Master of Arts in Sonic Arts

at Leeds Beckett University - City Campus United Kingdom

Whether you are starting your career in journalism or you are an experienced reporter looking to get to grips with a changing industry, this is your opportunity to sharpen the skills now demanded by employers.

You will develop your understanding of the very latest communication tools and technology while you engage with social media, search engine optimisation, crowd sourcing and user-generated content. You will also focus on the traditional media platforms of newspapers, television and radio.

This was the first journalism course in England to be taught from within a business school, providing students with access to our extensive contacts in industry. You will be able to take advantage of these links as you report on new developments, expanding companies and high-profile business leaders in a thriving city. You will also benefit from our contacts with an array of media organisations offering invaluable work placements and employment opportunities. Previous students have enjoyed work experience with BBC Newsnight, Reuters and The Independent.

Develop the skills to become an independent, innovative creative thinker and practitioner. You’ll enhance your portfolio and prepare for practice in the expanded field of the contemporary arts.

Our MA Fine Art will provide opportunities for you to build advanced technical and theoretical problem-solving strategies as well as advanced interpretative abilities.

As part of your course, you’ll:

• Develop your motivations, ambitions and abilities as an artist
• Explore a number of practices including painting, sculpture, print, installation, video, sound, virtual / augmented reality, performance and curating
• Work on collective projects and events that will foster your team-working skills, adaptability and resourcefulness

You will specialise in either contemporary literature or creative writing. Taught in workshops held on weekday evenings, you will be able to fit your studies around your existing commitments.

Contemporary Literature
Specialise in researching contemporary literature. You will be introduced to a range of recent literary texts in English and develop an advanced, critical understanding of recent debates on the contemporary creative process.

You will be encouraged by expert tutors to develop your skills in close reading, creating and delivering presentations and formal discussions. Modules will explore how contemporary literary studies is a creative process, and will enable you to specialise in topics at the cutting edge of the discipline.   

Your independent project will enable you to experience the process of defining your own area of investigation and conducting in-depth research and writing.

Creative Writing
Study creative writing at an advanced level. From the outset, you will focus on developing particular expertise in the writing process, and the texts and theories you study will enhance your writing practice.

Develop the marketing expertise to make strategic business decisions, manage digital campaigns and understand buyer behaviour.

As part of your course you’ll:

• Gain specific knowledge of marketing ethics, corporate social responsibility and of the ethical and cultural differences between national markets, maximising your employability both in the UK and overseas
• Learn how to understand the thought processes behind every consumer purchase
• Develop the acumen for business management so you can oversee finance, economics, accounting and people 

What would you do if a rival company launched a cheaper product to compete with yours, or the demand for your product shrank in one part of the world? This course will give you the chance to gain real-life business and marketing expertise. You'll test your marketing skills against simulated challenges in our business simulation suite and attend workshops and networking events.

You’ll learn from expert teaching staff with a wealth of professional experience and close working links with the business community.

Prepare to enter the thriving music industry, part of the growing UK creative economy that employs millions nationwide.

As part of your course you’ll:

• Explore ways of turning your passion into a rewarding career
• Develop a deep-rooted knowledge of different facets of the industry
• Learn about key areas of the music industry, including marketing, developing online content, managing live music events, copyright and HR
• Taught by academic staff with a wealth of industry experience
• Get involved in real-world projects 

You could be a musician looking to complement your creativity and boost your employment prospects, an entrepreneur with ambitions to transfer your business acumen to the worlds of music and entertainment, or you may just love music.

Qualify as a registered mental health nurse and develop the expertise to be able to support people with mental illnesses in their homes and specialist health services.

As part of this course, you’ll:

• Spend time at university honing your specialist knowledge
• Practise your skills in a supported healthcare environment during placements
• Learn how to aid the recovery of people with mental health problems, while working alongside those in related health and social care professions, including adult nurses, social workers and dietitians

Completion of this course provides eligibility to apply for registration with the NMC as a qualified nurse - mental health nursing. Studying nursing with Leeds Beckett gives you access to a wide variety of placement opportunities within the NHS and the voluntary sector. We can offer these in many settings, including services in drug and alcohol, mother and baby, eating disorders and forensics.

You’ll have regular opportunities to interact with mental health service users throughout your study. Your placements will involve shift work and travel within the Leeds area.

Discover how attempts to understand who we are must consider the impact of social and psychological influences.

As part of this course you’ll:

• Explore social psychological approaches that extend Western scientific thought
• Reconsider ideas of consciousness, mind, self and social living from a range of alternative cultural frameworks including psychoanalysis, discursive psychology and non-Western belief systems such as Buddhism and Daoism
• Gain insights into how the environment, spirituality, language and relationships shape who we are and what we become
• Develop a critical philosophy of what it means to be human

You can get involved in plenty of volunteering opportunities in several areas including mental health and disability support. We also have strong ties with local charitable and community organisations, helping you to understand issues such as domestic abuse as well as child and adolescent psychotherapy.

You’ll gain unique perspectives by looking into the important works of Sigmund Freud and Karl Marx and discuss theories gleaned from film and literature works. You’ll challenge contemporary thought on psychology, spiritualism, religion and culture, bridging the gap between the self and society.

Develop the specialist skills and knowledge to enter the games, digital and creative entertainment industries.

As part of your course you’ll:

• Focus on three main areas: programming and software engineering; art, concept and asset production; and game design studies, practice and theory
• Take products from an initial idea through the design, visualisation and technical implementation stages
• Be encouraged to foster your individual creativity
• Produce games based on your ideas
• Work with other students and tutors who have a passion for games and gaming

 Placement opportunities, networking events and guest lectures from industry experts such as Disney animator Aaron Blaise and codemasters Team17 Digital and Dan Gray from UsTwoGames will enhance your awareness of the career opportunities open to you.

We are also members of industry network, Game Republic, where past students have won awards from industry judges in the Student Showcase Competition.

Final year students also have the opportunity to showcase their work in front of leading employers at the end of year degree show. You can see some of their work in the Leeds School of Arts Festival. Previous years have seen many of our students gain job offers through the showcase opportunities.

Prepare to enter the thriving music industry, part of the growing UK creative economy that employs millions nationwide.

As part of your course you’ll:

• Explore ways of turning your passion into a rewarding career
• Develop a deep-rooted knowledge of different facets of the industry
• Learn about key areas of the music industry, including marketing, developing online content, managing live music events, copyright and HR
• Taught by academic staff with a wealth of industry experience
• Get involved in real-world projects 

You could be a musician looking to complement your creativity and boost your employment prospects, an entrepreneur with ambitions to transfer your business acumen to the worlds of music and entertainment, or you may just love music.

As part of your course you’ll:

• Develop expertise in managing all aspects of marketing activity
• Study topics such as research, branding, communications and optimising the use of digital content
• Learn how to plan and implement innovative strategies and campaigns to satisfy audiences in a variety of contemporary markets
• Have the opportunity to be mentored by marketing practitioners with a wealth of professional experience

The CIM is the leading professional body for marketers worldwide and exists to develop the marketing profession, maintain professional standards and improve the skills of marketing practitioners. Leeds Beckett University has joined forces with CIM to give you the opportunity to gain professional qualifications through the CIM Graduate Gateway. CIM qualifications are highly sought after by employers, and their content is reflected in our own degrees which ensures we are equipping you with the best opportunities for a successful marketing career.