Environment and Media Studies BA(Hons)

Overview

This is an innovative, interdisciplinary course that combines the scientific and social exploration of the environment with an examination of the media, political and public debates that shape our understanding of and responses to environmental concerns.
This course enables you to engage directly in the challenges of environmental change, sustainable and community development.

Course duration
Full-time: 3 years
Part-time: 6 years
Sandwich: 4 years

UCAS code DP43
Course content

Course structure

The first year introduces you to the complex interactions between science, policy and culture through key themes in environmental science, human geography and visual, textual and digital media studies. In years 2 and 3, there is substantial choice regarding the areas of environment and media studies you wish to study. A core module in year 2 involves volunteering with local environment, media and community development organisations. You will gain practical and career skills and firsthand understanding of the challenges of more sustainable development. All students undertake a final year project that can include media production elements.
A work placement is an option between years 2 and 3.

Areas of study

Students develop understanding in areas including: local and global processes of environmental and social change and their spatial outcomes; the relationship between media, culture and society in a globalised world; contemporary environmental issues and approaches to their management; media industries; ICT in community development; and the production and consumption of global environmental imagery and narratives.

Syllabus

Year 1
Global Environmental Issues and Management
Contemporary Human Geographies
Media, Culture and Change
Critical Approaches to Media
Citizenship for the Environment
Twenty-first Century Brighton
Options
Photographic Practice
Video Production
Film Language and History
Understanding TV
Sound, Media and Culture
Year 2
Community Engagement: Theory into Practice
Research Methods and Methodologies
Sustainable Development
Critical Contemporary Geography
Options
Climate Change
Geographies of Everyday Life
Geographies of Development
Contemporary Rural Geographies
Environmental Conservation and Management
Environmental Hazards
Environmental and Spatial Planning
Geographic Information Systems
Morocco field class
Community Media
Visual Cultures
Language, Media and Power
Photographic Practice
Journalism
Film Studies
Video Production
Popular Music
Optional placement year
Final year
Dissertation project
Options
Geography of Genders, Sex and Sexualities
Geographies of Sport and Leisure
Medical Geography
Geographies of Disability and Impairment
Political Ecology
Environmental Politics and Society
Geographical Information Systems
Air Quality Management
Environmental Assessment
Water and Health
Wetland Environments
National and Global Media Studies
Mediating Science and Technology
Media Policy
Genre and Film
Critical Issues in Political Communication
Critical Approaches to the Video Game
Entry requirements

Typical entry requirements
individual offers may vary
A-levels:
ABB. Applicants with only two full A-levels or a double award will be considered on an individual basis.
ND/C (Level 3):
DMM..
International Baccalaureate:
34 points.
QAA-approved access course:
acceptable.
GCSE (minimum grade C):
at least three subjects including English language and mathematics or a science.
Foundation degree/HND
/HNC direct to year 2.
For non-native speakers of English:
IELTS 6.0 overall, with 6.0 in writing and a minimum of 5.5 in the other elements.
Location

Location Moulsecoomb
Career opportunities

Graduates are equipped to work in areas such as working for environmental charities and pressure groups, environmental journalism, as public relations officers for companies or in a variety of specialist roles in local authorities and civil service. They are also well placed to continue onto postgraduate study.

Visit the careers centre website.
Fees and costs

The fees listed here are for full-time courses beginning in the academic year 2012-13. Further tuition fees are payable for each subsequent year of study.

The tuition fee you have to pay depends on a number of factors including the kind of course you take, and whether you study full- or part-time. If you are studying part-time you will normally be charged on a pro rata basis depending on the number of modules you take. Different rules apply to research degrees - please contact the Doctoral College for advice.

To help you plan for your time here we will be providing further information about what is included in your tuition fee, and any optional costs you may need to budget for, later in the autumn.

Our website wwww.brighton.ac.uk/money provides advice about funding and scholarships as well as further information about fees and advice on international and island fee paying status.

BA(Hons) Environment and Media Studies [P2EA002]

UK/EU (Full Time) 9,000 GBP
Island Students (Full Time) 9,000 GBP
International (Full Time) 12,500 GBP
More details

Environment and Media Studies BA(Hons) News

Congratulations!
In July 2012 the first cohort of Environment and Media Studies BA(Hons) students graduated from this innovative course. Graduating student Tom Harris said: "Studying aspects of geography, society and politics has provided a wide range of perspectives. The field trip and the options for media production, practical research and community volunteering, allow you to apply what you are learning about and provide a chance to reflect on theory and practice." Read the full story.

Green League success
People & Planet, a student network campaigning to protect the environment, awarded the university a First Class honour in their annual Green League. The University of Brighton was ranked third of 145 universities in the UK.

Staff and students from the Environment and Media Studies course contributed to this success: course leader, Dr Jenny Elliott worked with staff across the institution to integrate sustainable development into their curriculum; and during her placement year, student Jules Bevis worked as a project assistant with the university’s Environmental Team in Estate and Facilities Management. Read the full story.
Student views

Charles El-Zeind

Why did you choose the course?

The main reason why I picked this course was because it combined two very different studies which form a very interesting relationship with each other. It gave me the opportunity to learn how to use them so as to inform and educate people about environmental issues. The most interesting aspect of the course was relating the issues discussed in our classes with the actual world, and gaining further perception of how things work. It was a horizon broadening experience!

Tell us about your experience of teaching staff

The lecturers provided a lot of support and feedback. All of my encounters with my lecturers gave me a positive feeling, reassuring me that in times of need I would have somewhere to turn to.

What are your plans for the future?

This is the most exciting aspect of this course. Because it is diverse , I feel there are a lot of choices ahead. Right now I am seeking a job in the environment sector.

Danielle Step

In three words, how would you describe your experience of studying at the University of Brighton?

Interesting, happy, fulfilling.

Why did you choose the course?

I chose Environment and Media Studies BA(Hons) because it seemed like a new and refreshing course. It is a fairly new academic study area and this allows for some very unique skills to be gained. The optional modules mean you can take your learning in any way you want, whether this is a focus on physical or human geography. Learning from two different schools - the School of Environment and Technology and the School of Art, Design and Media - is very interesting it allows you to see a bigger picture than if you only studied one discipline.

Tell us about your experience of teaching and support staff

The teaching and support staff are excellent. The lecturers are always happy to talk to you about any subject and go out of their way to help you if you have a problem. The lecturers do their best to make their lectures engaging and try to encourage discussion as often as possible. The support staff are informative and helpful.

What are your plans for the future?

Skills I've learnt such as presentation skills will be useful across a multitude of jobs. I've learnt to think about the way the world is and don't take things at face value as much as I did. I met my fiancé while studying here and plan to stay in Brighton. It’s a vibrant, delightful place to live.

Tom Harris

Why did you choose this course?

I chose this course after being told about it at an open day, it sounded like an interesting combination of subjects. Studying aspects of geography, society and politics has provided a wide range of perspectives. For me the most interesting aspects were sustainable community development and the geographies and politics of food. The field trip and the options for media production, practical research and community volunteering, allow you to apply what you are learning about and provide a chance to reflect on theory/practice.

What was your experience on the course?

The first year was a challenge for me having been out of education three years prior, learning how to research and write effectively. The feedback from assessments, skills seminars and various workshops that are offered helped with the process immensely. In year 2 and 3 I was able to consolidate the skills I had been developing previously and apply them to a variety of thought provoking assessments often working with others to achieve a task. People made this course for me, having worked with a number of fantastic students, staff and others outside of university. There are many outstanding lecturers at the University of Brighton, providing excellent support and feedback.

What advice would you give students considering this course?

Think about which of the range of degrees offered in this area (human/physical geography, environmental science, environment and media, media studies) and which would suit you best. You have a lot of choice of modules in year 2 and 3 and the Environment and Media Studies modules offered a nice balance and a broad range of subjects, allowing you to follow your interests. This degree was a unique experience.

What are your plans for the future?

I intend to stay in Brighton as it offers a great place to live with something for everyone. There are a lot of community groups, organisation and initiatives in the region and I will continue to involve myself wherever I can. The sense of community in Brighton & Hove is something that is of immense value to this place that I think everyone who lives, works and studies here is involved in creating. I have just applied for the university’s Masters in Community Psychology. As with Environment and Media Studies, this is quite a new subject area and hopefully will offer another fresh perspective, building on what I have learnt so far.