Bachelor of Communication (Journalism)

The purpose of the Journalism program is to prepare you for the global multimedia news industry.

RMIT is committed to providing you with an education that strongly links formal face to face learning with professional or vocational practice.The program balances strong, relevant, practical teaching with theory-based reflective learning.

This includes examination of the history of journalism, the role of journalists in society and the ethics which govern the profession.

In your third year you will undertake a journalism internship.While you are acquiring professional journalism skills, you will also critically analyse the profession.

In addition, you will be able to work in Australia and overseas in all fields of journalism including newspapers, magazines, specialist publications, radio, television, online and in related areas in the corporate and public sectors.In the final year of your program, you will participate in journalism practice - including newsroom activities and an industry placement - and a capstone course, which is designed to enable you to synthesise and integrate knowledge, connect theory and practice and to produce a professional profile and portfolio of published work.

Year One of Program

Complete the following Five (5) Courses:

Complete Two (2) Courses in the first block of the Contextual Study area of your choice. Please refer to the list of Contextual Studies options which can be found after the Year Three Course list.

AND

Year Two of Program

Complete the following Three (3) Courses:

Complete two (2) courses in the second block of the Contextual Study area of your choice. Please refer to the list of Contextual Studies options which can be found after the Year Three course list.

Complete One (1) Course from the School Options list that you have not taken or passed already. Please refer to the list of School Option courses at the end of this program structure document.

AND

Year Three of Program

Complete the following Three (3) Courses:

Complete One (1) Course in the last block of the Contextual Study area of your choice. Please refer to the list of Contextual Studies options which can be found after the Year Three course list.

Select and Complete Two (2) Courses from:

AND (

Contextual Studies: Approaches to Popular Culture

Year One: Select and Complete One (1) of the following Courses:

Year Two: Select and Complete Two (2) of the following Courses:

Year Three: Select and complete Two (2) of the following Courses:

OR

Contextual Studies: Asian Media and Culture

Year One: Select and complete One (1) of the following Courses:

Year Two: Select and Complete Two (2) of the following Courses:

Year Three: Select and complete Two (2) of the following Courses:

OR

Contextual Studies: Cinema Studies

Year One: Select and complete One (1) of the following Courses:

Year Two: Select and Complete Two (2) of the following Courses:

Year Three: Select and complete Two (2) of the following Courses:

OR

Contextual Studies: Literary Studies

Year One: Select and complete One (1) of the following Courses:

Year Two: Select and Complete Two (2) of the following Courses:

Year Three: Select and complete Two (2) of the following Courses:

OR

Contextual Studies: Politics, Economies and Communication

Year One: Select and complete One (1) of the following Courses:

Year Two: Select and Complete Two (2) of the following Courses:

Year Three: Select and complete Two (2) of the following Courses:

) AND

School Options:

School Options: Note: All Courses listed may not be available each semester:

You must have successfully completed an Australian Year 12 (or equivalent senior secondary school) qualification.

For equivalents to Australian academic entry requirements, see the Country Equivalency web page on the RMIT website.

Prerequisites

Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 30 in any English.

International English language requirement

A minimum IELTS (Academic module) overall score of 6.5, with no band less than 6.0, or equivalent. For equivalents to English entry requirements, see the English equivalents web page

Selection task

If you are not currently studying year 12 you must submit a personal statement outlining:

• your reasons for wanting to study this program
• why is the job of a journalist so important to society now
• details of any relevant work experience (including work published or broadcast)

If you do not submit a personal statement you will be considered on the basis of academic achievement only, e.g. ATAR.

Shortlisted applicants will be contacted to attend an interview.

Through a combination of reflective, theory-based learning and practical training you will develop the skills you will need for entry into the print, television, radio or online news media. In addition, you will examine and analyse the theories and ethics that underpin journalism in the modern multimedia environment.

An understanding of broader cultural, historical and theoretical issues will be developed through your Contextual Studies courses.

On completion of the program, you will be able to:

• Discuss and analyse major evolving local and international events.
• Develop practical and technical skills to quickly adapt to current and future changes in the industry
• Apply a body of theoretical and practical knowledge and specific skills in journalism in which to base your professional practice or future study
• Critically analyse, synthesize and reflect on your discipline in both local and international contexts
• Demonstrate creativity, critical thinking and innovation when identifying and solving problems in diverse contexts within the discipline
• Communicate using diverse formats and strategies to audiences within and external to your discipline
• Work with others in a range of roles and contexts, demonstrating cultural, environmental and social awareness and ethical and reflective practice
• Apply initiative and judgment in planning, problem solving and decision making in your practice or future study
• Identify, evaluate and critically analyse cultural, historical and theoretical practices which contextualise your professional practice and further study