Bachelor of Communication and Media Studies

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Bachelor of Communication and Media Studies

Testamur Title:	Bachelor of Communication and Media Studies
Abbreviation:	BCMS
Home Faculty	Faculty of Arts
Course Duration:	3 years full-time or part-time equivalent
Total Credit Points:	144
Delivery Mode:	On campus (Face-to-face)
Starting Session(s):	Autumn/Spring
Campus:	Wollongong INTI University College (Subang Jaya campus, Malaysia), Laureate International Universities
UOW Course Code:	798
UAC Code:	753110
CRICOS Code:	045471G

Overview

The Bachelor of Communication and Media Studies degree is an interdisciplinary degree that offers students a broad introduction to the changing fields of communication and media industries. This degree has a strong international focus, and places emphasis on students developing independent research skills that are appropriate to a wide range of professional settings. Students are introduced to core concepts in the academic study of media and communication practice, as well as to flexible and transferable skills that will prepare graduates for informed engagement with global media culture across a range of careers.

Entry Requirements / Assumed Knowledge

NSW HSC entry through UAC

Students apply through UAC and satisfy the ATAR (previously UAI) requirement for the year of application.

Assumed Knowledge: Any two units of English.

Other Secondary Qualifications

Students with secondary qualifications outside NSW and without an ATAR will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Tertiary Qualifications

Applications will be considered from students with the following tertiary qualifications:

A completed two-year Diploma or Advanced Diploma from TAFE or another accredited institution;

Not less than one-sixth of a Bachelor degree from an approved University;

Other tertiary courses approved by the University of Wollongong.

Overseas Qualifications

Students with tertiary qualifications obtained overseas will be considered provided that they satisfy the University's minimum admission requirements.

Alternative Entry (Domestic applicants)

Applicants who achieve an appropriate score in one of the following qualifications may be considered for admission:

Overseas Year 12, equivalent to Year 12 in Australia.

TAFE Tertiary Preparation Certificate (TPC).

A Diploma or Foundation Studies Program from a recognised private institution

University Access Program (Wollongong College Australia) - for people over 21 years of age, or are 21 during the course of the program.

Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) for people over 20 years of age on 1 March in the year preceding enrolment.

Indigenous and Torres Strait islander alternative entry program

Course Requirements

To qualify for award of the degree of Bachelor of Communication and Media Studies course code 798 a student must complete a total of at least 144 credit points from subjects listed in the Course Structure of the Bachelor of Communication and Media Studies and other subjects as approved by the Faculty.

The 144 credit points shall include:

a) The subjects prescribed in the 48 credit point core of subjects that all students must complete. Within this core there are both compulsory subjects, and subjects that students can choose from within a specified set of choices, described in the Course Program below;

b) At least one of the four majors in this degree: Digital Media and Communication, International Media and Communication, Journalism and Professional Writing, Marketing Communication and Advertising;

c) To complete the credit points required for the degree, students can take another major, a minor or elective subjects offered by the Faculty of Arts or other faculties.

d) Not more than 60 credit points in 100-level subjects.

e) ARTS100 Peer-2-Peer Mentoring.

Peer-2-Peer Mentoring

Peer-2-Peer Mentoring (subject code ARTS100) is a compulsory zero credit point subject that must be undertaken by each student during their first year. This subject consists of a one hour tutorial per week in the student's first session of study. This subject is designed to enable incoming students to adapt rapidly to the tertiary environment and engage with the university community.

Majors and Minors

Students can undertake a double major in their degree. As long as the first major is taken from those offered by the Faculty of Arts, the second major can be taken from Arts, or from any other faculty, provided students meet the requirements for that major. The most common second majors taken outside the Faculty of Arts include Economics, Geography, Management, Marketing and Psychology. If the two majors have common subjects, students can count one subject twice towards the majors but cannot count the credit points twice towards those required for the degree.

Minor studies consist of a minimum of 28 credit points of which no more than 12 credit points at 100 level can be counted. Students may not cross count subjects from a nominated minor into any other minor or major. Minors do not appear on the testamur but do appear on the transcript (i.e. academic record).

Where a minor is taken from outside of an Arts Faculty degree, refer to the requirements prescribed for that minor.

Course Program


Subject Code	Subject Name	Credit Points	Session
BCM Core (all BCM students must complete the following subjects)
BCM 110	Introduction to Communication and Media Studies	6	Autumn
BCM 210	Research Practices in Media and Communication	8	Autumn
BCM 310	Emerging Issues in Media and Communication	8	Autumn
Three of the following foundational subjects:
PHIL106	Media, Ethics and Law	6	Spring
BCM111	Transnational Media and Communication	6	Spring
BCM112	Convergent Media Practices	6	Autumn
JOUR101	Introduction to Journalism & Professional Writing	6	Spring
MGMT102	Business Communication	6	Autumn
Plus one of the following upper level subjects:
BCM211	Media Audiences	8	Spring
POL224	Politics and the Media	8	Spring
STS288	Risk, Media and Communication	8	Autumn
BCM311	Advanced Seminar in Media and Communication	8	N/O 2012


Major (48-52 credit points) Digital Media and Communication Students must complete BCM 112 (Convergent Media Practices) before commencing this Major This major provides students with an applied understanding of the role of digital media and communications practices and technologies in communications professions. Compulsory subjects provide students with a theoretical insight into the ways in which digital and networked communications technologies are involved with broader changes in work and leisure, the economy, cultural production and consumption and identity. These subjects also provide students with a framework of basic digital literacies that allow students to operate competently as professional communicators in the contemporary media environment. Elective subjects allow students to develop their skills and understanding in important contexts such as Journalism, Political Communication and Media Arts. Students in this major will be prepared for employment in a number of areas in the contemporary media and communications environment. Minor A minor in Digital Media and Communications requires students to complete BCM 112 and DIGC202 plus any two subjects from the major including one at 300-level.
Students must complete the following subjects:
MEDA101	Introduction to Media Arts	6	Autumn
DIGC202	Global Networks	8	Spring
Plus one of the following subjects:
DIGC302	Digital Communication Practice: Final Project	8	Spring
MEDA301	Media Arts Workshop	6	Autumn
Students must complete a minimum of 28cp of subjects from these electives, and ensure that they have completed a minimum of 24cp at 300 level including either DIGC302 or MEDA301 above.
MEDA102	Computational Media	6	Spring
JOUR206	Convergent Digital Journalism	8	Spring
DIGC210	Digital Communication, Regulation and Social Action	8	Spring
MEDA201	Time, Space and Data	6	Autumn
MEDA202	System, Play and Interaction	6	Spring
DIGC310	Digital Game Cultures	8	Autumn
BCM 388	Convergent Asian Mediascapes	8	Autumn
MEDA302	Media Arts Project	6	Spring


Major (48 credit points) International Media and Communication (48 credit points) Students must complete BCM 111 (Transnational Media and Communication) before commencing this Major. This interdisciplinary major examines the co-evolution of technological and media innovations, linguistic and cultural practices, and regulatory frameworks that shape transnational communications. Its graduates develop skills in research and analysis that prepare them for international professional futures, including in the media and communications industries. There are two distinctive pathways in the major that bring together ideas from Linguistics, Sociology, Media and Cultural Studies, and Digital Communications. One strand focuses on local, regional, national and international issues in intercultural and interpersonal communication. The other focuses on the global political economy of media policy, production, distribution and consumption. Adding a major or minor in a second language, and/or a minor in English Language and Linguistics will strongly complement students' appreciation of the cultural and technological factors that are transforming communication practices within specific diasporic and international cultural communities. Minor A minor in International Media and Communication requires students to complete BCM 111 and LING210 and any two subjects from the major including one at 300-level
At 200-Level Students must complete three of these, including at least one from each strand
Communications strand
LING210	Communication Across Cultures	8	Autumn
MACS230	Visual Communication	8	Spring
SOC250	Everyday Interaction	8	Spring
Media strand
DIGC202	Global Networks	8	Spring
MACS225	Australian Content, International Contexts	8	Autumn
BCM288	Transnational Media Industries	8	N/O 2012
MACS222	Global Television and Cultural Identity	8	N/O 2012
At 300-Level Students must complete three of these, including at least one from each strand
Communications strand
ELL310	World Englishes	8	Autumn
ELL314	Language and Ideology	8	Spring
HIST353	Japanese History Through Film	8	Autumn
MACS310	Locating Media and Communication Practices	8	Spring
Media strand
BCM332	Global Media Citizenship	8	Autumn
BCM388	Convergent Asian Media scapes	8	Autumn
MACS333	Hollywood and Beyond: Genres Across Cultures	8	Autumn
MACS335	Media Innovation and Global Communication	8	N/O 2012


Major (48 credit points) Journalism and Professional Writing Students must complete JOUR101 (Introduction to Journalism & Professional Writing) and PHIL106 (Media, Ethics and Law) before commencing this major. The Journalism and Professional Writing major equips its graduates with the core skills in a range of fields, including journalism, government and corporate communications. The program recognises that writing and research are the skills that underpin modern communications, and that online delivery is central to the provision of information and cultural participation. With this in mind, students learn to source stories and write for a range of publications within the overall news ecology, including newspapers, magazines and websites. In the professional writing subjects they learn how to produce a range of corporate documents, ranging from briefing papers and speeches to company reports and policy documents. All students learn how to publish their work. Students wishing to develop broadcast skills may apply for entry into the six month Graduate Certificate in Broadcast Journalism offered by the faculty of Creative Arts. Minor A minor in Journalism and Professional Writing requires students to complete JOUR101 and 3 subjects from 200-level and 300-level (with at least one subject at 300-level)
Students must complete the following subjects:
JOUR101	Introduction to Journalism and professional writing	6	Spring
JOUR206	Convergent Digital Journalism	8	Spring
JOUR202	Feature Writing	8	Autumn
JOUR205	Professional Writing 1: Writing for Organisations	6	Autumn
Plus two of the subjects below:
JOUR302	Directed Study/ Practice	8	Autumn/Spring
JOUR301	Investigative Reporting	8	Autumn
JOUR311	Newsroom Practice	8	Autumn/Spring
Plus one subject below:
JOUR305	Professional Writing 2: Editing and Publication	6	Autumn
JOUR345	Professional Writing 3: Professional Editing for Industry	8	Spring
JOUR350	Lifestyle & Arts Journalism subject to approval	6	Spring


Major (48 credit points) Marketing Communication and Advertising This major will provide an understanding of the important roles that business and marketing communication play in engaging, building and maintaining key relationships with a diverse set of stakeholder groups, including employees and customers. Compulsory communication-orientated subjects including Advertising, Public Relations and Corporate Branding ensure that students are exposed to relational concepts via an appropriate mix of theory, practice and application. Elective subjects allow students to consider and apply these concepts within other important marketing contexts, such as International Marketing, Internet Marketing, Tourism Marketing and Social Marketing. Students undertaking this Major will gain access to real world organisations and communication projects, aiding understanding while providing critical experience in preparation for future employment. Minor A minor in Marketing Communication and Advertising will require students to complete the following: MARK101 MARK250 PRMM201 PRMM303 Students may not cross-count any subjects from the minor in any other minor or major study. This version of the minor is therefore not available to students undertaking the Bachelor of Commerce either as a single degree or in any double degree combination. Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Commerce and related double degrees, for whom MARK101 is a compulsory subject, may complete a minor in Marketing Communication and Advertising by substituting MGMT102 as follows: MGMT102 MARK250 PRMM201 PRMM303
Students must complete the following subjects
MGMT102	Business Communication	6	Autumn
MARK101	Marketing Principles	6	Autumn/Spring
PRMM201	Public Relations Concepts	6	Autumn
MARK250	Advertising Practice and Creative Strategies	6	Spring
MARK333	Marketing Communication and Advertising	6	Autumn
PRMM303	Corporate Identity and Branding	6	Spring
And two of the following subjects:
MARK301	Internet Applications for Marketing	6	Autumn
MARK320	Social Marketing	6	Spring
MARK343	International Marketing	6	Autumn
MARK395	Tourism Marketing	6	Spring

Internship and International Subjects

One of the Faculty's aims is to encourage students to study in an overseas university. Students can study abroad for a full session taking three to four subjects, or can study abroad for a shorter period of time by taking a study tour. The relevant subjects are listed below and more are being planned for introduction over the next three years.

ARTS201	Introduction to Australia for International Students	N/O 2012
ARTS202	International Studies	N/O 2012
ARTS301	Arts Internship	Autumn/Spring
HIST265	Gallipoli Study Tour	Winter
HIST270	Western Front Study Tour	N/O 2012
POL 301	Politics Internship (for students taking the Australian National Internship Program or Washington Internship)	Autumn/Spring

Honours

See separate entry for the Bachelor of Communication and Media Studies Honours

Transfer option into the BCMS Dean's Scholars Degree (324)

In January of each year, the Faculty of Arts invites applications from high achieving students to apply to transfer into the Bachelor of Communication and Media Studies Dean's Scholars Degree.

Selection Criteria

To be eligible to apply for a place in the Bachelor of Communication and Media Studies Dean's Scholars Degree, applicants would normally meet the following criteria:

• Currently enrolled in the BCMS 798 or any other degree

• Full-time student

• Have successfully completed two full sessions of study or 8 subjects

• Have a WAM (weighted average mark) of at least 80.

Credit Arrangements

Please see General Course Rules for more Information.

Assessment

Assessment in this course varies between subjects and typically includes a combination of essays, tutorial/seminar presentations, WebCT exercises and, in some subjects, in-class tests and/or exams. Some subjects may have an additional practical component. The assessment requirements of each subject are set out in the individual subject outlines, which students receive in the first week of session.