A6008 Master of Journalism

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 for students seeking eligibility to apply for HDR studies.

Part A. Foundation studies

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

Part B. Core studies 

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 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

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 comprises 96 credit points and 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.

Units are 6 points unless otherwise stated.

Part A: Foundation studies (12 credit points)

You must complete the following units.

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

Part B. Core studies (30 credit points)

You must complete 30 credit points, comprising:

- APG5095 and APG5640; and

- a further 18 credit points from the following list.

• APG5095 Journalism practice
• APG5640 Media, law and ethics
• APG5135 Video journalism
• APG5352 Photography
• APG5182 Digital journalism
• APG5547 Broadcast (12 points)
• APG5642 Investigative and data journalism

Part C. Applied studies (12 credit points)

You must complete 12 credit points from the following capstone units.

Note: APG5653 is a study tour unit.

• APG5044 Professional internship (12 points)
• APG5157 Contemporary industry challenges (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 practice studies (12 credit points)

You must complete 12 credit points from the following units:

Note 1. Entry levels 2 and 3 are only required to complete 6 credit points.
Note 2. If you intend to complete 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 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

Part E. Elective studies (30 credit points)

You must complete:

- Entry level 1: 30 credit points from the elective lists below.

- Entry level 2: 24 credit points from the elective lists below.

Note 1. You may also complete units not undertaken in Parts B, C or D.

Note 2. 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 3. You may take 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. 

Screen and cultural industries electives

• 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 electives

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

Strategic communications electives

• APG5366 Strategic communication in a digital era
• APG5373 Engaging audiences
• APG5381 Effective crisis communications

Data, automation and AI electives

• APG5374 Data analytics in communications
• LAW5343 Privacy and surveillance: Law, policy and governance
• ETC5510 Introduction to data analysis

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

Governance, policy and leadership electives

• APG5101 Foundations of public policy
• APG5189 Monitoring and evaluation

Public policy and political communication electives

• APG5101 Foundations of public policy
• APG5102 Governance
• APG5103 Policy analysis
• APG5104 Public sector reform
• APG5450 Cultural policy

International communication electives

• APG5073 Conflict, security and development
• APG5140 Principles and practices for disaster management, humanitarian action and climate change adaptation
• APG5381 Effective crisis communications
• MGF5630 Principles of negotiation  

Health communication electives

• 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 electives

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

Environment and sustainability electives

• APG5554 Resource evaluation and management
• APG5229 Prosperity, poverty and sustainability in a globalised world
• APG5230 Field studies in climate governance
• BTF5910 Corporate sustainability regulation
• ENS5530 Leading change for sustainable development

Arts enrichment electives

A maximum of 12 credit 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

Research pathway (24 points) - 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.

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.

If 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 1. APG5084 Designing research is a co-requisite for enrolment in APG5849 Research thesis A and must be completed in the same semester.
Note 2. Undertaking the research pathway does not guarantee entry into a graduate research degree (e.g. Masters by Research, PhD).

You will complete 24 credit points from the following list:

• APG5084 Designing research
• APG5849 Research thesis A
• APG5850 Research thesis B