Monash University Handbook 2011 Postgraduate - Area of Study

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. The program supports students in examining topics relevant to those employed (or seeking employment) in communications and media industries (for instance, audience and internet user studies, electronic journalism, policy formation, public relations and tourism marketing).

Students come from a range of disciplinary and industry backgrounds, including those 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.

Supervision of research candidates is available, with particular staff strengths in:

• animation studies
• computer and video games
• cultural/communication theory
• graphic novels and visual fiction
• internet studies
• music studies
• national identity and communications policy
• new communications technologies
• philosophy of communication
• publishing studies
• sports media
• textual and discourse analysis of media texts
• travel writing
• war and conflict
• writing practices.

Postgraduate Diploma in Arts (Research)

Offered by the School of English, Communications and Performance Studies

Students complete 48 points at fourth-year level including a 24 point core research project and two coursework elective units chosen from the electives listed below.

Core units

One of the following options:

• APG4890 Research project in communications (24 points)
• APG4891 Research project in communications part 1 (12 points) and APG4892 Research project in communications part 2 (12 points)

Research project units are chosen in consultation with the unit leader.

Elective units

• APG4719 Contemporary media and communications theory
• APG4260 Communication systems and networks
• APG4261 Communication economies and society
• APG4262 Media flows
• APG4263 Propaganda, censorship and the representation of war
• ATS4723 Current issues in international media and communications
• a maximum of 12 points at fourth-year level from another discipline and/or institution with the permission of the school's communications postgraduate coordinator

Course coordinator

Dr Andy Ruddock

Offered by the School of Arts and Sciences, Malaysia

Students complete 48 points, including three core units and one additional level four unit chosen from the following electives and selected in accordance with the student's research project. Alternative units may be taken with the approval of the school graduate coordinator.

Core units

• APG4401 Media empire and entepreneurs
• APG4703 Research project
• ATS4402 Communication applied: Industry practice

Elective units

• APG4259/APG5259 Into the field: The theory and practice of ethnography
• APG4274/APG5274 Literary theory
• APG4330/APG5330 Global soul: Consumers, citizens and rebels
• APG4382/APG5382 Contemporary issues in Asia
• APG4696/APG5696 Gender, globalisation and development: Research issues

With the permission of the head of Arts, a student may also be given the choice to undertake a 24 point research component similar to an honours thesis in place of APG4703.

Course coordinator

Dr. Helen Nesadurai

Offered by the School of Humanities, Communications and Social Sciences

Students are required to complete 48 points of study comprising the following units:

• ATS4729 Media, social relations and power
• ATS4805 HUMCASS honours dissertation part 1
• ATS4806 HUMCASS honours dissertation part 2
• ATS4807 HUMCASS selected topics in theory and practice

Course coordinator

Dr Sue Yell

Master of Arts by Research and Coursework

The entry below only details the coursework component of this degree. For all requirements including the research/thesis component refer to the full course entry at http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2011handbooks/courses/2846.html.

Offered by the National Centre for Australian Studies

The course seeks to strengthen skills in communications research and analysis and to further students' understanding of both the history and current structure of the communications industry in Australia and of the contemporary policy debates. The course is particularly designed to provide students with the necessary analytical research and writing skills to respond to the rapidly changing policy environment in communications.

Units

• APG5396 Researching and writing Australia
• APG5401 Media empire and entepreneurs

Note: Both units are taught in the Melbourne central business district.

Course coordinator

Dr Mark Gibson

Further courses

For a list of units studied or course outlines, refer to the relevant courses.

• 3937 Postgraduate Diploma in Arts (Research)
• 2846 Master of Arts by research and coursework
• 2695 Master of Arts*
• 0020 Doctor of Philosophy*

*By Research