Creative and Digital Technologies - University of Hull Undergraduate subject brochure 2010

Un

derg

radu

ate

stud

y20

11

Creative and digitaltechnologies

Creative and digitaltechnologies | 1

Facilities | 6

Creative MusicTechnology | 8

Popular Music | 10

Design for DigitalMedia | 11

Digital Arts | 12

Digital MediaStudies | 14

Media Performance | 15

Web Design andDevelopment | 16

Computer Science withGames Development |18

Modules | 20

Staff and their researchand teachinginterests | 28

Course UCAS code Standard offer

Creative Music Technology J931 S BA/CMT 240–300 points

Creative Music Technology withBusiness Management W3N2 S BA/CMTBM 240 points

Design for Digital Media W212 S BA/DDM 200–240 points

Digital Arts W280 S BA/DA 200–240 points

Digital Media Studies W214 S BA/DMS 200–240 points

Media Performance W490 S BA/MP 240 points

Popular Music W341 S BA/PM 240–300 points

Web Design and Development G451 S BSc/WDD 200–240 points

Web Design and Development withIndustrial Experience G452 S BSc/WDDwIE 200–240 points

All of these courses are taught at the Scarborough Campus. At the Hull Campus, theUniversity also offers Computer Science with Games Development, full details ofwhich can be found on page 18.

Dates of semestersSemester 127 Sep – 16 Dec 2011

Semester 230 Jan – 11 May 2012

Key facts

Further informationCreative Music TechnologyRowan Oliver01723 [email protected]

Or

Rob Mackay01723 [email protected]

Digital MediaRobert [email protected] 357374

Or write to

School of Arts and New MediaUniversity of HullScarborough CampusScarborough, YO11 3AZ

Alternatively, for urgent enquiries, you can call Student Services at Scarborough on01723 357243 or the University’s Admissions Service at Hull on 01482 466100.

If you have a UCAS number, please quote it in all correspondence.

Creative and digital technologieswww.hull.ac.uk 1

This is an exciting time to be a student at the Scarborough Campus. We arebringing together creative and digital technologies in new and stimulatingways. The School of Arts and New Media builds on the legacy of the Centre forInternet Computing, the first of its kind in the UK, and the ScarboroughSchool of Arts, notable for its history of practice-based teaching.

There are many opportunities for crossover between creative music technology,performance, digital media and computing. Our degree courses will broaden yourunderstanding and skills and open up your future employment prospects in thisgrowing sector.

The right mixOur staff are committed to researching, developing and exploiting the creativeopportunities offered by new and emerging digital technologies. There is closecollaboration between our computer specialists, artists, designers, composers,dancers, choreographers, performers and musicians. Their enthusiasm forcombining the potential of new technologies with artistic creativity is evident in thecourse structures and the opportunities for collaboration between subject areas.The friendly, compact campus at Scarborough, with its creative environment,means that it is easy for you to mix with students from different departments.

Our creative music technology degrees mix the practical and the theoretical aspectsof both ‘popular’ and ‘art’ music. A true blend of creativity and technology, thesecourses encourage you to make music in new ways. The degrees in digital mediaand design allow you to explore all aspects of new media, bringing your creativeflair to digital video production, web design or interactive multimedia. Our leadingweb design and development degrees provide students with ‘hands-on’ practicalexperience of modern computing, encouraging our graduates to push theboundaries of what is possible with the web.

There are fantastic opportunities for working on ‘real-life’ projects in all areas of thecreative and digital technologies. Our students are regularly involved in screenings,performances and installations for public arts events in and around Scarborough,and there are opportunities for work placements with industry.

Collaborative cultureWe are also committed to integrating digital media into the artistic life of thecampus. We encourage our students to work on projects with colleagues from otherdisciplines, including theatre and performance studies and dance. As well ashaving close links with Scarborough’s famous Stephen Joseph Theatre, the campusis a regional touring venue for music, theatre and dance. ‘On the Edge’, whichencourages the work of innovative young companies, has been based here since1980. Scarborough itself has a thriving arts scene and hosts the annual NationalStudent Drama Festival and the Scarborough Jazz Festival. You will also haveopportunities to travel to venues around the UK to see exhibitions, performancesand concerts.

We place great emphasis on academic rigour and structured tuition, withtimetabled lectures, workshops and regular assignments. You will be able to study,experience, experiment with and explore your chosen degree subject usingprofessional, state-of-the-art facilities. You will also be positively encouraged toproduce work that is innovative and individual.

Creative and digitaltechnologies

There are fantasticopportunities forworking on ‘real-life’projects in all areasof the creative anddigital technologies.

Creative and digital technologies2

Our students come to Scarborough with differing levels of experience. You may playin a band and want to increase your musical knowledge and experience in asupportive environment; you may be interested in computer programming andwant to explore the creative possibilities of the technology; you may be intrigued bydesign for the web and want to become skilled in using industry-standard software;you may be a performance artist who is stimulated by the opportunities offered bydigital media; or indeed you may have little experience in this field but be excitedby the possibilities. Whatever your background, we are sure that you will find theright mix of subjects at the Scarborough Campus to allow you to explore thepotential of the creative and digital technologies.

CareersThe creative and digital technologies offer exciting employment prospects forpeople who want to work with new media. The mix of modules offered in ourdegrees ensures that you can tailor your studies to match your career choice andthat you will stand out from the crowd when it comes to applying for jobs. TheUniversity’s Careers Service is well known for its effectiveness in helping ourstudents make the right decisions about their futures.

Our degrees in creative music technology and popular music provide the perfectgrounding for people who want to become successful performers, composers,songwriters or sound engineers. They also provide a suitable pathway for enteringteacher training or research. Graduates have gone on to various careers in the musicindustry, working as engineers at studios such as Abbey Road and at the BBC,enjoying success as recording artists in a wide range of genres, and touringinternationally in bands such as Gallows.

Our degrees in digital media and design prepare our graduates for careers in thecreative digital industries – graphic design, video production and interactivemultimedia. The web design and development degrees are for people who want towork as modern computing professionals, in roles such as web designer, computerprogrammer, web security analyst, e-commerce developer or web solutionsdeveloper.

The Digital Media Studies course not only develops technical knowledge but alsogives a deeper understanding of the impact that digital technologies are having onsociety, a critical factor for those initiating and managing change in anorganisation, whether in the context of government, business, education orentertainment.

Media Performance is both for those who want to practise in this contemporary fieldand for those who wish to adapt their technical skills to areas such as heritageinterpretation or the tourism industry.


Rece

ntpr

ojec

tsin

Scar

boro

ugh’

sco

ntin

uing

deve

lopm

enti

nclu

deth

eha

rbou

r’str

ansf

orm

atio

nin

toa

styl

ish

mar

ina

(incl

udin

gBr

itain

’sfir

stW

i-Fi

seaf

ront

)and

the

inst

alla

tion

ofon

eof

Euro

pe’s

fast

estb

road

band

conn

ectio

ns(1

00M

b).

intro italic

File sharing

Our flexible, interdisciplinaryapproach produces fascinating

crossovers between digital media,music, performance and computing –

combining new technologies withartistic creativity to broaden your

skills and experience.


The University of Hull has made a large financialinvestment in the Scarborough Campus in recentyears, and the creative and digital technologies nowboast an impressive array of industry-standardfacilities and equipment. In keeping with the spiritof our pioneering degree courses, the campus is alsofully wireless, so our students can access the webfrom anywhere on site. Of course, we also havededicated members of staff who can teach you howto exploit all this state-of-the-art technology.

The Digital Media studios are equipped with dual-bootApple iMacs and an industry-standard software suiteincluding Photoshop, Flash, Director, Final Cut Pro,Maya and Arkaos. The studios offer a dedicated workingenvironment for students and are accessible from 8.30am through to 10 pm on a swipe-card system. We alsooperate a priority system for students engaged in large-scale editing or production work. A wide selection ofaudio and video recording and lighting equipment isalso available. The four performance studios haveequipment ranging from digital lighting and soundfacilities to dance floor and digital projectors.

Creative Music Technology currently has 14 musictechnology suites and studios. Resources include

Studios• three recording studios including Pro Tools Control 24

and two 40-track systems along with ATC, Genelecand Mackie monitoring

• three mixing studios with Genelec 5:1 surround soundmonitoring, Pro Tools Control 24 systems and overdubfacility, also including Drawmer and TC Electronicoutboard effects units

• 16:4 ambisonic surround studio with 3-D soundencoding and Lemur control surface

• an electronica room including Technics vinyl andPioneer CD decks, Pioneer mixer, Ableton Live, VCS3synthesiser, Roland MIDI drum kit, Soundbeam and arange of other outboard effects and alternative MIDIcontrollers, along with film and TV editing software

• a sequencing lab equipped with synthesisers, MIDIcontroller keyboards and mixers

Additional equipment• a selection of recording equipment, including top-of-

the-range Neumann and Soundfield microphones• portable recorders for location recording (stereo,

binaural and four-channel surround combinationsavailable)

• computers equipped with Pro Tools, Cubase SX,Adobe Audition, Max/MSP/Jitter, Ableton Live,Nuendo, Csound, Soundhack, HALion, Kontact, GRMTools and TC Native plug-ins

Performance resources• two sound-proofed rehearsal studios, each with full

backline and vocal PA• individual practice rooms• band equipment: guitar/bass/keyboard amps,

turntables, stage pianos, acoustic pianos, drum kitsand samba percussion

• three multidisciplinary performance spaces withquadraphonic PA, MIDI lighting desk, digital videoprojector, I-Cube controller and sound beamultrasound sensing kit

Each studio provides hard-disk recording, using AppleMacintosh computer resources as well as digital multi-track facilities. All computers are equipped with CD andDVD writers, allowing easy transfer of work from onestudio to another. Students are expected to spend up to16 hours a week in the studios. A swipe card systemallows access from 6 am till midnight seven days a week.

The Keith Donaldson Library supports the coursesstudied at the Scarborough Campus, with many sectionsrelevant to the interdisciplinary nature of the School ofArts and New Media. In 2010, the library is undergoingsubstantial expansion, creating a modern social learningenvironment as well as private study areas and rooms forgroup study. The library will also be the focal point ofstudent support services. You will also have access to theBrynmor Jones Library on the Hull Campus.

Scarborough is also an exciting place in which to study:we have close links with the £4.8 million CreativeIndustries Centre, which houses the University’s CreativeEnterprise Lab. There is ample opportunity to getinvolved with multimedia events and to network with thegrowing number of creative and digital practitioners whoare relocating their businesses to the town.

Facilities

Creative and Digital Technologieswww.hull.ac.uk 7

There is plenty offlexibility in thedegree, allowing youto realise yourcreative potential invarious fields.


Creative music technology (CMT) is one of the most innovative and popularsubject areas on offer in the UK. Unlike some of the more engineering-oriented courses on offer elsewhere, CMT at the Scarborough Campus is acourse designed for creative musicians.

There is plenty of flexibility in the degree, allowing you to realise your creativepotential in various fields, including songwriting, contemporary composition, filmmusic, jazz, electronica, sonic arts, experimentalism and pop/rock musicology. Ateach stage of the course you will be encouraged to make creative use of the latesttechnologies in sound recording, mixing, sound design, live electronics andmultimedia, and by the end of it you will be fully versed in the use of industry-standard hardware and software.

As a student at the Scarborough Campus, you will not only be able to realise yourcreative ambitions with expert supervision; you will also meet other students fromall areas of musical life, and work with other enthusiasts on collaborative projects.There is much emphasis on academic rigour and structured tuition, with timetabledlectures, workshops and regular assignments, but there is also plenty ofopportunity to work independently in any of our newly equipped studios. You willbe positively encouraged to produce work that is innovative and individual.

By the third year you will be able to concentrate on an extended piece of work, theLong Study: this may be an extended dissertation, a portfolio of compositions(electroacoustic, acoustic or audiovisual) or an original album of commercialstandard.

BA Creative Music Technology with Business ManagementThis degree builds a broad foundation in management through the first two years,and then gives you the opportunity to follow more specialised options – such asArts Management – in the final year. You can thus combine the practical, studio-based elements of CMT with modules that aim to equip you with the skills andknowledge to manage business activities within the spectrum of careers in musictechnology. Students on this course also benefit from our links with local small andmedium-sized businesses.

AdmissionsThe normal entry requirements are two or three A levels, usually including Music orMusic Technology. Appropriate BTEC qualifications, including the National Diplomain Music Technology, Popular Music, Performing Arts and Media Studies, areequally acceptable. We also consider direct entry to Year 2 of the course for studentswho have successfully completed a BTEC Higher National Diploma in a relevantsubject.

Our typical offer is currently around 240–300 points at A level or a pass at BTEC NDwith a minimum of three merits overall. However, offers vary depending on musicalexpertise, and any relevant experience in sound recording, composition and/orsongwriting will be taken into consideration. Applicants with an Associated Boardqualification at Grades 7/8 (theory or practice) may have this taken intoconsideration.

BA Creative MusicTechnology Scarborough Campus


Modules

First year• Sonic Arts 1• Studio Production 1• Studio Production 2• Popular Music, Criticism and Culture

Plus optional modules:

• Elements of Popular Songwriting• Live Electronica• Performance 1• Free elective

Second year• History, Criticism and Analysis of Popular Music since 1960• Avant-Garde and Experimental Music


• Synthesis and Sound Design• Sound for Picture• Sonic Arts 2• Game Audio• Performance 2• Songwriting and Arranging• Advanced Production• Psychoacoustics and Studio Design• Interactive Technology 1• Free elective

Third year• Creative Music Technology Long Study (on a topic of your choice)


• Creative Music Technology Independent Study• Composing for Film and Television• Global Pop: Transcending Musical Borders• Interactive Technology 2• Live Sound• Performance and Creative Technologies

Collaboration 2• Radio Production• Sonic Arts 3

For the BA Creative Music Technology with Business Management, you will studyfour CMT modules a year plus a further two modules in Business Management.

There are outline descriptions of all the above modules on pages 20–26.

‘The course offersa wide variety ofmodules withgreat resources tosuit. The staffsupport for thecourse is alsoexcellent, and theyare always able tooffer individualtutorials.Scarborough is aperfect andinspiringenvironment inwhich to expressyour musicalcreativity.’

Stephen Shine

BA Creative MusicTechnology


This course provides a comprehensive grounding incontemporary popular musicology, analysis andperformance practice.

First-year modules cover the basics of songwriting,performance and studio production and provide atheoretical foundation for later work. The coursedevelops these key themes, and in Years 2 and 3 youhave the option to specialise. Your skills as a performerand music practitioner are developed, and you work onsupported and supervised projects including lyricwriting, other forms of popular music composition,arranging, recording, production and critique.

There are opportunities to engage in performancethroughout the course. This will incorporate liveperformances (such as our annual ‘Soundfest’) as well aslearning skills related to session playing in the studio(both for pre-recorded projects and live radiobroadcasts). You also get the chance to work with mixedmedia and consider various applications, including livesound, film and TV, radio and game audio.

There is much emphasis on academic rigour andstructured tuition, with timetabled lectures, workshopsand regular assignments, but there is also plenty ofopportunity to work independently in any of our newlyequipped studios. You will be positively encouraged toproduce work that is innovative and individual.

By the third year you will be able to concentrate on anextended piece of work, the Long Study: this may takethe form of a dissertation, a portfolio of compositions oran original album of commercial standard.

AdmissionsThe normal entry requirements are two or three A levels,usually including Music or Music Technology.Appropriate BTEC qualifications, including the NationalDiploma in Music Technology, Popular Music,Performing Arts and Media Studies, are equallyacceptable. We also consider direct entry to Year 2 of thecourse for students who have successfully completed aBTEC Higher National Diploma in a relevant subject.

Our typical offer is currently around 240–300 points at Alevel or a pass at BTEC ND with a minimum of threemerits overall. However, offers vary depending onmusical expertise, and any relevant experience in soundrecording, composition and/or songwriting will be takeninto consideration. Applicants with an Associated Boardqualification at Grades 7/8 (theory or practice) may havethis taken into consideration.

Modules

First year• Studio Production 1• Studio Production 2• Popular Music, Criticism and Culture• Words and Music from Dowland to Dylan• Performance 1


• Elements of Popular Songwriting• Free elective

Second year• History, Criticism and Analysis of Popular Music

since 1960• Avant-Garde and Experimental Music• Performance 2


• Sound for Picture• Game Audio• Music Industry Studies• Psychoacoustics and Studio Design• Songwriting and Arranging• Advanced Production• Free elective

Third year• Creative Music Technology Long Study (on a topic of

your choice)


• Creative Music Technology Independent Study• Composing for Film and Television• Global Pop: Transcending Musical Borders• Live Sound• Performance and Creative Technologies

Collaboration 2• Performance 3• Radio Production

There are outline descriptions of all the above moduleson pages 20–26.

BA Popular MusicScarborough Campus


This course will teach you how to express yourcreative ideas using advanced digital technologies.Whether you already know a lot about computers orvery little, it will take you from the fundamentals ofdigital graphic design through to the creation ofsophisticated digital design projects. You will havethe opportunity to apply your creative thoughts andideas with a solid technical understanding of digitalproduction processes, built on a firm understandingof visual problem-solving techniques.

The course will prepare you for entry into the field ofdigital design and technology, providing you with theskills and experiences to excel in a rapidly changing anddynamic industry. You will learn about graphic design,composition and layout, photography and typography,as well as web design, video design and production, artdirection, animation and 3D design. More importantly,we will teach you how to use these tools to effectivelycommunicate your ideas to the world.

If you take this degree, you will be studying within theDigital Media subject area, itself part of the School ofArts and New Media, on the University of Hull’sScarborough Campus. Creative Music Technology,Theatre and Performance Studies, and English are othersubject areas within the school, and students areencouraged to collaborate with their colleagues.

The Scarborough Campus has excellent facilities forproducing digital graphic art and design, and ourrecently commissioned Apple Mac design studios areequipped with all the software and hardware you willneed to execute your projects to advanced industrystandards. A wide range of video editing and recordingequipment is also available.

Studying for this degree is an excellent way to preparefor a career in the digital design industry. You will learnhow to think like a designer and how to apply your ideasusing the latest technologies. You will learn designprinciples and theory, and you will develop thenecessary skills to enter into professional practice.

AdmissionsWe look for bright people who have clear potential tosucceed in university-level studies, with creative visionand an ability to think logically and methodically. Ourbest students often do not conform to standardisedprofiles or circumstances, so we review and considereach application on an individual basis. We require aminimum of 200 UCAS points, and at least one of your Alevels should be a creative or numerate subject.Equivalent attainment in other awards is acceptable.

We may consider making an offer based on work orpractical experience in lieu of A levels, and indeed weencourage applications from prospective maturestudents.

Applicants are invited to contact the School of Arts andNew Media’s Digital Media team for more information.We encourage all to attend an open day if possible. Thisgives you the chance to see Scarborough, tour ourfacilities and meet staff and students. You’ll see what theUniversity of Hull’s Scarborough Campus is all about,and why it would be an excellent place to study Designfor Digital Media.

Modules

First year• Principles of Visual Design• Video Design and Production• Interaction and Design• Web Authoring• Media, Culture and Society

Plus an optional module:

• Multimedia or free elective

Second year• Art Direction and Animation• Audience• Research Methods• Performance and Creative Technologies

Collaboration 1

Plus two optional modules from

• Interaction, Experience and Engagement• Programming for Interactive Media• Web Design, Work Placement or free elective

Third year• 3D Design• Independent Study• Psychology of Internet Behaviour• Performance and Creative Technologies

Collaboration 2

Plus an optional module from

• Game Art and Design• E-Business

There are outline descriptions of all these modules onpages 20–26.

BA Design for Digital MediaScarborough Campus


New media and digital technologies provide a blankcanvas for a whole new range of artistic expression.Realising the full potential of this space requires anunderstanding of the principles of art and design, anaesthetic eye, a rich imagination and a desire to usedigital technologies to produce innovative artefacts.This course provides you with the opportunity toexplore these artistic possibilities and develop yourown digital talents in a range of different art forms.

Digital technology is at the leading edge of art anddesign today. Whether you already know a lot or a littleabout computers, this course will take you from thefundamentals of digital arts through to the creation ofsubstantial media projects. From gallery installations toprojected backdrops for performances, fromtransmissions over the internet to DVD productions, youwill acquire a solid technical understanding and apply itto the creative production process. Although the coursehas been developed to give you hands-on training in allaspects of new media, we will encourage you to be aninnovative and individual digital artist.

The Scarborough Campus has excellent facilities fordigital art. The studios are equipped with Apple iMacsand a software suite including Photoshop, Flash,Director, Final Cut Pro, Maya and Arkaos. A wideselection of audio and video recording and lightingequipment is also available.

BA Digital Arts allows you to concentrate on theexperimental and progressive aspects of the subject byoffering a thorough grounding in both creative andtechnical disciplines. Past students have utilised theirknowledge and skills to create

• music video for their own (or other) bands• interactive animated websites• theatre performances and installations with digital

artefacts• VJ performances with live media feeds

If you are excited by new technologies, enjoy creatingimages or video, have a wide range of interests in newmedia and are prepared to experiment and challengeconventional arts practice, the Digital Arts course may bethe right choice for you.

For students interested in performance, either backstageor onstage, the University also offers an undergraduatecourse in Media Performance (see page 15). This degreeoffers opportunities for additional interdisciplinarystudy and is particularly suited to those with abackground or interest in the performing arts.

AdmissionsAs a general rule we look for bright people who haveclear potential to succeed in university-level studies,with both creative vision and an ability to think andwork in a logical, methodical manner. Offers are madeon an individual basis, often following a personalinterview, but a typical offer will be around 200–240points. At least one numerate or creative subject studiedat A level will normally be expected. Equivalentattainment in other awards is acceptable.

We may, however, consider making an offer based onwork or practical experience in lieu of A levels, andindeed we encourage applicants from prospectivemature students.

Applicants invited for interview will be given theopportunity to tour our facilities and to meet staff andcurrent students.

First year• Principles of Visual Design• Video Design and Production• Interaction and Design• Web Authoring• Media, Culture and Society



Second year• Art Direction and Animation• Audience• Research Methods• Performance and Creative Technologies

Collaboration 1• Interaction, Experience and Engagement


• Web Design, Work Placement or free elective

Third year• 3D Design• Independent Study• Psychology of Internet Behaviour• Performance and Creative Technologies

Collaboration 2• Game Art and Design


BA Digital Arts Scarborough Campus

Creative and Digital Technologieswww.hull.ac.uk 13


The rapid evolution of digital media devices andproduction tools is enabling people to becomemedia producers as well as consumers. Podcasting,mobile blogging, music production, VJing and thenext generation of the web are becoming lifestylecomponents in the networked, digital world. To be apractising graduate in the expanding creativeindustries sector, a balance between the artisticprocess and the technical constraints of mediaaccess and delivery is required. Equally important isthe ability to reflect critically on how thesedevelopments are affecting the way we live, workand play.

If you want to go beyond training in the use of existingtools, and to strike a balance between media criticismand practical awareness, you will need a skill set focusedon three different core areas –

• creative: our modules focus on the knowledge,understanding and skills needed for the creation ofaesthetically pleasing and engaging media artefacts

• technical: you will gain a detailed understanding ofthe technologies that you are using to create mediaand the professional skills required to produceadvanced digital media

• critical: topics will enable you to demonstrate acritical understanding of the technologies and mediathat you are using and producing, and to critique,express and evaluate issues related to digital media

You will also gain focused key skills throughout thecourse, including team working, presentation deliveryand the development of a professional portfolio.

Our various assessment methods – from practicalexercises and lab demonstrations to individual andgroup projects – will encourage you to demonstrate therange of your intellectual and practical learning. Thecomplementary aspects of your learning really cometogether in the third-year Individual Project, asubstantial supervised piece of work on a topic of yourown choice.

The School of Arts and New Media has dedicated labspace with top-quality computing systems, and our teamof staff provide plenty of practical support.

Wherever you wish to work within the media industries,this course gives you the opportunity to gain a deepunderstanding and appreciation of the role of digitalmedia in everyday life. It also provides practicalexperience that will enable you to explore and commenton future media technologies. Overall, the skill set that itcultivates should give you the platform on which to buildyour career as an adaptive professional.

Modules

First year• Interaction and Design• Principles of Visual Design• Web Authoring• Media, Culture and Society

Plus one optional module from each of these two groups:

• Multimedia• Free elective

• Programming for Interactive Media• Video Design and Production

Second year• Audience• Research Methods• Performance and Creative Technologies

Collaboration 1

Plus one optional module from each of these threegroups:

• Programming for the Web• Web Systems Management• Art Direction and Animation

• Interaction, Experience and Engagement• Information Management

• Web Design• Work placement

Third year• Independent Study• Psychology of Internet Behaviour

Plus three optional modules – two from the first of thesegroups and one from the second:

• 3D Design• Advanced Interfaces• Web Security• Performance and Creative Technologies

Collaboration 2

• Game Art and Design• E-Business


BA Digital Media StudiesScarborough Campus


This course is aimed at students who are looking fora Single Honours degree that combines the bestresources that the School of Arts and New Media(SANM) has to offer. The typical student is one whois interested in theatre, dance, music and/or live artbut wants a degree course that offers a rich mixrelating to contemporary practice involving newmedia technologies. The hybridisation of art forms issupported by recent software developments and anincrease in collaborative practice in the creativeindustries.

Media Performance allows you to concentrate on thecommercial or the experimental aspects of the subject.In either case you get a thorough grounding in bothcreative and technical disciplines. Students with aparticular interest in music, theatre or dance will followa pathway within their chosen performance discipline.

Optional modules may be drawn from a subset of themodules offered across the SANM. Examples includeProduction Skills; Performance Practice; KeyPractitioners in Theatre and Performance; Directing;Design for Contemporary Performance; and RadicalPerformance. (See the Drama, Theatre and Performancepamphlet for more information.)

This course is designed to produce two types ofgraduate:

• a performance artist who is fully aware of the currenttrends in the use of digital technology for makingcontemporary performance works

• a performance technologist who is fully aware of therole of digital technology in the world of contemporaryperformance art

All our graduates will also be able to adapt theirtechnical skills to some areas beyond the cultureindustry, since the same skills are required withinseveral non-artistic fields such as heritage interpretationand the tourism industry.

Past students who have undertaken interdisciplinarystudies within the SANM have utilised their knowledgeand skills in music and theatre to create

• music videos for their own bands• theatre performances and art installations with digital

artefacts• websites promoting theatre shows, music recordings,

live bands, or DJ and VJ activities• lighting and sound design for all sorts of live

performances and events• digital video performances

If you want to combine your interest in digital media andthe internet, as well as performance technology likelighting and sound, with a passion for music, theatre,dance or some other form of performance, and you havenot yet made up your mind on your precise choice ofcareer, please contact us to find out more.

AdmissionsAs a general rule we look for bright people who haveclear potential to succeed in university-level studies,with both creative vision and an ability to think andwork in a logical, methodical manner. Offers are madeon an individual basis, often following a personalinterview, but a typical offer will be around 240 points.At least one numerate or creative subject studied at Alevel will normally be expected. Equivalent attainment inother awards is acceptable.

We may, however, consider making an offer based onwork or practical experience in lieu of A levels, andindeed we encourage applications from prospectivemature students.

Applicants invited for interview will be given theopportunity to tour our facilities, meet staff and currentstudents, and look at the course content in detail.

For more details of this course please contact the Schoolof Arts and New Media.

Modules

First year• Interdisciplinary Studies in Creativity• Performance and Documentation• Media, Culture and Society

Plus optional modules drawn from across the school

Second year• Audience• Research Methods• Performance and Creative Technologies

Collaboration 1


Third year• Independent Interdisciplinary Project• Performance and Creative Technologies

Collaboration 2


BA Media PerformanceScarborough Campus

You will examinecutting-edgedevelopments – notonly at a technicallevel but also in termsof their social andcommercial impact.


The past decade has seen an ever-increasing number of people become web-enabled, from reading news through purchasing their shopping to buildingtheir own web presence. Over this time the web itself has evolved from apurely static medium, where simple pages were displayed and consumed, totoday’s web, where we can now access a range of increasingly dynamicresources such as wikis, blogs and community-driven data repositories (e.g.for video and photographs). The services on offer are becoming richer, and asa society we require dedicated web professionals with the skills to furtheradvance what is possible on the web.

At Scarborough’s School of Arts and New Media (SANM) we have pioneeredinnovative degree courses to ensure that our graduates are able not only to applythemselves in the current web industries sector but also to anticipate futuredevelopments and the impact that these will have on society as a whole.

You will investigate the applied use of the web, from how it provides support forlarge software systems to the next generation of human–computer interfaces.Cutting-edge developments are examined not only at a technical level but also interms of their social and business impact. All subject areas are underpinned byrelevant web engineering and design principles to give you the opportunity to gainsignificant standards-based expertise.

The dissertation is an important part of the final year and provides you with anopportunity to specialise. It has also enabled our students to have a real impact inthe positions that they obtain when they graduate.

The SANM houses dedicated laboratories with top-quality computing systems and asoftware suite comprising a range of development tools such as Photoshop,Dreamweaver and Flash. Our team of staff supports your practical work; our virtuallearning environment provides course information and access to online discussionforums; and an enviable staff–student ratio also contributes to a quality learningexperience. The high quality of that learning has been recognised by the QualityAssurance Agency.

AdmissionsWe generally look for clear evidence of potential to succeed in university-levelstudies, with particular regard to the intellectual qualities of logical thinking,methodical working and breadth of vision which are needed for success in softwaredesign and development work. These qualities are typically evidenced through anapplicant’s choice of relevant A level subjects, or equivalent background orexperience, with established or expected achievement equivalent to the followinggrades.

Offers are made on an individual basis, but we normally require 200–240 pointsfrom at least two full A levels (or equivalent). Alternative and internationalqualifications are also considered. If you meet our academic requirements, previouscomputing/IT or artistic/multimedia experience is not essential.

We will, however, consider applications from candidates who cannot offer thestandard academic qualifications but may have relevant career experience or othersuitable credentials, and we encourage applications from mature candidates.

If we are considering making you an offer, you will be invited for a tour of thecampus and its facilities. This open day allows you to meet some of the staff andstudents of the School of Arts and New Media.

BSc Web Design andDevelopment Scarborough Campus


The four-year optionWeb Design and Development is also available in a four-year variant, with a year ofindustrial experience between the second and final years: Our students take upplacements in large international companies and smaller enterprises (examplesrange from new media development for Sky TV to working with Microsoft on thenext generation of Microsoft Messenger). Such ‘industrial placement’ years are notavailable in most courses offered elsewhere, but feedback from companies isuniformly positive. As important, placements positively enhance the careerprospects of our graduates.

Modules

First year• Media, Culture and Society• Principles of Visual Design• Web Authoring• Interaction and Design• Programming for Interactive Media



Second year• Collaborative Development• Programming for the Web• Web Systems Management• Research Methods• Information Management

Plus an optional module from

• Web Design• Work placement

Third year• Independent Project• Psychology of Internet Behaviour• Web Security• E-Business• Advanced Interfaces

There are outline descriptions of all these modules on pages 20–26.

The dissertation,which provides youwith an opportunityto specialise, hasenabled our studentsto have a real impactin the positions thatthey have obtainedafter graduating.


The computer games industry represents the mostdynamic, fast-moving and creative digitalentertainment market in the world. The industry hasalways used the most advanced and excitingtechnology available. Recent advances in graphicshardware have not only improved the graphicalcontent of games but also released resources thathave enabled more realistic physics and AI to beused in games for the first time.

Our courses in Computer Science with GamesDevelopment, offered by the Department of ComputerScience on the Hull Campus, take in a detailedconsideration of the industry-critical areas ofprogramming, software engineering, computer graphicsand simulation, and they include a significant elementof practical and industrially relevant project work.

Module content is the same in Year 1 as for the othercomputer science courses offered on the Hull Campus,enabling you to transfer between degrees up to the endof that year. In later years you are introduced tospecialist modules on games- and graphics-orientedtopics, including multimedia architectures, simulationand rendering, digital audio and video techniques, andadvanced games programming.

Although the skills fostered by these courses are directlyrelevant to the computer games industry, they are alsoapplicable to a wide range of careers which requireknowledge of graphics, simulation and visualisation. Infinancial computing, for example, your experience ofvisualising and displaying data can be applied topredicting fluctuations in the market; in medicalcomputing, graphics programming is used to displaymedical images to help in diagnosis and treatment; inmilitary simulation, your expertise in AI, physicsmodelling and the design of large, complex programswill help with the simulation of battle environments andthe analysis of military data. Your solid knowledge andunderstanding of computer science would also enableyou to pursue a career in a wide variety of other areas ofcomputing unrelated to games and graphics.

Computer Science with Games Development is offered inthe three pathways shown in the table.

In addition to these courses, the Department ofComputer Science offers BSc and MEng degrees inComputer Science, Computer and Business Informatics,Computer Software Development and Computer SystemsEngineering.

From applicants we typically require 200–280 UCASpoints (except for the foundation route), including twosubjects at A level, or equivalent. A minimum grade C inGCSE Mathematics, or equivalent, is required; and GCSEEnglish at grade C, or equivalent, is preferred.Requirements for entry via the foundation year arelower. We will also consider applicants with relevantexperience rather than academic qualifications.

Further details of the Computer Science with GamesDevelopment courses, and other computing-relateddegrees, can be found in the Computer Science subjectpamphlet. You can download a copy of the pamphletfrom the University’s website at www.hull.ac.uk/prospectus. Alternatively, you can call 0870 126 2000.

MEng Computer Science with Games DevelopmentCode G492Short form MEng/CSGDDuration 4 years

BSc Computer Science with Games DevelopmentCode G490Short form BSc/CSGDDuration 3 years

BSc Computer Science with Games Development withIndustrial ExperienceCode G493Short form BSc/CSGDIEDuration 4 years

Computer Science with GamesDevelopment Hull Campus

The critically acclaimed racing game Split Second, developed by Black Rock for Disney Interactive, featured seven University of Hullgraduates on its programming team. (Image courtesy of Disney Interactive Studios)


We will show you howthe basic elements ofa computer languagecan be combined tobuild a software-enhanced websitewith online games.


The following list gives you an overview of many of the modules that make upour degree courses.

3D Design introduces you to the fundamental technical and aesthetic concepts of3D design and professional 3D design practice. Supported by a series of lectures,demonstrations and workshops, you will conceptualise, plan, design and assemblea 3D design portfolio. You will also analyse, compare and criticise examples of 3Ddesign, and undertake research into current developments in 3D design andtechnology.

Advanced Interfaces views the web as a visual platform to a variety of networkeddata sources and web application functions. The module applies the principles ofinformation visualisation to cutting-edge web technology and mash-up culture. Youwill research advanced human–computer interaction methods and design anddevelop an advanced interface which brings together multiple data sources andpresents them through an interactive and communicative interface.

Advanced Production normally requires a prior high grade in Studio Production 1and 2. Students use cutting-edge hardware and software (on an Apple Macintoshplatform) to learn advanced sound production and editing techniques, and theyhave a chance to work in a 5:1 surround sound format.

Art Direction and Animation introduces you to both traditional and digitalanimation production techniques through lectures, workshops and demonstrations.Students produce practice-based exercises and a final project portfolio whichexplores the conventions and language of animation, focusing on animation’sunique ability to communicate powerful ideas. You will design animated artefactswith a specific and functional purpose while minimising the use of purely aestheticor entertaining animated content.

Audience seeks to promote your critical understanding of media audiences fromtraditional through to new media. Lectures and seminars will provide you withknowledge about the requirements of different audiences and how to develop yourmultimedia artefacts to cater for them.

Avant-Garde and Experimental Music surveys music from the last 100 years thathas exhibited a particularly radical or experimental bent, and thus has challengedcompositional, aesthetic and/or social norms. The module explores a wide range ofmusical styles and genres, in part as a means of critiquing the conventionaldistinction, often still made, between popular and art music.

Collaborative Development focuses on the development of teamwork and onsystemic project development. You will work in a team on a substantive groupproject. This will allow you to experience different aspects of the life cycle and applyappropriate methods, software and techniques at each stage. Further professionalskills of project management and techniques for analysis and design will beintroduced, along with appropriate supporting methods and software.

Composing for Film and Television examines the history and aesthetics of filmmusic. Students explore the creative and technical challenges of creating music forthe screen and gain some insight into production processes. The module issupported by weekly composition workshops in which students compose music forspecific dramatic contexts and discuss their work. The assessments include a shortessay and an underscore for a film clip.

Modules


Creative Music Technology Independent Study gives you the opportunity toproduce work in a different format from that adopted in your Long Study. (Forexample: if the Long Study topic is composition, this module could cover aspects ofmusicology.) The module allows you to develop a particular area of interest byengaging in a sustained period of research with tutor support and supervision. Itsoutcome can take a variety of forms and is to be agreed through negotiation.

Creative Music Technology Long Study involves work on an approved extendedproject throughout your final year with tutorial support from your supervisor. Theprojects available cover all aspects of composition, audio recording and sound-for-picture covered on the course. You may also opt to submit a dissertation on a topicrelated to composition, popular music analysis/history or music technology.

E-Business imparts an understanding of the application of internet technologies inbusiness environments. It introduces business concepts, strategies and models andconsiders how internet development architectures, techniques and technologies areused in developing electronic business systems. It covers knowledge and skills thatcan be applied to the design and implementation of a typical secure electronicbusiness application.

Elements of Popular Songwriting considers aspects of popular song includinggenre, lyrics, form, harmony, melody, tonality, instrumentation and productiontechnique. While there will still be opportunities for group discussion, the emphasiswill be on your own compositional creativity, and you will produce a portfolio ofyour own songs.

Film and the Moving Image takes you through some of the highlights of the mostimportant artistic medium to be developed in the 20th century. From early Europeancinema, through the work of Hitchcock, the golden ages of Hollywood, andJapanese cinema, to experimental creative video and digital production, thismodule will provide you with the means to analyse and discuss this most popularart form.

Game Art and Design allows you to explore the processes and practices involved inconceptual and contemporary game design. You will examine a range of knowledgeareas and apply your practical skills in developing concept art and design materialsfor a creative game concept.

Game Audio provides you with the opportunity to explore the technical andcreative challenges of creating audio content for games. The module explores theways in which sound is implemented in dynamic game play and also considers theuse of linear audio in games. There are two practical assignments, which areassessed according to industry standards. Game audio specialists are usuallyinvolved in the delivery of this module.

Global Pop: Transcending Musical Borders introduces you to a range of non-Western music systems and the influence that they continue to exert oncontemporary Western pop music. You will examine the historical development andcultural contexts of these systems, engage practically with performance andcompositional aspects of selected styles, and analyse the two-way culturalexchange which has resulted in hybrid popular music styles worldwide.

History, Criticism and Analysis of Popular Music Since 1960 gives a historicaloverview of various strands in the development of popular music since 1960, as wellas a review of recent writings in critical and analytical musicology.

Lectures andseminars will provideyou with knowledgeabout therequirements ofdifferent audiencesand how to developyour multimediaartefacts to cater forthem.


Independent Interdisciplinary Project is a doublemodule which allows students to develop a particulararea of interest in the field of interdisciplinary studies byengaging in supported and supervised research for theduration of the academic year.

Independent Project tasks you with investigating anagreed area of study. Areas can be selected from listsprovided by Digital Media staff members or developedindividually by students and agreed by potentialsupervisors. The module allows you to develop aparticular area of interest by engaging in sustainedresearch with tutor support and supervision. Its outcometakes the form of an initial literature review and a finaldissertation.

Independent Study allows you to develop a particulararea of interest by engaging in sustained research withtutor support and supervision. The outcome of themodule can take a variety of forms and is to be agreedthrough negotiation.

Information Management introduces you to thefundamentals of data representation and of databasedesign and development, then elaborates upon theseprinciples using relevant techniques and applications.

Interaction and Design imparts an understanding of thekey principles and practices underlying interaction,design and usability. You will develop a range ofknowledge and skills to allow you to design andcritically evaluate interactive technologies, as well as anawareness of the creative process and the issues involvedin creating well-designed technologies. The emphasis ison applying theoretical constructs to practical activities,and you will be encouraged to work independently andcreatively.

Interaction, Experience and Engagement introducesyou to the advanced technical and aesthetic concepts ofinteractive design and interactive design practice,building on skills developed in Multimedia. Working to acreative brief of your own devising, you willconceptualise, plan, design and assemble a screen-based interactive art application. You will also analyse,compare and criticise examples of screen-basedinteractive art applications and look for creative ways ofrecording and documenting the creative process.

Interactive Technology 1 allows you to design your owninteractive technologies through the use of the softwareenvironment Max/MSP. These might take the form of aninterface which controls musical parameters, or aninteractive installation. Expanded MIDI and OSC controlis covered, including the application of movement

sensing as well as the appropriation of devices such asgames controllers.

Interactive Technology 2 builds on work done inInteractive Technology 1 and introduces you to live videomanipulation through Max/MSP/Jitter as well as theprogramming of advanced interfaces such as the Lemurtouch-screen controller. You will work in a group toproduce an audiovisual installation for publicengagement as well as working independently on yourown creative projects.

Interdisciplinary Studies in Creativity introduces arange of critical perspectives on the nature of media inrelation to theatre, dance, music, live art, and mediaarts. It also deals with the basics of the creative processand the issues involved in creating well-designedperformance environments in the context ofcontemporary technology.

Live Electronica provides both a performance base anda set of programming skills that can be tapped for eitherperformance or interactive-technology modules. You willconsider historical and aesthetic perspectives as well aspractical applications. The aim is to develop anawareness of the creative use of music technology in alive-performance context.

Live Sound covers the theory and practice ofengineering for amplified instruments in a live-performance situation. You will develop practical skillsthrough weekly workshops, and your understanding willbe enhanced through theoretical instruction in lectures.

Media, Culture and Society imparts a fundamentalunderstanding not only of ethical and professionalissues in the field of digital media but also of personalskill development, with an emphasis on reading,listening and communication skills. You will producereports in various forms about issues affecting particularareas of digital media.

Multimedia introduces you to the fundamental technicaland aesthetic concepts of multimedia design andmultimedia design practice. Supported by lectures,demonstrations and workshops, you will conceptualise,plan, design and assemble a basic multimediaapplication. You will analyse, compare and criticiseexamples of commercial multimedia applications andmultimedia art. You will consider issues relating to thetechnical and aesthetic integration of diverse mediatypes and how those issues map onto human cognitivecapabilities. You will also research current developmentsin multimedia design and technology.


Music Industry Studies puts students in control of a‘record label’, encouraging them to assume variousrelevant roles in order to promote and release newmusic. In doing so, you learn aspects of industry practicethrough first-hand experience, and are supported viaadditional input from music industry professionals atkey points during the semester.

Performance 1, 2 and 3 develop performing skills interms of technique and musicianship. Each moduleinvolves working in a group throughout the year,rehearsing regularly and performing in workshops withcourse tutors. The culmination of each module is anassessed public performance by the group.

Performance and Creative Technologies Collaboration1 and 2 have an interdisciplinary focus and provide theopportunity for self-directed group exploration in thecreation of collaborative performance work for publicpresentation, achieved through a system of mentoring,negotiation and tutor supervision.

Popular Music, Criticism and Culture introduces you toa variety of critical and theoretical writings from theburgeoning field of popular music studies, tackling theideas of thinkers as diverse as Adorno, Scruton, Frithand McClary. You will consider (among other things)definitions of musical art, issues of musical value, theidea of music as commodity, the relationship betweenmusic and other arts, concepts of musical influence, andthe relationships between music and politics, gender,sexuality, ideology and religion. The music studiedvaries from year to year, but tends to be drawn from thefield of rock and pop.

Principles of Visual Design imparts a range of softwareand design skills through a series of lectures,demonstrations and workshops. Students exploreexamples of contemporary digital arts practice andpresent their findings in student-led seminars; they alsocarry out practical computer-based exercises. You willdevelop a portfolio of personal digital graphic art anddesign practice.

Programming for Interactive Media introduces the craftof website programming using JavaScript. Beginningfrom scratch, the module shows how the basic elementsof a computer language can be combined to build asoftware-enhanced website with online games. It alsointroduces debugging, documentation, primitiveanimation and anti-hacking precautions. Teaching is bymeans of theoretical lectures and practical lab-basedexercises.

Programming for the Web extends the programmingskills developed in the Programming for InteractiveMedia module, focusing on object orientation andprogramming for web-based applications. You will learnmore structured data representation and manipulationtechniques to allow programs to deal with more complexinformation, and you will learn to design and developclient/server programs.

Psychoacoustics and Studio Design is concerned withhow we perceive sound. Looking at various aspects ofpsychoacoustics, such as sound localisation, masking,speech perception, and music and emotion, you willlearn how to relate these to audio recording and mixingas well as composition.

Psychology of Internet Behaviour describes andcritiques theories of individual and group behaviour inan internet-enabled context. Various aspects of lifeonline will be examined, together with an assessment ofwhether the changes brought about in individualbehaviour and psychology should be considered aspositive consequences of the internet or as symptoms ofan internet malaise.

Radio Production examines the skills and techniquesrequired to produce live and pre-recorded programmesfor radio, enabling you to develop both your technicaland your creative skills. Various programme types andbroadcasting styles are covered, as well as some basicaspects of radio transmission.

Research Methods introduces you to the essentials ofconducting research. You will be required todemonstrate understanding through the application ofselected research processes to a variety of differentresearch problems. By the end of this module you shouldbe well equipped to choose between different researchmethods when planning your final-year project.

Songwriting and Arranging invites those who gainedgood grades in Elements of Popular Songwriting topursue the subject further. The emphasis will be on yourown independent projects, and we will discuss the workof contemporary songwriters in a critical forum. You willbring your own music and lyrics to our peer-reviewworkshops, and produce an EP to a professionalstandard at the end of the course. This is an optionalmodule, but it is highly recommended if you plan to offeran album of original songs in your final year.

‘Studying digital arts has givenme the chance to broaden myhorizons in terms of what’spossible for the future, includingfurther learning and careerprospects. The eclectic mix ofcourse content, structured as wellas open-ended modules,approachable lecturers and like-minded students all encouragecreativity.

‘The course has also given mecomplete artistic freedom whileutilising new software andtechniques in areas such asanimation, graphics and webdesign. I’ve felt that being taughtby people who have had industryexperience gives the courseauthenticity and offers insightinto the subject.’

Sam HowleBA Digital Media Studies



Sonic Arts 1 introduces the practical study ofcomposition through a variety of creative projects. Allwork is developed and evaluated through seminar-based‘composition clinics’. There are also opportunities forworkshop performances of live and recorded material.

Sonic Arts 2 develops the skills and techniques acquiredin the first year through the completion of an extendedelectroacoustic composition involving live performanceand multi-channel sound diffusion.

Sonic Arts 3 develops the skills acquired in Sonic Arts 2,exploring more advanced compositional techniquessuch as 3D sound, and culminates in a large-scalecompositional project.

Sound for Picture provides you with the opportunity tocreate audiovisual compositions and to exploreaudiovisual mapping. Graphics software is taught as partof the module, providing a strong foundation forinterdisciplinary modules and also for those interestedin multimedia. You will be required to submit twoaudiovisual compositions for assessment.

Studio Production 1 introduces you, through a series oftheoretical lectures, practical workshops and seminars,to the techniques and equipment required for studio-based audio and MIDI recording, including the mixingdesk, microphones, computer sequencing, sampling anddigital hard-disk recording.

Studio Production 2 enables you to apply the theoreticaland practical understanding of the recording processacquired in Studio Production 1 through a range ofadditional practical recording projects supplemented bytheoretical lectures, with specific reference to soundsynthesis, sampling and mixing. Consideration will alsobe given to songwriting skills, production andarrangement.

Synthesis and Sound Design explores the scientificconcepts governing synthesis and sound designprocesses. You have the opportunity to explore theseconcepts by implementing your own synthesis and DSPinstruments using Max/Msp. To choose this module, youmust have registered on Interactive Technology 1. Theassessments include an exemplified essay and a sounddesign portfolio.

Video Design and Production introduces you to videodesign and production techniques through lectures,workshops and demonstrations. Students collaborativelyproduce practice-based exercises and a final videoproject which explore the conventions and language ofdigital video production, focusing on video’s unique

ability to communicate powerful ideas. You will designvideo artefacts with a specific and functional purposewhile minimising the use of purely aesthetic orentertaining video content.

Web Authoring equips you with the knowledge andskills needed to build effective web pages and sites. Thefocus is on contemporary web development technologiesand the creation of sites that are accessible, usable andeasy to maintain. Contextual material will help youunderstand modern web development best practice andenable you to adapt to changes in web developmentpractices in the future.

Web Design further develops your knowledge, skills andunderstanding in the area of professional web design,focusing on the use of professional web developmenttechnologies to create sites that are accessible, usableand easy to maintain. Students demonstrate the abilitiesthat they have developed throughout this module bycreating a portfolio of design materials and associatedweb interfaces. You will be encouraged to think ‘outsidethe box’ in creating your web portfolio.

Web Security imparts a detailed understanding of theprinciples and nature of security in digital, andprincipally web, environments. You will gain knowledgeof security threats and their mitigation throughcontextual lectures and practical workshops/seminars.

Web Systems Management explains the different layersof the network model, from the underlying networkinfrastructure up to the application layers, with a focuson web server management. You will have theopportunity to gain both technical and applications-based knowledge related to the administration andconfiguration of network systems.

Words and Music from Dowland to Dylan is a briefhistory of song (in its broadest sense) from the 16thcentury to the 1960s. Each week you will get a chance todiscuss music that may be unfamiliar: Italian madrigals,fado, Schubert lieder, opera, Delta blues, murderballads, Broadway shows, protest songs, comedy songsand avant-garde vocal music. The aim is not to studyhistory as such but to introduce you to a variety of waysin which a songwriter can approach the craft. There isalso the option of setting a piece of modern poetry tomusic in your own style.


Our staff have a wide range of research and teaching interests, all of whichcontribute to degree content and inform their teaching. We also host regularvisits by practising musicians, artists, designers, computing specialists andindustry professionals.

Jo Anderson, BMus (Austin, USA), MMus, PhD (Birmingham), has research interestsin ambisonics and electroacoustic composition.

Robert Consoli, BA (Penn State, USA), has been a practising graphic designer forover 20 years. He teaches multimedia design and animation students to develop andrecognise creative ideas, and then to express their ideas using digital technologies.

Linda Hockley, MA (Teesside), MSc (York), BEd (London Met), CertEd (Durham),has research interests in e-learning and in user interfaces and higher education.

Tanko Ishaya, BSc, PhD (UMIST), is currently supervising PhD students in areasincluding the application of semantic web and multi-agent technologies forpersonalised e-learning support and semantic multimedia annotation andorganisation for effective retrieval. His other research areas include trust andsecurity of internet systems.

Chris Jones, BA, MRes (Hull), is a Computer Lab Officer for Creative MusicTechnology.

Andrew King, BMus, PhD (Northumbria), CEng, MIET, LTCM, has research interestsin learning technology and educational psychology.

Rob Mackay, BSc (Keele), MMus, PhD (Bangor), has interests in electroacousticcomposition, including fixed media, instruments, live electronics, image, movementand theatre. He has played in a range of groups, collaborating with John Cale andsupporting P J Harvey.

Helen R Mitchell, BMus (Edinburgh), MMus (Liverpool), MSc (York), LGSM, HETC,FHEA; her current research interests focus on film music/sound and composition.She is also interested in audiovisual interaction across a range of differentapplications.

Darren Mundy, BSc, PhD (Salford), focused his PhD study on the secure electronictransfer of medical prescriptions within the NHS, and his current interestsprincipally relate to internet security and secure medical informatics. He issupervising PhD students working on topics ranging from trust and context throughintelligent e-learning to secure mobile area networks.

Our staff have a widerange of research andteaching interests, allof which contribute todegree content andinform their teaching.

Staff and their research andteaching interests


Chris Newell, MSc (Huddersfield), PhD (York), is interested in interdisciplinaryperspectives that combine performance and digital media, particularly in the fieldof synthetic speech production. He is an Honorary Research Fellow in theDepartment of Computer Science at the University of York. In his theatre career heassisted Trevor Nunn and Sir Peter Hall and has directed for many opera and theatrecompanies.

Rowan Oliver, BA (York), is a professional musician, recording and performinginternationally with such artists as Goldfrapp and Paul Oakenfold, as well ascomposing for film, producing and remixing. His research deals with Africandiasporic popular music, rhythm and groove.

Jason Raven is our Digital Arts Technician. His specialism is the media of digital art,encompassing video production and the use of Photoshop.

Toni Sant, BA Hons (Malta), MA, PhD (New York), has research interests in the useof the internet in/for performance, live art, applied theatre, interactive multimedia,and the socio-cultural aspects of new media, particularly in marginalisedcommunities.

Darren Stephens, BSc (Durham), MSc (Teeside), Computer Laboratory Officer, hasresearch interests including the measurement of the quality of web-based systems(which he is investigating as part of his PhD research) and network and webapplication security.

Paul Warren, BA, DipComp (Open University), has a wide range of interests,including the science of evolution, and human and computer languages, and he iscurrently engaged in doctoral research which brings these areas together. In hisspare time, he works on open source software projects.

Julia Wray, BA (Hull), specialises in performance, with a focus on jazz. As well aslecturing part-time, she works as a professional musician in a number ofensembles.

John Whelan, BSc, PhD (Hull), has a research background in terrain visualisation,with an emphasis on the perception of form through sketch cues. His currentinterests are mobile computing, mixed media presentation and perceptual issues incomputer graphics. He has recently supervised a PhD student investigatingperceptual optimisation in internet-based virtual reality.

Howard Wilde, BA (Oxford), MMus, PhD (London), has research interests in theoryand analysis; 16th-century style study; analytical issues in early music; 19th-centuryGerman song; and popular songwriting.

Alan Young, BA (Hull), is a Computer Lab Officer for Creative Music Technology andis studio manager.

Studying for a degree at the University of Hull is a unique experience. We aimto provide you with an education that offers both depth and breadth ofknowledge. To meet these ends the University has developed an optional FreeElective Scheme. This scheme enables the majority of undergraduate studentsto take one module a year from outside their main course of study.

So, how does it work?Each year you take 120 credits’ worth of modules.

What sort of subjects can I take?You can take almost any free elective module from outside your main course ofstudy, usually at your home campus. You can even take a module from anotherfaculty. The catalogue of free electives might include

Level 4• English as a Foreign Language• Dive Training• Global Environmental Issues• Outdoor Recreation and Education Management• Introduction to Poetry• Passport Spanish or French

Level 5• Career Management Skills• Starting a New Business• Event Management• Conservation Biology

Level 6• Leisure, Tourism and the Environment

What are the main reasons for participating?• The scheme gives you the opportunity to study a subject without having to

commit yourself to taking further modules in that subject area.• By taking a free elective you are able to follow up your interests as part of your

degree.• With a broader education you may acquire extra skills that will help you when

you enter the employment market.

Admissions policyAdmissions information provided

in this pamphlet is intended as a

general guide and cannot cover all

possibilities. Entry requirements

are generally stated in terms of A

level grades and/or UCAS points,

but we encourage applications

from people with a wide range of

other qualifications and/or

experience. Some further details of

the various entry routes are

included in our general prospectus.

Please contact the Admissions

Service (see below) with any

specific queries about admissions.

DisclaimerThis publication is intended

principally as a guide for

prospective students. The matters

covered by it – academic and

otherwise – are subject to change

from time to time, both before and

after students are admitted, and

the information contained in it

does not form part of any contract.

While every reasonable precaution

was taken in the production of this

brochure, the University does not

accept liability for any

inaccuracies.

AddressFor general enquiries, please write

to

Admissions Service

University of Hull

Hull, HU6 7RX

T 01482 466100

F 01482 442290

E [email protected]

Free Elective Scheme

SEMESTER 1 SEMESTER 2

20 credits 20 credits

20 credits 20 credits

20 credits

20 credits

Here you take modules from yourmain course of study.

Here you have the option to take afree elective or another module fromyour main course of study.

ww

w.hull.ac.uk

Experienced, dedicated staff.Industry-standard software and

hardware. A fully wirelesscampus. Welcome to your new

playground.

Change the way you think.

Documents

Creative and Digital Technologies - University of Hull Undergraduate subject brochure 2010