A2002 Bachelor of Media Communication
Faculty of Arts
Bachelor of Media Communication (A2002) is a 3 years full-time, 144-credit-point, bachelor degree course from the Faculty of Arts, taught at Caulfield. In 2021 you can choose from 4 specialisations. Map your units semester by semester with the MonMap planner.
- Credit points
- 144
- Duration
- 3 years full time
- 6 years part time
- Campus
- Caulfield
- On campus
- Guaranteed ATAR
- 72
This is the 2021 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.
Reviews
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Requisite map
The 2021 handbook lists no units for A2002 itself. Pick an area of study to see its units.
Overview
The Bachelor of Media Communication responds to the increasing global demand for graduates with a deep understanding of the role of media in contemporary social, cultural and economic life and well-developed professional skills in communication. The course will provide you with analytical and critical thinking skills through a core program of professional communication practice alongside specialist study in a related field such as journalism, media, screen and public relations. The core units will offer a range of practical experiences utilising the Monash Media Lab.
You will develop cross-cultural competency, social awareness and a global outlook. This course is suited for students who wish to pursue a career in media communication occupations across a broad range of media industry sectors and other professional domains, including government, corporate and NGO. Relevant occupations include journalist, video producer, media content coordinator, public relations professional, digital communications coordinator, director of social media, researcher, media educator.
- Journalism
- Media
- Public relations
- Screen
Arts Global Immersion Guarantee – a guaranteed* funded overseas experience to China, India, Italy, Indonesia or Malaysia available to all first year Bachelor of Media and Communication and related double degree students. A new benchmark in globally-focused education, you will have the opportunity to spend two weeks studying overseas, with airfares and accommodation all covered as part of the degree.
*Eligibility requirements apply: First year Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Global Studies, Bachelor of Criminology, Bachelor of Media and Communications, Bachelor of Music, or Bachelor of Politics Philosophy and Economics (and related double degree) students in good academic standing, who have undertaken 24 points of credit (including a minimum of 12 points Arts) and have passed all their Arts units.
Course structure
Rules
a.) Common units36 credit points
Level 1 core units
12 credit pointsLevel 2 core units
12 credit pointsLevel 3 core units
12 credit pointsb.) Gateways24 credit points
Journalism
Public relations
c.) Specialisations36 credit points
Part D. Free electives48 credit points
Cornerstone and capstone units
- ATS2436New media: From the telegraph to TwitterNo reviews yet6 cp
- ATS2439Youth media: Understanding media researchNo reviews yet6 cp
- ATS2440The public sphereNo reviews yet6 cp
- ATS2455Public relations strategyNo reviews yet6 cp
- ATS2538Film and television industries and technologies: Key contextsNo reviews yet6 cp
- ATS2784News and powerNo reviews yet6 cp
- ATS2787Digital reportingNo reviews yet6 cp
- ATS2964Representation and resistance in film and television: key ideasNo reviews yet6 cp
- ATS2996Public relations and societyNo reviews yet6 cp
- ATS3265Broadcast studio journalismNo reviews yet6 cp
- ATS3645Journalism and global changeNo reviews yet6 cp
- ATS3732Communications and media studies: Contemporary debatesNo reviews yet6 cp
- ATS3786Journalism, law and ethicsNo reviews yet6 cp
- ATS3964Gender, race and media practicesNo reviews yet6 cp
- ATS3969Screen studies in the digital eraNo reviews yet6 cp
- ATS3970The audio visual essayNo reviews yet6 cp
Journalism elective list
- ATS2169PhotojournalismNo reviews yet6 cp
- ATS2219Sports journalismNo reviews yet6 cp
- ATS2282Crime, Courts and CabinetsNo reviews yet6 cp
- ATS2324Climate change communicationNo reviews yet6 cp
- ATS2788Podcasting and audio journalismNo reviews yet6 cp
- ATS2946Critical thinking: How to analyse arguments and improve your reasoning skillsNo reviews yet6 cp
- ATS3002DocumentaryNo reviews yet6 cp
- ATS3062Digital productionNo reviews yet6 cp
- ATS3222Developing research literacyNo reviews yet6 cp
- ATS3252Music citiesNo reviews yet6 cp
- ATS3324Lifestyle journalismNo reviews yet6 cp
- ATS3789Video journalismNo reviews yet6 cp
- ATS3919Journalism professional placementNo reviews yet6 cp
- ATS3935Professional practiceNo reviews yet6 cp
Media elective list
- ATS2250Communications and cultures in the global eraNo reviews yet6 cp
- ATS2280Video games: Industry and cultureNo reviews yet6 cp
- ATS2324Climate change communicationNo reviews yet6 cp
- ATS2538Film and television industries and technologies: Key contextsNo reviews yet6 cp
- ATS2784News and powerNo reviews yet6 cp
- ATS3221The music industriesNo reviews yet6 cp
- ATS3222Developing research literacyNo reviews yet6 cp
- ATS3252Music citiesNo reviews yet6 cp
- ATS3445Communications ethics, policy and lawNo reviews yet6 cp
- ATS3760Global communicationsNo reviews yet6 cp
- ATS3935Professional practiceNo reviews yet6 cp
Public relations elective list
- ATS1298Professional writingNo reviews yet6 cp
- ATS2250Communications and cultures in the global eraNo reviews yet6 cp
- ATS2324Climate change communicationNo reviews yet6 cp
- ATS2436New media: From the telegraph to TwitterNo reviews yet6 cp
- ATS3306Digital storytellingNo reviews yet6 cp
- ATS3222Developing research literacyNo reviews yet6 cp
- ATS3445Communications ethics, policy and lawNo reviews yet6 cp
- ATS3760Global communicationsNo reviews yet6 cp
- ATS3732Communications and media studies: Contemporary debatesNo reviews yet6 cp
- MKF3461Marketing communicationNo reviews yet6 cp
Screen elective list
- ATS2529Australian film and television: Local and globalNo reviews yet6 cp
- ATS2535Screen storytelling: From classical narrative to multi-media world buildingNo reviews yet6 cp
- ATS2845Screenwriting for media productionNo reviews yet6 cp
- ATS3222Developing research literacyNo reviews yet6 cp
- ATS3983Screen project: From film theory to media productionNo reviews yet6 cp
- ATS3539Asian cinema and televisionNo reviews yet6 cp
- ATS3540Documentary and realism in film and televisionNo reviews yet6 cp
International Study Tours
The handbook's description of this structure
The course develops through three themes that combine to underpin media communication practice: Part A. Strategic knowledge, Part B. Practical and professional skills and Part C. Collaboration and leadership. Part D involves free elective studies.
Part A. Strategic knowledge
These studies build students' competence in: analysing and understanding the current state and past developments in media communication locally and globally; understanding impacts of media and communication transformation, and media power; creating future scenarios and media communication visions by developing students' preparedness and adaptability for future media communication change and creativity.
Part B. Practical and professional skills
This involves developing students’ competencies in linking knowledge and media practice in professional contexts, such as conceptual and implementation skills, project and content management skills, hands-on experience in putting knowledge into practice, and thereby testing and creatively experimenting with (strategic) knowledge about media transitions and transformations. It also involves developing students’ competency in ethical and legal aspects of media communication.
Part C. Collaboration and leadership
This involves competencies necessary for students to work in teams and in different knowledge communities and media communication professional settings. It includes competence in engaging with stakeholders, media literacy, and participatory research and media making in collaboration with experts from academia, industry, government, and the community. It also includes competency in social and cross-cultural awareness.
Part D. Free elective study
Free elective units in all specialisations enable students to further their knowledge of their specialisation, or media communication more broadly, or to select units from across the University in which they are eligible to enrol. For students in a double degree course, some units required for the other degree can also be credited as electives towards the media communication specialist degree.
Master's accelerated pathway
If you are a high achieving student, have completed all of the requirements for the Bachelor of Media Communication and are in good standing with the faculty, you may be able to progress to a master's course. If admitted to the accelerated pathway at the end of year two, you will use four of your elective studies (Part D) to complete 24 points of specified units from your destination master's degree.
Course progression map
The course progression map provides guidance on unit enrolment for each semester of study.
The course comprises 144 points, of which 96 points are media communication studies and 48 points are free electives.
The course develops through theme studies: Part A. Strategic knowledge, Part B. Practical and professional skills and Part C. Collaboration and leadership. Part D involves free elective studies.
Elective units may be at any level, however, no more than ten units (60 points) can be credited to the media communication course at level 1 and a minimum of 36 points must be completed at level 3, of which 24 points must be from the specialisation. It is recommended that you complete level 1 sequences first as these lay the foundation for further study.
Gateway units (24 points) must be chosen from two specialisations in the first year of study. You are required to nominate your chosen specialisation at the end of your first year of study.
Units are 6 points unless otherwise stated.
Part A. Strategic knowledge, Part B. Practical and professional skills and Part C. Collaboration and leadership (96 points)
a.) Common units (36 points)
You must complete:
The following two units (12 points)
- ATS1206 Media challenges
- ATS1119 Communicating in the digital era
Two of the following units (12 points)
- ATS2186 Audio lab
- ATS2187 Video lab
- ATS2188 Writing lab
Plus 12 points chosen from:
- ATS3129 Arts internship (12 points)
- ATS3130 Arts international internship (12 points)
- ATS3191 Media analytics lab
- ATS3192 Media entrepreneurship lab
- ATS3193 Virtual reality lab
b.) Gateways (24 points)
You must complete gateway units (24 points) from two specialisations in your first year of study. One specialisation must be nominated at the end of first year.
Journalism
You must complete:
Two level 1 gateway units (12 points):
- ATS1089 Fundamentals of journalism
- ATS1090 Practice of journalism
Media
You must complete:
Two level 1 gateway units (12 points):
- ATS1279 Media and culture
- ATS1280 Understanding the media
Screen
You must complete:
Two level 1 gateway units (12 points):
- ATS1304 Introduction to television studies
- ATS1305 Introduction to film studies
Public relations
You must complete:
Two gateway level 1 gateway units (12 points):
- ATS1125 Public relations foundations
- ATS1280 Understanding the media
c.) Specialisations (36 points)
You must complete the remaining core and elective units (36 points) in the nominated specialisation as listed below:
Journalism
You must complete:
One level 2 cornerstone unit (6 points) chosen from:
- ATS2784 News and power
- ATS2787 Digital reporting
One level 3 capstone unit (6 points) chosen from:
- ATS3786 Journalism, law and ethics
- ATS3265 Broadcast studio journalism
- ATS3645 Journalism and global change
Four units (24 points) chosen from:
- the remaining cornerstone and capstone units, and from the elective list below
Media
You must complete:
One level 2 cornerstone unit (6 points) chosen from:
- ATS2436 New media: From the telegraph to Twitter
- ATS2439 Youth media: Understanding media research
- ATS2440 The public sphere
One level 3 capstone unit (6 points) chosen from:
- ATS3732 Communications and media studies: Contemporary debates
- ATS3964 Gender, race and media practices
Four units (24 points) chosen from:
- the remaining cornerstone and capstone units, and from the elective list below
Screen
You must complete:
One level 2 cornerstone unit (6 points) chosen from:
- ATS2538 Film and television industries and technologies: key contexts
- ATS2964 Representation and resistance in film and television: key ideas
One level 3 capstone unit (6 points) chosen from:
- ATS3969 Screen studies in the digital era
- ATS3970 The audio visual essay
Four units (24 points) chosen from:
- the remaining cornerstone and capstone units, and from the elective list below
Public relations
You must complete:
Two level 2 cornerstone units (12 points):
- ATS2455 Public relations strategy
- ATS2996 Public relations and society
Two level 3 capstone units (12 points):
- ATS3254 Campaign management
- ATS3262 Critical issues in public relations
Two units (12 points) chosen from the elective list below.
ELECTIVE LIST:
Journalism elective list
- ATS2169 Photojournalism
- ATS2219 Sports journalism
- ATS2282 Crime, courts and cabinets
- ATS2324 Climate change communication
- ATS2788 Podcasting and audio journalism
- ATS2946 Critical thinking: How to analyse arguments and improve your reasoning skills
- ATS3002 Documentary
- ATS3062 Digital production
- ATS3222 Developing research literacy
- ATS3324 Lifestyle journalism
- ATS3789 Video journalism
- ATS3919 Journalism professional placement
- ATS3935 Professional practice
Media elective list
- ATS2250 Communications and cultures in the global era
- ATS2280 Video games: Industry and culture
- ATS2324 Climate change communication
- ATS2538 Film and television industries and technologies: key contexts
- ATS2784 News and power
- ATS3221 The music industries
- ATS3222 Developing research literacy
- ATS3252 Music cities
- ATS3445 Communications ethics, policy and law
- ATS3760 Global communications
- ATS3935 Professional practice
Screen elective list
- ATS2529 Australian film and television: Local and global
- ATS2535 Screen storytelling: From classical narrative to multi-media world building
- ATS2845 Screenwriting for media production
- ATS3222 Developing research literacy
- ATS3983 Screen project: From film theory to media production
- ATS3539 Asian cinema and television
- ATS3540 Documentary and realism in film and television
Public relations elective list
- ATS1298 Professional writing*
- ATS2250 Communications and cultures in the global era
- ATS2324 Climate-change communication
- ATS2436 New media: from the telegraph to Twitter
- ATS3222 Developing research literacy
- ATS3306 Digital storytelling
- ATS3445 Communications ethics, policy and law
- ATS3760 Global communications
- ATS3732 Communications and media studies: Contemporary debates
- MKF3461 Marketing communication
* this elective unit is only available to students completing ATS1280 for the Media specialisation.
International Study Tours
- ATS3795 Global correspondent (Journalism)
Part D. Free electives (48 points)
Free elective units in all specialisations enable you to further your knowledge of your specialisation, or media communication more broadly. Units from the elective lists for the specialisations in this course are recommended, as are any remaining cornerstone or capstone units from any of the specialisations.
Elective units may be chosen from the faculty or across the University as long as you have the prerequisites and there are no restrictions on admission to the units. The units may be at any level, however, no more than ten units (60 points) at level 1 can be credited to the Bachelor of Media Communication.
Free electives can be identified using the browse units tool and indexes of units in the current edition of the Handbook. The level of the unit is indicated by the first number in the unit code; undergraduate units are those that commence with the numbers 1-3. You may need permission from the owning faculty to enrol in some units taught by other faculties.
If you are in a double degree course, some units required for the other degree are credited as electives towards the media communications specialist degree.
Areas of study
Learning outcomes
These course outcomes are aligned with the Australian Qualifications Framework and Monash Graduate Attributes.
Upon successful completion of this course it is expected that you will be able to:
- 1
identify, research and analyse the great media and communications challenges of our age and develop creative and effective solutions
- 2
demonstrate in-depth knowledge of a specialist media and communications discipline
- 3
work both independently and as part of a team to encompass diverse abilities and perspectives
- 4
show evidence of conceptual and technical skills in a specific media and communications practice
- 5
understand the principles for making critical and ethical judgments regarding professional media and communications practice
- 6
apply knowledge of media communication to a range of professional contexts
- 7
exercise cross-cultural competency and social responsibility as a global citizen
- 8
communicate effectively with diverse audiences and in a variety of formats.
Entry requirements
Guaranteed ATAR and selection rank
72; International: UERT Year 12/Foundation Band 3 (80-82.49); UERT Post-Secondary Band 2 (Credit)
Other applicants
All applicants must satisfy the equivalence of the VCE subject prerequisites demonstrating the required level of performance in Year 12 or equivalent in English https://www.monash.edu/admissions/english-language-requirements
VET Diploma graduates: To be considered, applicants who have completed VCE or its equivalent and who are applying with a Humanities or Social Science based diploma will require an average result of at least 60%. Applicants who have not completed VCE but have completed a Humanities or Social Science based diploma will require an average result of at least 70%
Programs that involve competency-based assessment without grades or marks will not meet the admission requirements.
VET Certificate IV graduates
To be considered, applicants who have completed VCE or its equivalent and who are applying with a Humanities or Social Science based Cert IV will require an average result of at least 80%.
Programs that involve competency-based assessment without grades or marks will not meet the admission requirements.
No credit is granted for these studies.
University
To be considered on the basis of tertiary study alone, applicants who have completed VCE or equivalent will be required to complete the equivalent of one year (48 credit points) of a recognised university degree and will require an average result of at least 60% (including failed units). For applicants who have completed less than the equivalent of one year of study, both the senior secondary qualification results and the units completed will be considered.
For applicants who do not have any formal qualifications completion of two single units at an Australian higher education or equivalent overseas educational institution satisfy minimum entry requirements, but four units are recommended to be competitive for selection, especially in Humanities or Social Science areas. Applicants should have at least a 60% average in their studies (including failed units). Studies must have been completed within five years of intended commencement.
English language
Monash Minimum: Level A, that is: IELTS (Academic): 6.5 overall (no band lower than 6.0); or Pearson Test of English (Academic): score of 58 overall with no band lower than 50; or TOEFL Internet-based test: score of 79 overall with minimum scores: Writing: 21, Listening: 12, Reading: 13 and Speaking: 18; or Equivalent approved English test
Pathways
Monash Transition Program
Monash College - Diploma of Arts
More information
Progression to further studies
Honours
Successful completion of this course may provide a pathway to A3701 Bachelor of Arts (Honours). You must have:
- completed 48 credit points of studies within your chosen Honours area of study;
- obtained a distinction grade average (75%) or above in 24 credit points of studies in your chosen Honours area of study at level three; and
- and an overall WAM of 75 in your completed undergraduate degree.
For some disciplines, completion of specific units or their equivalent are required for admission to honours. The details are provided with the requirements for each discipline to which this applies.
Master's pathway
Successful completion of this course may provide a pathway to a masters course. You must have completed all the requirements for your undergraduate degree with a 60% average
Other information
The Bachelor of Media Communication responds to the increasing global demand for graduates with a deep understanding of the role of media in contemporary social, cultural and economic life and well-developed professional skills in communication. The course will provide you with analytical and critical thinking skills through a core program of professional communication practice alongside specialist study in a related field such as journalism, media, screen and public relations. The core units will offer a range of practical experiences utilising the Monash Media Lab.
You will develop cross-cultural competency, social awareness and a global outlook. This course is suited for students who wish to pursue a career in media communication occupations across a broad range of media industry sectors and other professional domains, including government, corporate and NGO. Relevant occupations include journalist, video producer, media content coordinator, public relations professional, digital communications coordinator, director of social media, researcher, media educator.
- Journalism
- Media
- Public relations
- Screen
Arts Global Immersion Guarantee – a guaranteed* funded overseas experience to China, India, Italy, Indonesia or Malaysia available to all first year Bachelor of Media and Communication and related double degree students. A new benchmark in globally-focused education, you will have the opportunity to spend two weeks studying overseas, with airfares and accommodation all covered as part of the degree.
*Eligibility requirements apply: First year Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Global Studies, Bachelor of Criminology, Bachelor of Media and Communications, Bachelor of Music, or Bachelor of Politics Philosophy and Economics (and related double degree) students in good academic standing, who have undertaken 24 points of credit (including a minimum of 12 points Arts) and have passed all their Arts units.
Contacts
- Academic Coordinator
- Dr Zala Volcic
Common questions
How long is Bachelor of Media Communication?
3 years full time, 144 credit points. At 24 credit points a semester, that is 6 semesters of full-time study.
What specialisations can I take in Bachelor of Media Communication?
4 specialisations in 2021, including Journalism, Media, Public relations and Screen.
What ATAR do I need for Bachelor of Media Communication?
The guaranteed ATAR listed for 2021 entry is 72.
Where can I study Bachelor of Media Communication?
At Caulfield.
How do I plan my Bachelor of Media Communication units?
Open the course in the MonMap planner. It lays out your semesters, checks prerequisites as you drag units in, and tracks the credit points each requirement still needs.