Course specification and structure
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UDMUJOFY - BA (Hons) Multimedia Journalism (including foundation year)

Course Specification


Validation status Validated
Highest award Bachelor of Arts Level Honours
Possible interim awards
Total credits for course 480
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
Part-time 6 YEARS 8 YEARS
Full-time 4 YEARS 8 YEARS
Course leader  

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

The BA Journalism including Foundation Year focuses on developing critical inquiry and professional skills, both of which are essential to success in the field of journalism, through a mixture of grounding in technique and exposure to analysis and debate. Students will experience a structured route into higher education, allowing them to scaffold their learning through carefully graded (mostly coursework-based) assessments. Academic skills are built from the start of L3, along with practical expertise, to support success in the higher levels.
Writing is paramount in journalism, even in today’s convergent media world, so students learn a range of writing techniques, from academic essay to snappy tweet. Curiosity about and knowledge of a wide knowledge of social and historical contexts is also crucial in developing professional journalistic practice within today’s fast-changing industry, as is an understanding of ethics and law.
Knowledge of and ability to construct digital products will be developed from the beginning, with a variety of interactive tasks, online and in person, to develop designing and programming skills.
Guest speakers and field trips stimulate engagement with the world of work, as does a compulsory work placement module. Connections with student media develop professional skills in and outside formal teaching. Participation in newsdays and newsweeks builds cohort identity with students across the four years.
Learning strategies on the course are designed to promote transferable skills of communication, independent thinking, the ability to work effectively with others, work planning and independent responsibility. Student feedback and engagement with teaching and learning strategies are promoted via student representatives and course committees, as well as online resources. Learning journals create a positive ongoing engagement between tutor and student and form an ongoing and vital part of the development of reflective learning across all four levels.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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 [the subject], 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

Course learning outcomes / Module cross reference

Module Title Module Code LO 1 LO 2 LO 3 LO 4 LO 5 LO 6 LO 7 LO 8 LO 9

Introduction: Journalism and Writing for Media SJ3002 x x x
Introduction: Media and Communications SM3017 x x x x
Introduction: Film, TV and Broadcast Media SM3018 x x x x
Introduction: Digital Media SJ3019 x x x x
Journalism: History and Ideas SJ4034 x x x x x
Practical Journalism SJ4035 x x x x x x
Creative Digital Imaging SM4000 x x x x
Digital Video and Sound Design SM4035 x x x x
Advanced Reporting SJ5035 x x x x x
Media law and ethics; public administration SJ5033 x x x x x x
Responsive Web Design SM5015 x x x x x
Journalism work placement SJ5W78 x x x x x
Social media and data journalism SJ5082 x x x x x x x x
Social Media Strategies SJM5053 x x x
Creating Packages SJ6034 x x x x x x x
Broadcast Journalism SJ6035 x x x x x x x
Journalism project SJ6P35 x x x x x x x x x
Digital Media Project SJ6086 x x x x x x x x x
Digital Management and Enterprise SM6000 x x x x x
Campaigning journalism SJ6080 x x x x x
Science, Technology, Environment and Health Journalism SJ6081 x x x x x
Arts Journalism SJ6074 x x x x x x

Principle QAA benchmark statements

Subject Benchmark Statement:

Communication, Media, Film and Cultural Studies [Oct-2016]

http://www.qaa.ac.uk/en/Publications/Docments/SBS-Communication- Media-Film-and-Cultural- Studies-16.pdf

Guidance at:
http://www.qaa.ac.uk/Publications/InformationAndGuidance/Documents/CMF08.pdf

The above latest subject benchmark statement and general guidance available are used in the design, delivery and review of the course and in facilitating the knowledge and skills normally expected of a typical course graduate.

Assessment strategy

The course uses a wide range of assessments, from online journals and contributions to the course website to academic essays, from video footage and sound recordings to magazine and website layouts, class presentations and pop quizzes, in-class examination and longform writing.
Assessment develops on a coaching model, with formative assessment being offered at drafting and intermediate submission, both face to face and electronically. News and enhancement weeks offer the chance to receive formative assessment whilst engaged on simulations, newsdays and practical 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 one week of submission for the first instance and thereafter three weeks.
Most modules include a reflective assessment, where students evaluate their own contribution to class via an online journal moderated by tutors.

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

A compulsory work experience placement in Level 5 is credited within the course. News days and news weeks are simulations which offer work-based learning.
The course includes information, training and advice on employability, job applications, CVs and finances. Simulation of the work environment also includes job applications and interviews.

Modules required for interim awards

Pass all to progress levels

Arrangements for promoting reflective learning and personal development

An online journal in Journalism modules will promote reflective learning throughout the course. Feedback will be given within a week and responses assessed to promote reflective learning and engagement. In addition, students will compile their practical work on blogs and write reflective essays on practice.
Students will receive feedback from tutors and peers enabling them to reflect on their progress based on the evidence available. This process assists students in developing as independent learners, identifying their strengths and weaknesses and will benefit students throughout their future studies, and careers. Students will also be able to track their performance on-line.

Career, employability and opportunities for continuing professional development

It is a digital world and journalists must especially be able to master a whole range of communication skills to gain the fullest chances of employment.

Students learn skills across writing, online, TV and radio platforms, work in groups on news days and news weeks and create their own online presence in the world of media professionals. Our digital media staff are innovative, award-winning professionals with industry expertise and contacts, with a range of gaming, design and social media strengths.

Learning to use both the journalist’s techniques for gathering and telling stories and the academic’s skills in analysing and marshalling arguments will leave students with a strong portfolio to enter the marketplace. Add to this the thrill of mastering and innovating with cutting-edge software and students will enter the work place with a lively and professional introduction to the practices and ideas of journalism across all digital media.

Career opportunities

On graduation from this multimedia bachelor’s degree you’ll find opportunities to work in fields such as television, radio, print and online media. The transferable skills and industry knowledge you’ll gain on the course will also allow you to go into PR, media consultancy or marketing roles.

Alumni have started their careers for widely recognised media outlets in roles such as journalists, production assistants, editors and communications officers.

Entry requirements

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

  • at least one A level (or a minimum of 32 UCAS points from an equivalent Level 3 qualification, eg BTEC Subsidiary/National/BTEC Extended Diploma)
  • English Language GCSE at grade C/4 or above (or equivalent, eg Functional Skills at Level 2) – if you meet UCAS points criteria but obtained a grade D/3 in English you may be offered a University test in this areas

To study a degree at London Met, you must be able to demonstrate proficiency in the English language. If you require a Tier 4 student visa you may need to provide the results of a Secure English Language Test (SELT) such as Academic IELTS. For more information about English qualifications please see our English language requirements.

If you need (or wish) to improve your English before starting your degree, the University offers a Pre-sessional Academic English course to help you build your confidence and reach the level of English you require.

Official use and codes

Approved to run from 2019/20 Specification version 1 Specification status Validated
Original validation date 03 Sep 2019 Last validation date 03 Sep 2019  
Sources of funding HE FUNDING COUNCIL FOR ENGLAND
JACS codes
Route code MUJOFY

Course Structure

Stage 1 Level 03 September start Offered

Code Module title Info Type Credits Location Period Day Time
SJ3002 Introduction: Journalism and Writing for Media Core 30        
SM3017 Introduction: Media and Communications Core 30 NORTH AUT+SPR WED AM
SM3018 Introduction : Film, TV and Broadcast Media Core 30 NORTH AUT+SPR TUE PM
          NORTH AUT+SPR TUE AM
SM3019 Introduction: Digital Media Core 30 NORTH AUT+SPR WED PM

Stage 2 Level 04 Not currently 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 3 Level 05 Not currently offered

Code Module title Info Type Credits Location Period Day Time
SJ5033 Media Law and Ethics; Public Administration Core 30        
SJ5035 Advanced Reporting Core 30        
SJ5W78 Journalism Work Placement Core 15        
SM5015 Responsive Web Design Core 30        
SJ5082 Social Media and Data Journalism Option 15        
XK0000 Extension of Knowledge Module Option 15        

Stage 4 Level 06 Not currently offered

Code Module title Info Type Credits Location Period Day Time
SJ6034 Creating Packages Core 30        
SJ6035 Broadcast Journalism Core 30        
SJ6P35 Journalism Project Alt Core 30        
SM6P07 Digital Media Project Alt Core 30        
SJ6074 Arts Journalism Option 15        
SJ6080 Campaigning Journalism Option 15        
SJ6081 Science, Technology, Environment and Health Jou... Option 15        
SM6000 Digital Management and Enterprise Option 30