Master of Media and Communication

The world of media and communication is changing at breakneck speed.

Get one step ahead of the change with our Master of Media and Communication.

In this course, theory meets practice.

You’ll gain a range of media production skills and the digital technology, professional development, research and project management skills that can take your career to the next level.

Choose to specialise in media practice, strategic communication or social media management.

Plus, build your relationships with industry and external stakeholders before you graduate with an industry-based media project.

Graduate ready to move up, or across, into a career in public relations, media and communications, journalism, publishing, broadcasting, production, radio, research or web development.

The Master of Media and Communication provides students with a broad range of theoretical and practical skills in media production. Students are equipped with a range of digital technology, professional development and project management skills that are applicable to diverse media organisations or independent media project work. Students have a choice of specialisations as well as the opportunity to work on a substantial industry-based media project that builds relationships with industry and external stakeholders.

• 7 core units of study (100 credit points) and
• 4 units from Specialisation 1 (50 credit points): Media Practice or Advanced Media Practice* and
• 4 units from Specialisation 2 (50 credit points): Advanced Media Practice**, Strategic Communication, or Social Media Management or another approved specialisation

*A student’s eligibility to take Advanced Media Practice as their first specialisation in Year 1 will be determined by the Course Director based on whether the student has completed previous undergraduate or postgraduate study in media and communication or if they have has more than five years relevant work experience.

Please note that a unit of study can only be counted once. Units normally carry 12.5 credit points. In each year, eight units normally constitute a full-time load of 100 credit points and four units normally constitute a part-time load of 50 credit points.

Units of study

Students must complete the following seven units (100 credit points):

MDA60008 Media Industries MDA60021 Media Ecologies MDA70003 Engaging Audiences MDA70005 Digital Cultures: Aesthetics, Markets, Industries MDA80012 Social Media Analytics * MDA80009 Data Research and Visualisation MDA80006 Media Industry Experience

Students must complete four units in one of the following specialisations (50 credit points).

JOU60004 Video Production Practice MDA60022 Audio and Broadcasting Practice MDA70001 Writing for Social and Mobile Media MDA60002 Multiplatform Media Production & Practice MDA70006 Advanced Video Production and Practice MDA70007 Advanced Audio and Broadcasting Practice MDA80010 Immersive Media Experiences MDA80007 Social Media Branding and Engagement

Students must complete four units in one of the following specialisations (50 credit points).

MDA70006 Advanced Video Production and Practice MDA70007 Advanced Audio and Broadcasting Practice MDA80010 Immersive Media Experiences MDA80007 Social Media Branding and Engagement COM60002 Communications Management PUB60001 Public Relations: Reputation to Risk MKT60010 Marketing Management ADV80001 Advertising in the 21st Century MDA60009 Social Media Management Project MKT60010 Marketing Management COM60002 Communications Management MDA80011 Social Media Networks and Communities

* Outcome units - matched exemptions are generally not granted for higher education outcome units.

• A recognised three-year Bachelor degree with a minimum average score of 60 per cent; or
• A recognised AQF level 8 qualification in a cognate area, such as the Graduate Certificate of Media and Communication
• Completion of the Postgraduate Qualifying Program (International Applicants only) with a minimum average score of 60%.

Upon successful completion of the Master of Media and Communication, graduates will be able to:

• use technical and analytical approaches to analyse contemporary media industry issues in diverse contexts
• critically evaluate media texts using advanced knowledge of media and communications concepts and practices
• interpret and communicate concepts and professional practice methodologies to specialist and non-specialist audiences
• deliver independent and collaborative projects with autonomy, creativity and initiative, drawing on media production knowledge and skills
• synthesise and integrate professional, research and theoretical skills in media and communications to design and implement scholarly and practical projects
• apply high level ethical reasoning, professional responsibility and accountability to others in the execution of scholarly and practical projects.

The Swinburne graduate attributes signify that Swinburne intends that its teaching programs assist all its graduates to be:

• capable in their chosen professional, vocational or study areas and have an ability to engage in critical enquiry
• entrepreneurial in contributing to innovation and development within their business, workplace or community
• effective and ethical in work, community situations and reasoning skills
• adaptable and able to manage change
• aware of local and international environments in which they will be contributing (e.g. sociocultural, economic, natural).