communications/pg-arts-communications

aos

Monash University

Postgraduate - Area of study

Students who commenced study in 2014 should refer to this area of study entry for direction on the requirments; to check which units are currently available for enrolment, refer to the unit indexes in the the current edition of the Handbook. If you have any queries contact the managing faculty for your area of study.

print version

Managing facultyFaculty of Arts
Offered byNational Centre for Australian Studies
School of English, Communications and Performance Studies
Campus(es)Caulfield, Clayton

Notes

  • Unit codes that are not linked to their entry in the Handbook are not available for study in the current year.

Description

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.

Units

2846 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.

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 empires and entrepreneurs

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

Course coordinator: Dr Mark Gibson

Further courses

For a list of units in this area of study refer to the requirements for courses listed under 'Relevant courses'.

Relevant courses

  • 2846 Master of Arts by research and coursework
  • 2695 Master of Arts*
  • 0020 Doctor of Philosophy*

*By Research