A6008 Master of Journalism

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. 

A research pathway is also available for students seeking eligibility to apply for HDR studies.

Part A. Foundation study

These studies provide you with foundation knowledge and skills in the field of global media and communications at graduate level.

Part B. Principal study 

These studies will immerse you in journalism studies at graduate level. Through a combination of academic and practice-based work, you will gain a solid foundation in creating works of journalism from mastering the written word in print through to video, audio, photography, digital production, investigative and data - in metropolitan, regional and international contexts.

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

Select from a range of options designed to enhance specific knowledge and skills in journalism and related fields. 

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, comprising Part. B, Part. C, Part. D (6 credit points) and Part. E (24 credit points).
• If you are admitted at entry level 3 you complete 48 credit points, comprising Part. B, Part. C, and Part. D (6 credit points).

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, Part B. Principal study; Part C. Applied study, Part D. Professional enhancement and Part E. Specialist study.

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 (30 points)

a. You must complete:

• APG5095 Journalism practice
• APG5640 Media, law and ethics

b. You must complete two or three units (18 points) from the following: 

• APG5135 Video journalism
• APG5352 Photography
• APG5182 Digital journalism
• APG5547 Broadcast (12 points)
• APG5642 Investigative and data journalism

Part C. Applied study (12 points)

You must complete one of the following capstone units:

• APG5044 Professional internship (12 points)
• APG5485 Research portfolio (12 points)
• APG5653 International journalism field school (12 points)
• APG5856 Research project (12 points)
• APG5969 Advanced simulation (12 points)

Part D. Professional enhancement (12 points)

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

• 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)

*Note: Entry levels 2 and 3 are only required to complete one unit (6 points)

**If you intend to pursue the research thesis pathway, APG5084 is a co-requisite for enrolment in APG5849 Research thesis A.

Part E. Specialist study (30 points)

If you are admitted at entry level 1 you must complete 5 units (30 points) from the elective lists below.
If you are admitted at entry Level 2 you must complete 4 units (24 points) from the elective lists below.

You may also complete units not yet completed in 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. 

Screen and Cultural Industries

• APG5066 Shanghai city lab
• 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
• APG5782 Film festivals in local and international contexts

Communications and media studies

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

Strategic Communications

• APG5366 Strategic communication in a digital era
• APG5373 Engaging audiences
• APG5381 Crisis communications and issues management

Creative Practice for Media and Communication

• APG5184 Video-Making as Research

Data, Automation and AI

• APG5052 Special topic in communications and media studies
• APG5374 Data analytics in communications
• LAW5343 Privacy and surveillance in the age of AI
• ETC5510 Introduction to data analysis

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 Processes to influence change

Governance, Policy and Leadership

• APG5101 Foundations of public policy
• APG5180 Strategic political leadership and communication
• APG5181 Intergovernmental relations
• APG5189 Monitoring and evaluation

Public Policy and Political Communication

• APG5101 Foundations of public policy
• APG5102 Governance
• APG5103 Policy analysis and evaluation
• APG5104 Public management
• APG5180 Policy and political communication
• APG5450 Cultural policy

International communication

• APG5073 Conflict, security and development
• APG5140 Guiding principles for professionals engaged in disasters and humanitarian crises
• APG5381 Crisis communication and issues management
• MGF5630 Principles of negotiation  

Health Communication

• APG5081 Public health ethics  
• MPH5002 Foundations of health promotion and program planning
• MPH5022 Evaluating public health programs 
• MPH5269 Foundations of health policy 
• MPH5255 Health and human rights 
• MPH5252 Global health care delivery: principles and challenges
• MPH5272 Principles of health systems

Leadership and entrepreneurship

• APG5082 Creative entrepreneurship in cultural industries
• APG5566 Strategic events management
• APG5662 Cultural and creative industries
• MKF5601 Social media marketing
• MKF5955 Marketing management: Theory and practice
• MKF5926 Integrated marketing communication

Environment and sustainability

• APG4554 Resource evaluation and management
• APG5229 Prosperity, poverty and sustainability in a globalised world
• APG5230 Ecosystems and environmental management
• BTF5910 Corporate sustainability regulation
• ENS5530 Leading change for sustainable development

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 Arts enrichment and Complementary electives.

Research pathway (18 points) - optional

If you are admitted into entry point 1 and 2 and  you wish to complete a research thesis (15,000-18,000 words), must enrol in APG5084 in Part D and replace the capstone in Part C (12 point) and one elective in Part E (6 points) with the following units in consultation with the coordinator.

• APG5849 Research thesis A
• 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.

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