Global Utilities

La Trobe University
University Handbook 2008

Single degrees

Bachelor of Media Studies (ABMS) – Melbourne (Bundoora)

The Bachelor of Media Studies 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. After first year, students must choose to follow one stream. Streams offered are journalism, audio/radio, and video/television. 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 drawn from the journalism, video/television or audio/radio stream and 40 credit points of Elective units. Subject to availability of places, students can take up to one additional stream unit in place of an Elective unit.

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 stream unit Elective
TE-SEM-2 MST2RMA stream unit Elective
Third year
TE-SEM-1 MST3MIN MST3BEJ Elective
TE-SEM-2 MST3MPD stream unit 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 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 Media Project Development MST3MPD

Stream units

Second year (20 credit points)
Teaching period Unit title Unit code
Journalism stream
TE-SEM-1 Computer-assisted Journalism MST2CAJ
TE-SEM-2 Journalism Production Workshop MST2JPW
Radio/audio stream
TE-SEM-1 Radio Sound Production MST2RSP
TE-SEM-2 Writing for Radio MST2WFR
Video/television stream
TE-SEM-1 Single Camera Video MST2SCV
TE-SEM-2 Writing for Video – Non-fiction MST2WFV
Third year (20 credit points)
Teaching period Unit title Unit code
Journalism stream
TE-SEM-1 Broadcast and Electronic Journalism MST3BEJ
TE-SEM-2 Advanced Journalism and Design MST3AJD
Radio/audio stream
TE-SEM-1 Broadcast and Electronic Journalism MST3BEJ
TE-SEM-2 Advanced Media Production – Radio MST3MPR
Video/television stream
TE-SEM-1 Broadcast and Electronic Journalism MST3BEJ
TE-SEM-2 Advanced Media Production – Television MST3MPT

Elective units

See the complete listing 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 that 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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