UDMCJOUR - BSc (Hons) Media, Communications and Journalism

The teaching and learning strategies of the course are informed by an understanding of learning as a process of enquiry positioned within a specific subject-based context. Students are expected to occupy an active role in the learning processes. Teaching methods assist students in this role and help them to take responsibility their learning. The course blends theoretical and practical elements which are integrated throughout the curriculum.

The course is taught using a combination of tradition, and innovative teaching methods, fostering problem-based and inquiry-based learning, and reflective engagement. This active learning is supported by a combination of lectures, workshops, seminars, tutorials and specially prepared online resources. Development of employability and professional practice is integrated into the curriculum. Students are encouraged to reflect on their learning process, preparing for knowledge creation, life-long learning and leadership.

A blended learning strategy is employed to enhance the learning experience, facilitate communication between students and tutors and develop collaboration among students. The Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) will be used as a platform to support online activities, facilitate formative assessment and related feedback, as well as a tool to integrate useful online learning materials provided by research institutions, academic publications, professional organisations and other relevant sources.

The BSc Media, Communications, and Journalism will provide a high-quality education for the media and journalism professionals of the future. The course aims to offer students a detailed understanding of the way that the news and media industries work, as well as teaching them the core skills needed for employment. It achieves this by providing opportunities development of expertise in a wide range of knowledge and skills from theoretical, practical, creative, critical and technical perspectives.

The programme aims to:

Prepare students for employment in a dynamic job market by equipping them with the skills and competencies to succeed as media professionals.

Offer students the opportunity to develop expertise in media and communications theories

Teach students the basic skills of journalism as with the aim of their either using those skills in their future professional life, or using their understanding of the working of the news media in other professional contexts

Enable students to understand the theoretical foundations of a range of media technologies, tools and resources, and to critique the social, cultural, political, ethical and organisational contexts of media and their uses.

Ensure that students recognize the way in which changes in technology are affecting the way the news and media industries work, and understand the economic, social, and cultural implications of that process.

Provide an opportunity to develop a range of transferable skills and competencies, and to develop their independent learning

The following learning outcomes incorporate and depend on systematic understanding of the key aspects of the knowledge base of media, communications and journalism, including a coherent and detailed knowledge of some specialist areas in depth.

On successful completion of this course students will be able to:

deploy accurately established techniques of analysis and enquiry within media, communications and journalism;

devise and sustain arguments, and/or to solve problems, using ideas and techniques, some of which are at the forefront of media, communications and journalism;

describe and comment upon particular aspects of current research, or equivalent advanced scholarship, in media, communications and journalism, recognising the uncertainty, ambiguity and limits of knowledge;

manage their own learning, and to make use of scholarly reviews and primary sources (for example, refereed research articles and/or original materials appropriate to media, communications and journalism);

apply the methods and techniques that they have learned to review, consolidate, extend and apply their knowledge and understanding, and to initiate and carry out projects;

critically evaluate arguments, assumptions, abstract concepts and data (that may be incomplete), to make judgements, and to frame appropriate questions to achieve a solution - or identify a range of solutions - to a problem;

communicate information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialist and non-specialist audiences;

exercise initiative and personal responsibility, including decision-making in complex and unpredictable contexts;

undertake appropriate further training of a professional or equivalent nature.

- Deploy accurately established techniques of analysis and enquiry within the fields of media and journalism:

SM4003 Media History (I)
SM4002 Media Theory (I)
Media, Law, and Ethics, Public Administration (P)
SM6P03 Media, Communications and Journalism DIssertation (A)

- Devise and sustain arguments, and/or to solve problems, using established academic and journalistic ideas and techniques:

Practical Journalism (I)
SM5004 Media, Citizens, and Communities (P)
SM6052 Media Power and Politics (A)
SM6P03 Media, Communications and Journalism DIssertation (A)

- Describe and comment upon particular aspects of current research, or equivalent advanced scholarship, media, communication, and journalism recognizing the uncertainty, ambiguity and limits of knowledge:

SM5001 Cultural Industries (I)
SM6002 International Communications (P)
SM6052 Media, Power, and Politics (P)
Political and Campaigning Journalism (P)
SM6005 World Cinema: Hollywood and Beyond (P)
SM6P03 Media, Communications and Journalism DIssertation (A)

- Manage their own learning, and to make use of scholarly reviews and primary sources (for example, refereed research articles and/or original materials appropriate to media and communications):

SM4002 Media Theory (I)
SM5004 Media, Citizens, and Communities
Practical Journalism (P)
SM6P03 Media, Communications and Journalism DIssertation (A)

- Apply the methods and techniques that they have learned to review, consolidate, extend and apply their knowledge and understanding, and to initiate and carry out projects:

Advanced Multimedia Skills (I)
Advanced Newsroom Production (P)
SM6P03 Media, Communications and Journalism DIssertation (A)

- Critically evaluate arguments, assumptions, abstract concepts and data (that may be incomplete), to make judgements, and to frame appropriate questions to achieve a solution - or identify a range of solutions - to a problem:

SM4003 Media History (I)
SM5001 Cultural Industries (P)
Media, Law, and Ethics, Public Administration (P)
SM6002 International Communications (A)
SM6005 World Cinema: Hollywood and Beyond (A)

- Communicate information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialist and non-specialist audiences:

Writing skills (I)
Practical journalism (I)
Advanced multimedia skills( P)
Data Journalism (P)
Advanced Newsroom Production (A)
SM6P03 Media, Communications and Journalism DIssertation (A)

- Exercise initiative and personal responsibility, including decision-making in complex and unpredictable contexts:

Writing skills (I)
Practical journalism (I)
Newsroom Production (P)
SM6P03 Media, Communications and Journalism DIssertation (A)

- Undertake appropriate further training of a professional or equivalent nature. Practical journalism (I)
SM4003 Media History (I)
SM5001 Cultural Industries (P)
Newsroom production (P)
Advanced Newsroom production (A)
SM6002 International Communications (A)
SM6P03 Media, Communications and Journalism DIssertation (A)

Communication, Media, Film and Cultural Studies

The course combines practice-based and theory-based modules, and through the curriculum aims to teach professional standard journalistic skills, analyse the media and communications sectors, and explore how these fit into contemporary industrialised societies. Relationships with other sectors of industry and national and transnational organizations are explored. Core modules require students to engage with both theory and practice in the field, and option module choices enable students to extend their expertise in specific areas of journalism, media, and communications. The dissertation module enables students to develop an in-depth understanding of a sector of their choice.

The course makes use of formative and summative assessment strategies. Self-assessment and reflection on the process of learning are part of the modules’ assessment strategies. Media and communications assessment is entirely coursework based, although journalism modules include timed, written, assessments designed to simulate the professional environment.

Assessment tools for each module are determined by the aims of the module and its learning outcomes. Students are expected to produce a mixture of written, visual and oral work and are required to demonstrate working within a team, working with different media and with multidisciplinary concepts.

Work-based learning and work experience is offered through the core module Media, Citizens and Communities. As a part of that module, students are required to undertake a work placement within a media organisation. Students may also take the work placement module in place of option modules. Students are encouraged to participate in the Study Abroad programme.

SM4002 Media Theory

SM4003 Media History

Practical Journalism

Writing Skills

SM5001 Cultural Industries

SM5004 Media, Citizens and Communities

Newsroom Production

SM6002 International Communications

SM6P03 Media, Communications and Journalism Dissertation

Advanced Newsroom Production

Graduates can find careers within news organisations, advertising, digital media, education, market research, media production and management, public relations and publishing. You could also go on to undertake postgraduate study.

In addition to the University's standard entry requirements, you should have:

• a minimum of grades BBC in three A levels (or a minimum of 112 UCAS points from an equivalent Level 3 qualification, eg BTEC National or Advanced Diploma)
• English Language GCSE at grade C (grade 4 from 2017) or above (or equivalent)
• submitted a 200-word original piece of writing on an event that has recently happened in your locality

Applications are welcome from mature students who have passed appropriate access or other preparatory courses or have appropriate work experience.

Applications are welcome from mature students who have appropriate Access or preparatory courses or appropriate work experience, or those without formal qualifications who are able to demonstrate enthusiasm, commitment, and the ability to benefit from higher education.

All applicants must be able to demonstrate proficiency in the English language. Applicants who require a Tier 4 student visa may need to provide a Secure English Language Test (SELT) such as Academic IELTS. For more information about English qualifications please see our English language requirements.