Course specification and structure
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UDMULJOU - BA (Hons) Multimedia Journalism

Course Specification


Validation status Validated
Highest award Bachelor of Arts Level Honours
Possible interim awards Bachelor of Arts, Diploma of Higher Education, Certificate of Higher Education, Bachelor of Arts
Total credits for course 360
Awarding institution London Metropolitan University
Teaching institutions London Metropolitan University
School School of Computing and Digital Media
Subject Area Creative Technologies and Digital Media
Attendance options
Option Minimum duration Maximum duration
Full-time 3 YEARS  
Part-time Day 4 YEARS  
Course leader  

About the course and its strategy towards teaching and learning and towards blended learning/e-learning

You will be taught in interactive workshops, where ideas and practical tasks are worked on in groups and individually. All teaching staff are practitioners in journalism and/or digital media. We make full use of social and other media, training you to work with video, audio and social media as well as the writing skills, which still lie at the heart of the communication professions.

The newsroom, TV and radio studios and mobile technology play a full part in the course.

Most assessments are coursework, with a few in-class tests.

Course aims

The course aims to equip students with the analytical and critical skills essential to higher education, as well as the practical and technical skills of those who work within the digital media, communications and journalism industries.

The course aims to help students develop the ability to research and evaluate data from all sources, including data mining and scholarly research. It further aims to help students develop interviewing skills for primary research, as well as visualising and infographics skills for presenting research.

The course aims to foster the skills of working autonomously and in groups, as well as the social skills needed to pitch and sell ideas, to present concepts convincingly to different audiences and to respond flexibly to critical input.

The course aims to foster individual learning and problem solving. The course further aims to develop resilient learners, who can evaluate and learn from their learning deficits.

The course aims to help students harness their creativity to produce, ultimately, work worthy of professional publication across any or all media platforms. The course will help students explore all technical and imaginative means possible.

The course aims to fit students for further advanced study, should they so wish, in related fields.

Course learning outcomes

The following learning outcomes incorporate and depend on systematic understanding of the key aspects of the knowledge base of Multimedia 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 Multimedia Journalism;
  • devise and sustain arguments, and/or to solve problems, using ideas and techniques, some of which are at the forefront of Multimedia Journalism;
  • describe and comment upon particular aspects of current research, or equivalent advanced scholarship, in Multimedia 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 Multimedia 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

Assessment strategy

The course uses a wide range of assessments, from online blogs and contributions to the course website to academic essays, from video footage to magazine layouts, class presentations to pop quizzes, in-class examination and longform writing. Assessment is contributory, with formative assessment being offered at drafting and intermediate submission, both face to face and electronically. Enhancement weeks offer the chance to receive formative assessment whilst engaged on simulations, newsdays and activities.

Since much teaching is run on an interactive coaching model, tutorials are built in to class sessions as well as offered privately. Feedback on summative assessment is given within three weeks of submission.

Most modules include a reflective assessment, where students evaluate their own contribution to class via online journals, moderated by tutors.

Organised work experience, work based learning, sandwich year or year abroad

There is a core placement module to be taken at level 5.

Modules required for interim awards

See Course Structure

Arrangements for promoting reflective learning and personal development

All modules include a reflective and evaluative element. Most journalism modules use online journals to capture and moderate students’ reactions to and contribution to class.

Arrangements on the course for careers education, information and guidance

Modules on Levels 5 and 6 include information, training and advice on employability, job applications, CVs and finances. Regular visits from the university’s employability unit are part of the course.

Simulation of the work environment, within the newsroom and on newsdays, also includes job applications and interviews.

Other external links providing expertise and experience

External speakers are part and parcel of the course. We also have a panel of industry advisers.

Career opportunities

Our journalism graduates have gone on to work in TV, radio, print and online media all around the globe, as well as in diverse fields including PR, media consultancy, social media, management, web design, fashion and marketing.

They work as journalists, multimedia journalists, production assistants, managing editors, media and communications officers and production assistants. From The Daily Star, The Independent, The Financial Times and Correos of Venezuela, to talkSPORT radio, the BBC, Swedish TV and CNN, our graduates have been making their mark.

You could also follow in the footsteps of our students who have gone on to postgraduate study in media, journalism, international conflict and film studies.

Entry requirements

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 Advanced Diploma)
  • English Language GCSE at grade C/grade 4 or above (or equivalent)

If you do not have traditional qualifications or cannot meet the entry requirements for this undergraduate degree, you may still be able to gain entry by completing the Media and Communications Extended Degree.

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

These requirements may be varied in individual cases as prospective students will be invited to an interview.

Mature students with previous relevant experience are encouraged to apply.

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.

Official use and codes

Approved to run from 2016/17 Specification version 1 Specification status Validated
Original validation date 09 Aug 2016 Last validation date 09 Aug 2016  
Sources of funding HE FUNDING COUNCIL FOR ENGLAND
JACS codes P500 (Journalism): 100%
Route code MULJOU

Course Structure

Stage 1 Level 04 September start Offered

Code Module title Info Type Credits Location Period Day Time
SJ4034 Journalism: History and Ideas Core 30        
SJ4035 Practical Journalism Core 30        
SJ4046 Moving Image and Sound Practice Core 30        
SM4000 Creative Digital Imaging Core 30        

Stage 2 Level 05 August start Offered

Code Module title Info Type Credits Location Period Day Time
SJ5033 Media Law and Ethics; Public Administration Core 30 NORTH AUT+SPR THU AM
SJ5035 Advanced Reporting Core 30 NORTH AUT+SPR WED PM
SJ5W78 Journalism Work Placement Core 15 NORTH SPR WED AM
SM5015 Responsive Web Design Core 30        
SM5051 Crime and the Media Option 15 NORTH SPR THU AM
SM5052 Youth Culture and the Media Option 15 NORTH AUT THU AM
SM5062 Digital Humanities Option 15        
SM5063 Social Media Strategies Option 15 NORTH AUT THU AM
SM5066 Documentary Photography and Photography Journalism Option 15        
OL0000 Open Language Programme Module Option 15 NORTH SPR NA  
          NORTH AUT NA  

Stage 3 Level 06 October start Offered

Code Module title Info Type Credits Location Period Day Time
SJ6034 Creating Packages Core 30 NORTH AUT+SPR WED AM
SJ6035 Broadcast Journalism Core 30 NORTH AUT+SPR THU AM
SJ6P35 Journalism Project Alt Core 30 NORTH AUT+SPR WED PM
SM6P07 Digital Media Project Alt Core 30 NORTH AUT+SPR MON PM
SJ6074 Arts Journalism Option 15 NORTH SPR FRI AM
SJ6080 Campaigning Journalism Option 15 NORTH AUT TUE AM
SJ6081 Science, Technology, Environment and Health Jou... Option 15        
SM6000 Digital Management and Enterprise Option 30 NORTH AUT+SPR THU PM