Program summary
Program overview
Admission requirements
Program structure
Program requirements
Enquiries

Program summary

Award abbreviation: MComn
Degree type: postgraduate coursework program
Duration: one year minimum, 2 years maximum full-time, 2 years minimum, 4 years maximum part-time. Students may apply and start throughout the year, subject to program requirements
Fee type: domestic fee-paying places, international fee-paying places
Total courses: 12
Modes of study: on campus only
Commence: Semester 1 or Semester 2
Program code: AR841
CRICOS code: 057539F

Program overview

This coursework-based Master's degree is designed for students wanting to develop professional standing in the rapidly expanding field of professional communication. The degree is particularly designed to assist postgraduate students who have studied in fields or disciplines other than communications in their undergraduate degrees who wish to make a transition to journalism, professional writing, editing, or public relations. Many media organisations place a premium on recruiting staff with degrees in fields such as science, law and business who also have postgraduate qualifications in relevant fields of communication.

The program offers opportunities to specialise in the broad area of Communication Studies or specific fields including Journalism, Public Relations and Creative Writing. Overall, students undertake the equivalent of 12 courses. After completing 8 courses, 5 of which are chosen as electives, students complete a research task in which they may choose to either: 1. Research for and write a thesis of 16,000 to 20,000 words, or 2. Complete an industry-based research project. The research component involves individualised research relevant to each student's key area(s) of interest as professional communicators and is equivalent in value to four courses.

Students may enrol at the start of any of the University's three semesters. They attend lectures and tutorials with undergraduate students but learning and assessment tasks are commensurate with their postgraduate standing. Research components of the program must be approved by the program coordinator and based on the availability of supervisory staff with relevant expertise. Because of their postgraduate standing, students undertaking this degree are exempt from many (but not all) course prerequisites although they must complete compulsory courses in their selected areas of specialisation.

Admission requirements

Candidates for the award of Master of Communication are normally required to hold a Bachelor's degree or a relevant Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma. To be eligible to undertake this degree, students must not have undertaken a previous degree in communication, journalism, creative writing or public relations; or a major or minor in any of the foregoing fields of study. Students cannot undertake any course in this degree that they have completed previously at an undergraduate level. Students who have completed a Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma in communication, journalism, creative writing or public relations may apply to receive advanced standing into this award for coursework components only. No advanced standing may be awarded for the thesis component.

Advanced standing

Students with an undergraduate degree

No advanced standing will be granted to students with an undergraduate qualification.

Students with postgraduate qualifications

Students who have completed relevant postgraduate subjects may apply for advanced standing up to a maximum of 50% for the Master of Communication.

Program structure

Students may undertake courses in the broad area of Communication Studies or specialise in the fields of Creative Writing, Journalism, or Public Relations. Students must complete two required courses and a research project or thesis. Course selections depend on chosen fields of study as follows:

Required courses

Please note: students must discuss coursework selection with the program coordinator and receive written approval prior to enrolment through Student Administration.

2 required courses:
CMN510 Australian Media Industries: Introduction to Communication Studies
CMN574 Research Design: Methodology and Literature Review

Electives

Select 6 courses from the 4 options, as follows:

Option 1: Creative Writing
CMN515 Creative Writing A: Structuring Narrative
Plus select 5 courses from:
CMN538 Creative Writing D: Paperback Hero
CMN541 Production Workshop (Creative Writing 1)
CMN545 Creative Writing C: Writing for Children and Young Adults
CMN560 Creative Writing B: Novel Ideas
CMN566 Creativity and Literature: Chaucer to Romantics
CMN567 Creativity and Literature: Victorians to Moderns
CMN571 Production Workshop (Creative Writing 2)
AUS585 Wonderworlds
AUS591 Otherlands

Option 2: Journalism
CMN535 News Writing: Print and Broadcast
Plus select 5 courses from:
CMN513 Editing for the Communications Professional
CMN514 Computer-Assisted Reporting
CMN527 News Rounds
CMN528 The Writer and the Law
CMN533 Non-Fiction Writing for the Small Screen
CMN537 Writing for the Web
CMN540 Digital Photojournalism and Feature Writing
CMN542 Production Workshop (Journalism)
CMN556 Research into Australian Journalism
CMN572 Industry Research project (Journalism)
INT570 Politics and the Media

Option 3: Public Relations
CMN550 Media Relations
Plus select 5 courses from:
CMN512 Creative Event Management
CMN513 Editing for the Communications Professional
CMN531 Communication Campaign Planning
CMN526 Advertising: Copy and Image
CMN528 The Writer and the Law
CMN529 Media and Promotion: Tourism and Hospitality
CMN530 Business Communication
CMN543 Production Workshop (Professional Communication)
CMN551 International Communication

Option 4: Communication Studies
Select 1 course from:
CMN515 Creative Writing A: Structuring Narrative
CMN535 News Writing: Print and Broadcast
CMN550 Media Relations
Plus select 5 courses from (provided prerequisite equivalency has been approved by the course coordinator):
CMN511 Small Screen, Big Business: The Television Industry
CMN512 Creative Event Management
CMN513 Editing for the Communications Professional
CMN514 Computer-Assisted Reporting
CMN526 Advertising: Copy and Image
CMN528 The Writer and the Law
CMN529 Media and Promotion: Tourism and Hospitality
CMN530 Business Communication
CMN531 Communication Campaign Planning
CMN533 Non-Fiction Writing for the Small Screen
CMN537 Writing for the Web
CMN538 Creative Writing D: Paperback Hero
CMN540 Digital Photojournalism and Feature Writing
CMN541 Production Workshop (Creative Writing 1)
CMN542 Production Workshop (Journalism)
CMN543 Production Workshop (Professional Communication)
CMN545 Creative Writing C: Writing for Children and Young Adults
CMN551 International Communication
CMN556 Research into Australian Journalism
CMN560 Creative Writing B: Novel Ideas
CMN566 Creativity and Literature: Chaucer to Romantics
CMN567 Creativity and Literature: Victorians to Moderns
CMN571 Production Workshop (Creative Writing 2)
AUS585 Wonderworlds
AUS591 Otherlands
ENP540 Interpretation: Environment, Heritage and Tourism
INT570 Politics and the Media

Thesis or industry research project

The thesis or industry research project is to be equivalent to 4 courses.

Program requirements

Students are required to successfully complete 12 courses as specified in the Master of Communication program structure. Refer to the Academic Rules for further information.

Enquiries

Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Tel: +61 7 5430 1259