MDIA 4200A - Honours Media Thesis A

North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2022

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.

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Course Details

Course Code	MDIA 4200A
Course	Honours Media Thesis A
Coordinating Unit	Media
Term	Semester 2
Level	Undergraduate
Location/s	North Terrace Campus
Contact	Up to 1 hour per week
Available for Study Abroad and Exchange	N
Prerequisites	A credit standard in undergraduate study, which is usually determined by a minimum requirement of 70% average in all Level II and Level III courses taken at undergraduate level.
Incompatible	MDIA 4003, MDIA 4004A
Restrictions	Available only to students admitted to relevant Honours program
Assessment	15,000 word thesis (100%) or Media Honours Project - approx 15 min video; 60 min radio; eq. 10,000 words multimedia (50%) plus a 6000-8000 word Project Exegesis (50%)

Course Staff

Course Coordinator: Dr John Budarick

Course Timetable

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

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)
Attribute 1: Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth Graduates have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their subject area, the ability to engage with different traditions of thought, and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice including in multi-disciplinary or multi-professional contexts.	1,2,3,4,5,6
Attribute 2: Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving Graduates are effective problems-solvers, able to apply critical, creative and evidence-based thinking to conceive innovative responses to future challenges.	1,2,3,4,5,6
Attribute 3: Teamwork and communication skills Graduates convey ideas and information effectively to a range of audiences for a variety of purposes and contribute in a positive and collaborative manner to achieving common goals.	1,5,6
Attribute 4: Professionalism and leadership readiness Graduates engage in professional behaviour and have the potential to be entrepreneurial and take leadership roles in their chosen occupations or careers and communities.	1,2,3,4,5,6
Attribute 5: Intercultural and ethical competency Graduates are responsible and effective global citizens whose personal values and practices are consistent with their roles as responsible members of society.	4,6
Attribute 8: Self-awareness and emotional intelligence Graduates are self-aware and reflective; they are flexible and resilient and have the capacity to accept and give constructive feedback; they act with integrity and take responsibility for their actions.	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.

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

Academic Pathway

Dissertation style and presentation • The dissertation should be a significant piece of work to the maximum of 15,000 words and be built around a substantial and well-document argument. • The dissertation should be typed in double-spacing on A4 paper, on one side of the paper only and with a margin of 4cm on the left. • It should include a title page, giving at the top the title of the dissertation in full, your name and the degree. At the bottom of the page the following statement should be inserted "Submitted in part fulfilment of the Honours Degree in Media at The University of Adelaide, [month] 2017." • It must include a contents page and a bibliography/reference list.

CLOs 1,2,3,4,5,6

Creative Pathway

• The length of the exegesis will be the equivalent of 6,000 - 10,000 words • The project must have the approval of the Honours Co-ordinator. • The project is comprised of (a) the project itself, valued at 25% of the final honours grade, and (b) the project exegesis, valued at 25% of the final honours grade.

• The Media honours project will be one of the following: - A video production up to 15 minutes in length - A radio, voice or audio production up to 60 minutes in length - A multimedia production up to 10,000 words equivalent (your supervisor will assist early on with determining the equivalency) • Final drafts of script/project outline documents are to be submitted with the project and exegesis. A progress report will be required (but not assessable) in the early weeks of the second semester—the honours co-ordinator will put out a call for creative project progress reports closer to the time.

CLOs 1,2,3,4,5,6

Submission

No information currently available.

Course Grading

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

NOG (No Grade Associated)

Grade Description

CN Continuing

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
This section contains links to relevant assessment-related policies and guidelines - all university policies.
Fraud Awareness

Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

NOG (No Grade Associated)
Grade	Description
CN	Continuing

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Authorised by:	Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic)
Maintained by:	Course Outlines Administrator