Bachelor of Arts (Journalism)


General information

Course code: 2396 * Gippsland campus * HECS fees applicable * Attendance optional.

Aims

The aims of the Bachelor of Arts (Journalism) degree are to provide students with real-world practical skills and a strong understanding of the theoretical and methodological issues in the study of journalism.

Professional recognition

The skills and knowledge gained from the course will enable students to join the journalism profession immediately upon graduation or take up employment in a wide range of other media-related work opportunities.

Entry requirements

All applicants should satisfy Tertiary Entrance Requirements (TER) as outlined in the section on entry requirements in this book.

Special requirements

Computer

To complete this course satisfactorily it is strongly recommended that students have access to a PC, a modem and the world wide web.

Work load

All applicants should be willing to undertake a normal initial workload of at least twenty-four points a year by distance education. Distance education students should note that this may have implications regarding eligibility for Austudy or similar schemes. In later years of the course the normal work load will be thirty-two points per year, but there is scope to vary this under some circumstances.

Attendance

There are no compulsory attendance requirements in the degree structure, and it is possible to complete the entire course without attending the campus.

Applied journalism research project

The applied journalism research project is a compulsory subject in the last year of study which offers the student the option of undertaking a newsroom placement or an individual research project selected through negotiation with the subject adviser. To undertake the placement option students must be available for six to eight weeks during one semester of study.

Weekend schools

Optional weekend schools will be available for some subjects. Weekend school classes may include lectures, seminars or tutorials and hands-on skills workshops. Attendance at weekend school classes is recommended, but not compulsory for the completion of most subjects offered by the School of Humanities, Communications and Social Sciences.

Course structure

The course of study is normally five years by distance education. In order to complete the Bachelor of Arts (Journalism) a student must:
(a) complete appropriate subjects within the course to gain 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; (A first-level sequence is a pair of first-level subjects usually forming prerequisites for upper-level subjects in that discipline.)
(c) complete the prescribed sequence in journalism (seven subjects = fifty-two points), and an arts minor; (A minor sequence will comprise at least twenty-eight points, normally a first-level sequence and two subjects at second level. Note that electives may be combined with the minor to complete a second major.)
(d) undertake additional studies to complete the minimum 144 points needed for the degree.

Course plan

A course plan for the Bachelor of Arts (Journalism) may look like the one depicted below:

First semester

Second semester

Year 1

GSC1902 Newsroom practice and theory; arts minor sequence (first level)

GSC1903 News feature writing; arts minor sequence (first level)

Year 2

GSC1901 Introduction to communication studies; (first level); elective subject

GSC1402 media studies; (first level); elective subject

Year 3

Elective subject; arts minor subject

GSC2907 Radio/TV Journalism; arts minor subject

Year 4

Elective subject; Elective subject

GSC2903 Online journalism;elective subject

Year 5

GSC3901 Comparative journalism; GSC3903 Media, law and ethics

GSC3902 Applied journalism research project; elective subject

Major and minor studies

The following minors are available for inclusion in the Bachelor of Arts (Journalism):

Details of the various arts sequences and the first-level subjects offered within them are included under the entry for the Bachelor of Arts. A number of options also exist for studies from other schools on the Gippsland campus. Such programs should be discussed with a course adviser prior to enrolment.

Initial enrolment

Students entering the degree should normally enrol in four subjects in the first year, two in each semester. Normally, these will all be subjects which do not require prerequisites. The following are only suggested first-year enrolment options:

First semester

Second semester

or

First semester

Second semester

Credits/exemptions

Students with previously completed or partially completed tertiary studies should complete an application for credit transfer to apply for credits and exemptions. The onus is on the student to provide course records and details of course content and duration (including extracts from relevant handbooks). Students in this category are advised to complete a course plan prior to the commencement of study to ensure they will complete the major/s or minor they intend. Students may be granted up to a maximum of ninety-two points of credits/exemptions. As a general rule, credits will not be granted for studies completed more than ten years prior to the date of enrolment in the current course.

Further information

For more detailed information, contact the administrative officers, School of Humanities, Communications and Social Sciences, telephone (03) 9902 6339 or (03) 5122 6339, email HUMASS.info@arts.monash.edu.au.

Completed applications

Completed applications are to be forwarded to the admissions officer, School of Humanities, Communications and Social Sciences, Monash University Gippsland campus, Churchill, Victoria, 3842, by 24 September 1999 to be considered for a first-round offer.