A6003 Master of Communications and Media Studies

The course is structured in five parts: Part A. Foundation study, Part B. Principal study, Part C. Applied study, Part D. Professional enhancement, and Part E. Specialist study.  

Part A. Foundation study

These studies provide you with an introduction to communications and media studies.

Part B. Principal  study

These studies draw on best practices within the field of communications and media studies to further your understanding of communications and media industries, issues and practices, both locally and globally. Studies focus on the challenges posed by digital disruption, globalisation and on methods of research and analysis for the contemporary media and communications environment.

Part C. Applied study 

The focus of these studies is professional or scholarly work that can contribute to a portfolio of professional development. 

Part D. Professional enhancement

Designed in association with industry experts, select from this suite of professional enhancement offerings to build essential competencies for your career pathway.

Part E. Specialist study

These studies provide you with the opportunity to undertake a program of coursework study tailored to your own interests. Units not taken in Part B, Part C and Part D are also available as elective options.

Master's entry points

Depending on prior qualifications you may receive entry level credit (a form of block credit) which determines your point of entry to the course:

• If you are admitted at entry level 1 you complete 96 credit points, comprising Part A, Part B, Part C, Part D, and Part E.
• If you are admitted at entry level 2 you complete 72 credit points (Caulfield Campus), comprising Part B, Part C, Part D (6 credit points) and Part E (30 credit points).
• If you are admitted at entry level 2 you complete 72 credit points (Malaysia Campus), comprising Part B, Part C, Part D (6 credit points) and Part E (30 credit points).
• If you are admitted at entry level 3 you complete 48 credit points, comprising Part B, Part C and Part E (12 credit points).

Note: If you are enrolled at the Malaysian campus you are admitted at entry level 2 or 3.

Note: If you are eligible for credit for prior studies you may elect not to receive the credit and complete one of the higher credit-point options.

Course progression maps

The course progression map provides guidance on unit enrolment for each semester of study.

If you are eligible to enrol in the 1.5-year entry point, you have the option of completing this course intensively over a 12-month period by following the intensive course progression map.

The course is structured in five parts: Part A Foundation study (12 points), Part B. Principal study (24 points), Part C. Applied study (12 points), Part D. Professional enhancement (12 points), and Part E. Specialist study (36 points). 

Units are 6 points unless otherwise stated.

Part A: Foundation study (12 points)

You must complete:

• APG5050 Doing media and communications research
• APG5365 Principles of global media and communications

Part B: Principal study (24 points)

Caulfield Campus:

You must complete four units (24 points) from the following:

• APG5397 Media and social change
• APG5401 Global media industries
• APG5456 Understanding media audiences
• APG5457 Digital cultures and platforms
• APG5458 Digital technology, policy and governance

Malaysia Campus:

You must complete 24 points from the following:

• AMG5021 Research issues and methodology (12 pts)
• AMG5036 Contemporary communications theories
• AMG5038 Global media industries
• AMG5409 Communication research

Part C: Applied study (12 points)

You must complete one capstone unit (12 points) from the following:

Caulfield campus:

• APG5044 Professional internship (12 points)
• APG5369 Communications and cultural industries field school (12 points)
• APG5485 Research portfolio (12 points)
• APG5742 Industry project (12 points)
• APG5752 Media and communications field trip (12 points)
• APG5856 Research project (12 points)
• APG5969 Advanced simulation (12 points)

Malaysia campus:

You must complete one capstone unit (12 points) from the following:

• AMG5009 Emerging media industries in Asia (12 points)
• AMG5742 Communications research project (12 points)

Part D: Professional enhancement (12 points)

Caulfield campus:

You must complete one or two units (12 points) from the following*:  

• APG5084 Designing research**
• APG5470 Managing multicultural teams
• APG5471 Leadership in intercultural environments
• APG5966 Academic and professional presentation skills
• APG5967 Professional enhancement A
• APG5968 Professional enhancement B (12 points)

* Entry point 2 (Caulfield campus) is only required to complete one unit (6 points).
**If you intend to pursue the research pathway, please note that APG5084 is a co-requisite for APG5849 Research Thesis A.

Malaysia campus:

You must complete one unit (6 points) from the following:

• AMG5033 Creative thinking workshops
• AMG5035 Gender in the workplace

Part E: Specialist study (36 points)

Malaysia Campus: 

Entry point 2 must complete 30 credit points (4-6 units):

• AMG5400 Global digital cultures 
• AMG5013 Current issues in Asia  
• AMG5004  Communications and Media Management
• AMG5751 Communications Industry Internship    
• AMG5034 Data Analytics in Communication 
• AMG5037 Digital Technology, Policy, and Governance 
• AMG5026 Advanced Readings in social, political and media theory (12 points)

Entry point 3 must complete12 points from the following:

• AMG5004  Communications and Media Management
• AMG5013 Current issues in Asia 
• AMG5037 Digital Technology, Policy, and Governance 
• AMG5400 Global digital cultures

Caulfield Campus:

• If you are admitted at entry level 1 you must complete 6 units (36 points) from the elective lists below.
• If you are admitted at entry Level 2 you must complete 5 units (30 points) from the elective lists below.
• If you are admitted at entry level 3 you must complete 2 units (12 points) from the elective lists below.

You may also complete units not undertaken from Parts B, C and D.

Discipline electives

You can elect to focus on one area of study, or select elective units from a range of streams to tailor the degree to your interests. 

Please note, not all units run every year or semester. Some units may require pre-requisite study or permission from the unit coordinator to enrol.

Screen and Cultural Industries

• APG5373 Engaging audiences
• APG5452 Cultural events, festivals and exhibitions
• APG5453 Screen cities: Creative contexts
• APG5454 Screen and social justice
• APG5455 Understanding the screen brain, AI and data futures
• APG5662 Cultural and creative industries (12 points)
• APG5782 Film festivals in local and international contexts

Journalism Practice

• APG5095 Journalism practice
• APG5135 Video journalism
• APG5182 Digital journalism
• APG5352 Photography
• APG5642 Investigative and data journalism

Data, Automation and AI

• APG5052 Special topic in digital media industries
• APG5374 Data analytics in communications
• APG5398 Digital media futures
• APG5455 Understanding the screen brain, AI and data futures
• APG5642 Investigative and data journalism
• ETC5510 Introduction to data analysis
• LAW5343 Privacy and surveillance in the age of AI
• LAW5649 Law in the age of artificial intelligence

Social Change and Impact

• APG5067 Sustainable cultural development
• APG5092 Human rights in global politics
• APG5189 Monitoring and evaluation
• APG5367 Campaigns, advocacy and change
• APG5454 Screen and social justice
• ENS5510 Innovation to influence change

Design and Creative Practice for Media and Communication

• APG5398 Digital media futures
• APG5453 Screen cities: Creative contexts
• MDC4500 Design fundamentals studio
• MDC4550 Design technologies and processes

Governance, Policy and Leadership

• APG5101 Foundations of public policy
• APG5180 Strategic political leadership and communication
• APG5181 Intergovernmental relations
• APG5450 Cultural policy
• APG5640 Media, law and ethics

Arts enrichment units

Note: A maximum of 12 points can be completed from the Arts enrichment units.

• APG5136 Mindfulness for workplace wellbeing and productivity
• APG5170 Social entrepreneurship challenge in the Indo-Pacific
• APG5470 Managing multicultural teams
• APG5471 Leadership in intercultural environments

Complementary Electives

You may take approved units from other Arts Graduate coursework programs subject to meeting individual unit prerequisites.  These units must be selected from the Principal study and/or Specialist study parts. Note: A maximum of 12 points can be completed from the Complementary elective units.

Research pathway (24pts) - optional

If you are admitted into entry point 1 and 2 and you wish to complete a research thesis (15,000-18,000 words), you replace the capstone in Part C (12 pts) and elective studies in Part E (12 pts) with the following unit/s in consultation with the coordinator:

Australian Campus

• APG5849 Research thesis A (6 points) and APG5084 Designing research (6 points) and
• APG5850 Research thesis B (12 points)

If you are admitted into entry point 3 and wish to complete a research thesis (15,000 – 18,000 words), the replacement units will be determined based on previous study in consultation with the course director.

Malaysia Campus

• AMG5743 Communications research thesis (24 points)

Notes:

• Only students with a course WAM of 80 or higher will be eligible to commence the research pathway.
• APG5084 Designing research is a co-requisite for enrolment in APG5849 Research thesis A and must be completed in the same semester.