Level 3 Media Studies
Course Description
Teacher in Charge: Ms S. Mohekey.
Media Studies can be picked up at Level 3. Many Year 13 students have selected to study it for the first time and gone on to make it the basis of their careers.
What will I learn?
You will what the mass media is and how it works.
You will learn how to plan, design and create advanced media products.
You will learn how to critically read a feature film text from different perspectives. A very important critical thinking skill!
You will learn how genre texts relate to society, both creating and reflecting social change.
You will develop your literacy skills and explore your creativity.
Topics include: making a short genre film with a group, or creating a magazine feature article on a topic of your choice as an individual, from the initial idea through to the finished product; learning to script a screenplay or write a feature article; looking at one feature film from two different viewpoints; and studying Psychological Drama films from a range of years and exploring their connections to the third wave of feminism in America.
There is only one external standard.
Where does it lead? This is a University Entrance approved course.
It can lead to a range of tertiary study courses, from a range of university courses to national Broadcasting School, from film schools such as South Seas to UNITEC, depending on your particular strengths and interests. Media Studies can lead you in a large range of career directions including: broadcasting; journalism; advertising; public relations; marketing; entertainment; teaching; and communication. It is both a creative and an analytical subject.
Course Outline:
Most standards are internally assessed, there is one external examination.
Media product - Choose to produce either a magazine feature article spread working solo or a short film working in teams of up to three people.
Step one - Media Concept – AS 91494 - 3.5 “All Going to Plan” (4 credits). Internal - create a plan and design for either a short film or a magazine feature article.
Step two - Media Script – AS 91497 - 3.8 “Get it Write” (3 credits). Internal - write a media text – either a film script or a magazine article.
Step three - Media Production – AS 91495 - 3.6 “Production Line” (6 credits). Internal - use your plan to film and edit your short film or to layout and illustrate your magazine feature article.
Language of Film – AS 91491 - 3.2 “Talking Pictures” (3 credits). Internal - apply your knowledge of film texts and society to make two different readings of a film, taking on different perspectives.
Media and Society – AS 91492 - 3.4 “Psychological Thrillers” (4 credits) External - explore the relationship between American society during the third wave of feminism and the genre of Psychological Thriller films by viewing and analysing a range of texts from the last three decades. You will write an essay to answer in response to a starter.
What should I have already done?
It is recommended that you have an interest in creating and studying the media. Previous learning in Media Studies will be an advantage.
Course Contribution
Students will need an SD card for their film work.
Pathway
The career pathways from Media Studies are ever expanding as we become an increasingly digital society. You can study communications, film making, journalism, marketing and gaming. Media graduates end up in a wide range of careers.
Credit Information
You will be assessed in this course through all or a selection of the standards listed below.
External
NZQA Info
Media Studies 3.2 - Demonstrate understanding of the meaning of a media text through different readings
NZQA Info
Media Studies 3.4 - Demonstrate understanding of a relationship between a media genre and society
NZQA Info
Media Studies 3.5 - Produce a design for a media product that meets the requirements of a brief
NZQA Info
Media Studies 3.6 - Produce a media product to meet the requirements of a brief
NZQA Info
Media Studies 3.8 - Write a media text to meet the requirements of a brief
Approved subject for University Entrance
Number of credits that can be used for overall endorsement: 20
Only students engaged in learning and achievement derived from Te Marautanga o Aotearoa are eligible to be awarded these subjects as part of the requirement for 14 credits in each of three subjects.
Pathway Tags
Animator/Digital Artist, Advertising Specialist, Copywriter, Sales and Marketing Manager, Art Director (Film, Television or Stage), Artist, Artistic Director, Film and Video Editor, Sound Technician, Trainer, Journalist, Graphic Designer, Communications Professional, Technical Writer, Editor, Data Entry Operator/Transcriptionist, Graphic Pre-press Worker, Radio Presenter, Early Childhood Teacher, Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), Primary School Teacher, Kaiwhakaako Māori, Market Research Analyst, Nanny/Child Carer, Photographer, Tertiary Lecturer, Private Teacher/Tutor, Youth Worker, Secondary School Teacher, Teacher Aide, Television Presenter, Marketing Specialist,
Disclaimer
Courses will only run based on minimum entries
Selecting a course does not guarantee entry into this course
You may apply for an exemption if you do not meet the prerequisite of a course or if the course requires this for entry
Standards offered can be altered at the discretion of the HOD of the Department
Some standards in NCEA courses might be optional depending on student strengths
Course contribution may vary slightly by the start of 2025