Bachelor of Screen Arts - Digital Content Creation Major

at Southern Institute of Technology

Year One
 

BSA 503 - Cross-Disciplinary Workshops

Students will participate in cross-disciplinary workshops to gain an understanding of real-world creative industry practice and communication. Students will be introduced to industry-specific techniques, gaining knowledge and skills required to participate as part of a team. Students will develop research skills to identify and demonstrate historical and theoretical practice. Students will document and analyse the progression of their projects.  
 

BSA 542 - Studio Digital 1

Students will be introduced to the fundamentals of design within the current creative industries. Students will complete projects that meet the requirements of a design brief, implementing various software solutions to develop an understanding of how to read and use imagery. Students will also explore and create digital artworks which apply the fundamentals of design principles. Students will investigate and a diversity of historic and contemporary digital design practices.
 

Students will develop the fundamental drawing skills essential as an analytical, descriptive, and creative tool. Students will gain a range of observational and conceptual skills and be introduced to analytical aspects of drawing as an aid to visualising and interrogating ideas and recording practice using a variety of drawing approaches. Students will also be introduced to the human figure as a source to explore form, tone and composition. Students will be introduced to the history and theory of drawing and discuss and document its relevance and use in contemporary practice. 
 

Students will gain practical hands-on skills and develop techniques to be able to effectively use cameras, lighting and audio equipment involved in visual story telling for film. Students will explore a variety of techniques and apply skills to critically assess how to use these tools to greatest effect in various situations and to enhance storytelling. 
 

Students will explore and develop an understanding of the aesthetics, concepts and practicalities of combining moving images. Students will be introduced to fundamental post-production tools, software, and editing techniques that serve narratives.
 

Students develop a basic understanding of how audiences are engaged through storytelling across multiple media platforms. Students will research the use of a variety of media platforms and storytelling devices. Students will produce a basic transmedia concept and explore its potential distribution, evaluating and documenting effectiveness in reaching target audiences. Students will also explore and evaluate contemporary transmedia practices. 
 

Students will be introduced to the processes, standards and requirements of the contemporary digital photographic industry. Students will complete projects to meet the requirements of design specifications implementing various practical techniques and software solutions to develop an understanding of how to read and use digital photographic imagery. Students will also explore and create digital photographic artworks developing the basic technical ability towards the realisation of ideas and gain knowledge of the field through the investigation and analysis of a diversity of contemporary digital photographic practices.
 

Year Two
 

Paper Title:  Cross-Disciplinary Workshops 2
 

Students will participate in cross-disciplinary workshops to expand their understanding of real- world screen industry contexts. Students will demonstrate their ability to engage in industry specific research and development to execute a practice-based investigation across disciplines. Students will research and identify relevant historical and theoretical contexts and implement appropriate project methodologies including the use of documentation and analysis as a research tool to drive project decision-making. 
 

Paper Title:  Visual Effects Compositing

Students will critically analyse and evaluate tools and techniques, design processes and production of CGI live action visual effects projects. Students will use knowledge and skills gained to create a seamlessly composited, visually compelling screen arts project. 
 

Paper Title: Studio Digital 2

Students will extend their understanding of practice-based research through screen art practices. Within these fields, students will develop a body of work that reflects an in-depth focused investigation relevant to their research questioning.  Students will gain an understanding of the practical and theoretical implications of proposing, developing and resolving a screen arts project. Students will explore relevant lineages of practice and critically analyse their project’s positioning. Students will gain practical experience utilising a range of materials and processes to practically and theoretically engage with site and notions of viewer/audience engagement. Students will also utilise digital documentation as a key research method. Areas of investigation include: Digital.
 

Paper Title: Studio Photography

Students will extend their understanding of practice-based research through screen art practices. Within these fields, students will develop a body of work that reflects an in-depth focused investigation relevant to their research questioning. Students will gain an understanding of the practical and theoretical implications of proposing, developing and resolving a screen arts project. Students will explore relevant lineages of practice and critically analyse their project’s positioning. Students will gain practical experience utilising a range of materials and processes to practically and theoretically engage with site and notions of viewer/audience engagement. Students will also utilise digital documentation as a key research method. Areas of investigation include: Photography.
 

Paper Title: Transmedia 2

Students develop a clear understanding of how audiences are engaged through storytelling across multiple media platforms. Students will identify and evaluate relevant transmedia practices in terms of their specific use of media platforms and storytelling devices. Students will produce a compelling, integrated transmedia concept/plan and analyse and document the effectiveness of its distribution, in reaching target audiences. Students will articulate the relevance of contemporary transmedia practices and identify applicable business and marketing models.
 

Paper Title: Content Creation

Students will research and generate concepts that appeal to identified target audiences. Students will research and evaluate a relevant content creation campaign and document its success in creating and maintaining customers/audiences. Research and articulate the value of content creation campaigns to businesses/companies. Students will develop a content strategy identifying brand, tone and promotion of content. Students will create a buyer/customer persona representative of identified target audience. Students will create relevant written and visual content that effectively communicates identified concepts through documentation via a digital platform/s, film, animation or any other mediums as appropriate. Students will create a range of free content across disciplines to engage, inform and entertain audiences. Students will also utilise digital documentation as a key research method.
 

Paper Title:Audio Techniques 

Students will develop an understanding of producing audio for the screen arts. Students will research and analyse historical and contemporary audio practitioners and their contributions to the evolution of the screen arts industry. Students will also gain creative and technical skills to effectively manipulate audio for screen arts projects. 
 

Year Three
 

Paper Title:  Studio Project 1

Students will build on knowledge gained in earlier papers strengthening skills and knowledge required to operate within a deadline-driven studio production environment. Developing and implementing effective communication and management strategies, students will work on a collaborative group project. Students will receive a brief and form a company to produce, promote and present a major project applicable to the screen industries (as approved by Tutor/PM). Students will explore industry relevant research and development strategies to inform the conceptual, technical and aesthetic aspects of the project to achieve the most effective, efficient production outcomes. Students will investigate target audience and transmedia approaches to brand development. Students will plan and present project as part of a promoted public event. 
 

Paper Title:  Studio Project 2

Students will build on knowledge gained in BSA703 strengthening skills and knowledge required to operate within a deadline-driven studio production environment. Students will apply their communication and management strategies to work on either a collaborative group or an individual research question driven project applicable to the screen industries (as approved by Tutor/PM). Students may choose to form a company to produce, promote and present a major project or work from a brief provided by an external partner (to be approved by Tutor/PM). Students will employ industry relevant research and development strategies to inform the conceptual, technical and aesthetic aspects of the project to achieve the most effective, efficient production outcomes. Students will identify target audience and apply transmedia approaches to brand development. Students will plan and present project as part of a promoted public event. 
 

BSA 501 - Introduction to Filmmaking

Students will gain practical hands-on skills and develop techniques to be able to effectively use cameras, lighting and audio equipment involved in visual story telling for film. Students will explore a variety of techniques and apply skills to critically assess how to use these tools to greatest effect in various situations and to enhance storytelling. 
 

BSA 550 - Film Editing

Students will explore and develop an understanding of the aesthetics, concepts and practicalities of combining moving images in film. Students will be introduced to fundamental post-production tools, software, and editing techniques that serve narratives.
 

BSA507 - Transmedia 1

Students develop a basic understanding of how audiences are engaged through storytelling across multiple media platforms. Students will research the use of a variety of media platforms and storytelling devices. Students will produce a basic transmedia concept and explore its potential distribution, evaluating and documenting effectiveness in reaching target audiences. Students will also explore and evaluate contemporary transmedia practices. 
 

BSA 532 - Studio Photography 1

Students will be introduced to the latest processes and techniques of digital photography. Students will complete projects using various practical techniques and software solutions to develop an understanding of how to read and use digital photographic imagery. Students will also explore and create digital photographic artworks while developing a basic technical ability. Students will?gain knowledge of the field through the investigation and analysis of diverse, contemporary and historical photographic practices.? 
 

BSA529 Storyboarding 

Students will be introduced to the process of drafting and planning story driven short form screen arts projects. Students will learn basic screenwriting skills for short form narratives and how to design for a target audience. Students will gain an understanding of the creative process and apply visual language and film grammar to produce a completed storyboard and animatic project for the creative industries.
 

School Leavers
 

University Entrance - NCEA Level 3 - three subjects at Level 3, made up of:
 

• 14 credits each, in three NZQA University Entrance approved subjects, and
• Literacy – 10 credits at Level 2 or above, made up of five credits in reading and five credits in writing, and
• Numeracy – 10 credits at Level 1 or above, made up of specified achievement standards through a range of subjects, or a package of three numeracy unit standards (26623, 26626, 26627 – all three required)
   

Mature Applicants
 

Be at least 20 years of age when the programme begins and provide evidence of aptitude or appropriate work or other experience; or completion of an external or overseas qualification which is considered to be the equivalent of any of the above qualifications, as approved by the Head of Faculty.
 

Special Admission
 

Notwithstanding the above admissions categories, in exceptional circumstances, an applicant below the age of 20 who can show evidence of ability to succeed in the programme may be considered for admission, provided the applicant has successfully completed an approved course or programme which is deemed to prepare graduates for the required academic standard for entry.
 

An applicant who does not meet academic criteria, may be provisionally admitted to enrol in one or more Year One papers, provided he or she meets the requirements above. Upon successful completion of the papers, the student may apply for special admission or admission by mature entry.
 

Additional Criteria - Portfolio Requirements
 

Applicants are required to submit a portfolio of their work with their application as follows:
 

•  A paragraph introducing yourself and your interests in your chosen field. 
•  A link or digital samples of your creative work, for example:
   

a. 5-10 pieces of digital or traditional artwork.

b. or

c. a short film, or animation,  or game you have worked on.

d. or

e. Photographs of a small garment collection or design spec sheets.
 

•  You may be asked to do a short interview with the programme manager or appropriate staff member.
   
• A paragraph introducing yourself and your interests in your chosen field.
   
• A link or digital samples of your creative work, for example:
  
  a. 5-10 pieces of digital or traditional artwork, or 
  b. a short film, or animation,  or game you have worked on, or
  c. Photographs of a small garment collection or design spec sheets.
   
• You may be asked to do a short interview with the programme manager or appropriate staff member.
   

English Language Requirements
 

Applicants, whose first language is not English, or who come from a country where the language of instruction in schools is not English, are required to provide evidence of having achieved one of the following:
 

• NCEA Level 3 with University Entrance, or
• an International Baccalaureate Diploma or Cambridge A- level qualification for which the teaching and assessment was conducted in English, or
• Cambridge Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CELTA),or Trinity College London Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CertTESOL), or
• Successful completion of all primary education (being the equivalent of New Zealand primary school years 1 to 8) and at least three years of secondary education (being the equivalent of three years from New Zealand secondary school years 9 to 13) at schools in either New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States one of the countries listed in Rule 18.5 where the student was taught using English as the language of instruction, or
• Successful completion of at least five years of secondary education (being the equivalent of New Zealand secondary school years 9 to 13) at schools in either New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States where the student was taught using English as the language of instruction, or
• Successful completion of a Bachelors' Degree, Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, Bachelor Honours degree, Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma, Masters' Degree or Doctoral Degree, the language of instruction of which must be in English and which must be from a tertiary education provider from New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom or the United States, or
• Successful completion of one of the following internationally recognised proficiency tests listed below to the level required of the programme of study and with all scores achieved in a single test during the two years preceding the proposed date of enrolment:
   
• IELTS test - Academic score of 6 with no band score lower than 5.5 
• TOEFL Paper based test (pBT) - Score of 550 (with an essay score 5 TWE) 
• TOEFL Internet based test (iBT) - Score of 60 (with a writing score of 18) 
• Cambridge English Examination - B2 First or B2 First for schools or C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency with a score of 169. No less than 162 in each skill. 
• OET - Minimum of Grade C or 200 in all sub-tests 
• NZCEL - a) Expiring Level b) Current: a) Level 4 (Academic) b) Level 4 (Academic) 
• Pearson Test of English (Academic) - PTE (Academic) score of 50 with no band score lower than 42 
• Language Cert - C1 Expert International ESOL Written (LRW) PASS with no less than 25/50 in each skill and Spoken (S) PASS 
• Trinity ISE - ISE II with no less than distinction in any band

Bachelor Degrees    NZ$19,600    Per academic year