Global Utilities

La Trobe University
University Handbook 2008

Single degrees

Bachelor of Journalism (ABJ) – Melbourne (Bundoora)

The Bachelor of Journalism is a vocationally oriented degree and consists of 360 credit points that can be completed in three years of full-time study. Part-time enrolment is also available. First year consists of 60 credit points of core units and 60 credit points of Elective units. Second and third years consist of 40 credit points of core units, 40 credit points of journalism stream units, and 40 credit points of Elective units. The unit MST2PAS/MST3PAS Press and Society must be taken as an Elective in either second or third year. Subject to the availability of places, students can take up to one unit from the video/television or audio/radio streams.

Course structure

Teaching period Requirements
First year
TE-SEM-1 MST1CCO MST1MTN Elective Elective
TE-SEM-2 MST1AAC MST1WFM Elective Elective
Second year
TE-SEM-1 MST2RTM MST2CAJ MST2PAS
TE-SEM-2 MST2RMA MST2JPW Elective
Third year
TE-SEM-1 MST3MIN MST3BEJ Elective
TE-SEM-2 MST3AJP MST3AJD Elective

Core units

Teaching period Unit title Unit code
First year (15 credit points)
TE-SEM-1 Constructing Communication MST1CCO
TE-SEM-1 Making the News MST1MTN
TE-SEM-2 Audience and Communication MST1AAC
TE-SEM-2 Writing for Media MST1WFM
Second year (20 credit points)
TE-SEM-1 Press and Society MST2PAS
TE-SEM-1 Researching the Media MST2RTM
TE-SEM-2 Researching Media Audiences MST2RMA
Third year (20 credit points)
TE-SEM-1 Media Industries MST3MIN
TE-SEM-2 Advanced Journalism Practice MST3AJP

Stream units

Teaching period Unit title Unit code
Second year (20 credit points)
TE-SEM-1 Computer-assisted Journalism MST2CAJ
TE-SEM-2 Journalism Production Workshop MST2JPW
Third year (20 credit points)
TE-SEM-1 Broadcast and Electronic Journalism MST3BEJ
TE-SEM-2 Advanced Journalism Design MST3AJD

Elective units

See the complete listing of units under Media Studies in this Handbook.

Honours

Students are selected into honours at the end of their third year. The principal requirement for selection is consistently high performance (normally at least a B average) in media units; and in particular, distinction in third year media units. Prospective students should make their interest known to the Media Studies Honours Coordinator by early June for commencement in second semester or November for commencement in first semester. Honours candidates are expected to undertake preliminary reading and writing in the break, which precedes their initial enrolment.

Two pathways are available. The first pathway requires the completion of two coursework units at fourth year level, a seminar presentation, and a 12000 to 15000--word thesis. The second pathway requires the completion of two coursework units at fourth year level, a seminar presentation, a reflective essay of 6000 words and a creative production. For full details of the fourth year offerings, see the Media studies entry in the Postgraduate Handbook.

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