Monash University Handbook 2010 Undergraduate - Course

This course provides students with the opportunity to pursue in-depth study in the area of communications while completing a bachelors degree or double degree in other fields. Students develop the conceptual tools for describing and analysing mass communications media in a number of ways: as industries, which employ people and are subject to various forms of regulations, as a series of different textual forms, which audiences receive and make sense of, and as institutions with a central role in the negotiation of social and political relationships such as those which exist between manufacturers, advertisers, consumers, citizens and governments.

Graduates are expected to develop:

• the intellectual capabilities inherent in the interpretation of sources of knowledge pertaining to the academic discipline
• an understanding of the world view of the field of study
• the capacity for quantitative and qualitative analysis, critique and creative thinking in the discipline
• an understanding of the present interpretations and potential future developments in the issues underlying the content of and approaches to the field of study
• the skills of written and oral presentation, argument and analysis, including other practical skills such as computer skills, appropriate to the academic discipline.

This course consists of a standard 48 point major consisting of a first year sequence of 12 points and one of the following:

• 12 points of second year level studies (normally two units) and 24 points of third-year level studies (normally four units)
• 18 points of second-year level studies (normally three units) and 18 points of third-year level studies (normally three units).

Students are required to complete a three-year major sequence (48 points) in communications. For information on the units required refer to the 'Areas of study' section in this Handbook at http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/handbooks/aos/arts-ug-communications.html. Students should note that there are variations in the units available depending on their campus of enrolment.

Diploma in Arts (Mass Communications)