Bachelor of Arts(Media and Communications)

Course 105-MC (2008)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2008.Search for this in the current handbookSearch for this in the current handbook

Year and Campus: 2008
Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Level: Undergraduate

Contact

Enquiries, Arts & Music Student Centre
Rm 104 (Ground Floor) Old Arts Building
Tel: +61 3 8344 5321/+61 3 8344 6395
Fax: +61 3 9347 0424
Search for an answer or send an email via our queries database: http://arts-unimelb.custhelp.com/

Course Overview:

The Media and Communications program is an exciting Bachelor of Arts stream designed to provide students with optimal access to the globally expanding world of media and new communication technologies and to future post graduate study and research.

The program is deliberately interdisciplinary in nature and offers a distinctive blend of academic study and media-related practice delivered by internationally recognized scholars and experienced industry professionals. By this means students can determine pathways to a wide range of media-related careers and opportunities and/or prepare a foundation for later postgraduate study and advanced research.

These courses represent the latest thinking and research in the international field of scholarship and students select core and optional subjects from a wide range of related areas according to their own interests and career trajectories. Subjects offered include, amongst many others, Net Communications; Media Futures and New Technologies; Politics; Communication; Marketing and Communications; Professional Writing; Advanced Writing; Writing Journalism; Asian Public Relations; Global Media Cultures; Understanding Australian Media and Media Law.

Hands-on media industry experience and project based research is also available through our popular internships and the final research project. Media and Communications is studied as interrelated global-local processes comprising media institutions and communication technologies, media representations and texts, and the media audiences and processes of reception all situated in relation to social political and cultural contexts, and the historical dynamics of change. Students are encouraged to develop their critical understanding of the changing nature and role(s) of Media and Communications in today's 'mediatised' societies as well as develop practical skills and research aptitudes of use to them in their future careers within today's rapidly changing global media environment.

Objectives:

The Bachelor of Arts (Media and Communications) has as its objectives that graduates:

  • are enabled to develop a comprehensive overview of the media's place in today's society, economy and culture, with an emphasis on the Asia-Pacific region;
  • are provided with the fundamental written communication skills required by successful journalists and other media professionals;
  • are helped to achieve an understanding of new communication technologies and their impact on the fast changing global media environment;
  • are trained to think across media- a skill of increasing importance for the next generation of media professionals and media researchers;
  • are helped to appreciate the value of an international and interdisciplinary approach to the study of Media and Communications;
  • are offered the opportunity to gain industry experience in the form of internships;
  • are offered opportunities to develop research skills and engage in applied analysis of media within different subjects and through the presentation of a final research project.

Course Structure & Available Subjects:

Course Structure:

The BA (Media and Communications) is a three year full time program comprising 100 points at each of first, second, and third year levels, for a total of 300 points.

In the first year students complete two compulsorysubjects (25 points), two subjects from a list of media and communications optional first year subjects (25 points), and 50 points of additional study from the Bachelor of Arts degree. Students in the BA (Media and Communications) are restricted to 100 points at first year level and may not enrol in any further first-year subjects after completing this requirement.

Upon entering second year, students choose between two streams of major study:

Enriched Major Study: a comprehensive program of study in Media and Communications, comprising:

  • 50 points of core subjects at second year level, 50 points of optional media and communications subjects at second year level and either:
    • two core subjects at third year level, two optional subjects at third year level, compulsory subject 100-311 Media and Communications Research Project and compulsory subject 100-310 Media and Communications Internship.
    • three core subjects at third year level, three optional subjects at third year level and compulsory subject 100-310 Media and Communications Research Project.

Please note: 100-311 Media and Communications Research Project is compulsory for all students undertaking the Enriched Major stream.

Double Major Stream: a concentrated program of Media and Communications study designed to be taken in conjunction with a major in another arts discipline, comprising:

  • 25 points of core and 25 points of optional media and communications subjects at each of second and third year levels;
  • 100 points of Bachelor of Arts study to be taken across second and third year including the completion of an arts major. For details on Arts majors, see http://handbook.unimelb.edu.au/view/2008/105-AA

Subject Options:

First-year Compulsory Subjects

All First-year Media and Communications students must undertake the following core subjects:
Subject
Study Period Commencement:
Credit Points:
Semester 1, Semester 2
12.50

First-year Media and Communications Elective Subjects

First-year Media and Communications students must select at least two of the following elective first-year subjects:
Subject
Study Period Commencement:
Credit Points:
Not offered in 2008
12.500
Semester 1
12.50

Second/Third-year Core Subjects

Enriched Major Students must complete 4 of the following second-year core subjects:

Students undertaking a Double Major must complete 2 of the following core subjects in combination with a major in another arts discipline:

Subject
Study Period Commencement:
Credit Points:
Semester 1
12.50
Semester 1
12.50

Third-year Core Subjects

Subject
Study Period Commencement:
Credit Points:
Semester 2
12.50
Semester 2
12.50

Interdisciplinary Electives (available at either 2nd ,3rd or both year levels)

Australian Indigenous Studies
Note: some optional subjects have specific prerequisites.

Subject
Study Period Commencement:
Credit Points:

Australian Studies

Note: some optional subjects have specific prerequisites.

Subject
Study Period Commencement:
Credit Points:
Semester 1, Semester 2
12.50

Cinema Studies

Note: Some optional subjects have specific prerequisites.
Subject
Study Period Commencement:
Credit Points:
Not offered in 2008
12.500

Computer Applications in the Social Sciences and Humanities

Note: Some optional subjects have specific prerequisites.

Subject
Study Period Commencement:
Credit Points:
Not offered in 2008
12.500
Not offered in 2008
12.500
Not offered in 2008
12.500

Creative Writing

Note: Some optional subjects have prerequisites.

Subject
Study Period Commencement:
Credit Points:
Semester 2
12.50
Semester 1
12.50
Semester 1
12.50
Not offered in 2008
12.500
Semester 1
12.50
Not offered in 2008
12.500
Semester 2
12.50
Semester 2
12.50

Cultural Studies

Note: Some optional subjects have prerequisites

Subject
Study Period Commencement:
Credit Points:
Not offered in 2008
12.500
Not offered in 2008
12.50
Semester 2
12.50
Not offered in 2008
12.50

English Literary Studies

Note: Some optional subjects have prerequisites

Subject
Study Period Commencement:
Credit Points:
Semester 1
12.50
Semester 2
12.50
Not offered in 2008
12.500

History

Note: Some optional subjects have specific prerequisites.

Subject
Study Period Commencement:
Credit Points:
Not offered in 2008
12.500
Not offered in 2008
12.50

History and Philosophy of Science

Note: Some optional subjects have specific prerequisites.
Subject
Study Period Commencement:
Credit Points:
Semester 1
12.50

Indonesian Studies

Note: Some optional subjects have specific prerequisites.

Subject
Study Period Commencement:
Credit Points:

Linguistics and Applied Linguistics

Note: Some optional subjects have specific prerequisites.

Subject
Study Period Commencement:
Credit Points:
Semester 1
12.50

Political Science

Note: some optional subjects have specific prerequisites.

Subject
Study Period Commencement:
Credit Points:
Not offered in 2008
12.500
Semester 2
12.50
Not offered in 2008
12.500

Sociology

Note: Some optional subjects have specific prerequisites.

Subject
Study Period Commencement:
Credit Points:
Core Participation Requirements:

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

Further Study: The Media and Communications Program offers a range of postgraduate coursework and research programs: Postgraduate Certificate in Arts (Media and Communications), Postgraduate Diploma in Arts (Media and Communications), one and two-year Master of Arts (Global Journalism) and Master of Arts (Global Media Communication), Master of Arts in Media Communication (advanced seminar and shorter thesis), Master of Arts in Media Communication (thesis only) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). Details of these programs are available in the University's on-line postgraduate course guide and from the Media and Communications program.
Graduate Attributes: see under course objectives
Generic Skills: see under course objectives

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