Course code: 2131 + Gippsland campus + HECS fees applicable + Attendance compulsory for some units
The
double degree provides students with the knowledge, understanding and skills
relevant to the practice of science journalism, including an understanding of
the role of science and media in society and the skills to utilise modern
multimedia technology appropriate to journalism and science communication. It
also offers students the opportunity to study one or more areas of natural
and/or applied sciences.
Although the employment market for journalists in mainstream media
organisations within Australia is tight, the importance of science in our
society will continue to develop rapidly and will require people with
specialised and flexible communication skills able to make science accessible
to the general community. There is also an increasing need for scientists to be
able to communicate their work and its importance to colleagues in other
rapidly diverging fields and to grant-awarding bodies, as well as to industry
and the broader community.
Candidates for the award would be eligible to seek membership of professional societies appropriate to areas of science specialisation (eg a chemistry major - the Royal Australian Chemical Institute) and the professional media associations. Professional societies appropriate to the sciences offered within this double degree program include the Royal Australian Chemical Institute, the Australian Institute of Energy and the Australian Psychological Society.
Normal Monash entry requirements apply - the VCE or equivalent with a study score of at least 25 in English. Applicants will also be interviewed, and this interview may be conducted as a face-to-face interview or via electronic communication. Non-VCE applicants should refer to the section on admission requirements at the front of this guide.
To complete this course satisfactorily, it is strongly recommended that students have access to a PC, a modem and the world wide web.
All applicants should be willing to undertake a normal initial workload of at least 24 points a year by off-campus learning. Off-campus learning students should note that this may have implications regarding eligibility for Austudy or similar schemes.
Students
enrolling in any biological or chemical science units (especially upper-level
units) must attend on-campus laboratory sessions. These sessions are conducted
in residential schools which are held once each semester and are usually from
three to seven days duration (laboratory work in some first-level science units
is performed entirely off-campus, using home experimental kits loaned to
students on the basis of a refundable deposit). There are some compulsory
attendance requirements in the journalism component of the award.
In addition, in some units, optional weekend school sessions are conducted for
the benefit of students who are able to attend. These sessions are typically of
two to four hours duration. They include lectures, seminars or tutorials and
hands-on workshops.
The applied journalism research project is a compulsory unit in the last year of study which offers the student the option of undertaking a newsroom placement in Australia or overseas, or an individual research project selected through negotiation with the unit adviser. To undertake the placement option, students must be available for six to eight weeks during or either side of the semester.
The
duration of the double degree is flexible, however, depending on study load, it
would normally be completed in four years of full-time study or the equivalent
in part-time study.
Units with a total credit value of a minimum of 192 points must be obtained by
completing:
(a) 96 points to be taken from approved science units as listed under the
Bachelor of Science entry and as for the BSc/BA(Comm)
(b) 96 points from the School of Humanities, Communications and Social
Sciences including the prescribed sequence in journalism (48 points), an arts
minor (24 points) and four upper-level elective units (24 points).
plus one of:
It would be normal for a student to progress through the science and the journalism requirements in a parallel fashion. There is considerable flexibility in the study program to allow each student to design his or her own study program, subject to the completion of prerequisites and in consultation with a course adviser.
Refer to the entry for the Bachelor of Science.
Students are strongly advised to consult the appropriate course adviser when planning their initial study program. Some units in the various science discipline areas are not offered in the off-campus learning mode every year. Many units are available only every second year; course planning must take this into account.
Assessment is the result of a combination of assignments and final examination for each unit. Generally a pass is required in the final examination to pass the unit. Laboratory science units include a laboratory component, which is usually assessed by performance in class and/or written reports.
Appropriate credit may be granted for approved studies completed at a recognised post-secondary institution. It is advisable that intending applicants seek advice from both the Faculty of Science and the School of Humanities, Communications and Social Sciences regarding their credit transfer policy.
For more information, contact the Faculty of Science, telephone (03) 9902 6431 or (03) 5122 6431, or the School of Humanities, Communications and Social Sciences, telephone (03) 9902 6339 or (03) 5122 6339, or email humcass.info@arts.monash.edu.au.
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 27 September 2002 to be considered for a first-round offer.
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