Monash University Handbook 2010 Postgraduate - Course

The Master of Journalism is both an entry-level qualification for a professional journalism career and a mid-career course for working journalists seeking to extend their expertise and refresh the intellectual basis of their practice. It has a national and international orientation designed to optimise the contribution graduates will make to their profession using a full range of media technologies.

Students completing this course will demonstrate:

• strong professional research and reporting skills in a range of media technologies and formats
• the necessary skills and attributes either to enter professional practice in the news media or, for qualified journalists, to extend their existing skills and intellectual understanding of journalist practices
• an understanding and ability to contribute to the important role of professional and ethical journalism in the service of the public right to know and democratic process
• an effective understanding of the role of journalism and the media in local, national, regional and global contexts.

The faculty may award credit for postgraduate work completed at Monash University or at another tertiary institution, including overseas universities. Applicants may be granted specific credit in equivalent units or unspecified credit towards electives. A maximum of 50% credit may be granted in line with course requirements and structure.

Recognised prior learning is assessed on the basis of equivalent learning outcomes or competencies. Assessments will be evidence-based and the faculty will determine a variety of methods and instruments to establish equivalence.

To be eligible for credit, previous study must have been completed within ten years prior to the year of application for credit.

This course consists of four core units (24 points), plus 24 points of electives at level four and one of the options at level five. Students who achieve a distinction average in their level four units have the option of undertaking a 24-point research dissertation at level five. Students must complete a maximum of 48 points at level four and minimum of 24 points at level five. All units except where indicated are worth 6 points.

Level four

Core units

• JRM4901 Research and reporting
• JRM4902 Reporting with sound and image
• JRM4903 Journalism and the law
• JRM4904 Journalism studies

Electives

Students complete 24 points from the following:

• JRM4907 Journalism and society
• JRM4908 Print features
• JRM4910 Editing and publishing
• JRM4911 Online research and reporting
• JRM4912 Radio reporting
• JRM4913 Video journalism
• JRM4914 Reporting the environment
• JRM4915 Investigative reporting
• JRM4916 Specialist reporting

Level Five

Students choose one of the following options.

Option one

Core units

• JRM5930 Journalism studies project
• JRM5940 Journalism professional project

Electives

Students complete 12 points of level five elective units from the following or other units chosen with the approval of the course coordinator:*

• JRM5907 Journalism and society
• JRM5914 Reporting the environment
• JRM5915 Investigative reporting
• JRM5916 Specialist reporting

* The units selected must not previously have been completed at level four.

Option two

Students complete a 24 point journalism research unit:*

• JRM5920 Journalism research project (24 points)

* Part-time students enrol in JRM5920(A) and JRM5920(B) which are 12 points each.

Students may apply to exit after successful completion of:

• 24 points with a related graduate certificate.
• 48 points with a related graduate diploma.

Master of Journalism