Media (Comms & Journalism) - 3429

Program Summary

Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

Contact: sam@unsw.edu.au

Campus: Sydney

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

UAC Code: 422011

ATAR: 86.45  

International Entry Requirements: See International Entry Requirements

Award(s):

Bachelor of Media (Honours)

Bachelor of Media (Major)

Program Description
The Bachelor of Media (Communication and Journalism) [UNSW BMedia (C&J)] is designed to provide you with foundational and applied skills, knowledge and capabilities in professional communication and journalism. It equips 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. Students also access free electives that provide a more general education.

Level 1 and 2 courses cover contextual knowledge of communication and journalism, and practical and theoretical skills in text production and analysis. As students proceed into Level 3, 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.

The UNSW BMedia (C&J) can be completed full-time in Single mode (normally 3 years), in Dual mode (the equivalent of two years full-time study) or part-time. The basic requirements of the program are simple. The BMedia (C&J) has a depth component and a breadth component. Students enrolled in Single mode do both the depth and breadth component while students enrolled in Dual mode only complete the depth component.

The Depth component (Blue Zone) is:

  1. The completion of a Media core (30 UOC - 5 courses)
  2. The completion of a prescribed Media elective (6 UOC - 1 course)
  3. The completion of a Communication and Journalism core (36 UOC- 6 courses)
  4. The completion of a Prescribed Communication and Journalism electives (24 UOC - 4 courses)

The Breadth component (for students completing the program in Single mode) (Green Zone) is:

  1. Free Electives (36 UOC - 6 courses) which can be taken either within or outside the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
  2. General Education (12 UOC - 2 courses) which must be taken outside of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

Program Objectives and Graduate Attributes
The UNSW BMedia (C&J) aims to prepare students 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.

The Graduate Attributes for this Program are as follows:

  1. The skills involved in practice-based research
  2. An in-depth engagement with knowledge about communication and journalism in the context of media studies
  3. The capacity for analytical and critical thinking and for creative-problem solving in the contexts of communication and journalism
  4. The ability to independently produce effective communication and journalism texts and to critically reflect on their value and purpose as tools of practice.
  5. The skills to appropriately locate, evaluate and use relevant information to develop content for communication and journalism
  6. The capacity for enterprise, initiative and creativity
  7. An appreciation of, and respect for, the cultural diversity of media audiences, media forms and media delivery contexts
  8. A capacity to contribute to, and work within, the international community
  9. The skills required to create, discuss and evaluate communication and journalism texts in collaboration with others
  10. The capacity to keep abreast of changes in the audiences platforms, tools and practices of communication and journalism
  11. A respect for ethical practice and social responsibility
  12. The skills of communicating effectively across a range of contexts and platforms in communication and journalism professions


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 for the degree are:

Single mode (144 UOC) made up of:

  1. Media Core (30 UOC)
  2. Prescribed Media Elective (6 UOC)
  3. Communication and Journalism Core (36 UOC)
  4. Prescribed Communication and Journalism Electives (24 UOC)
  5. Free Electives (36 UOC)
  6. General Education (12 UOC)

Dual mode (96 UOC) made up of

  1. Media Core (30 UOC)
  2. Prescribed Media Elective (6 UOC)
  3. Communication and Journalism Core (36 UOC)
  4. Prescribed Communication and Journalism Electives (24 UOC)


Core Courses

Media Core

Level 1
Level 2
Level 3


Communication and Journalism Core

Level 1
Level 2

Level 3


Prescribed Electives

Media


Communication and Journalism

Level 1
Level 2
Level 3


Free Electives

Students completing the program in Single mode have a 36 UOC free elective breadth requirement. Students may complete any courses for which they are eligible to enrol either within or outside the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. It is suggested that areas of study in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences are especially relevant in complimenting students' studies in this program.


General Education

Students completing the program in Single mode complete 12 UOC of General Education. Students must complete any two courses for which they are eligible to enrol outside the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.


Award with Distinction

High achieving students who secure a WAM of 75 across their program and who have completed at least 48 UOC of their program at UNSW are eligible for the award of their Pass Degree "with Distinction".


Honours

High achieving BMedia (C&J) students (in Single or Dual mode) may apply for entry to Honours. Honours is an additional year of study (two years part-time) which allows a student to further explore their interests in Communication and Journalism. It involves seminars and the completion of a research project or thesis. Those students who are considering Honours should submit an expression of interest at the beginning of Level 3 and complete a formal application at the end of Level 3. Both should be submitted to the Honours Convenor of the School of the Arts and Media. Entry to Honours requires a WAM of 70 or higher in the depth component of the program and is subject to resources and the approval of the Head of the School of the Arts and Media. Honours is awarded in three classes (Class 1, Class 2 in two Divisions, and Class 3). If requirements for these classes are not met the Pass degree will be awarded if the student is not already a Graduate of the program.

Sample Program

Bachelor of Media (Communication and Journalism) - Sample Program in Single Mode (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 Media Industry Contexts
(6 UOC)
Prescribed Communication and Journalism Elective
(6 UOC)
Free Elective
(6 UOC)
Semester 2 (S2)
ARTS1091 Media, Society, Politics
(6 UOC)
MDIA1004 News Reporting
(6 UOC)
Gen Ed*
(6 UOC)
Free Elective
(6 UOC)
 
Level 2
Semester 1 (S1)
ARTS2090
Publics and Publishing
(6 UOC)
MDIA2003 Advanced Media Writing
(6 UOC)
Prescribed
Communication and Journalism Elective
(6 UOC)
Free Elective
(6 UOC)
Semester 2 (S2)
Prescribed Media Elective
ARTS2091 Mobile Cultures
OR
ARTS2092 Global Media
(6 UOC)
MDIA2002 Analysing Media Communication
(6 UOC)
Gen Ed*
(6 UOC)
Free Elective
(6 UOC)
 
Level 3
Semester 1 (S1)
ARTS3091 Advanced Media Issues
(6 UOC)
MDIA3002 Multiplatform Journalism
(6 UOC)
Prescribed Communication and Journalism Elective
(6 UOC)
Free Elective
(6 UOC)
Semester 2 (S2)
MDIA3005 Social Innovation and Engagement (6 UOC)
MDIA3003 Media Portfolio
(6 UOC)
 Prescribed Communication and Journalism Elective
(6 UOC)
Free Elective
(6 UOC)
 

Gen Ed*
It is recommended that students in Single mode complete the 12 UOC of General Education from the following courses as they are especially relevant in complementing the program:

Academic Rules


Single Mode

To qualify for the award of the degree at Pass level, a student must:
  1. enrol in the Bachelor of Media (C&J) and complete 144 UOC;
  2. complete the requirements for the core
  3. complete the requirements for prescribed electives
  4. complete 36 UOC of Free Electives
  5. complete 12 UOC of General Education
  6. complete at least 30 UOC of Level 1 courses before enrolling in Level 2 courses
  7. complete at least 96 UOC overall before enrolling in Level 3 courses


Dual Mode

To qualify for the award of the degree at Pass level, a student must:
  1. enrol in the Bachelor of Media (C&J) and complete 96 UOC;
  2. complete the requirements for the core
  3. complete the requirements for prescribed electives
  4. complete at least 30 UOC of Level 1 courses before enrolling in Level 2 courses
  5. complete at least 48 UOC overall before enrolling in Level 3 courses


Honours

To qualify for the award of the degree with Honours, a Single or Dual award student must:
  1. be a Graduand or Graduate of the Bachelor of Media (C&J)
  2. hold a WAM of 70 or higher in the depth component of the program
  3. complete the seminar coursework requirement (18 UOC)
  4. complete a research project or thesis (30 UOC)

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 UNSW BMedia (C&J) 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.

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