Major Overview

Description

Communication and Media Studies is one of the most exciting and rapidly evolving areas of study. 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. This major provides students with essential knowledge about a range of media processes, including journalism, film making, game design and strategic communication, as well as practical communication and digital skills relevant to media, communication and other key professional areas. Communication and Media Studies provides students with the skills to succeed in a rapidly changing international media and communications environment.

Outcomes

Students are able to (1) analyse the history, context and practices of media and communication; (2) apply creative, critical and reflective thinking; (3) effectively read, speak and write about complex ideas; (4) create a variety of media content; (5) work with others, organise complex tasks and manage workloads; (6) evaluate the social, cultural and legal implications of their actions; and (7) apply reflective practice and engage in continuous learning.

Broadening guidelines

All students studying towards a Bachelor's Degree at UWA are required to Broaden their studies by completing a minimum of four units (24 points) of study outside their degree specific major. Broadening is your opportunity to explore other areas of interest, investigate new disciplines and knowledge paradigms and to shape your degree to suit your own aspirations and interests. Many of you will be able to undertake more than this minimum amount of broadening study and we encourage you to do so if this suits your aspirations. Over the next few months you will find here some broadening suggestions related to your degree-specific major. While we know that many students value guidance of this sort, these are only suggestions and students should not lose sight of the opportunity to explore that is afforded by your Broadening Choices. Advice can also be sought from your Allocated Student Advising Office.

Courses

Communication and Media Studies can be taken as a degree-specific major in the following degree courses:

Example Study Plan

See study plans for more information.

Units

Key to availability of units:
S1
Semester 1
S2
Semester 2
N/A
not available in 2024 – may be available in 2025 or 2026

Level 1

Degree-specific major units

Take all units (12 points):

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 COMM1001 Power, Participation and Meaning
Incompatibility
COMM1101 Human Technology: Debating Communication
S2 COMM1002 Cultures, New Media and Communications
Incompatibility
COMM2202 Culture, New Media and Communications

Level 2

Degree-specific major units

Take all units (12 points):

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S2 COMM2001 Media Influence
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
24 points of level 1 units from any discipline
Incompatibility
COMM2201 Communication and Mass Media
S1 COMM2002 Digital Media
Prerequisites
24 credit points at Level 1
Incompatibility
COMM2203 Digital Media

Level 3

Degree-specific major units

Take the following unit:

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S2 COMM3001 Media Enterprise in Transition
Prerequisites
COMM1001 Power, Participation and Meaning
or COMM1002 Cultures, New Media and Communications
and
COMM2002 Digital Media
or COMM2001 Media Influence
Degree-specific major units

Take units to the value of at least 18pts from this group.

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S2 COMM3002 Media Production Project
Prerequisites
COMM1001 Power, Participation and Meaning
or COMM1002 Cultures, New Media and Communications
and COMM2002 Digital Media
Incompatibility
COMM3302 Communications Project
S1 COMM3003 Designing Interactive Media
Prerequisites
COMM1001 Power, Participation and Meaning (ID 813)
or COMM1002 Cultures, New Media and Communications (ID 814)
and
COMM2001 Media Influence
or COMM2002 Digital Media
Incompatibility
COMM3304 Designing Virtual Play
S1 COMM3004 Journalism and Strategic Communication
Prerequisites
COMM1001 Power, Participation and Meaning
or COMM1002 Cultures, New Media and Communications
and
COMM2001 Media Influence
or COMM2002 Digital Media
N/A COMM3901 Television and Video Production
Prerequisites
Completion of 48 points in the Bachelor of Arts
or Bachelor of Commerce
and unit coordinator approval.
Incompatibility
COMM2204 Television and Video Production