Digital Communication and Culture

Coursework

Digital media are implicated in many recent transformations in culture, communication, creativity, politics, consumption, work, play and everyday life. The Digital Cultures postgraduate coursework programs investigate the interplay between cultural change and technological innovations. We take a critical and transdisciplinary approach, framing technologies in social, historical and political contexts.

The Digital Communication and Culture programs are aimed at people pursuing careers in fields where digital media are bringing the greatest changes. These include media, education, museums, web, marketing, publishing, creative industries, social media, mobile media, communications and computer games.

The core units explore key themes in Digital Cultures:

• ARIN6902 Internet Cultures and Governance
• ARIN6903 Digital Media and Society
• ARIN6904 Mobile Media and Games
• ARIN6905 New Media Audiences

Students also choose from over 30 electives in a wide range of disciplines**.

These include units from the Department of Media and Communications (online journalism, social marketing, social media communication, editing and manuscript preparation, podcasting); English; Sydney College of the Arts (digital effects); Interaction Design and Electronic Arts (design programming, interface design and design thinking); Museum Studies; School of IT; cybersecurity; Linguistics; US Studies; Gender and Cultural Studies; Writing (professional writing, professional editing); and Research (doing social research, research methods).

** For some of these units you may need to demonstrate relevant competencies.

Capstone experience:
Towards the end of their degree, students in the Master of Digital Communication and Culture complete a capstone experience. This can be:

• an internship organised by the Department of Media and Communications (MECO6928) (requires departmental permission, high credit average and skills test); or
• a professional project (MECO6935); or
• an advanced media project (1 semester: MECO6932. Prerequisites required); or
• a dissertation over two semesters investigating some aspect of cultural change associated with digital technologies (requires departmental permission based on a research proposal and availability of a supervisor in the Department).

Awards and requirements

Please refer to the course rules in this handbook for information on the specific admission requirements for different coursework award courses.

Master of Digital Communication and Culture
Candidates for the Master of Digital Communication and Culture must complete 72 credit points typically including:

• 24 credit points of core units of study
• 42 credit points from elective units of study
• 6 credit points of capstone units of study

Graduate Diploma in Digital Communication and Culture
Candidates for the Graduate Diploma in Digital Communication and Culture must complete 48 credit points typically including:

• 24 credit points of core units of study
• 24 credit points from elective units of study

Graduate Certificate in Digital Communication and Culture
Candidates for the Graduate Certificate in Digital Communication and Culture must complete 24 credit points typically including:

• a minimum of 12 credit points of core units of study
• a maximum of 12 credit points from elective units of study (you can take additional core units)

Candidates who have completed previous study in a relevant discipline, or have relevant professional experience may be eligible for a reduction in the requirements in accordance with the table below.

Contact

Department of Media and Communications website: http://sydney.edu.au/arts/media_communications/
School of Literature, Art and Media website: http://sydney.edu.au/arts/slam/

Degree Coordinator: Dr Chris Chesher
Phone: +61 2 9036 6173
Email: