Undergraduate course information

The undergraduate program is based on a subject bank of about 120 subjects designed for undergraduate students seeking both a general and professionally focused university education. It consists of three distinct areas of study: Disciplinary Studies, Professional Studies and Elective Studies.

Disciplinary Studies reflect the intellectual disciplines that underpin each course. They are subjects designed to introduce students to the major ideas, concepts and issues in the humanities and social sciences.

The three Disciplinary Strands offered are:

• Communication and Information Studies
• Cultural Studies
• Social, Political and Historical Studies.

Professional Studies reflect the professional specialisation within each course. They are subjects designed to introduce students to the major ideas, concepts and issues in professional practice in communication, information and social science.

The six Professional Strands offered are:

• Information Management
• Journalism
• Media Arts and Production
• Public Communication
• Social Inquiry
• Writing and Cultural Studies.

Elective Studies are those studies or subjects that allow students to follow their individual interests in particular areas selected from subjects offered across the University or from within the Faculty.

Subject levels

Subjects are offered at three different levels, with 100-level subjects usually available for students studying in an area for the first time. The 300-level subjects are the most advanced subjects in an area in an undergraduate degree course.

First-year studies (100 level)

All students in the undergraduate program undertake a common first year. Students are required to study two subjects in each of the three Disciplinary Strands and two subjects in a Professional Strand designated by the degree course to which they have been admitted. Students are expected to attempt 100-level subjects in a strand before proceeding to 200-level subjects in that strand.

Second- and third-year studies (200 and 300 level respectively)

In second and third year, students pursue Disciplinary Strand subjects in some depth at the same time as they continue their study of a Professional Strand. Students complete at least four Disciplinary Strand subjects at 200 or 300 level. Students are able to choose elective subjects offered across the University and subjects offered as electives from the Faculty's undergraduate subject bank.

Subject availability

Subjects in the following programs may be offered every semester or every year. Classes proceed only in a given semester where there is sufficient demand. The Faculty reserves the right to cancel a class or a subject if it is not considered to be viable.

Disciplinary Strands

Communication and Information Studies

Students gain a comprehensive knowledge of significant issues relating to communication and information, as well as a theoretically informed critical approach to dealing with these issues as professionals. They should develop a comprehensive understanding of the major debates in the field and should be able to apply this knowledge in analysing particular situations. Students will be able to analyse factors affecting an audience and develop personal theories upon which to base a response or intervention. They will be knowledgeable about information and communication policies and the effects of technology and internationalisation.

Cultural Studies

Cultural Studies is an interdisciplinary field where students investigate new and alternative materials and methodologies, especially in culturally complex late-capitalist societies like Australia. They learn to relate theory to practice as a problem-solving method in cultural and social domains, especially as these are represented through the media. Students will have the capacity to understand various contemporary critical methodologies such as deconstruction, reading for ideology, textual analysis, discourse analysis, audience ethnography, empirical fieldwork, archival analysis, historical materialism and the analysis of subjectivity. Rhetorical skills in spoken and written English are emphasised and students develop their abilities to write critical prose which is plausible in its judgments, relevant in its application of knowledge and creative in its construction as a piece of writing.

Social, Political and Historical Studies

We are formed by our social relationships; we live in societies that are created by struggles for power; we constantly evoke cultural memories that draw on our understanding of history. These social sciences and humanities areas play a critical role in our capacity to analyse the social world around us, to understand the deeper patterns of human existence, and to interpret the daily realities that confront us. Social institutions are formed, then challenged and changed by major global forces – inequalities of gender, race, indigeneity, class, age and physical capacity. Here you can explore Australian and world politics, globalisation and internationalisation, local communities and broader structures, belief systems and ideologies, through the disciplinary and cross-disciplinary lenses provided by history, sociology, politics, anthropology, philosophy and international studies.

8-credit-point 100-level Disciplinary Strand subjects

The 100-level Disciplinary Strand subjects offered by the Faculty are available at 6 and 8 credit points. The assessment and grading schemes may vary between both versions. Students enrolled in the undergraduate courses offered by the Faculty are required to complete the 6-credit-point subject at 100 level. The 8-credit-point subjects are for students from outside the Faculty.

Professional Strands

Information Management

This strand allows students to develop a portfolio of knowledge and skills suitable for information positions in a variety of social, organisational and technological contexts. The content of Professional Strand subjects has a strong user-centred approach to the design and provision of information products and services and complements theories and principles introduced in the Disciplinary Strand.

Journalism

Journalism education at UTS is founded on the principle that the public has a right to know. Graduates are equipped to enter the relevant industries with professional skills in one or more of the print, radio, television or Internet media. Students are expected to engage critically with the intellectual, industrial, ethical and political issues of professional practice in journalism, so that upon graduation they can contribute to a democratic public life that gives voice to diverse communities, provides a forum for public discussion and asks questions of the powerful.

Media Arts and Production

Media Arts and Production prepares individuals for a variety of roles within media industries and in independent, community and artistic production, using technical and conceptual skills offered from across the areas of film/video, multimedia and sound/radio. It offers a strong theoretical program emphasising the aesthetics, poetics and politics of media production. This theoretical basis is integrated with broad-based and detailed technical instruction, collaboration and teamwork, encouragement of innovation, intensity and experimentation, and the development of professional practice.

Public Communication

Public Communication develops students' expertise to practise in the expanding and diverse field of public communication. Students may focus on public relations or advertising, or both, as well as emerging areas for professional communicators. They develop critical, theoretical and analytical abilities along with the capabilities required for a professional communicator. Graduates are equipped for productive careers as responsible, ethical and creative communication professionals.

Social Inquiry

Social Inquiry covers the broad-ranging practice of the social sciences, helping the development of the communicating professional. It allows students to develop skills and understanding in a range of research approaches, within a context of applying theory to the investigation of social questions. Students build a portfolio of relevant experiences, in qualitative and quantitative approaches to research, historical research methods, research in politics, policy and advocacy, and the development of new media communication skills. Specific attention is paid to cross-cultural perspectives. A major focus of the program supports students in real-world situations, undertaking projects and placements (including parliamentary placements) with organisations in the community. Outcomes include career preparation for research positions, policy and advocacy roles, and work in areas of public history and social change.

Writing

Students completing the Writing requirements for the degree can expect to acquire a highly developed ability to write creatively and to adopt innovative approaches to generic forms - along with skills in workshopping, editing, textual analysis, and knowledge of literary and cultural industries. Students cultivate an intellectual vision as they explore the process of writing, alert not only to elements of form, genre, critical stances and the relationship of language, form and content, but also to the subtle moves that bring a work to life. Since writing is fundamental to all areas of study, students develop skills that can be applied in other disciplines and professional practices and provide a foundation for a continuing engagement with creative work and cultural issues.

8-credit-point 100-level Professional Strand subjects

The 100-level Professional Strand subjects offered by the Faculty are available in 6 and 8 credit points. The assessment and grading schemes may vary between both versions. Students of the Faculty are normally required to complete the 6-credit-point 100-level subject where it is compulsory for the first-year component of their course. Students complete the 8-credit-point 100-level subject if they are doing it as an elective. There are some instances where students will be advised to enrol in the 8-credit-point versions of 100-level subjects to meet compulsory 100-level subject requirements. This will sometimes apply to students who have transferred between courses in the Faculty after first year or students with advanced standing packages. Students are advised to take care when enrolling in 100-level subjects to ensure that they are in the appropriate version.

Elective subjects

Undergraduate students in the Faculty may select elective subjects from the Disciplinary and Professional Strands offered by the Faculty or from subjects offered by other faculties. The Faculty also offers as electives a few subjects that are not associated with any particular strand. Prerequisites must be observed when selecting electives.

Disciplinary subjects as electives

Electives can be chosen from the 200- and 300-level disciplinary subjects offered by the Faculty. Most course structures specify that students must complete at least one disciplinary subject at 200 or 300 level from any Disciplinary Strand to meet course requirements.

Professional Strand subjects as electives

Professional Strand subjects taught at 100 level are offered in 8-credit-point versions and these are available as electives to students from other professional areas for whom they are not compulsory. Students may complete 200- or 300-level Professional Strand subjects from their own strand or other strands if they meet prerequisite requirements. Note: a limited number of places are available in first-year Journalism and Media Arts and Production subjects for students from other degrees in the Faculty wishing to do these subjects as electives. Students must apply for a place through the Faculty Student Centre. Access to a restricted range of other Media Arts and Production and Journalism subjects is available to students from other programs in the Faculty who complete these introductory subjects. There is a limit on the number on Media Arts and Production subjects which can be taken as electives by students in Media Arts and Production courses.