1999 Arts Handbook - Bachelor of Arts (Journalism)

Bachelor of Arts (Journalism)

General information
Objectives
Entry requirements
Course structure
Major and minor sequences
Requirements for the degree

Objectives

On completion of their course, students are expected to have developed:

an understanding of the theoretical and methodological approaches in 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 adapt themselves to accommodate the rapid developments in mass communication technologies and their social consequences;
basic knowledge and skills that will permit graduates to seek employment in the communication and journalism industries.

Applicants should have completed the Victorian Certificate of Education (or equivalent) including the satisfactory completion of work requirements in units 3 and 4 of English. Comparable qualifications at secondary or tertiary level obtained in Victoria, interstate or overseas and TAFE qualifications may be deemed to be equivalent to the VCE. Applicants may also satisfy minimum entrance requirements by sitting a STAT test or completing two non-award subjects or two open learning (OLA) subjects. All applicants should be willing to undertake a normal work load of forty-eight points a year full-time or twenty-four to thirty-two 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 forty-eight points.

Major and minor sequences

Students must complete a major sequence in journalism and an arts minor sequence. Students should be aware that they may include subjects from other disciplines for credit towards the Bachelor of Arts (Journalism). Currently these subjects include GSC1301 (Social welfare issues), GSC1306 (Introduction to understanding human behaviour), GSC1307 (Human services organisational practice), GSC1611 (Understanding university learning), GSC1601 (Basic statistics and computing for social sciences), GSC1602 (Introduction to methods of social research).

First-year sequence

A first-year sequence is a pair of first-level subjects which form the first part of a major or minor sequence.

Minor sequence

A minor sequence requires the completion of twenty-eight to thirty-two points of study and will normally comprise a first-level sequence followed by two second-level subjects, or two second-level subjects followed by two third-level subjects.

Journalism sequence

The journalism sequence requires the completion of sixty points, comprising two first-level subjects (twelve points), three second-level subjects (twenty-four points) and three third-level subjects (twenty-four points).

Prerequisites

All second and third-level subjects require prerequisites.

Requirements for the degree

A candidate for the degree must fulfil the following requirements to receive the award of the Bachelor of Arts (Journalism):
(a) complete a total at least 144 but not more than 162 points;
(b) complete a minimum of eight and a maximum of ten first-level subjects, including the prescribed humanities and social sciences sequences;
(c) complete the prescribed journalism sequence (sixty points), the compulsory first-level mass communication sequence (twelve points) and an arts minor (twenty-eight);
(d) undertake additional subjects to complete the minimum 144 points needed for the degree. Candidates may complete additional upper-level subjects and upgrade the minor to a second major.

Journalism compulsory sequence

GSC1902 Newsroom practice and theory*_
GSC1903 News feature writing*_
GSC2903 Journalism technology and information society*
GSC2905 Radio journalism*
GSC2906 Television journalism*
GSC2907 Radio/television journalism_
GSC3901 Comparative journalism*_
GSC3902 Applied journalism research project*_
GSC3903 Media, law and ethics*_

* ON-CAMPUS SEQUENCE. SUBJECT QUOTAS MAY APPLY FOR GSC2905 AND GSC2906.

_ DISTANCE EDUCATION SEQUENCE.

Mass communications compulsory first-level sequence

GSC1901 Introduction to communication studies
GSC1402 Media studies

Arts minor sequences

The arts minor may be chosen from Australian studies, community studies, gender studies, history-politics, Indonesian, Koorie studies (subject to approval), photography (with permission only) or sociology (details are provided under discipline headings).

Duration

The course of study is normally a minimum of three years full-time or five years part-time, and normally cannot extend beyond eight years.