Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Advanced Studies (Media and Communications)
The Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Advanced Studies (Media and Communications) offers students professional training in the main areas of media production and an advanced education in the history and theory of the field. Core units of study focus on media production, the structure of the media and communications industries, the media's role in culture and politics, and contemporary legal and ethical issues prevalent in the field. You will explore these areas through a diverse range of disciplinary perspectives with relevant critical theories and develop in-depth professional skills in the fields of written news and feature journalism, audio, video, social media and public relations. In the fourth or Advanced Studies year, you will study project-based scenarios in media organisations, undertake an industry internship and complete either a major media project or research essay.
The four-year Advanced Studies in Media and Communications program is specifically designed to equip students with key skills for entry into multi-platform journalism, media regulation, public policy, public relations and corporate communications. This also qualifies our students to apply to a variety of competitive international graduate programs that require the completion of a four-year undergraduate degree for entry.
Degree structure and Requirements
Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Advanced Studies (Media and Communications)
The Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Advanced Studies requirements are listed under the relevant coursework page.
The Media and Communications stream requirements are listed in the Media and Communications unit of study table.
Honours
The Media and Communications honours year is a preparation for postgraduate study. Honours can be the culmination of your formal education, an experience that extends your intellectual range, hones your research abilities, as well as analytical and communication techniques, and helps you to develop the personal and professional skills needed to see a research project though to completion.
Honours can also be the first step on a path to a career as an academic or professional researcher. The honours year comprises seminar classes and work toward a short thesis on an independent research project under the supervision of an academic staff member who is an expert in the field of your research.
Honours admission requirements
If you commenced your degree prior to 2018: Admission to Honours requires completion of Media and Communications, with an average of 70 percent or above.
If you commenced your degree in 2018 or later: Admission to Honours is via the Bachelor of Advanced studies and requires the completion of a second major and a completion of Media and Communications, with an average of 70 percent or above. Including the following:
- 24 credit points of 1000-level major and program core units
- 24 credit points of 2000-level major and program core units
- 18 credit points of 3000-level major and program core units
- 6 credit points of 3000-level Interdisciplinary Project unit
Prior to commencing Honours, you will need to ensure you have completed all other requirements of the Bachelor of Arts, including Open Learning Environment (OLE) units.
Requirements and units of study for honours can be found on the Media and Commuication honours units of study page.
Advanced Coursework
Requirements and units of study for advanced coursework can be found on the Media and Commuication advanced coursework units of study page.
Dalyell stream
The Dalyell stream is a targeted stream for high achievers. Students who participate in the Dalyell stream are known as the ‘Dalyell Scholars’. As a Dalyell Scholar students will have access to curricular and extra-curricular activities.
Dalyell Scholars must take 12 credit points of Dalyell stream units in addition to their degree requirements.
Dalyell stream units emphasise the development of vision, depth of understanding, adaptability, breadth of perspective, societal contribution and a high level of capability in operating across disciplinary and cultural boundaries. Dalyell Scholars may take Dalyell stream units offered by any faculty.
Additionally with the permission of the Dalyell Program Director, students will have access to enrichment and accelerated units of study that can be competed as electives.
For further details regarding the Dalyell stream, please refer to the Interdisciplinary Studies Handbook.
Pre-2018 Curriculum students
Students who started their current degree prior to 2018 should follow the requirements (such as 36cp majors) listed in the handbook of the year they commenced the degree.
For example, a student who started their Bachelor of Arts in 2017 should follow the 2017 Handbook requirements. Handbooks for previous years are located in the Handbook Archive.
Available units of study will appear in the unit of study enrolment task screens in Sydney Student.
Table O - Open Learning Environment (OLE)
Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Advanced Studies (Media and Communications) are required to complete at least 12 credit points in units of study from the Open Learning Environment (OLE) to meet the requirements for their degree/s.
Details of available OLE units can be found in Table O in the Interdisciplinary Studies Handbook.
Table S - Interdisciplinary Studies (Shared pool)
Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Advanced Studies (Media and Communications) can complete a second major or minor in a wide range of subject areas offered by the University of Sydney through the shared pool of majors and minors.
The available subject areas for majors and minors and their requirements can be found in the Interdisciplinary Studies Handbook.
The following areas offer majors and minors in this shared pool:
- Architecture and Interaction Design
- Business, Marketing and Commerce
- Engineering and Information Technologies
- Health, Medicine and Dentistry
- Music; and
- Science, Agriculture, Environment and Veterinary Science.
Electives
Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Advanced Studies (Media and Communications) can complete elective units of study from the subject areas listed in Table A (Arts and Social Sciences) and Table S (shared pool).
The available units of study are listed in Table A Subject Areas of this handbook and Table S in the Interdisciplinary Studies handbook.
Example pathway
Media and Communications program and major pathway
| Year and Semester | Units of study | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st year | S1 | Major core: MECO1001 Introduction to Media Studies | Program core: MECO1004 Introduction to Meda Production | Elective unit/Open Learning Environment (OLE) | 1000-level unit in another major from Table A or Table S |
| S2 | Major core: MECO1002 Media and Communication Landscapes | Program core: MECO1003 Principles of Media Writing | Elective unit/Open Learning Environment (OLE) | 1000-level unit in another major from Table A or Table S | |
| 2nd year | S1 | Major core: MECO2601 Media Production: Audio Design & Podcasting | Major core: MECO2604 Telling Stores with Data | Elective unit/Open Learning Environment (OLE) | 1000-level unit in another major from Table A or Table S |
| S2 | Major core: MECO2602 Media Production: Video | Program core: MECO2603 Public Relations | Elective unit/Open Learning Environment (OLE) | 2000 or 3000-level unit in another major from Table A or Table S | |
| 3rd year | S1 | Major core: MECO3603 Media, Law and Ethics | Program core: MECO3606 Media Production: Advanced Media Writing | Elective unit/Open Learning Environment (OLE) | 2000 or 3000-level unit in another major from Table A or Table S |
| S2 | Major core: MECO3605 Issues in Global & Digital Media | Interdisciplinary project unit: MECO3999 Interdisciplinary Impact | Elective unit/Open Learning Environment (OLE) | 3000-level unit in another major from Table A or Table S | |
|
4th year advanced coursework |
S1 | MECO4116 Research Practives | MECO4115 Media & Communications Internship | FASS4901 Advanced Industry and Community Project A | 3000-level unit in another major from Table A or Table S |
| S2 | MECO4117 Critical Practice | FASS4902 Advanced Industry and Community Project B | Elective unit/Open Learning Environment (OLE) | 3000-level unit in another major from Table A or Table S | |
| OR | |||||
|
4th year honours* |
S1 | MECO4113 Theoretical Traditions and Innovations | MECO4114 Research Methods | MECO4115 Media & Communications Internship | MECO4021 Media and Communication Honours Thesis 1 |
| S2 | MECO4022 Media and Communication Honours Thesis 2 | ||||
*If intending to complete honours, the second major from Table A/Table S must be completed by S2, Year 3.