Objectives
On completion of their course, students are expected to have developed:
* an understanding of the theoretical and methodological issues as they apply to the study of journalism;
* an understanding of the role of communication in modern society;
* the skills and knowledge required by journalists (or those using journalism skills) for the future;
* the ability to contribute knowledgeably and in socially responsible and ethical ways to the particular communities they find themselves in, drawing on an informed intercultural awareness and an understanding of the professional and ethical codes and responsibilities of journalism;
* the ability to engage knowledgeably and responsibly with the rapid developments in mass communication technologies and their social consequences;
* soundly based knowledge and skills that will permit graduates to seek employment in the communication and journalism industries.
Entry requirements
Applicants should possess the Victorian Certificate of Education (or equivalent) including English, or the first year of a TAFE Associate Diploma or Advanced Certificate, or previous tertiary level study. Mature-age applicants may be required to undertake the Special Tertiary Admissions Test if they do not otherwise meet tertiary entrance requirements. All applicants should be willing to undertake a normal work load of eight subjects (forty-eight points) a year full-time or four subjects (twenty-four points) a year part-time or by distance education. Part-time and distance education students should note that this may have implications regarding eligibility for Austudy or similar schemes.
Course structure
The various components leading to the awarding of the degree are defined in terms of disciplines, interdisciplinary programs, subjects and sequences. A discipline is a distinct area of study in which a major can be taken. An interdisciplinary program is a distinct area of study comprising subjects from more than one discipline. A subject is a prescribed amount of work extending over a semester at a certain year level within a discipline or interdisciplinary program.
The disciplines from which students may select subjects for inclusion in an arts degree are not confined to those taught by the School of Humanities and Social Sciences. Students who are interested in taking subjects from outside the school should discuss this option with the administrative officers at the outset of their studies. In most disciplines there is more than one subject at a given level. A student must spread first-year work over at least four disciplines, three of which must be offered by the School of Humanities and Social Sciences.
The value of a subject is expressed in points and a normal year's work for a full-time student is eight subjects (forty-eight points).
Major and minor sequences
Students must complete a major sequence in journalism, and a minor sequence in mass communications.
Students must also include a minor sequence in one of the following accredited disciplines or interdisciplinary programs: Australian studies, computing, economics, gender studies, global and regional studies, languages, management, marketing, photography, technology, tourism or science.
Students should be aware that they may include subjects from other disciplines for credit towards the BA (Journalism and Communication). Currently these subjects include GSC1301 (Welfare issues), GSC1306 (Behavioural studies A), GSC1307 (Behavioural studies B), GSC2601 (Methods of social research), GSC2602 (Basic statistics and computing for social research), GSC1801 (Introduction to Koorie society), GSC2806 (Koorie archaeology), INM1115 (Beginning Indonesian, part 1) and INM1125 (Beginning Indonesian, part 2).
A first-year sequence is a pair of first-level subjects which form the first part of a major or minor sequence.
A minor sequence shall require four subjects (twenty-four points) of study and will normally comprise two successive parts, being either a first-year sequence followed by two second-level subjects, or two second-level subjects followed by two third-level subjects.
A major sequence shall normally comprise three successive parts to include a minimum of eight subjects (forty-eight points) and a maximum of ten subjects (sixty points). Normally a major will include a first-level sequence and such second and third-level subjects as are prescribed in the outline of studies to complete the remaining six to eight subjects (thirty-six to forty-eight points).
Most upper-level subjects require prerequisites.
A candidate for the degree must fulfil the following requirements to receive the award of the Bachelor of Arts (Journalism and Communication):
(a) complete a total of twenty-four six point subjects (24 x 6 = 144 points);
(b) complete a total of eighteen subjects (18 x 6 = 108 points) within the School of Humanities and Social Sciences;
(c) complete a minimum of eight and a maximum of ten first-level subjects;
(d) complete at least three first-level sequences from disciplines offered by the School of Humanities and Social Sciences;
(e) complete the prescribed major sequence of study in journalism (8 x 6 = 48 points), one minor sequence in mass communications (4 x 6 = 24 points) and an additional minor from the disciplines listed under minor and major sequences above (4 x 6 = 24 points). The journalism major sequence will comprise eight subjects (8 x 6 = 48 points), comprising a first-year sequence and the remaining six subjects from levels two and three;
(f) undertake additional subjects to complete the twenty-four subjects (144 points) needed for the degree.
The course of study is normally a minimum of three years full-time or six years part-time, and normally cannot extend beyond ten years.