The last decade has seen unprecedented changes in communications technologies and policy. The communications program is based around the need for a course which meets the academic and research needs of a discrete industry sector undergoing rapid change. The communications program also emphasises the need to maintain a critical literacy in information research, which increasingly requires the development of new skills in technological use and evaluation and an understanding of issues in information access.
In this context, `communications' is broader than any one of its traditional
constituent elements, including journalism, public relations, media studies,
publishing and editing and creative writing. A broader approach, which places
these elements in a cultural and policy framework, allows a range of students
to enter the program and to specialise as appropriate within it. At the same
time, the program includes targeted industry liaison, which enables students to
match their studies with immediate practical applications.
Students come from a range of disciplinary and industry backgrounds. Past
intakes have included students with undergraduate degrees in politics,
journalism, science and fine arts, as well as those with extensive industry
experience in areas such as print and radio journalism, public affairs, media
liaison, public relations, and media or policy advisers to politicians and
industry. Mid-year entry is available for the courses and program listed below.
Communications and media studies is concerned with new and traditional communication technologies, such as print, film, television and electronic media as well as convergence and the globalisation of communications. The graduates program seeks to further students' understanding of the practical operation of the media and contemporary policy debates both within Australia and elsewhere. Supervision of PhD and research masters candidates is available, with particular staff strengths in internet use, globalisation, new communications technologies, convergence, national identity and communications policy. Recent and current PhD theses include Australian nationalism and advertising, public sector broadcasting, developments in internet regulation and a study of The Age newspaper.
See also the entry for `Humanities, communications and social sciences' (Gippsland campus) and http://www.arts.monash.edu.au/about/.
Master of Arts in Communications by coursework and research
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