Major Thesis - Media Communication

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry.

The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

Supervised research project of 30,000 words, on a topic approved by the course coordinator. This thesis is undertaken by candidates enrolled in course the Master of Arts in (Thesis Only), and is weighted at 100% of the overall mark for the degree. The thesis may be conducted at an abstract level of theoretical discussion or engage in extensive empirical study. Wherever situated across the theoretical-empirical continuum, all theses will be expected to be informed by relevant positions of theory and make reference where useful to do so to empirical findings and examples.

• be able to demonstrate that they can conceive, design, execute and present a self-developed and sustained inquiry;
• be able to marshal and balance empirical findings and theoretical discussion as appropriate to their self-defined topic of interest;
• be able to present in written mode a sustained, structured and sequenced presentation that conforms to the protocols of academic presentation; and
• be able to demonstrate research reflexivity in respect of their confrontation with research findings, research performance and positions of theory.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

• demonstrate an informed awareness of the changing international and global contexts of media communication and how these are currently being researched and studied;
• demonstrate understanding of major positions of theory and debate informing the study of global media communication and be able to critically engage with these;
• deploy methods and selected methodology in sustained media and communication research;
• demonstrate specialist knowledge in the area of their research and present research findings and argument in a suitably structured and sequenced thesis that conforms to protocols of academic presentation and research practice; and
• demonstrate an adequate understanding of, and commitment to, research ethics in their research practice.