MDIA 4003 - Honours Media Thesis

North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2016

The aim of the Honours program is to provide students with a stronger and more focused intellectual context in which to carry out research in their areas of specialisation in the media. It is designed to extend the academic and creative synergies of the Bachelor of Media Degree into higher degree and professional industry application. It is expected that by the end of the program students would be able to carry out independent research in either a higher degree or an industry-related specialisation. It is also expected that students would have developed awareness and critical skills necessary for a proper understanding of the ethical implications of professional and scholarly conduct.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code MDIA 4003
    Course Honours Media Thesis
    Coordinating Unit Media
    Term Semester 2
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 12
    Contact 1 hour per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange N
    Prerequisites 1. Successful completion of a Bachelor of Media Degree or an equivalent undergraduate degree approved by the Media Honours Committee (which includes a major sequence in media, communications or another area significantly related to media). 2. A credit
    Restrictions Available only to students admitted to the relevant Honours program
    Course Description The aim of the Honours program is to provide students with a stronger and more focused intellectual context in which to carry out research in their areas of specialisation in the media. It is designed to extend the academic and creative synergies of the Bachelor of Media Degree into higher degree and professional industry application.
    It is expected that by the end of the program students would be able to carry out independent research in either a higher degree or an industry-related specialisation. It is also expected that students would have developed awareness and critical skills necessary for a proper understanding of the ethical implications of professional and scholarly conduct.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Associate Professor Peter Pugsley

    Dr John Budarick (Acting Co-ordinator)
    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    The Honours Media Thesis course represents the culmination of the seminar series and results in the production
    of an Honours thesis of up to 15,000 words. Course learning objectives for this course are as follows:

    1 To develop the capacity to be able to articulate an appropriate and achievable research project for the Honours program in Media;
    2 To have the skills to turn the selected Media topic or issue into a problem that is suited to the task of writing a dissertation;
    3 To be able to identify and locate relevant material and literature on the topic;
    4 To be able to identify key theoretical and conceptual works in Media in order to critically analyse the topic or issue
    5 To develop the skill of articulating a clear, substantiated and theoretically-informed argument in the dissertation;
    6 To address a problem or issue in the world of Media through a critical analysis of a case study or issue.
    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)
    Deep discipline knowledge
    • informed and infused by cutting edge research, scaffolded throughout their program of studies
    • acquired from personal interaction with research active educators, from year 1
    • accredited or validated against national or international standards (for relevant programs)
    1,2,3,4,5,6
    Critical thinking and problem solving
    • steeped in research methods and rigor
    • based on empirical evidence and the scientific approach to knowledge development
    • demonstrated through appropriate and relevant assessment
    1,2,3,4,5,6
    Teamwork and communication skills
    • developed from, with, and via the SGDE
    • honed through assessment and practice throughout the program of studies
    • encouraged and valued in all aspects of learning
    1,5,6
    Career and leadership readiness
    • technology savvy
    • professional and, where relevant, fully accredited
    • forward thinking and well informed
    • tested and validated by work based experiences
    1,2,3,4,5,6
    Intercultural and ethical competency
    • adept at operating in other cultures
    • comfortable with different nationalities and social contexts
    • able to determine and contribute to desirable social outcomes
    • demonstrated by study abroad or with an understanding of indigenous knowledges
    4,6
    Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
    • a capacity for self-reflection and a willingness to engage in self-appraisal
    • open to objective and constructive feedback from supervisors and peers
    • able to negotiate difficult social situations, defuse conflict and engage positively in purposeful debate
    1,2,3,4,5,6
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    Thesis writing under guidance and direction of supervisor.
    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    WORKLOAD TOTAL HOURS
    1 hour supervision per week: 12 hours per semester
    18 hours research per week: 216 hours per semester
    18 hours thesis writing per week: 216 hours per semester

    TOTAL: approx 440 hours per semester
    Learning Activities Summary

    No information currently available.

  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    All theses marked by 2 examiners (not the supervisor).
    Assessment Detail

    No information currently available.

    Submission

    No information currently available.

    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M11 (Honours Mark Scheme)
    GradeGrade reflects following criteria for allocation of gradeReported on Official Transcript
    Fail A mark between 1-49 F
    Third Class A mark between 50-59 3
    Second Class Div B A mark between 60-69 2B
    Second Class Div A A mark between 70-79 2A
    First Class A mark between 80-100 1
    Result Pending An interim result RP
    Continuing Continuing CN

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
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