This course aims to povide students with opportunities to critically develop disciplinary research methods; enable students to autonomously design their own research project/object/practice with a critical grounding in appropriate research methods both relevant to their disciplinary specialization and, where relevant, enabling of trans, multi, or inter-disciplinarity; provide students with a rigorous understanding of research ethics as relevant to their research/practice; facilitate critical reflection on the relationships between forms of research and modes of practice in order to encourage robust and/or innovative applications of existing methods.

The course aims to: introduce the principles and rationale for re-appraisal of previous work; encourage you to critically evaluate your practice in relation to recent issues within historical, critical and theoretical fields of enquiry; enable you to enhance your ability to formulate and express critical positions in a variety of appropriate forms; introduce you to fundamental principles and rationale of research in relation to creative practice; enable you to articulate your own distinctive responses to critical issues within your own practice and within the broader context of contemporary art; encourage you to demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of ethical good practice and your ethical responsibility in the public presentation of work; enable you to develop your awareness of Health and Safety issues as applicable to creative practice; enable you to articulate your ‘own voice’ as your own specific aesthetic response to cultures and their discourses.

The course aims to: provide students with opportunities to critically develop disciplinary research methods; enable students to autonomously design their own research project/object/practice with a critical grounding in appropriate research methods both relevant to their disciplinary specialisation and, where relevant, enabling of trans, multi, or inter-disciplinarity; provide students with rigorous understanding of research ethics as relevant to their research/practice; and facilitate critical reflection on the relationship between forms of research and modes of practice in order to encourage robust and/or innovative applications of existing modes.

This course aims to: introduce students to critical reflection of own practice; review students practice in relation to proposal/s; encourage students to critically evaluate their practice in a historical, social, political, ethical and theoretical context; encourage students to identify their critical position in relation to their practice; introduce students to fundamental principles of research in relation to studio practice; and encourage students to engage with discourse of the relevance of design in relation to historical, contemporary, socio-cultural and political contexts and discourses.

This course will introduce students to a range of professional and ethical issues in contemporary and historical computing. Students will critically engage with current ethical issues and questions through readings, discussion and writing. Students will also engage with other professional issues around professional networking, communications and recruitment and professional portfolio development. Thus, this course both prepares students for seeking employment in professional creative computing disciplines, and arms them with the critical and ethical insights that will be required through their professional careers.

In studio, students are provided with a range of briefs and, through a scaffolded process, develop their own solutions and systems to meet those briefs. Students will apply the basic knowledge and skills gained in taught courses, and develop and consolidate their knowledge and skills through a range of projects, building towards a portfolio of work.

Students will learn a range of advanced topics in Immersive Systems development, with increased emphasis on chosen pathways. This will include: the development of networked multi-user and online immersive systems and related architectures; augmented reality, mobile VR and physical computin; advanced topics in 3D modelling and animation; narrative in Immersive Systems; understanding the context of an immersive experience; and developing meaning through interaction.

Following on from Critical and Contextual Studies 1, this course will introduce students to a range of methodological approaches and considerations which apply to immersive systems (virtual, augmented and mixed reality, digital games and visualisation) and introduce them to the key theories, debates and perspectives which relate to this aspect of the domain. Students will engage with both historical and contemporary discourse through reading, discussing and writing about seminal and relevant academic texts. Alongside the domain related content, students will be introduced to academic research, writing and communication skills, namely structuring, synthesising and formulating academic arguments and hypotheses. Completion of this course will prepare students to the critical thinking and communication skills required for their professional careers within industry, as well as support the development of key academic skills required for their future studies.

This course extends knowledge in software development, 3D modelling and Immersive Systems. It provides a deeper understanding of core programming and interactive systems development skills, and immersive system design methodologies.

This course will introduce students to the diverse contexts in which immersive systems (virtual, augmented and mixed reality, digital games and visualisation) are applied, and introduce them to the key theories, debates and perspectives which relate to this aspect of the domain. Students will engage with both historical and contemporary discourse through reading, discussing and writing about seminal and relevant academic texts. This course aims to provide students with the skills to critically evaluate the contexts, applications and outputs of the immersive systems discipline and to facilitate a broadening of understanding of key terms, concepts and theories within the domain. Alongside the domain related content, students will be introduced to academic research, writing and communication skills, namely selecting, evaluating and summarising academic sources. Completion of this course will prepare students to critically evaluate and analyse a variety of immersive systems and interactive media. It will facilitate the critical thinking and communication skills required for their professional careers within industry, as well as support the development of key academic skills required for their future studies.