Bachelor of Journalism
Course code/s: ABJ Melbourne
The Bachelor of Journalism is a vocationally oriented degree consisting 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 subjects, 30 credit points of Humanities and Social Sciences and 30 credit points of elective subjects. Second and third years consist of 60 credit points of core subjects and 60 credit points of elective subjects
Course structure
First year (120 credit points)
In their first year students study
- 4 first year core subjects, listed below (60 credit points)
- 2 first year Humanities and Social Sciences elective subjects, normally from the one discipline (30 credit points)
- 2 first year electives which can be selected from within the faculty, or from anywhere in the university, pre-requisite requirements permitting (30 credit points)
Second year (120 credit points)
In their second year students study
- 4 second year core subjects, listed below (60 credit points)
- 4 second year elective subjects, either from the Faculty or from anywhere in the university, pre-requisite requirements permitting (60 credit points)
Third year (120 credit points)
In their third year students study
- 4 third year core subjects, listed below (60 credit points)
- 4 third year elective subjects, either from the Faculty or from anywhere in the university, pre-requisite requirements permitting (60 credit points)
| Teaching period | Requirements | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First year | ||||
| TE-SEM-1 | MST1CCO | MST1MTN | Elective | Elective |
| TE-SEM-2 | HUS1TIN | JRN1WFM | Elective | Elective |
| Second year | ||||
| TE-SEM-1 | JRN2PAS | JRN2CAJ | Elective | Elective |
| TE-SEM-2 | JRN2DIJ | JRN2JPW | Elective | Elective |
| Third year | ||||
| TE-SEM-1 | MST3MIN | JRN3BEJ | Elective | Elective |
| TE-SEM-2 | JRN3AJP | JRN3AJD | Elective | Elective |
Core subjects
| Teaching period | Subject title | Subject code |
|---|---|---|
| First year (15 credit points) | ||
| TE-SEM-1 | Constructing Communication | MST1CCO |
| TE-SEM-1 | Making the News | MST1MTN |
| TE-SEM-2 | The Interview | HUS1TIN |
| TE-SEM-2 | Writing for Media | JRN1WFM |
| Second year (15 credit points) | ||
| TE-SEM-1 | Journalism Research | JRN2CAJ |
| TE-SEM-1 | Press and Society | JRN2PAS |
| TE-SEM-2 | Dilemmas in Journalism | JRN2DIJ |
| TE-SEM-2 | Online Journalism Production | JRN2JPW |
| Third year (15 credit points) | ||
| TE-SEM-1 | Broadcast Journalism | JRN3BEJ |
| TE-SEM-1 | Media Industries | MST3MIN |
| TE-SEM-2 | Advanced Journalism Design | JRN3AJD |
| TE-SEM-2 | Advanced Journalism Practice | JRN3AJP |
Elective subjects
First-year electives
Students choose four first-year elective subjects. Students can choose their elective subjects from any discipline offered by the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences however, as knowledge of the Australian political system will be assumed in some journalism subjects, Bachelor of Journalism students are strongly advised to enrol in Australian Politics: government and society (POL1AUP) as one of their electives in the first semester of first year. It is also possible, with permission, for two electives to be chosen from subjects offered by other Faculties of the University.
Second and Third-year electives
Students choose four elective subjects at both second and third-year. Students may choose to continue with the disciplines they have undertaken at first-year level or may choose to take additional media studies subjects. See the complete listing of subjects 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 subjects; and in particular, distinction in third year media subjects. Prospective students should make their interest known to the Journalism 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 subjects at fourth year level, a seminar presentation, and a 12,000 to 15,000 word thesis. The second pathway requires the completion of two coursework subjects 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 Journalism entry in the Postgraduate Handbook.
For further information please contact the Program Office, Humanities 2 Room 224, Phone: 03 9479 2499 Email: journalism@latrobe.edu.au