Doctor of Philosophy (Journalism)

Overview

The Doctor of Philosophy (in Journalism) is for those individuals with a track record of high level professional practice who wish to extend their work within a scholarly context.

It is based on submission of a thesis in a scholarly field and is intended for professional journalists keen on acquiring a tertiary qualification or researching news media industry practice, new communication technology or organisational structure.

Entry Requirements / Assumed Knowledge

Applicants should have a relevant first degree with Honours Class II, Division 1 or higher, or a Masters program either in Journalism or in a related area, or possess equivalent qualifications. Graduates in other disciplines at Masters level may also be considered if they can provide evidence of research interests in specialist areas relevant to journalism theory and practice.

Applicants must submit a one page statement detailing their research history and a comprehensive proposal of between 3,000 and 3,500 words. Applicants will be assessed on the relevance of the proposal to the research interests of the program in journalism. Other topics will be considered against the research expertise available in the Faculty. Applicants applying on the basis of professional media experience must include work samples and verification of employment from their employer(s). Guidelines for submitting the research proposal are at: http://www.uow.edu.au/crearts/journalism/respropguide.html

In certain circumstances students may be required to commence their enrolment in the Master of Arts - Research (Journalism) and seek transfer to the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) when they achieve a suitable standard.

Course Requirements

Students enrol in THES924 Thesis (full-time) or THES912 Thesis (part-time). This subject requires the submission of a scholarly thesis in the range of 80,000 to 100,000 words. The exact nature of each submission will vary according to the student's educational and professional background and will be negotiated in consultation with the supervisor(s) and the Head of Postgraduate Studies. Assessment is by two external assessors.

Major Study Areas

• Community Journalism
• Journalism and New Communication Technologies
• Comparative Media Systems
• Documentary Journalism
• Journalism Training and Education
• Journalism in Multicultural Contexts
• Media in Developing Countries
• Broadcast and Cinema Documentary Film
• Interactive Digital Media