Global Utilities

La Trobe University
University Handbook 2012

Bachelor of Media Studies

Course code/s: ABMS Melbourne

The Bachelor of Media Studies is a vocationally oriented degree and consists of 360 credit points that can be completed in three years full-time study, part-time enrolment is also available. After first year, students must choose to follow one stream. Streams offered are, writing, audio-radio, and video/television. Subject to availability of places, students can take up to one additional production subject in place of an elective subject.

Principal areas of specialisation

Principal areas of specialisation are video/television and radio/audio production (theory and analysis), the history and analysis of Australian media and popular culture, cultural and social implications of media (including digital technologies and social media), small screen and mobile media, network cultures, (including games and the internet), study of media publics, media in education, the role of gender in media production and representation, documentary theory and production.

Once you have chosen your stream subjects, you can then choose your production subjects from the other streams.

Course structure

If you have chosen the Video/Television stream at 3rd year level, we strongly encourage you to complete CST3DOC Documentary Production as your elective subject.

Teaching period Requirements
  First year
TE-SEM-1 MST1CCO MST1MTN CST1IFA Elective
TE-SEM-2 MST1AAC HUS1ECM Elective Elective
  Second year
TE-SEM-1 MST2RTM Stream subject Production subject Elective
TE-SEM-2 Elective Stream subject Production subject Elective
  Third year
TE-SEM-1 MST3MIN JRN3BEJ Stream subject Elective
TE-SEM-2 MST3MPD MST3RMA 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-1 Introduction to Screen & Sound Analysis CST1IFA
TE-SEM-2 Audiences and Communication MST1AAC
TE-SEM-2 Exploring Creative Media HUS1ECM
Second year (15 credit points)
TE-SEM-1 Researching the Media MST2RTM
Third year (15 credit points)
TE-SEM-1 Media Industries MST3MIN
TE-SEM-1 Broadcast Journalism JRN3BEJ
TE-SEM-2 Researching Media Audiences MST3RMA
TE-SEM-2 Media Project Development MST3MPD

Stream subjects

Second year (15credit points)

Teaching period Subject title Subject code
Writing stream
TE-SEM-1 Journalism Research JRN2CAJ
TE-SEM-2 Online Journalism Production JRN2JPW
Radio/audio stream
TE-SEM-2 Writing for Radio MST2WFR
TE-SEM-2 Radio Sound Podcasts MST2RSP
Video/television stream
TE-SEM-1 Writing for Video – Non-fiction MST2WFV
TE-SEM-2 Shooting Shorts for Screen Productions: An Introduction to Screen Production MST2SCV

Third year (15 credit points)

Teaching period Subject title Subject code
Writing stream
TE-SEM-1 Broadcast Journalism JRN3BEJ
TE-SEM-2 Advanced Journalism and Design JRN3AJD
Radio/audio stream
TE-SEM-1 Broadcast Journalism JRN3BEJ
TE-SEM-2 Advanced Media Production – Radio MST3MPR
Video/television stream
TE-SEM-1 Broadcast Journalism JRN3BEJ
TE-SEM-2 Media Production Studio MST3MPT

Elective subjects

See the complete listing under the Media Studies section 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 Media 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 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 Media studies/Media Arts entry in the Postgraduate Handbook.

For further information please contact the Program Office, Humanities 2 Room 224, Phone: 03 9479 2616, Email: media@latrobe.edu.au