Department of Media and Communications

We offer a four-year undergraduate degree, professional postgraduate coursework programs and postgraduate research degrees.

Our research is nationally and internationally recognised in fields including Chinese media, strategic and cultural communication, and journalism. Our teaching extends across digital media production, public relations, journalism, and media, cultural and communications theory.

Undergraduate
The Bachelor of Arts (Media and Communications) offers both an excellent general education in the liberal arts and social sciences and a broad vocational preparation for entry-level positions in the media and communications industries. There is an industry internship in the final year, and high-achieving students interested in research and advanced media production may take an additional Honours year. Students are encouraged to undertake at least one semester of international study. Graduates are highly competitive for prestigious journalism and communication cadetships in the public and private sectors, such as the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), the Fairfax Media Group, and the Australian Public Service. Today, our graduates can be found in every sector of the media and communications industries both in Australia and overseas.

Postgraduate
At postgraduate coursework level there is a range of options. Master degrees in Media Practice, Strategic Public Relations, Publishing, and Health Communication are all one-year (full-time) programs and are also offered at Graduate Diploma (6 months-1 year) and Graduate Certificate (6 months) levels.

These internationally focused degrees offer both intellectual rigour and vocational preparation, oriented to those who have found themselves dealing with or working in the media, or are considering a career change. Individuals who do not have an undergraduate degree but do have three to five years of professional experience may be admitted to the Graduate Certificate in the first instance, with a prospective option to continue to the Masters qualification. Core units teach journalistic and public communication skills, communication and media theory, and legal and ethical knowledge, while elective units can be selected from Australia’s oldest and largest Faculty of Arts. Prospective students can either follow suggested pathways or tailor a flexible program to their own interests and ambitions. Students come to us from a diverse range of countries, including Australia, the People’s Republic of China, Korea, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Scandinavia, as well as Latin America and Africa. Graduates of these programs today are working in media and communications organisations all over the world. Our staff are approachable, multicultural and multilingual.

The department has a continuing commitment to maintaining the highest standards in teaching and research, and attracts postgraduate research students from a wide variety of nations and cultures. Look at our research student pages to see the range of thesis topics of our current research students and our staff page to view their specialist research and publications.