Bachelor of Media and Communication with a Major in Media Studies

During this Course students will learn:

• Professional Communication Build your skills and confidence as a professional communicator.
• Intercultural Communication Learn how to effectively communicate within a multicultural society.
• Campaign Planning Create engaging PR strategies and implement campaigns across multiple platforms.
• Writing Develop industry-specific writing skills that will allow you to effectively engage and influence your audience.
• Digital Communities Explore how social media and online communities impact how we communicate with each other.

On successful completion of this Course students will be able to:

1. Critically execute knowledge, conceptual understanding, technical skills and expertise in the broad field of media and communication.
2. Formulate arguments that draw on and critique the differences between relevant theories and evidence as they pertain to the field of media and communication.
3. Exercise initiative and judgment in planning, problem-solving and decision-making in professional practice and/or scholarship, individually and in collaboration with others.
4. Critically apply creativity and problem-solving in relation to a range of media and communication activities and processes.
5. Recognise and reflect on social, cultural, legal and ethical issues relating to media and communication industries in local and international contexts.
6. Apply a broad understanding of an audience through interpreting and communicating ideas, problems and arguments in a range of media and communication contexts and formats, using the English language.
7. Reflect critically on their performance and/or scholarship and use this to improve their own creative and productive outcomes.
8. Apply research methodology relevant to the field of media and communication.

Taught by industry professionals, the Bachelor of Media and Communication with a major in Media Studies will equip you with the skills to create engaging cross-platform content, manage social media accounts, produce digital media projects and write for print, broadcast and digital media.

You will learn professional communications skills to enable you to reach audiences effectively through digital and traditional media. With this qualification, you will be ready for a range of roles within the media and communications industry, including media content creator, social media manager, communications officer and media analyst.

Final year students in the Media Studies major will undertake an internship in a professional media and communications role or create a major project of their choosing. This will give you a head start in your career upon graduation.

Recommended study pattern

A total of 24 units are taken to complete the Bachelor of Media and Communications with a major in Media Studies, including five core units, eight media studies major units and 11 electives.

Core Units

Introduction to Media Studies (MDA10001)

Communicating with Data (MDA10012)

Media Content Creation (JOU10007)

Global Media Industries (MDA10008)

Learning and Communicating Online (COM10003)

Media Studies Major

Innovation Cultures: Perspectives on Science and Technology (MDA10006)

Screen Studies: Movies, Television, and Ourselves (MDA10003)

Digital Communities (MDA20009)

Screen Franchising and Innovation (MDA20007)

Global Screen Studies: Beyond Hollywood (MDA30011)

Sports/ Advertising/ Media (MDA20011)

Media and Communications Project A (MDA30006)

Researching Social Media Publics (MDA30012)

Plus there’s a selection of electives to choose from. As part of your application, you’ll be guided through how to get the right degree structure in place for you. 

Award requirements

To qualify for the award of Bachelor of Media and Communication students must complete 300 credit points comprising of:

Introductory Studies:

• Four (4) Core Units of Study (50cp)
• One (1) online core unit of study (12.5cp)*
• Eight (8) units of study from one of the following Media and Communication majors: Advertising, Media Studies or the Public Relations major.

*Students may not complete more than 125 cps (normally 10 units) at Introductory Level. A unit of study can only be counted once, where units are shared between majors and/or minors, students must choose an approved alternate.

Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.

Indicative total fee $52,197

The amounts shown here are indicative for an Australian citizen studying full-time, which is typically 8 subjects per year.

Fees may vary depending on:

• the subjects you choose
• credit from previous work experience
• your eligibility for government funding loans or subsidies such as HECS-HELP or a Commonwealth supported place.

To learn more, go to Fees or contact a student advisor.

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Applicants are required to meet one of the following minimum entry requirements:

• A completed or partially completed tertiary qualification (e.g. relevant Certificate IVs, Diploma, Advanced Diploma, Associate Degree, incomplete or complete Bachelor’s degree); or
• 4+ years of relevant work experience; or
• Recent Year 12 Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) or equivalent completion, with the required English study score

International students are required to demonstrate their English proficiency before enrolling into a Swinburne Online degree by undertaking one of the following English language tests; The International English Language Test Score (IELTS) or the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score.

Credit for Prior Learning

If you have completed recent prior studies you may be eligible to request course credit or subject exemptions to reduce the duration and cost of your program.

Credit for prior learning evaluates your previous studies related to your chosen subjects.

This is assessed on a case-by-case basis, where every applicant is assessed individually.