ATS2440 The public sphere
Faculty of Arts
ATS2440 The public sphere is a level 2, 6-credit-point, undergraduate unit from the Faculty of Arts, offered in 2026 in Semester 2 at Caulfield and Clayton. It has no prerequisites.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2026
- Semester 2
- Caulfield, Clayton
- Assessment
- No exam
- 4 tasks
- Workload
- 144 hours
- per semester
The 2027 handbook has no page for ATS2440. This is its 2026 entry, the latest one.
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Requisites
Before ATS2440
No prerequisites or corequisites besides the enrolment rules below.
After ATS2440
No unit lists ATS2440 as a prerequisite in the 2026 handbook.
Enrolment rules
Prerequisite: Twelve credit points of first-year Arts units.
Prohibition: ATS3440
Overview
In this unit you will explore a key theoretical concept in the field of media and communications studies - the public sphere - and consider key questions in media studies: what does media contribute to the realm of rational debate and how does this contribution facilitate public understanding of, and input to, policy and governance? In addressing these questions we will raise important matters concerned with citizenship, the rise of political populism globally, individual response to public issues and the relationship between opinion and informed debate. You will track the emergence of the theory of the public sphere, analyse the multiple uses and related applications of the concept, and explain how the public sphere relates to traditional and new communications and media environments.
Offerings in 2026
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Second semester | Caulfield | On campus |
| Second semester | Clayton | On campus |
Assessment
- Oral presentationPresentation15%
- Reflective writingWritten25%
- Reflective writingWritten25%
- EssayWritten35%
Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 1
Outline the emergence and historical development of the concept of a public sphere;
- 2
Research and analyse the role of the media in communicating politics in both formal and informal contexts;
- 3
Nominate and explain contemporary media developments or issues that reflect the condition of the public sphere and structure and inform understandings of that concept;
- 4
Display evidence of written and verbal knowledge and critical thinking skills.
Workload and teaching
- Lectures12 hours
- Tutorials24 hours
- Teaching approachActive learning
Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.
Seminar tutorials utilising case study, basic discourse analysis and content analysis approaches.
Where it fits
ATS2440 is part of 3 areas of study in the 2026 handbook.
Contacts
- Unit Coordinators
- Dr Eylem Kim
- Dr Chris O'Neill
- Chief Examiners
- Dr Chris O'Neill
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for ATS2440?
ATS2440 has no prerequisites, but enrolment rules apply.
When is ATS2440 offered?
In 2026, ATS2440 runs in Semester 2 at Caulfield and Clayton.
How much work is ATS2440?
The handbook expects about 144 hours of study across the semester. No students have rated its difficulty yet.
Does ATS2440 have an exam?
No. ATS2440 has 4 assessment tasks and no exam.
Which majors and minors include ATS2440?
ATS2440 is part of Communications and media studies; and Media.