And Communication Studies

Programme

Specification

for BA Honours

Journalism

and Communication Studies

• QAA Benchmark statement for Communication, media, film and cultural studies
• QAA Level descriptors and codes of practice
• Middlesex University Learning and Teaching Strategy
• Middlesex University Assessment Regulations

• Aid students to develop both a theoretical understanding of and practical abilities in the field of contemporary journalism and media communications;
• Develop students’ generic intellectual skills, especially those of analysis, synthesis, and evaluation, and extend their ability to access, extrapolate and work critically with information from a wide range of sources and a wide range of media;
• Guide students to develop graduate employability skills appropriate to the level and to the field of their studies and help them to apply their specialist abilities in cognate areas of communication in contemporary society.

1. Academic theories relevant to the production, circulation and reception of media messages, and a critical, reflexive approach to journalism, communication and the media more generally
2. Appreciation of the increasingly important relationships between globalisation, contemporary journalism and communications processes
3. The specific dynamics introduced into media communication by changing forms of technology
4. Awareness of a range of writing strategies and their pragmatic function within a broader context of social and cultural change.

1. Identify and evaluate the conceptual building blocks and the logical and rhetorical structures of academic arguments about media.
2. Combine disparate sources and forms of information, types of discursive material to generate new insights and extend previous understanding.
3. Assess the consistency and quality of a range of types of information and articulate reasoned critical judgements concerning its validity and logically consequential conclusions.
4. Creatively interpret and apply theories, concepts and other critical material to processes and practices of journalism and other forms of media communication.
5. Identify the specific aesthetic, political, technological and economic characteristics of media forms.

1. Produce effective communication using a variety of media technologies (printed matter, graphic and visual images, video and computer software), to edit these and work constructively with feedback
2. Efficiently plan, organise and execute research projects, anticipating and resolving problems encountered in meeting goals
3. Ability to estimate and organise use of time in meeting specific briefs and other tasks

1. Identify the learning skills required in any particular context and adapt existing skills where appropriate
2. Work effectively in group situations, adapt to the specific roles required in such contexts and interact appropriately
3. Work with a range of standard software packages operating on a number of platforms, in addition to specific media technologies
4. To distinguish between and work with a variety of forms of quantitative information and specifically to understand the factors which affect the construction and reliability of that information and the inferences which can be drawn from it.

• In the first year all students are required to take JCM1000, JCM1200, PLM1000 and MCS1000.
• In the second year, all students are required to take JCM2000 and one of JCM2100 and JCM2200.
• In the third year, all students are required to take one of JCM3300 or JCM3400

• LR support, induction, subject-dedicated librarian, LR workshops on essay writing and written English.
• Campus Student Office offering on-site counselling, careers advice and disability support services
• E-mail access to tutors. “Office hour” surgeries with tutors.

Please note: this specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the programme and the learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be expected to achieve if s/he takes full advantage of the learning opportunities that are provided. More detailed information can be found in the student programme handbook and the University Regulations.

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Journalism and Communication Programme Handbook 2012-13

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Journalism and Communication Programme Handbook 2012-13

BA Honours

Journalism, Media

and Cultural Studies

• QAA Subject Benchmark Statement 14, Communication, Media, Film and Cultural Studies
• The University Learning and Teaching Policy and Strategy Document

• Internal university subject review and validation 2000/2001
• The University Strategic Plan and Student Charter
• Student, staff, external examiners feedback and comments.

• promote students’ knowledge of the production and consumption of media and culture with particular reference to the processes and practices of journalism and media communications and how these are shaped by local and global political, economic and social factors;
• provide students with a critical understanding of the history, ownership and regulation of the media, journalism and communications industry;
• enable students to use critical theoretical frameworks to evaluate, synthesise and analyse culture and media;
• encourage and enable independent and experiential learning, the development of strong oral and written communication skills and a capacity to work independently and as part of a team.

1. Academic theories relevant to the study of journalism and to the roles of communication systems, cultural meaning and representation in the local and global shaping of identities and societies;
2. The relationships between globalisation, journalism and communications processes;
3. The diversity and complexity of economic, political and cultural processes determining and linking together production, representation, identity, regulation and consumption;
4. The specific dynamics introduced into media communication by changing forms of technology;
5. The way cultural and national identities, and individuals are constructed and contested by local and global dynamics of public, political and everyday discourses.

1. A progression of lectures and seminars;
2. Reflection on personal and cultural experience;
3. Group discussion;
4. Guided and independent study and research;
5. Essay and dissertation writing;
6. Work experience;

1. Essays;
2. Project work;
3. Group presentations.

1. Engage critically with theoretical paradigms within Journalism, Media and Cultural Studies and express these in a command of oral, written and other relevant forms of communication;
2. Critically and reflexively evaluate their own work;
3. Analyse texts and media and journalistic practices and communicate their approaches and findings in a convincing and coherent manner.

1. Directed and independent reading and research activity;
2. Seminar discussion and experiential learning;
3. Seminar exercises in critical and interpretative thinking and analysis
4. Tutorials;
5. Essay writing.

1. evidence of good argument and discerning reading and research in essay writing;
2. project work and written assignments focused on the cognitive skills of critical analysis and interpretation

1. Research and critically evaluate information, effectively communicating it in oral presentation, essays, projects, reports and dissertations;
2. Construct and communicate an argument based on research which draws on relevant practical and theoretical frameworks to construct persuasive and coherent arguments;
3. Effective communication using a variety of media technologies (printed matter, graphic and visual images, video and computer software, and the ability to edit and work constructively with feedback;
4. Work in a self-directed way showing self-discipline and self-reflection;
5. Work with a range of standard software packages operating on a number of platforms, in addition to specific media technologies.

1. Tutor led and small group focused seminar discussions;
2. Essay writing, dissertations, report writing, independent and group research project work, oral presentation;
3. Feedback in tutorials
4. Practice based workshops.

1. Dissertations, independent and group research project work, oral presentation, essays;
2. Work experience reports;
3. Production of media text e.g. video.

1. Demonstrate critical learning skills, particularly in relation to journalism, media and cultural industries;
2. Summarise knowledge and information in a coherent form;
3. Display productive interpersonal and teamwork skills in listening, contributing and leading;
4. Utilise appropriate information technology and numeracy skills.

1. Lectures, discussion in tutorials and seminars;
2. Self-directed study and feedback;
3. research, writing and feedback on essays;
4. Work experience and project.

1. critical questionnaire relating university work to work experience;
2. portfolio including personal CV and critical reflection

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