2009 Undergraduate Courses
2009 Postgraduate Courses
Bachelor of Communication and Media Studies
Testamur Title: |
Bachelor of Communication and Media Studies |
Abbreviation: |
BCM |
Home Faculty |
Faculty of Arts |
Course Duration: |
3 years full-time or part-time equivalent |
Total Credit Points: |
144 |
Delivery Mode: |
Mostly Face-to-face |
Starting Session(s): |
Autumn/Spring |
Campus: |
Wollongong |
UOW Course Code: |
798 |
UAC Code: |
753109 (Journalism) |
CRICOS Code: |
045471G |
Overview
The Bachelor of Communication and Media Studies degree is a course that offers students a critical perspective on media industries and practices and a range of flexible and transferable skills that will prepare graduates for informed engagement with professionals in media and communications fields and may provide employment opportunities in the fields of Communications, Media, Advertising and Journalism.
The Major
The major for this degree is a prescribed major of 56 credit points which means that students need to complete every subject in the list below.
Specialisations
The degree also offers four specialisations: Advertising and Marketing, Digital Communication, Journalism and Screen Studies. Students must take at least one of these specialisations but can take more than one of the specialisations if they so wish.
Electives and Minors
Students can make up the remaining credit points needed for the degree by taking subjects from Arts or from other faculties provided they meet any prerequisites set for the subjects. Minors taken will also be credited to the degree.
Honours
Honours is a fourth year of study that students can undertake provided they meet the requirements set out later in this Handbook (see Bachelor of Communication and Media Studies Honours).
Advanced Standing
Information about Approved Credit Transfer Arrangements is available at
www.uow.edu.au/handbook/advancedstanding/
Entry Requirements / Assumed Knowledge
NSW HSC entry through UAC
Students apply through UAC and satisfy the UAI requirement for the year of application.
Assumed Knowledge: Any two units of English.
Other Secondary Qualifications
Students with secondary qualifications outside NSW will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Tertiary Qualifications
Applications will be considered from students with the following tertiary qualifications:
A completed Two-year Diploma or Advanced Diploma from TAFE or another accredited institution;
Not less than one-sixth of a Bachelor degree from an approved University;
Other tertiary courses approved by the University of Wollongong.
Overseas Qualifications
Students with tertiary qualifications obtained overseas will be considered provided that they satisfy University's minimum admission requirements.
Alternative Entry (Domestic applicants)
STAT test
UAP
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander alternative entry program
Course Requirements
To graduate with a Bachelor of Communication and Media Studies students must complete a minimum of 144 credit points. The 144 credit points must include the prescribed major of 56 credit points and at least one of the specialisations. No more than 60 credit points (or ten subjects) can be taken at 100 level.
Course Program
All students enrolled in the degree must complete the following subjects:
Subject Code |
Subject Name |
Credit Points |
Session |
Core: All students enrolled in the degree must complete the following subjects: | |||
Introduction to Media and Cultural Studies |
6 |
Autumn | |
New Media: Histories, Industries, Practices |
6 |
Autumn | |
Understanding Audiences |
6 |
Autumn | |
Media, Ethics and Law |
6 |
Spring | |
Media Events and Rituals |
8 |
Spring | |
Politics and the Media |
8 |
Spring | |
Core: All students enrolled in the degree must complete two of the following 300 level subjects: | |||
History of Media and Communications |
8 |
Spring | |
Electronic Cultures |
8 |
Autumn | |
Globalising Media: Asian Screen Cultures |
8 |
Autumn | |
Specialisations
Advertising and Marketing
This specialisation will provide students with an understanding of markets, and how these may be reached by manipulating the “marketing mix”, the core elements of marketing practice. A focus on the psychology of consumers as decision-makers provides a foundation for the management of the “marketing communication mix”, the various channels through which goods and services are promoted and advertised in the marketplace. The subjects in the stream cover the theory and practice of marketing in both national and international contexts. These subjects are taught by the Faculty of Commerce.
The Advertising and Marketing specialisation is made up of the 36 credit points including MARK101, MGMT110 and 24 credit points from the subjects listed below. | |||
Marketing Principals |
6 |
Autumn/Spring | |
Introduction to Management |
6 |
Autumn/Spring | |
and at least 24 credit points from the following subjects: | |||
Applied Marketing Research |
6 |
Autumn | |
Consumer Behaviour |
6 |
Autumn | |
Services Marketing |
6 |
Spring | |
Internet Applications to Marketing |
6 |
Spring | |
Marketing Communications & Advertising |
6 |
Autumn | |
International Marketing |
6 |
Autumn | |
Notes:
(a) Students undertaking the Bachelor of Communication and Media - Bachelor of Commerce who are taking Marketing as their major in the Commerce component of the degree cannot take the Advertising and Marketing specialisation in the BCM component.
(b) *Students undertaking the Bachelor of Communication and Media - Bachelor of Commerce and who find that these subjects are prescribed in the core of their Commerce degree should consult the School of Management and Marketing for appropriate replacement subjects, and have these subjects approved by the Head of the School of Social Sciences, Media and Communication in the Faculty of Arts.
Digital Communication
This specialisation examines new media industries and investigates new forms of communication in the digital era. These include an understanding of video and game culture, cyber culture and its relationship to globalisation.
The Digital Communication specialisation is made up of 36 credit points including DIGC101, DIGC102 and at least 24 credit points from the subjects listed below. | |||
New Media Communication |
6 |
Spring | |
Methods of Research in Media and Communication Studies |
6 |
Spring | |
and at least 24 credit points from the following subjects | |||
Game Culture: Video and Computer Games as Communication Form |
8 |
Autumn | |
New Media and Globalisation: Cyber-economies/Cyberculture |
8 |
Spring | |
Advertising and Promotional Culture |
8 |
N/O 2009 | |
Special Topics/Projects in Digital Media |
8 |
N/O 2009 | |
Journalism
The Journalism specialisation is designed to develop basic journalism skills to complement the conceptual knowledge of media process in the BA Communication and Media Studies program. Instead of looking at journalism from three separate media - print, radio and television - the sequence focuses on media convergence based on the practical foundation of generic print media techniques. The teaching approach focuses on learning by doing.
The Journalism specialisation is made up of the following subjects:
All subjects are compulsory | |||
Print Media Reporting |
8 |
Autumn | |
Feature Writing |
8 |
Spring | |
Investigative Reporting |
8 |
Autumn | |
Directed Study /Practice |
8 |
Spring | |
Screen Studies
Students specialising in Screen Studies will gain experience in media content analysis, and will be introduced to the history of film and television production in Australia and the United States. In addition, they will become familiar with the key policy and theoretical issues raised by the globalisation of broadcast media. This specialisation will offer students a chance to develop advanced skills in research and critical analysis of the screen media.
The specialisation in Screen Studies is made up of 32 credit points chosen from the subjects below:
200 level | |||
Australian Content: Media, Narrative and Celebrity |
8 |
Autumn | |
The Image |
8 |
Spring | |
World Cinemas |
8 |
Spring | |
Film and History |
8 |
Autumn | |
300 level | |||
On Location: The Place of the Media Audience |
8 |
Spring | |
Screen Genres |
8 |
Autumn | |
Double Degrees with Communication and Media Studies
The following double degree programs are available to suitably qualified students of the Faculty of Arts. The Faculty of Arts administers the Bachelor of Communication and Media Studies - Bachelor of Arts, the Bachelor of Communication and Media Studies - Bachelor of Commerce and the Bachelor of Communication and Media Studies - Bachelor of Science.
For course codes 760 and 796 students should consult the relevant faculty.
UAC Code |
UOW Code |
Home Faculty |
Course Name |
751350 |
794 |
Arts |
Bachelor of Communication and Media Studies - Bachelor of Arts |
751351 |
795 |
Arts |
Bachelor of Communication and Media Studies - Bachelor of Commerce |
751352 |
796 |
Creative Arts |
Bachelor of Communication and Media Studies - Bachelor of Creative Arts |
751210 |
760 |
Law |
Bachelor of Communication and Media Studies - Bachelor of Laws |
751353 |
797 |
Arts |
Bachelor of Communication and Media Studies - Bachelor of Science |