway will introduce you to the study of video games, which includes topics such as the history and development of gaming cultures, the complex nature of interactive media, and the critical issues that accompany engagement with virtual worlds, multicursal narratives, and dynamic musical content. Digital games represent one of the fastest growing forms of entertainment media: consequently, there is a growing need for many jobs that are not only in the games industry, but in surrounding industries as well. This programme develops a wide range of skills that prepare students for employment at various entry points in the job market, including content creation, publishing, journalism, and marketing.

Year in Industry

This programme is available with a Year in Industry. Year Three is spent on a paid placement within an organisation in industry, broadly defined. You will be supported by the School of the Arts and the Department throughout, and your reflexive written account of the experience will contribute towards your final degree result. If you wish to study this programme with a Year in Industry, please put the option code ‘YI’ in the ‘Further Choices’ section of your UCAS application form.

What you'll learn