Make your dream of a career in the digital creative sector a reality with the Bachelor of Screen Arts - Digital Content Creation major. It will develop your creativity and technical abilities that are well sought after in this rapidly changing industry. You will be encouraged to develop individual projects which have distinctive conceptual, aesthetic and technical outcomes.
Three years full-time,
Part time study is available.
This programme is eligible for the Zero Fees Scheme.
International Fees can be found here.
The Bachelor of Screen Arts is a three-year programme that allows you to express your creativity using the latest digital technology.
It will develop your creativity and technical abilities that are well sought after in this rapidly changing industry. You will be encouraged to develop individual projects which have distinctive conceptual, aesthetic and technical outcomes.
Other majors in the Bachelor of Screen Arts:
Bachelor of Screen Arts (Digital Content Creation)
Year One
BSA 503 - Cross-Disciplinary Workshops
Students will participate in cross-disciplinary workshops to gain an understanding of real-world screen industry contexts. Students will be introduced to industry specific research and development strategies gaining the knowledge and skills required to execute a project or projects across disciplines. Students will develop basic research skills to identify the significance of historical and theoretical contexts and methodologies and document and analysis their project progression.
BSA 542 - Studio Digital 1
Students will be introduced to the processes, standards and requirements of the contemporary screen arts industries. Students will complete projects to meet the requirements of specifications implementing various software solutions to develop an understanding of how to read and use imagery. Students will also explore and create digital 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 historic and contemporary digital art practices.
BSA 526 - Principles of Animation
Students will be introduced to the principles of animation. Students will develop an understanding of the origins and purpose of the traditional 12 principles of animation including practical implementation within their animation practices. Students will develop skills and knowledge which will assist them in the creation of appeal and form in animated characters. Students will also demonstrate an understanding of motion studies and how to apply these to various characters to produce realistic movement and the illusion of life.
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. 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 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
BSA 603 - 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.
BSA 627 - 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.
BSA 642 - 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.
BSA 632 - 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.
BSA670 - 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.
BSA 605 - 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.
BSA 602 - 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
BSA 701 - 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. BSA 702 - 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.
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:
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 IESOL (LRWS) with PASS and no less than Pass in each skill Trinity ISE - ISE II with no less than distinction in any band
* New versions of some NZCEL qualifications, and in some cases new qualifications, were published on 13 June 2017. These are intended to replace pre-existing versions and qualifications, which have been given expiring status until discontinued on 31 December 2019. (a) denotes expiring (b) denotes current.
In order to be awarded the Bachelor of Screen Arts the student will have been credited with all required papers and electives as specified in the schedule of papers (360 credits).
The overall programme of study for every candidate requires 360 credits for successful completion of the degree.
Individual papers may have specific pre-requisites or other knowledge/skill requirements, which must be satisfied by all students.
Classes are held Monday to Friday, 9.00am-5.00pm at SIT's Downtown Campus (Don St, Invercargill).
