Compulsory modules

Unlocking the Studio: Your Journey into Sound Engineering
This module provides a solid grounding of the foundational skills and concepts needed to record and mix in the recording studio. Using professional recording studios with state-of-the-art equipment, staff with practical industry experience will introduce you to microphones, mic technique, routing, tracking, printing, overdubbing, re-amping, mix-prep, dynamic processors, and effects. You will learn about industry best practices and genre-specific workflows, develop the critical listening needed to achieve identified production aesthetics and explore your own creative workflow.

Becoming a Cultural Citizen
Acquiring the foundational tools and skills you need to develop your student profile is the focus of this module. You will learn about the different pathways in your cultural or creative field while developing your own identity as a cultural critic, creative, and citizen. You will explore and map out your personal and professional development goals and plans, ensuring you make the most of your time at university and beyond. You will gain professional skills in communication and team working. 

Computer Systems and Fundamentals
You will learn fundamental concepts of computer hardware and software, and achieve a foundation for other computer science modules. You will obtain an overview of computer systems, bridging theoretical concepts with practical applications and gain an understanding of the capabilities and limitations of modern IT. You will see logic design for core hardware components, the architecture of operating systems, essential features of programming languages, a selection of computing applications, hardware design, operating systems, and computational principles like parallelism and caching.

Introduction to Programming
This module will introduce you to the fundamental concepts underlying computer programming and computational thinking. You will gain an understanding of problem-solving techniques and learn to implement your ideas using Python. No prior coding experience is assumed. The aim is to get you up to a good standard of coding by the end of the module. There is a strong practical element and several real-world examples. You will attain a solid practical foundation for modules building upon these fundamental concepts. 

Optional modules

Sound Synthesis in Music Production
Sound synthesis in Music Production offers a fun and engaging way to explore synthesis techniques (additive, AM/FM, granular, chorus, AI-based concatenative) and supports the development of your creative sound generation abilities. You will design your own software synthesiser and organise your musical ideas into audio tracks. You will reflect on the many popular music genres, such as Hip-hop, House, and Techno, which will prepare you for future exploration of sound for visuals, games, advertisements and Foley in your second semester.

Popular Music and Digital Platforms
This module introduces key theoretical and practical aspects of popular music, exploring its socio-cultural contexts, functions, performers, markets, and scenes. It challenges cultural assumptions about sound and listening, examining popular culture, fandom, and sound recording. You will learn about music dissemination, consumption, and sharing on digital platforms, covering ethics, strategies, methodologies, and realities in today’s music world.

Sound for Moving Image
This module introduces you to the world of sound effects for visual media, revealing the process of audio-visual synchronization across various contexts, including video games, films, and advertisements. You will acquire practical skills in creating convincing and believable sound effects and learn the basics of Foley artistry. With a hands-on, practical learning approach, you will be guided step-by-step in crafting unique sounds to complement visual spaces, events, and themes in moving image contexts.

Professional Practice in Computing
This module introduces you to aspects of professionalism and ethics, communication and writing styles: these are also useful transferable skills in science and engineering more generally. The module provides you with important transitional skills that will be built upon in future modules and subsequent careers. The module provides guidance on enhancing employability skills, and advice on working in teams. Delivery of the module will include workshop activities providing you with opportunities to work individually or as part of a team, and involvement with careers and the library via guest lectures.

Object-Oriented Programming
This module builds upon programming concepts explored in introduction to Programming, by developing problem solving skills in a new programming paradigm, that of object-oriented design. You will learn the theories and principles of modelling real-world problems through object-oriented design for the development of robust, professional, and high-quality software systems. You will put these ideas into practice by learning to program in Java, enhancing your employability.

Compulsory modules

Database Systems
Databases and database management systems are an integral part of any computing application that needs to store data and manage its transactions efficiently. This module introduces you to databases and database management systems by providing theoretical knowledge and practical experience in data modelling, database design, implementation and administration. The module explores essential topics in data management including database security and how databases are integrated with other technologies, especially the Web, for enhanced user interfaces, ease of data access and distribution.

Human-Computer Interaction
In this module you will learn and apply the underlying concepts and principles of interface and interaction design for a variety of devices. This will include current industry standard areas of user-centred design such as persona, scenarios, card sorting and requirements elicitation, as well as general usability evaluation techniques. You will also learn about visualisation, creativity, HCI guidelines and the sensory, cognitive and physical capabilities of users. This will culminate in the completion of a design portfolio and design solution to an authentic scenario.

Software Engineering
This module will provide you with up-to-date knowledge and practice of industry standard techniques and processes to undertake team-based development of software and digital products. The module gives hands-on experience of agile software engineering in a self-organising team and the opportunity to compare theory and practice. The module is delivered via a combination of weekly workshops, directed reading and viewing and guest talks from industry professionals. Previous speakers have been from companies such as the BBC, Microsoft, Capgemini and Accenture.

Studio Engineering and Live Sound
In this module, you will gain comprehensive skills by integrating live sound and studio engineering practices. You'll learn industry best practices and gain practical experience as both a live sound technician and engineer. This includes professional PA setup and mastering a cutting-edge digital PA system for live performance events. The studio engineering segment will build on your first-year foundations, allowing you to develop advanced techniques in various genres, ensuring a well-rounded expertise in both live and studio environments.

Optional modules

Augmenting Live Performance
Augmenting Live Performance introduces you to leading-edge, modern live music performance techniques and gives you the chance to build your own digital performance devices and apply them live contexts. You will explore current and historical issues around liveness and learn the semiotics of performance. Building on first-year skills you will explore specific augmenting live performance techniques, including recording studio and electronic music production techniques in live performance events, FX as performance tools, Launching, Reactive elements, Chance elements, and Live looping. 

Sampling and Remix
This module equips you with sampling and remixing skills through hands-on learning in Ableton Live. You'll explore the historical roots of sampling and learn various contemporary music production techniques, including AI-based stem separation. Engaging with key sample-based music pieces, you'll delve into discussions on creative reuse and recontextualization. Critical discussions will cover topics such as, intertextuality, authenticity, ownership, legal and ethical issues. You'll also learn remix principles, allowing you to rework and reinvent musical ideas across various genres and styles.

Individual Study Topic in Computer Science
Computer Science is multi-faceted and rapidly changing, with new and niche topics on the periphery of the standard curriculum. This module gives you the opportunity to pursue supported independent learning and practice of new skills that are not otherwise incorporated into the curriculum.  You will apply self-directed learning and creativity, learn various communication skills when creating a poster and presentation, and gain research and time management skills.

Professional Experience for Music Production (Year 2)
This module offers you the chance to contribute to the world outside Keele either through completing a work placement, a project for a client (or a series of projects for different clients) or working as a team to deliver a successful festival or event. You will be trained to showcase your creative and collaborative skills and abilities effectively before applying for an opportunity advertised through the module (or you can source your own, subject to it meeting the module’s requirements).

Pathways with Music Production: Developing Your Profile
Broadening your knowledge of the variety of career pathways open to you enables you to identify, analyse, and showcase your degree skills and experiences effectively. Through completing and reflecting on problem-based tasks relating to different sectors, such as telling the story of a business, or writing a funding proposal to support a music festival, you will build and refine your creative and collaborative skills and learn how to articulate them in ways that will be attractive to employers.

The American South: US Summer School (Level 5)
Study Southern US culture on location! The American South is a distinctive but difficult to define geographical and cultural entity, and attitudes to the South range from celebration to derision. Studying with others from a range of disciplines, you will think through historical and current constructions of the US South through its history, literature, film, and wider culture. You spend four weeks at one of our partner universities taught by Keele staff, shaping your own research project with their support. 

Please note: You must take one of the professional development modules, 'Pathways with Music Production: Developing Your Profile' or 'Professional Experience for Music Production (Year 2)'.

Optional modules

Music Production Project
Using skills from the first two years of your degree, you’ll build a portfolio showcasing your strengths in music production and sound design. You will develop works using studio and lab tools, guided by research questions and supervision. Projects may include mastering an album, creating industry-standard sound designs (foley, video games, audio-visual ads) or writing about practice-led research. Your work will be presented in a concert or show, enhancing your portfolio for postgraduate study and boosting employability.

Computer Science Project
You will undertake an individual project across two semesters. The module enables you to apply theoretical knowledge and problem-solving skills to a technical, software, research or business problem, potentially on real-world industrial inspired problems. You will be allocated an academic supervisor, providing guidance alongside taught lectures. You will develop essential transferrable skills including self-directed learning, critical thinking, reflective practice, communication, adaptability, and time management. If you are on a bracketed pathway, you must choose a project related to that specialism. 

Advanced Audio Tools
This module explores the design, function, technology, and visual aesthetics of advanced audio tools like VST plugins, audio units, and M4L devices. Through two practical assessments, you will build and programme audio tool prototypes for music production contexts. Topics include emulation, skeuomorphism, and visual feedback, focusing on effective user experience (UX) and engaging graphical user interfaces (GUIs). Activities include prototype testing, pitching ideas to an industry focus group, and designing new graphics for audio tools.

The Art of Mixing, Mastering and AI in Modern Music Production
The contemporary skill set needed to be a mix and mastering engineer involves a range of tools and audio principles knowledge. You will learn how to prepare music releases, game audio and music, TV, Radio, podcasts, and audio for streaming platforms. You will engage in more advanced multitrack mixing involving analogue and digital hardware. You will also acquire critical mastering skills and explore the practical and creative use of cutting-edge Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools in highly efficient and future-proof ways.

Music and Social Movements
This module explores music as a tool for conflict transformation through activism and its darker aspects, such as manipulation, power, and violence. It examines how music can acknowledge trauma, understand conflict roots, facilitate debate, preserve memory, and subvert the status quo, while also being used for political power, population manipulation, torture, and maintaining hegemonies. Additionally, it considers how music technology and the industry impact music’s potential to inspire resistance or submission.

Software Development Management
This module provides you with a comprehensive foundation in software development management and its process. This will cover the skills needed to manage software products and their quality. The module also explores modern development techniques such as API and microservices testing and Test-Driven development. You will be able to apply software testing and planning to real-world scenarios and systems. You will also gain familiarity with industry-relevant skills like using built-in API clients, and performance testing tools.

Advanced Databases and Applications
The core aim of this module is to provide an advanced understanding of database techniques and current issues associated with database deployment. It enables you to develop a detailed and coherent knowledge of distributed database architectures, including techniques for semantic interoperability (schema homogenisation, data integration, query optimisation, and distributed transactions control) between heterogeneous data models and legacy information systems. Data warehousing concepts, architecture, analytical processing techniques and data mining are also covered as one of the distributed database applications.

Cyber Security
You will learn the necessary cyber security competencies to protect vital information systems, and their data and services, from unauthorised access, harm or misuse. You will also learn how to keep up-to-date with new recommendations and practice in this volatile and constantly evolving area. You will also gain an appreciation of other important areas such as legal factors, management of systems, risk analysis, and social and human factors.

Professional Experience for Music Production (Year 3)
In your final year we offer you another opportunity to complete a work placement, a project for a client (or a series of clients), or work as part of a team to deliver a successful festival or event. Completed during the final stages of your degree, the module gives you cutting-edge experience of the sector you wish to enter following graduation as well as valuable employer contacts, thereby providing you with an effective career launchpad.

Employing Music Production: Putting Your Subject into Practice
Now you are preparing for life after graduation, this module enables you to put your degree skills into practice and work with employer-clients on a series of real-life projects. Enhancing the creative and collaborative skills you developed on ‘Pathways with Music Production’, ‘Employing Music Production’ will train you to work effectively with clients from a variety of settings, including charities, publishers, and museums, and will give you the opportunity to present your work to your chosen employer-client.

The American South: US Summer School (Level 6)
Study Southern US culture on location! The American South is a distinctive but difficult to define geographical and cultural entity, and attitudes to the South range from celebration to derision. Studying with others from a range of disciplines, you will think through historical and current constructions of the US South through its history, literature, film, and wider culture. You spend four weeks at one of our partner universities taught by Keele staff, shaping your own research project with their support.

Please note: You must choose one of the two year-long project modules, either ‘Music Production Project’ or ‘Computer Science Project’. You can choose to take both if you wish.

You also must take one (only) of the professional development modules: ‘Professional Experience for Music Production (Year 3)’ or ‘Employing Music Production: Putting Your Subject into Practice’.