Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Creative Writing and Journalism

at University of Bedfordshire - Luton Campus United Kingdom

If companies are to expand their business and be competitive, they must employ modern marketing techniques and integrate these into their organisational processes.

On this course you will study a full range of marketing practices combined with broader aspects of strategic marketing such as buyer behaviour, marketing international business, marketing and service management, and social media marketing.

Designed to help you become a highly effective manager and creative thinker, you will gain the conceptual, framework-focused, analytical, problem solving and research skills required to operate confidently in a dynamic environment.

There are six entry points through the year. This allows you to start when it is most suitable

Why choose this course?

• Study aspects of global brand communications and reputation, marketing in the digital landscape, intercultural issues in marketing, and strategy and brand management
• Develop your employability by undertaking a work placement with the opportunity to work on a live project to improve your team-working, negotiation skills, confidence and ability to apply critical and creative thinking to complex and unclear problems
• Benefit from studying with a Business School that has partners across the world enabling you to examine the cross culture perspectives essential to organisations in the global markets
• Explore how cultural and social differences affect buying behaviour, and discover how to use branding to compete in the global marketplace
• Gain an appreciation of the integrated nature of marketing communications and their application in a contemporary context

Combining robotic systems with artificial intelligence to produce a new generation of workers and companions is no longer the stuff of science fiction – it’s science reality.

This British Computer Society accredited course brings together these two areas, and offers conceptual grounding in intelligent systems, and the chance to apply theoretical knowledge in a practical setting.

With access to humanoid robots, robotic arms, wheeled platforms and other hi-tech robotic equipment, you will develop the skills demanded by employers in this fast growing area

Why choose this course?

• Learn how artificial intelligence and robotics are playing vital roles in the world’s most advanced technological industries – from medicine to entertainment – and are found at the heart of much of today’s most innovative science
• Study on one of the few UK university courses that offers both areas of study together
• Develop a solid conceptual grounding and apply theoretical knowledge in a practical setting
• Gain the expertise you will need to target a number of industries, including advertising, engineering and computer science
• Explore the use of humanoid robots, robotic arms, wheeled platforms and other hi-tech robotic equipment
• Challenge your technical abilities by using the latest software to control robotic machines
• Benefit from the experience and knowledge of a highly committed team of teaching experts

If you’re interested in a career in forensic science, we have a crime scene for you! A unique mix of biosciences and criminal psychology, our degree course offers you the opportunity for practical forensic processing in our crime scene facility.

Technological advances have made the role of the forensic scientist – the expert who collects, preserves and analyses evidence - increasingly important in crime investigation, and also in other fields such as archaeology.

The course starts with an introduction to psychology and the sciences relevant to forensics, followed by more detailed applied forensics including the preparation of evidence for court, pathology, medical physiology and haematology. You’ll also study the most recent advances in DNA analysis, toxicology, criminal psychology, and fire and explosive analysis.

Why choose this course?

• The Forensic Science team includes international experts in the psychology of criminal behaviour and forensics experts from a variety of operational backgrounds
• Our teaching is rated as ‘Excellent’ by the QAA and the team is part of a highly experienced department that has run biological science courses for over 30 years
• You’ll study in a specialist forensic laboratory, with key laboratory skills incorporated into most of the taught units, especially your final-year research project
• You’ll learn the skills and techniques needed to evaluate a real-life crime scene in our scene-of-crime lab, designed to resemble an 'normal' flat
• There’s the option to take the course over four years and include a year’s work placement (see below) to gain experience and industry contacts
• If you’d like to step-up into higher education, you can take an introductory Foundation Year (see below), which guarantees entry to the Undergraduate course

    "Studying forensic science with Bedfordshire has been an awesome, inspiring experience, with lecturers who are specialists with industry experience in the areas they teach. I highly recommend anyone wishing to study this subject with Beds to 'Go 4 it'."

The growth and commercialisation of sport and rapid development of digital and social media tools makes sports journalism an exciting and fast-moving branch of the industry. This specialist course gives you the skills you need to be a 21st-century sports journalist.

Learn the core practical skills of journalism and how to apply them to a sports specialism using traditional research and writing as well as new and developing media forms.

Sharpen these skills with an in-depth understanding of the political, social, historical and economic sporting environment - as well as the legal and ethical frameworks journalists work within - adding depth and authority to your reporting.

You benefit from studying with a team of industry specialists in both sports reporting and general journalism, across a range of platforms, and have opportunities to hear from leading academics, sports participants and masterclass speakers from the worlds of both sport and media.

Why choose this course?

• Gain core communication and multimedia skills that are highly valued across a range of graduate industries
• Put your skills into practice via real-life sports reporting assignments
• Explore opportunities for work experience within radio, television, print and online journalism
• Develop a portfolio of work and contacts while honing your skills through regular news days
• Report from your first year for our news website and present your own show on our community radio station, Radio Lab
• There’s the option to take this course over four years and benefit from a fee-free industry placement (see below) where you gain experience, build your CV and make contacts for the future
• If you need a step into the full degree, you can start with a Foundation Year (see below) which guarantees entry to the Undergraduate course

By joining the police service, you’re making a real difference. This course – licensed by the College of Policing – opens up life-changing opportunities to develop personally and professionally.

The Professional Policing degree allows you to develop the knowledge and skills that underpin police work while preparing you for the challenges police officers face. Following the College of Policing curriculum, it combines theory, law and vocational experience (if you choose to be a volunteer or Special Constable) to give you a thorough understanding of modern policing.

The course explores the complexities of crime, crime control and the effects of crime on the individual and communities as well as specific areas of study such as offender management, victim support and public prosecution; criminal legislation; community policing; safeguarding; and mental health and offending.

Why choose this course?

• Study a curriculum designed and licensed by the College of Policing as part of the Police Education Qualifications Framework
• Learn from a specialist multi-disciplinary teaching team which includes former police officers, social workers, mental health workers, forensic scientists and safeguarding practitioners
• Develop your problem-solving skills through investigating the complexities of the police role; current and emerging issues; and the demands on the police and their wider partners
• Benefit from volunteering opportunities, supported by your tutors
• Extend your knowledge and skills through our guest lectures and workshops
• Once you graduate, you can apply for a role as a police constable within a Home Office force in England and Wales, with many future opportunities to specialise and progress
• A degree in Policing equips you with skills and knowledge that transfer to other career paths and sectors

Business touches almost every aspect of our world and this degree is designed specifically to meet the needs of modern business, opening up a wide range of rewarding careers. It also adapts to suit your goals, with options to specialise in specific business fields in your third year.

This course combines academic theory with practical real-world business projects, giving you experience of a spectrum of organisational roles. Making extensive use of the most up-to-date technology, you produce business plans and market analyses while developing the skills to tackle a range of business problems.

Over three years, you gain skills in problem-solving, work analysis, presentation, team-working, communication and critical thinking, all of which give you the potential to be a rounded, capable manager.

Offering the in-depth technical and professional training you need for a career as an information technologist, this course is run in collaboration with local companies so you gain real-world experience while studying.

In your first year, you develop the skills to study the specialist topics later in the course including an introduction to software; hardware and how computers are built; how computers work with databases; and Structured Query Language (NoSQL). You will also learn about software applications (such as Microsoft, Oracle and Java) and hardware installation, configuration and maintenance.

In year two, you focus on software design and development; how software and hardware work together; designing secure systems; and approaches for testing software.

Learning in your final year focuses on research methods and emerging technologies as you undertake an independent IT project.

Why choose this course?

• It offers in-depth technical and professional training, including CompTia, Security+ and CCNA, which are required to practise as an information technologist
• Throughout the course, you benefit from work-based learning projects and hands-on experience which prepare you to graduate as a professional
• You learn how a wide range of technology can be deployed to provide systems that support organisations to achieve their business objectives
• You develop the knowledge and skills to draw out user requirements from non-IT experts and transform these into implemented system-level designs
• You will be able to lead an IT project, using transferable skills such as effective collaboration and critical thinking
• Take the course over four years and include a professional placement year (see below) where you can gain experience, build your CV and make contacts for the future

Modern organisations rely upon good information systems in order to survive in the global competitive business environment.

This course will suit graduates who, through their interest in information technology and information systems wish to pursue management roles in charge of information systems. There are six entry points through the year. This allows you to start when it is most suitable.

Why choose this course?

• Learn contemporary approaches to information systems management and develop original approaches to organisations challenges and opportunities
• Study aspects of information systems, digital analytics, marketing and the digital future and strategic management
• Explore how the full benefits of modern technologies can be realised, and address the problems associated with increasingly rapid rates of change in the information technology and business environment
• Benefit from a course that inspires teamwork and engagement to contribute to ethical an innovative practice
• Develop your skills within Information Systems theory, against a context of real business through our employability practice-based teaching and learning approach.
• Gain the ability to make critical high-level managerial and organisational decisions, and learn critical thinking and creativity in analysis, synthesis and appraisal

This popular course offers you the opportunity to develop the skills you need to become an Art and Design professional in a supportive community environment. You will work with live briefs, public projects and industry partners including Luton Culture, Departure Lounge Gallery, The Hat Factory and MK Gallery.

Offering a balance of theory and practice, our BA (Hons) Art and Design ensures you develop a range of visual and creative skills while you gain insights into critical theory, the importance of context and contemporary professional practice. If you are unsure of your specialist field, it gives you the opportunity to experience several creative pathways including Art and Design practices; community arts; curating; arts management; arts advocacy; and further study towards a career working in art and design education.

You develop essential skills and knowledge in a variety of 2D, 3D, digital and time-based practices, and engage in critical aesthetic and conceptual debates. You explore visual, social, cultural, environmental and political diversity, expressed through your developing Art and Design practice.

You will become proficient in presenting work to professional standards, including project production, and will develop the skills needed to build relationships in the creative community including networking, exhibiting, and marketing.

Why choose this course?

• All course tutors are practising, internationally exhibiting artists
• You study both traditional disciplines such as drawing, painting and printmaking along with the latest techniques in photography, video and digital media
• You learn through practical workshop sessions, sustained practice in the studio and one-to-one tutorials as well as work-related opportunities
• You work independently, developing your ideas through to outcomes, showing you can select and use materials, processes and environments; research and analyse those ideas and outcomes; and make connections to wider contexts
• Learning is linked to ‘real world’ experience to prepare you for a career across a number of fields
• You are able to consider issues arising from the creative practitioner's relationship with audiences, clients, markets, environments, users, consumers, and/or participants
• Develop personal and practice-based skills such as management, communication and multi-agency working
• You can take the degree over four years with a placement year in industry (see below), which allows you to sample a field of practice, build your CV and make future contacts
• If you are returning to learning or need a launchpad into a degree course, you can opt for Art and Design with a Foundation Year (see below)
• You gain a qualification that will enhance your prospects of a fulfilling and exciting career in a wide range of creative industries. Our graduates have become practising artists and designers, teachers, arts administrators and art managers; they have also continued their studies, both locally and internationally

This course examines key issues of media and communication, introducing principles of cultural theories and media research methods, providing a broader understanding of how different aspects of the media interconnect.

Why choose this course?

• Project Management Units covers a wide range of Project functional areas so that you become knowledgeable and effective managers