Master of Journalism

The program is designed for students who are interested in pursuing careers in journalism and journalism-related fields, and for journalists and other professional practitioners working in the contemporary media industry who wish to develop additional advanced skills and knowledge.

The program teaches the full range of journalism skills and critically engages with the professional conventions of journalism, with ethical and legal issues that impact on journalism, and with contemporary questions such as how new media technologies influence journalism practices.

• learn real-world skills from leading industry practitioners;
• engage with important and challenging issues facing the Australian and global media industries;
• gain a theoretical and practical grounding in issues such as civics, governance, citizenship, and leadership;
• investigate key concepts that frame recent developments in fields such as media law, management theory, globalisation, health policy, and climate change;
• undertake an internship with an external organisation, and gain valuable practical experience and extend your professional networks.

Students who complete the Master of Journalism should:

• meet the needs of those wishing to become journalists, as well as mid career journalists building on their skills and knowledge;
• assist journalists to reflect on professional issues and develop me and innovative forms of practice;
• link theory and practice in a way that has not been achieved in graduate programs at other universities;
• equip students with the knowledge and skills they need to shape the profession at a time of great change;
• take a real-world profession-based approach to delivery, through the use of case-based teaching and the production of high quality journalism by students;
• use flexible delivery modes including intensives and after-hours contact so as to ensure that the course is accessible to working students.

200 point program

Duration: 2 years full-time / 4 years part-time

The Master of Journalism 200 point program requires:

Coursework Only Option:

• five compulsory subjects (75 points)
• elective subjects (125 points)

or

Journalism Project Option:

• five compulsory subjects (75 points)
• JOUR90012 Journalism Project (37.5 points)
• elective subjects (87.5 points)

150 point program
Duration: 1.5 years full-time / up to 3 years part-time

The Master of Journalism 150 point program requires:

• minimum of 50 points of core subjects
• remaining 100 points can be made up other core subjects or elective subjects

100 point program

Duration: 1 year full-time / 2 years part-time

The Master of Journalism 100 point program requires:

• minimum of 50 points of core subjects
• remaining 50 points can be made up other core subjects or elective subjects.

Capstone Requirement:

All students are required to complete the Capstone Requirement for the program (25 points). Students must complete one capstone option -

Capstone Stream 1: JOUR90010 Applied Professional Practice (12.5 points) and JOUR90002 Journalism Thesis (37.5 points)

Capstone Stream 2: JOUR90002 Journalism Thesis (37.5 points)

Please note the following:

JOUR90002 Journalism Thesis two consecutive semesters

JOUR90012 Journalism Project requires three consecutive semesters of enrolment

Capstone Stream 3: JOUR90012 Journalism Project (37.5 points) is only available to students in 200 Point Master of Journalism and 150 Point Master of Journalism program.

For policies that govern this degree, see Academic Services Policy in the University Melbourne Policy Framework. Students also should also refer to information in the Student Policy Directory.

The Selection Committee will evaluate the applicant’s ability to pursue successfully the course using the following criteria:

For the 200 point program:

An undergraduate degree (equivalent to an Australian undergraduate degree), with at least H2B (70%) average or equivalent

For the 150 point program:

An undergraduate degree (equivalent to an Australian undergraduate degree), in a cognate discipline, with at least H2B (70%) average or equivalent

or

An undergraduate degree (equivalent to an Australian undergraduate degree) and a Graduate Certificate in a cognate discipline with an average of at least H2B (70%) or equivalent

or

An undergraduate degree (equivalent to an Australian undergraduate degree), in any discipline, with at least H2B (70%) average or equivalent, and one year of documented, relevant work experience or equivalent

For the 100 point program:

An honours degree (equivalent to a four year Australian Honours Degree), in a cognate discipline, with at least H2B (70%) average or equivalent

or
An undergraduate degree (equivalent to an Australian undergraduate degree) , in a cognate discipline, with at least H2B (70%) average or equivalent, and at least 2 years of documented, relevant work experience or equivalent

For the purposes of considering requests for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this course are articulated in the Course Description, Course Objectives and Generic Skills 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/

Students who successfully complete the minor thesis with an overall grade point average of 75% or greater in their degree may be eligible to enrol in a higher research degree.

Academically excellent:

• The program will be taught by leading industry practitioners;

• It will introduce students to key concepts in journalism in the context of the most recent scholarship in the field;

• Students will gain a deep understanding of the changing contexts in which the profession operates, such as globalisation, changing business models, and the impact of new technologies on business models and professional practice;

Knowledgeable across disciplines:

• Journalism is by nature an interdisciplinary profession requiring deep knowledge across a variety of specialised fields and the course is designed to reflect this;

• Through the diverse curriculum of the course students will have the opportunity to gain an understanding of major ideas and recent developments in fields such as media law, management theory, globalisation, development studies, international relations, Islamic culture, health policy, climate change, and the environment;

Leaders in Communities:

• As journalism is by nature a public-facing profession concerned with questions of civil society and leadership, students will gain a theoretical and practical grounding in issues such as civics, governance, citizenship and leadership;

Attuned to cultural diversity:

• The course places a major emphasis on issues of cultural diversity in its content, with its emphasis on issues of global development and cultural difference, and is at the same time expected to attract a diverse local and international cohort;

Active global citizens:

• Journalism is by nature a profession oriented around notions of active citizenship, both on the parts of its practitioners and consumers, and is demonstrated by the blurring of lines between the two;

• Students will, above all, acquire the skills to report on and engage in public debate, and to foster active citizenry in others.