Bachelor of Media and Communication

For the completion of the Bachelor of Media and Communication, students are required to complete a total of 24 units (300 credit points) consisting of:

• Four [4] Core units (50 credit points)
• Eight [8] Social Media Major (100 credit points)
• Twelve [12] Component units (150 credit points) comprising of a/an co-major, advanced minor, minor/s and/or electives

Core units

MDA10001 Introduction to Media Studies

This unit introduces students to the fundamentals of media studies, focusing on texts, contexts, and the history of media and media studies. This enables students to understand the significant contribution that the media make to the formation of society and culture.

MDA10008 Global Media Industries

This unit explores worldwide trends in various media industries. It provides students with the skills and knowledge to work internationally in design, marketing, media regulation, content creation and management, telecommunications, and journalism.

MDA10012 Communicating with Data

Data shapes our everyday lives through media and communication technologies such as video streaming services, dating apps, online shopping, infographics, gaming and sport statistics. The aim of this unit is to teach students the foundations of reading, writing, and communicating with data. This involves understanding the role of data in media technologies and industries, understanding the role data has in our society and culture, and understanding how to identify both visible and invisible data. Students will learn how to deconstruct complex ideas and debates around data and communicate them effectively to multiple audiences and stakeholders. Students will learn how to identify how data can be used as a powerful communication tool.

MDA 10018 Content Creator Lab

The Content Creator Lab aims to introduce students to audio, photographic, and video content production theories and techniques in a dynamic and collaborative setting. Students will explore key historical developments in visual and audio storytelling techniques and the theoretical principles evolving from these emergent narrative forms. Using contemporary mobile-driven technologies and platforms, students will apply their developing understanding of narrative and aesthetic practice to a series of ‘sprint’ productions optimised for social platforms and the fast-paced production environments of today’s content creators.

Social Media Major

MDA10015 Social Media Strategy (replacing MDA10006 Innovation Cultures)

This unit examines different social media platforms from a socio-technical perspective. It introduces students to contemporary debates about regulation, moderation and management of social media. Students will draw on industry-standard strategies and techniques to manage social media channels and provide appropriate content strategies to engage audiences.

MDA10013 Digital Self/ Digital Community (replacing MDA20009 Digital Communities)

In this unit, we examine connections. As we brand ourselves as individuals on social media, we also create communities. From fan cultures and live streaming to activism and politics, our social media platforms have become a powerful tool of connection but also of conflict. What types of social media engagement help to form these emerging online communities? This unit equips students with the capacity to understand the risks and opportunities of managing the social media self as it functions within the digital community.

MDA20014 Media & Social Impact (replacing MDA20025 National Media in A Globalised World AND equivalent to MDA30022 Social Media, Social Impact)

Historically, one of the difficulties faced by all organisations and groups, from corporations to social justice campaigners, has been getting their messages reported clearly, accurately and effectively through mainstream media channels. As the mainstream media contracts and its audiences fragment, getting a story heard now requires understanding how to make media that will have an impact. This unit provides students with a critical, historical overview of media products and strategies used in industry, government, not-for-profit and community organisations to achieve social and behavioural change. Through a collaborative, real-world project, students will develop and implement a media product that advocates for social change.

MDA20028 Business of Media and Entrepreneurship (replacing MDA20003 Networked Selves)

This unit explores the social, ethical and practical dimensions of media as an economic activity. The unit uses a series of case studies to investigate the diversity of business models that underpin traditional and emerging forms of media and examines how the media functions with respect to other social, political and economic institutions. Students will be introduced to various skills and concepts crucial to understanding and operating within contemporary media businesses.

JOU2007 Interactive Storytelling (replacing MDA20011 Sports / Advertising / Media)

This unit teaches students about journalistic-style audio and video storytelling for media and non-media organisations, using established and new technologies and media platforms. Students will gain in-field story-telling experience and learn how to deliver multi-media content using the latest technologies to online audiences. This unit also provides students with live studio production and presentation experience in preparation for working in the media industry.

MDA20026  Media Analytics and Visualisation (replacing MDA30017)

This unit focuses on the strategic and business value of media analytics and visualisation. Students will learn about evidence-based decision-making, data analytics and visualisation, and tools and techniques required to collect, clean, analyse, and visualise qualitative, quantitative, and social network data. They will be able to apply what they have learned in real-world settings.

MDA30012 Researching Social Media Publics

Social media applications and platforms are increasingly defining the way we communicate. This unit introduces research methodologies for analysing such sites of social media practice. It is part of the social media major and minor and works as a pathway to postgraduate study.

MDA30021 Social Media Industry Project (Replacing MDA30007 Media and Communication Project B)

Students undertaking a social media project are supervised in both the design and implementation of an industry project or can choose to undertake work experience. This subject is designed to extend the skills acquired by students in the social media major and to provide them with an opportunity to gain experience in the workplace.

Social Media Minor Units

• MDA10015 Social Media Strategy
• MDA20028 Business of Media and Entrepreneurship
• MDA10013 Digital Self/Digital Community
• MDA30012 Researching Social Media Publics

Component units

Students are required to undertake 12 component units from any of these disciplines: Communication Design, Motion Design, Marketing, Management, International Business, Entrepreneurship, and Digital Marketing.