Course units
In response to the Climate Emergency, UAL has embedded responsible practices within the curriculum. We shaped our courses around principles of social and racial justice, and environmental sustainability that ensure learning outcomes reflect the urgent need to equip you with the understanding, skills, and values for ethical practice and empower you to work towards an equitable future.
In common with all courses at the University of the Arts London, this course is credit rated. The course is 3 years, levels 4-6. Each year requires you to achieve 120 credit points. To be awarded the BA (Hons) Sound Arts qualification, you need to accumulate a total of 360 credits.
Year 1
The first year of the course establishes a foundation of creative approaches, technical skills, contextual and critical knowledge and communication skills associated with contemporary sound art and experimental music. This year is focused on enabling you to grasp the fundamentals of sound control, manipulation, and production, guided by tutors while allowing you to gain confidence in presenting your work to your peers. Some units will be specific to BA (Hons) Sound Arts: Experimental Music and others will be shared with BA (Hons) Sound Arts: Design.
Year 2
Having completed Year 1, you will expand on your knowledge and approaches within sound arts and experimental music, as well as your capacity for creative practice and critical thinking during Year 2. You will choose from a suite of optional units that often cross diverse disciplines such as hardware hacking, multichannel spatial audio, songwriting, sound for the moving image. You will also undertake individual sound studies research and professional opportunities for public-facing collaborative sound design production. Some units will be specific to BA (Hons) Sound Arts: Experimental Music and others will be shared with BA (Hons) Sound Arts: Design.
Year 3
Your final year of study develops skills learnt in previous years by enabling you to immerse yourself in your chosen specialist area. You will deepen your understanding of your interests through a research project consisting of a written dissertation or audio paper. An important part of Year 3 prepares you for professional life and helps you to define and explore potential career paths following graduation. These include working for production houses, creative agencies, record labels, festivals, arts organisations, and games companies or working independently as a freelance sound artist or designer. You may also progress onto a Master’s course, either at LCC (e.g. MA Sound Arts) or elsewhere.
Optional Diploma between Years 2 and 3
Between Years 2 and 3 of the course, you’ll also have the opportunity to undertake one of the following additional UAL qualifications:
Diploma in Professional Studies (DPS) (Optional)
An optional, year-long learning opportunity which enables you to develop your professional skills by undertaking time out for industry experience. Supported throughout the year by academics, you’ll build on the knowledge gained on your course in a range of national or international locations, and graduate with an additional qualification of Diploma in Professional Studies.
Diploma in Creative Computing (Optional)
Between Years 2 and 3, you can undertake the year-long Diploma in Creative Computing. This will develop your skills in creative computing alongside your degree. After successfully completing the diploma and your undergraduate degree, you’ll graduate with an enhanced degree: BA (Hons) Sound Arts: Experimental Music (with Creative Computing).
