Honours - Media and Communication Studies

Honours

Honours in Media and Communication studies will give you the chance to both broaden and deepen your interest in an area of media and communication studies of your own choosing, by reading more widely in communication and media theory, and applying this reading to the analysis of those particular aspects of film, television, print media, journalism, public and organizational communication, new media and technologies and the Internet, which are of particular interest to you.

You will develop skills in communication research which you can either bring to further study in a Higher Degree by research or which can give you a competitive edge in the context of rapidly changing career opportunities requiring you to demonstrate excellent communication and critical analysis skills. Your reading and research in this year can be negotiated with your supervisor to mirror your own individual interests.

Career

If you are interested in pursuing a higher degree by research then an Honours year is often, in most universities, a formal requirement for admission. The skills in developing research questions in this year enables you to have the confidence to shape and frame more detailed and developed research in your higher degree. But those same skills can also be a distinct advantage if you choose to begin work in the many industries and workplaces that are constantly calling out for the very highest of communication skills and analytic thinking.

An Honours year, more than anything else, teaches you to be able to think critically and analytically, and whatever field of work you may be interested in, this ability is always at the very top of employer requirements.

Successful completion of an Honours degree also positions students for postgraduate study, whether immediately following or after settling into a career and wishing to develop further their expertise and prospects for professional advancement. Honours students have gone on to further study through Masters Degrees by Coursework, Masters Degrees by research, and PhD.

What is involved?

The recommended pattern would be to complete two core units (AAR410 and ALW492 or AAR411) and two reading units (ALW 484 or 485) (4 credit points), and thesis units (AAM 497, or AAM495 plus AAM 496) (4 credit points in total).

Honours thesis

The thesis (approx 10 -15,000 words) in a media and communication honours year would normally be a focussed analysis of some aspect of popular culture, media or communication, framed by a well developed theoretical position drawing upon established thinkers and analysts in the appropriate field.

The general direction of the thesis should be worked out in consultation with your supervisor at the start of the first semester in order to enable the two reading units you will take to be developed individually for you. The development of the two reading units and thesis in negotiation with your supervisor is a unique opportunity for you to individually shape the research you wish to spend your honours year doing to your own very specific interests.

Scholarships

May and Romeo Schiavon Honours Scholarship in Rural and Regional Journalism

This scholarship was established by the May and Romeo Schiavon Endowment to encourage students to undertake an honours project in regional journalism.  The Scholarship is valued at $5000 over one year. 

To be eligible for this scholarship you must be an Australian citizen or holder of an Australian permanent humanitarian visa and enrolled full-time in an honours degree with the Faculty of Arts and Education in a Commonwealth Supported Place undertaking a project in regional journalism.  The scholarship is awarded on academic achievement and submission of a proposal for an honours project in regional journalism.

For more details -www.deakin.edu.au/future-students/scholarships/schiavon.php

Further information

Further information including units of study can be found in the Deakin course search.

Honours booklet - Communication and Creative Arts

Contact details

General Honours Course Adviser

Dr Toija Cinque
Tel. (03) 9251 7470
toija.cinque@deakin.edu.au

Cluster Honours Course Adviser (Media and Communication)
Dr Brad Warren
brad.warren@deakin.edu.au
Tel (03) 9251 7331

Journalism Honours Advisers

Kristy Hess
kristy.hess@deakin.edu.au

Paul Bethell
paul.bethell@deakin.edu.au

Public Relations Honours Adviser

Ross Monaghan
Tel (03) 924 43967
ross.monaghan@deakin.edu.au