1997 Swinburne Higher Education Handbook

society, economy and government in an international
context. This takes a full year of study, consisting of
AS100 Sociology 1A and AS101 Sociology 1B.
Students are required to take two stage two subjects to
pursue a major in sociology. Students intending to major
in sociology are strongly advised to include AS204 Models
of Sociological Analysis as one of the subjects.
At stage three, students completing a major must take
AS306 Methodology of Social Research plus two of the
other subjects offered. Not all of the optional stage two and
stage three subjects are run in any one year. Please check
the current timetable.
Students not majoring in sociology may apply to do any
first, second or third year sociology subject.
5 Students who do well in their undergraduate work may
apply to be admitted to the Bachelor of Arts (Honours)
4 course in Social Science.
For students intending to pursue a career in research and
policy analysis, we offer the Graduate Diploma in Urban
Research and Policy. A Master of Arts by coursework in
Urban Research and Policy is also offered.
:. A Graduate Certificate in Housing Management and
9
ID
Policy is available for those students seeking to develop a
-
V)
set of practical skills relevant for employment within
? government and non-government housing organisations.
Details for all these postgraduate studies can be found in
the chapter on postgraduate courses.
$:
rn
Subjects offered
3
a Stage 1
AS100 Sociology 1A
9. AS101 Sociology 1B
0 Stage 2
3
AS204 Models of Sociological Analysis
AS205 Sociology of Deviance and Social Control
AS206 Sex and Gender in Society
Stage 3
AS300 Urban Sociology
AS302 Sociology of Organisations
AS303 Current Issues in Sociology
AS306 Methodology of Social Research
AS307 Social Research and Policy
AS308 Migration and Ethnicity
NOS
Bachelor of Arts (Media and
Communications)
As the twentieth century draws to a close, the study of the
media and its place in the technological revolution emerges
as the most significant issue for the future. Questions
about the nature of communication and its social and
ethical consequences become crucial to our survival,
whether we're dealing with the Internet or with TV news.
Media studies at Swinburne falls into three overlapping
groups:
textual analysis, which is concerned with the various
ways in which we make sense of film and media
materials (TV, print, new media);
the study of the political economy of media and
telecommunications, dealing with issues such as
ownership and control of the media and the cultural
impact of new technologies; and
hands-on subjects in which the emphasis is on
publishing, radio production and workplace experience
(these are available only after successful completion of
the appropriate prerequisites).
Offering a uniquely broad-based education in the media
and associated industries, the media studies course is
primarily taught by people who have had extensive workplace
experience (in publishing, the print media and radio)
and who share the belief that the student best equipped to
face the vagaries of the workplace is the one who has a
general as well as a specialised appreciation of how it
operates.
Students need to understand how the media works, to be
able to recognise the place it occupies within the broader
social context, to be skilled at thinking for themselves, and
to be informed and flexible in their approaches to the
kinds of problem-solving that are crucial in the
development of a professional career.
The Media Studies major consists of a minimum of six
subjects over three stages, with students taking at least the
compulsory subject Texts and Contexts (ALM104) at stage
one followed by two stage two and three stage three
subjects. Each subject involves three hours a week of class
time plus a similar amount of private study.
Career opportunities
Media Studies is a vital ingredient if you are interested in a
career as a journalist or a radio producer, or work in
public relations or communications research.
The experience of past students has been that, even if they
are not always directly employed in a media industry, the
knowledge acquired about the media during the course has
had many useful applications for them, both professionally
and personally.
Duration
The course is normally completed in three years of fulltime
study or five years of part-time study.
Course structure
The Bachelor of Arts (Media and Communications) is a
three-stage program divided into a number of semester
subjects. Full-time students usually take eight semester
subjects at stage one and six at stages two and three. Parttime
students usually take four semester subjects each year.
Evening classes are offered in most subjects. Students can
choose whether they attend classes during the day, evening
or a combination of both (subject to availability ofplaces).
In most subjects, assessment is by a combination of class
tests, essays and examinations. Students are informed of
assessment requirements for each subject during the first
week of classes.