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 2023 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 2023 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.
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Requisite map
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 suitable if you 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
You will also have the opportunity to enrich your degree by honing your academic and professional skills through a range of flagship rich educational experiences (FREE). For more information on eligibility please see FREE.
Course structure
Rules
It is recommended that you complete level 1 sequences first as these lay the foundation for further study. Gateway units (24 credit 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.
Part A. Strategic knowledge, Part B. Practical and professional skills and Part C. Collaboration and leadership96 credit points
Common units
36 credit pointsLevel 1 core units
12 credit pointsLevel 2 core units
12 credit pointsLevel 3 core units
12 credit pointsGateway units
24 credit pointsNote: One specialisation must be nominated at the end of first year.
Journalism
12 credit pointsMedia
12 credit pointsPublic relations
12 credit pointsScreen
12 credit pointsSpecialisations
36 credit pointsPart D. Free electives48 credit points
You can enrich your degree by using some of your free electives to take a study tour, field trip or exchange opportunity. You can also use this space to hone your academic and professional skills with an internship or a range of practical units. See Arts enrichment and Monash Intercultural Lab list of units to discover the breadth of options available.
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 60 credit points at level 1 can be credited to the Bachelor of Media Communication. You may need permission from the owning faculty to enrol in some units taught by other faculties.
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.
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.
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 your 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 your preparedness and adaptability for future media communication change and creativity.
Part B. Practical and professional skills
This involves developing your 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 your competency in ethical and legal aspects of media communication.
Part C. Collaboration and leadership
This involves competencies necessary for you 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 you to further your knowledge of this specialisation, or media communication more broadly, or to select units from across the University in which they are eligible to enrol. If you are 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 credit 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.
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
- ATS3337 Media professions lab
-
ATS3949 Extended realities (XR) 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 credit points) in your nominated specialisation:
- Journalism
- Media
- Screen
- Public relations
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.
You can enrich your degree by using some of your free electives to take a study tour, field trip or exchange opportunity. You can also use this space to hone your academic and professional skills with an internship or a range of practical units. See Arts enrichment and Monash Intercultural Lab list of units to discover the breadth of options available.
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 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 Bachelor of Arts (Honours) (A3701). 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.
Notes for students
You can enrich your degree by honing your academic and professional skills through a range of flagship rich educational experiences (FREE), including the Monash Innovation Guarantee, Global Immersion Guarantee and/or Research, Experimentation and Discovery. These FREE units may be credited in place of your free electives if approved by the faculty. There are both 6 and 12 credit point unit options available.
For information on eligibility please see FREE.
*If you are enrolled in a double degree it may be possible to utilise credit from one or both of your degrees to do a 6 and/or 12 credit point flagship rich educational experience. For information on eligible double degree combinations please see FREE.
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 suitable if you 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
You will also have the opportunity to enrich your degree by honing your academic and professional skills through a range of flagship rich educational experiences (FREE). For more information on eligibility please see FREE.
Contacts
- Academic Coordinator
- Dr Claire Perkins
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 2023, including Journalism, Media, Public relations and Screen.
What ATAR do I need for Bachelor of Media Communication?
The guaranteed ATAR listed for 2023 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.