A6003 Master of Communications and Media Studies

The course is structured in five parts: Part A.  Foundation studies, Part B. Core studies, Part C. Applied studies, Part D. Professional practice studies and Part E. Elective studies.

A research pathway is also available subject to meeting eligibility requirements.

Part A. Foundation studies

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

Part B. Core studies

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 studies

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

Part D. Professional practice studies

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

Part E. Elective studies

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 comprises 96 points, structured in five parts: Part A. Foundation studies, Part B. Core studies, Part C. Applied studies. Part D. Professional practice studies, and Part E. Elective studies. 

Units are 6 points unless otherwise stated.

Part A: Foundation studies (12 points)

You must complete:

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

Part B: Core studies (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:

• AMG5021 Research issues and methodology (12 points)
• AMG5036 Contemporary communications theories
• AMG5038 Global media industries

Part C: Applied studies (12 points)

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

Caulfield campus:

• APG5044 Professional internship (12 points)
• APG5157 Contemporary industry challenges (12 points)
• APG5485 Research portfolio (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 practice studies (12 points)

Caulfield campus:

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

Note 1: Entry point 2 (Caulfield campus) is only required to complete one unit (6 points).
Note 2: If you intend to pursue the research pathway you must complete APG5084.

• APG5084 Designing research
• APG5129 Evaluation
• APG5136 Mindfulness for workplace wellbeing and productivity
• APG5140 Principles and practices for disaster management, humanitarian action and climate change adaptation
• APG5170 Social enterprise challenge in the Indo-Pacific
• APG5393 Ethical theory
• APG5457 Digital cultures and platforms
• APG5470 Managing multicultural teams
• APG5471 Leadership in intercultural environments
• APG5652 Language and intercultural communication
• APG5805 Project planning and management in international development
• APG5966 Academic and professional presentation skills
• APG5967 Professional enhancement A
• APG5968 Professional enhancement B (12 points)
• MON5750 Monash Innovation Guarantee

Malaysia campus:

You must complete:

• AMG5037 Digital Technology, Policy, and Governance

Part E: Elective studies (36 points)

Caulfield Campus:

You must complete:

- Entry level 1: 36 credit points from the elective lists below.

- Entry level 2: 30 credit points from the elective lists below.

- Entry level 3: 12 credit points from the elective lists below.

Note 1: Units are grouped into areas of interest. You may choose units from one area or across various areas to tailor your degree. The same units may appear in multiple areas/parts, however each unit can only be credited once towards the degree.

Note 2: You may take up to 12 credit points of approved units from other Arts Graduate coursework programs subject to meeting individual unit prerequisites. These units must be selected from the Core studies and/or Elective studies parts.

Note 3: You may complete units not undertaken from Parts B, C and D.

Screen and cultural industries electives

• APG5082 Creative Entrepreneurship in Cultural Industries
• APG5200 Sports events and cities: Discourses, practices and power
• 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 electives

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

Data, automation and AI electives

• APG5374 Data analytics in communications
• APG5455 Understanding the screen brain, AI and data futures
• APG5642 Investigative and data journalism
• ETC5510 Introduction to data analysis
• LAW5343 Privacy and surveillance: Law, policy and governance
• LAW5649 Law in the age of artificial intelligence

Social change and impact electives

• APG5067 Sustainable cultural development
• APG5156 Human rights in global politics
• APG5189 Monitoring and evaluation
• APG5367 Campaigns, advocacy and change
• APG5454 Screen and social justice
• ENS5510 Innovation to influence system change

Design and creative practice for media and communication electives

• APG5453 Screen cities: Creative contexts
• DGN4500 Design thinking approaches

Governance, policy and leadership electives

• APG5101 Foundations of public policy
• APG5450 Cultural policy
• APG5640 Media, law and ethics

Arts enrichment electives

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

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

Malaysia Campus: 

Entry point 2: 30 credit points, comprising AMG5026 and 18 points from the units listed below.

Entry point 3: 12 credit points comprising AMG5004 and AMG5035.

• AMG5004  Communications and Media Management
• AMG5751 Communications Industry Internship    
• AMG5034 Data Analytics in Communication 
• AMG5026 Advanced Readings in social, political and media theory (12 points)
• AMG5035 Gender in the workplace 

Research pathway (24pts) - optional

You can complete a research pathway in your course if:

• - you have achieved a minimum weighted average mark of 80% in the units of this course;
• - you have the permission of the Course Director; and
• - a suitable thesis supervisor is available.

Note 1. Undertaking a research pathway does not guarantee entry into a graduate research degree (e.g. Masters by Research, PhD).

Caulfield Campus

You must complete the following units.

Note 1: If you are admitted into the course at entry level 1 or 2, the following unit replacements will apply:

• - APG5084 Designing research as offered in Part D.
• - APG5849 Research thesis A replaces 6 credit points from Part E.
• - APG5850 Research thesis B replaces 12 credit points from Part C.

Note 2: f you are admitted into the course at entry level 3, the replacement units will be determined based on previous study in consultation with the Course Director.

Note 3: APG5084 Designing research is a co-requisite for enrolment in APG5849 Research thesis A and must be completed in the same semester. 

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

Malaysia Campus

You must complete the following unit.

If you are admitted into the course at entry level 2, to undertake the research pathway you will replace 12 credit points of Part C. Applied studies and 12 credit points of Part E. Elective studies. 

Note 1. The research pathway option is not available to students who enter the course at entry level 3.

• AMG5743 Communications research thesis (24 points)