Communication and Media Studies major
Communication and Media Studies is one of the most exciting and rapidly evolving areas of study in today's media driven world. What we know about the world, and how we act in it, is critically related to the use of communication technologies, from language to screen, and from text to image in digital settings. This major provides students with essential knowledge on a range of media processes, including journalism, game design and political communication, as well as practical communication and digital skills relevant to media, communication and other key professional areas. Communication and Media Studies prepares students with the flexible, generic and portable skills essential for success in a rapidly changing international media and communications environment.
Outcomes
Students are able to (1) demonstrate knowledge of key concepts, methodologies and theoretical traditions from the fields of communication and media studies; (2) identify and critically analyse the historical trends, traditions and forms of media and communication, including mass media, traditional print and emerging new media technologies and formats; (3) engage in high-level debate and analysis on how different media influence representational, communicative and social practices using a range of methodological and analytic tools and concepts; (4) draw on and utilise a range of interdisciplinary methods, concepts and practices for the analysis of media, popular cultural and professional communication texts, situations, representations and channels; (5) understand the contemporary print, broadcast and digital media landscape, its evolving formats, associated social perspectives and related policy within governmental and legislative frameworks, and the relevant codes of practice and ethics specific to media professional roles; (6) demonstrate knowledge of the contemporary uses of practical, production and digital technologies and processes within creative industries, journalism and professional communication; (7) formulate, plan and execute a media project using high-level project management skills independently and in group-work contexts; and (8) demonstrate high level communicative skills, including oral and written presentation, group outputs, screen and digital media presentation and professional communication, recognising the importance and relevance of attention to cultural diversity and ethics in media and communication outputs.
Degree-specific major
Communication and Media Studies can be taken as a degree-specific major in the following degree courses:
BP001 Bachelor of Arts
BH005 Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours)
Overview of unit sequence
Communication and Media Studies is a degree-specific single major comprising:
- two Level 1 units
- two Level 2 units
- four Level 3 units
| Key to availability of units: |
|---|
| S1 = Semester 1; S2 = Semester 2; NS = non-standard teaching period |
Level 1
Take all units (12 points):
| Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| S1, NS | COMM1001 | Power, Participation and Meaning |
|
| S2, NS | COMM1002 | Cultures, New Media and Communications |
|
Level 2
Take all units (12 points):
| Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| S2, NS | COMM2001 | Communication and Mass Media |
|
| S1, NS | COMM2002 | Digital Media |
Level 3
Take all units (24 points):
| Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| S2, NS | COMM3001 | Media Enterprise in Transition | |
| S2, NS | COMM3002 | Media Production Project |
|
| S1, NS | COMM3003 | Designing Play | |
| S1, NS | COMM3004 | Journalism in Practice |
Choosing your degree-specific major
You must satisfy the requirements of a degree-specific major before you complete your course. The flexible structure of an undergraduate course allows you to try out a number of different subjects to see what interests you before nominating your degree-specific major. You have the choice to either nominate your degree-specific major when you first enrol in the course or delay nominating it until your second year.
To plan the first year of your study without nominating a degree-specific major, you are advised to choose units that will pave the way to two or more degree-specific majors that are of interest to you. For examples of the choice of units available in first year, search the first-year study plans .
To fully understand the structure of an undergraduate course, read the course structure information and the Undergraduate Degree Course Rules.
The following example illustrates how the Communication and Media Studies degree-specific major can be included in the Bachelor of Arts course.
There are more choices open to you. For more examples, search the study plans .
Choosing a second major
You also have the option to choose a second major from those available in the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Biomedical Science, Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Design Only available to re-enrolling students. or Bachelor of Science course, giving you the opportunity to pursue your interests no matter how different they are.
The following example illustrates how the Communication and Media Studies degree-specific major can be combined with a second major in the Bachelor of Arts course.
For more examples of combinations of majors, search the study plans .
Communication and Media Studies can also be taken as a second major.
Second major
Communication and Media Studies can be taken as a second major in the following degree courses:
- BP001 Bachelor of Arts
- BP006 Bachelor of Biomedical Science
- BP002 Bachelor of Commerce
- BP003 Bachelor of Design Only available to re-enrolling students.
- BP004 Bachelor of Science
- BH005 Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours)
Overview of unit sequence
The Communication and Media Studies second major is a single major comprising:
- two Level 1 units
- two Level 2 units
- four Level 3 units
| Key to availability of units: |
|---|
| S1 = Semester 1; S2 = Semester 2; NS = non-standard teaching period |
Level 1
Take all units (12 points):
| Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| S1, NS | COMM1001 | Power, Participation and Meaning |
|
| S2, NS | COMM1002 | Cultures, New Media and Communications |
|
Level 2
Take all units (12 points):
| Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| S2, NS | COMM2001 | Communication and Mass Media |
|
| S1, NS | COMM2002 | Digital Media |
Level 3
Take all units (24 points):
| Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| S2, NS | COMM3001 | Media Enterprise in Transition | |
| S2, NS | COMM3002 | Media Production Project |
|
| S1, NS | COMM3003 | Designing Play | |
| S1, NS | COMM3004 | Journalism in Practice |
Choosing a second major
The flexible structure of an undergraduate course allows you the option of including a second major. You have the choice to either nominate your second major when you first enrol in the course or delay it until your second year. For a major to be recorded on your academic record it must be nominated before the requirements of the course are completed.
To fully understand the structure of an undergraduate course, read the course structure information and the Undergraduate Degree Course Rules.
The following example illustrates how Communication and Media Studies can be included as a second major in an undergraduate degree course.
For more examples of combinations of majors, search the study plans .
Communication and Media Studies can also be taken as a degree-specific major.