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Media (Comms & Journalism) - 3429

Program Summary

   
   
 
Campus: Kensington Campus
 
 
Career: Undergraduate
 
 
Typical Duration: 3 Years
 
 
Typical UOC Per Semester: 24
 
 
Min UOC Per Semester: 6
 
 
Max UOC Per Semester: 24
 
 
Min UOC For Award: 144
 
 
Award(s):
 
 
Bachelor of Media (Major)
 
 
Bachelor of Media (Minor)
 
  

Program Description

The Bachelor of Media in Communication and Journalism provides foundational skills and concepts in professional communication and journalism, equipping students to be effective producers and analysts of a wide range of communication practices, informed by a solid understanding of media theory. Relevant career pathways include journalism, corporate and organizational communication, public sector communication and public relations. While specialising in Communication and Journalism, students will also be immersed in the culture and philosophy of media studies through their courses in the media core. In addition, students complete a minor in the humanities or social sciences, permitting them to study a second field in depth.

First and second levels cover contextual knowledge of communication and journalism, and practical and theoretical skills in text production and analysis. As students proceed into the third level, the program expands and deepens knowledge and understanding of these skills through application to contemporary communication contexts, requiring demonstration of the ability to situate, produce and evaluate effective communication texts.

A fourth (Honours) year of study is an option for selected students.

Program Objectives and Learning Outcomes

Students are prepared for a leadership role in the thoughtful application of communication skills to the professional and journalistic domains, informed by a solid understanding of media theory. In this program students are not simply skilled up as writers, but are encouraged to become powerful, influential and strategic communicators who are able to tackle complex issues by drawing on their integrated practical and theoretical expertise.

Students become immersed in the current cultures of contemporary media text production. They are encouraged to engage with emerging communication practices in both print-based and participatory online media, and to look for novel ways to produce and evaluate texts in these domains. Graduates will have expertise in a range of foundational communication skills, but more importantly, they will be able to contribute to, evaluate and intervene in emerging practices, enabling them to take leading roles in these rapidly changing industries.


Career opportunities

This program enables students to develop skills and knowledge for professional work relevant to journalism, corporate and organizational communication, public sector communication, and public relations.

Program Structure

The basic requirements are a total of 144 units of credits (UOC), including:
  • 36 UOC Media core
  • 48 UOC Communication and Journalism, and
  • 36 UOC Arts Minor (see below).
  • 12 UOC of Electives
  • 12 UOC of General Education (Gen Ed) electives to be taken outside the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.

Level 1

A student must complete at least 30 UOC of Level 1 courses before enrolling in Level 2 courses and no more than 60 UOC in total of Level 1 courses, excluding their General Education electives.

Core courses - Media
Core Courses - Communication and Journalism
Level 1 Communication and Journalism Elective Courses

Level 2
Core Courses - Communication and Journalism
Level 2 Communication and Journalism Elective Courses

Level 3

Level 3 core courses investigate key issues in the role of media in public culture and the relationship between publics and publicity, media aesthetics, technologies and innovation, and a major production project. Students are also able to do more media production electives from the elective list.
 
Level 1 Communication and Journalism Electives

  • Courses offered by the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences:
  • Courses offered by Faculties other than Arts and Social Sciences:
Note: MARK1012 is a prerequisite for Upper Level Marketing electives.
 
Level 2 / Level 3 Communication and Journalism Electives

  • Courses offered by the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences:
  • Courses offered by Faculties other than Arts and Social Sciences:
Note: Students selecting one of SCOM2505 Science Communication Proj A (3 UOC) or SCOM3505 Science Communication Proj B (3 UOC) should also complete the other course in order to accumulate exactly 144 uoc for the degree requirement.
 
Arts Minors

Student must complete an approved sequence (36 units of credit) in one of the following areas of study:
 
(Nura Gili - Indigenous Programs)
 Americas Studies  Archaeology
(College Of Fine Arts)
 Arts and Social Sciences Asian Studies
 Australian Studies  Chinese Studies  Criminology
(only available from 2011)
 Development Studies
(Australian School of Business)
 English  Environmental Studies  European Studies  Film Studies  French Studies
(Faculty of Science)
 German Studies
(only available for students who commenced in 2009)
 Hispanic Studies  History  History and Philosophy of Science
(Australian School of Business)
 Indonesian Studies
(Australian School of Business)
 International Relations  Japanese Studies  Korean Studies  Linguistics
 Media, Culture and Technology
(only available for students who commenced in 2009)
 Music  Philosophy  Politics
(Faculty of Science)
 Sociology and Anthropology
 Theatre and Performance Studies  Women's and Gender Studies
 * denotes minors offered by Faculties other than Arts and Social Sciences.
 
 




Important note:
Students are restricted to a maximum of 60 UOC from courses outside the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.
This includes:
  • Minors offered by Faculties other than Arts and Social Sciences

  • Communication and Journalism Electives offered by Faculties other than Arts and Social Sciences

  • Other Electives offered by Faculties other than Arts and Social Sciences



  • Sample Program

    Bachelor of Media (Communication and Journalism) - Sample Program (Example Only)
     
    Below is a guide to help you enrol in your program. To be full-time students must enrol in 24 uoc each semester.
     
    Level 1
     
    Semester 1 (S1)
     
    ARTS1090 Media, Culture & Everyday Life
    (6 uoc)
     
    MDIA1002 Communication: Contexts and Practices
    (6 uoc)
     
    Communication and Journalism Elective
    (6 uoc)
     
    Level 1 Arts Minor
    (6 uoc)
    Semester 2 (S2)
    ARTS1091 Media, Society, Politics
    (6 uoc)
    MDIA1001 Media Literacies
    (6 uoc)
    Elective
    (6 uoc)
    Level 1 Arts Minor
    (6 uoc)
     
    Level 2
    Semester 1 (S1)
    ARTS2090 Modes of Publishing
    (6 uoc)
    MDIA2002 Analysing Media Communication
    (6 uoc)
    Gen Ed
    (6 uoc)
    Level 2 Arts Minor
    (6 uoc)
    Semester 2 (S2)
    ARTS2091 Mobile Cultures
    OR
    ARTS2092 Global Media
    (6 uoc)
    MDIA2003 Writing for Journalism and PR
    (6 uoc)
    Elective
    (6 uoc)
    Level 2 Arts Minor
    (6 uoc)
     
    Level 3
     
    Semester 1 (S1)
     
    Media Core Course
    (6 uoc)
     
    Communication and Journalism Elective
    (6 uoc)
     
    Gen Ed
    (6 uoc)
     
    Level 3 Arts Minor
    (6 uoc)
    Semester 2 (S2)
    Media Core Course
    (6 uoc)
    Communication and Journalism Course
    (6 uoc)
    Communication and Journalism Elective
    (6 uoc)
    Level 3 Arts Minor
    (6 uoc)
     
    How do I choose my Elective and General Education Courses?
     
    There are three different types of electives that you must complete to fulfil the requirements of your degree. The sample program above gives you an indication of when you have room to complete these electives. Over the course of your program you must ensure that you complete:
    18 uoc of Communication and Journalism Electives: three 6uoc courses from the Communication and Journalism electives list above.
    12 uoc of Electives: two 6uoc courses from the Communication and Journalism electives list OR any other two 6uoc courses from inside or outside the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (subject to meeting any course prerequisites).
    12 uoc of General Education courses: these are courses selected from courses outside the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. You could choose two 6 uoc courses from the Communication and Journalism electives list that are outside the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Alternatively, you could choose courses that were developed especially for the General Education program. As these courses are typically 3 uoc you would take four of these to make up 12 uoc. Students must not enrol in General Education courses taught by the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (these have the course identifier that begins with GENT).For a full list of General Education courses please click here.
    Note: The General Education requirements are met if an Arts minor not offered by the Faculty is undertaken (for example, Economics).
     


    Academic Rules

    To complete the requirements for the award of the degree of Bachelor of Media in Communication and Journalism a student must adhere to the program rules below and complete 144UOC to graduate.

    Program rules:
    • Complete a 36UOC Media core, a 48UOC Communication and Journalism, and a 36UOC Arts Minor.
    • As a General Education requirement, complete 12UOC of electives are to be taken outside the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.
    • Complete at least 30UOC of Level 1 courses before enrolling in Level 2 courses and no more than 60UOC in total of Level 1 courses excluding their General Education electives.
    • Complete a minimum of 84UOC from courses convened by the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.
    Honours entry is subject to approval by the Head of School. It requires a pass degree (144UoC) with at least a 70% average in the upper levels of the Media Core.

    Fees

    For information regarding fees for UNSW programs, please refer to the following website:  https://my.unsw.edu.au/student/fees/FeesMainPage.html

    Important Information

    The Academic Rules for the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Undergraduate programs and the online enrolment facility provide students with a wide range of course choices. The online enrolment facility checks that students meet the enrolment requirements for individual courses but not that a course complies with Program Rules. Students are responsible for ensuring they are enrolling in accordance with the Academic Rules outlined above. Students should not assume that because they have enrolled in a course online that the course is automatically credited to their degree program.

    Area(s) of Specialisation

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    © The University of New South Wales (CRICOS Provider No.: 00098G), 2004-2011. The information contained in this Handbook is indicative only. While every effort is made to keep this information up-to-date, the University reserves the right to discontinue or vary arrangements, programs and courses at any time without notice and at its discretion. While the University will try to avoid or minimise any inconvenience, changes may also be made to programs, courses and staff after enrolment. The University may also set limits on the number of students in a course.