Bachelor of Media and Communication/Bachelor of Applied Innovation
Course handbook
General Information
Overview
Innovation meets media and communication in this next-gen double degree. Dive into diversity. Investigate the influence of social networking data, ownership and privacy, automated media, the digital economy, and more in our Bachelor of Media and Communication / Bachelor of Applied Innovation. Pair it with hackathons, industry projects and innovation sprints. Emerge ready to drive positive change.
Study structure
Successful completion of the Bachelor of Media and Communication / Bachelor of Applied Innovation requires students to complete units of study to the value of 400 credit points. All units of study are valued at 12.5 credit points unless otherwise stated.
Full-time study: 100 credit points/eight standard units of study per year
Part-time study: 50 credit points/four standard units of study per year
One credit point is equivalent to one hour of study per week per semester (including contact hours and private study)
See the course planner for an example degree structure.
Full-time study: 100 credit points/eight standard units of study per year
One credit point is equivalent to one hour of study per week per semester (including contact hours and private study)
See the course planner for an example degree structure.
| Units of study | Unit code |
|---|---|
| Core units | |
|
Introduction to Media Studies
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
MDA10001 |
|
Global Media Industries
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
MDA10008 |
|
Communicating with Data
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
MDA10012 |
|
Content Creator Lab
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
MDA10018 |
|
Professional Communication Practice
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
COM10007 |
|
Media Content Creation
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
JOU10007 |
| Units of study | Unit code |
|---|---|
| Core units | |
|
Exploring Creativity and Innovation
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
INV10001 |
|
Fundamentals of Innovation Practice
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
INV10002 |
|
Innovation Sandpit
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
INV10003 |
|
Responsible Innovation Futures
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
INV10004 |
|
Innovation for Challenges of Today
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
INV20001 |
|
Innovation for the Future
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
INV20002 |
|
Applied Innovation Internship
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
INV20003 |
|
Applied Innovation Studio A
Core unit, 25.0 credit points |
INV30001 |
|
Applied Innovation Studio B
Core unit, 25.0 credit points |
INV30002 |
|
Leadership and Facilitation of Innovation
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
INV30003 |
| Units of study | Unit code |
|---|---|
|
Principles of Advertising
Major unit, 12.5 credit points |
ADV10001 |
|
Digital Advertising
Major unit, 12.5 credit points |
ADV10002 |
|
Advertising Issues and Impact
Major unit |
ADV20004 |
|
Search, Social Media and Video Marketing
Major unit, 12.5 credit points |
ADV20003 |
|
Creativity and Ideation
Major unit, 12.5 credit points |
ADV20005 |
|
Digital Advertising Media Strategy
Major unit |
ADV30004 |
|
Advertising Campaigns Project
Major unit, 12.5 credit points |
ADV30005 |
|
Emerging Advertising Technologies
Major unit, 12.5 credit points |
ADV30003 |
| Units of study | Unit code |
|---|---|
|
Screen Studies: Movies, Television and Ourselves
Major unit, 12.5 credit points |
MDA10003 |
|
Genre and the Moving Image
Major unit, 12.5 credit points |
FTV10006 |
|
The Australian Screen
Major unit, 12.5 credit points |
FTV20005 |
|
Screen Franchising and Innovation
Major unit, 12.5 credit points |
MDA20007 |
|
Popular Culture of the Asia Pacific
Major unit, 12.5 credit points |
MDA20018 |
|
Screen Technology and Culture
Major unit, 12.5 credit points |
MDA30016 |
|
Screen Sounds and Music
Major unit, 12.5 credit points |
MDA30019 |
|
Global Screen Studies: Beyond Hollywood
Major unit, 12.5 credit points |
MDA30011 |
| Units of study | Unit code |
|---|---|
|
Writing Fiction
Major unit, 12.5 credit points |
LIT10002 |
|
Editing for Writers
Major unit, 12.5 credit points |
PWR10002 |
|
Diversity in Australian Writing
Major unit, 12.5 credit points |
LIT20002 |
|
Writing and Publishing Studio
Major unit, 12.5 credit points |
PWR20002 |
|
Pitch, Edit, Publish
Major unit, 12.5 credit points |
PWR30001 |
|
Prose Poetics
Major unit, 12.5 credit points |
LIT20003 |
|
Sudden Writing
Major unit, 12.5 credit points |
LIT30007 |
|
Literary Industry Practice
Major unit, 12.5 credit points |
LIT30004 |
| Units of study | Unit code |
|---|---|
|
Transforming Journalism in the Digital Era
Major unit, 12.5 credit points |
JOU10004 |
|
The Journalist's Toolkit
Major unit, 12.5 credit points |
JOU10008 |
|
Media, Law and Ethics
Major unit, 12.5 credit points |
JOU20006 |
|
Interactive Storytelling
Major unit, 12.5 credit points |
JOU20007 |
|
Media Analytics and Visualisation
Major unit |
MDA20026 |
|
Radio, Audio and Podcasting
Major unit, 12.5 credit points |
MDA30009 |
|
Video Documentary Project
Major unit, 12.5 credit points |
JOU30009 |
|
Live Journalism Lab
Major unit, 12.5 credit points |
JOU30012 |
| Units of study | Unit code |
|---|---|
|
Introduction to Public Relations Theory and Practice
Major unit, 12.5 credit points |
PUB10001 |
|
Professional Communication Practice
Major unit, 12.5 credit points |
COM10007 |
|
Public Relations Writing
Major unit, 12.5 credit points |
PUB20003 |
|
Global Public Relations Practice
Major unit, 12.5 credit points |
PUB20001 |
|
Issues, Crisis and Risk Communication
Major unit, 12.5 credit points |
PUB20004 |
|
Events Management
Major unit, 12.5 credit points |
PUB30001 |
|
PR Campaign Planning and Management
Major unit |
PUB30004 |
|
Media and Communications Industry Project
Major unit, 12.5 credit points |
MDA30020 |
| Units of study | Unit code |
|---|---|
|
Experiencing Immersive Media: AR, VR and Mixed Reality
Major unit, 12.5 credit points |
MDA10017 |
|
Mobile Media Futures
Major unit, 12.5 credit points |
MDA10016 |
|
Digital Narratives
Major unit, 12.5 credit points |
DIG20001 |
|
Immersive Media Design and Production
Major unit, 12.5 credit points |
MDA20029 |
|
Writing for Interactive Narratives
Major unit, 12.5 credit points |
GAM20004 |
|
Screen Technology and Culture
Major unit, 12.5 credit points |
MDA30016 |
|
Media and Communications Industry Project
Major unit, 12.5 credit points |
MDA30020 |
|
Production for Digital Platforms
Major unit, 12.5 credit points |
FTV30006 |
| Units of study | Unit code |
|---|---|
|
Digital Self/Digital Community
Major unit, 12.5 credit points |
MDA10013 |
|
Social Media Strategy
Major unit, 12.5 credit points |
MDA10015 |
|
Business of Media and Entrepreneurship
Major unit, 12.5 credit points |
MDA20028 |
|
Interactive Storytelling
Major unit, 12.5 credit points |
JOU20007 |
|
Media Analytics and Visualisation
Major unit |
MDA20026 |
|
Social Media, Social Impact
Major unit, 12.5 credit points |
MDA30022 |
|
Researching Social Media Publics
Major unit, 12.5 credit points |
MDA30012 |
|
Social Media Industry Project
Major unit, 12.5 credit points |
MDA30021 |
Choose from a combination of the following course components to complete 100 credit points of other study. Students may also select elective units (12.5 credit points each).
A co-major is a major in a field of study outside this course. You can choose one in addition to a first major. Co-majors will not be named on your testamur certificate however will be shown on your transcript of results.
- Accounting
- Animation
- Biotechnology
- Business Analysis
- Business Analytics and Analysis
- Cinema and Screen Studies
- Climate and Social Justice
- Computer Science
- Criminology
- Data Analytics
- Entrepreneurship and Innovation
- Environmental Science
- Environmental Sustainability
- Ethics and Technology
- Finance
- Financial Planning
- Games and Interactivity
- Global Studies
- History
- Human Resource Management
- Indigenous Studies
- Information Systems
- Logistics and Supply Chain Management
- Management
- Marketing
- Media Industries
- Neuroscience
- Perspectives on Globalisation
- Philosophy
- Politics and International Relations
- Politics, Power and Technology
- Professional and Creative Writing
- Psychology
- Screen Production
- Screen Studies and Popular Culture
- Space Technology
- Sports Management
Minors are a structured set of 4 units or 50 credit points and may be chosen from any field of study.
- Accounting
- Advertising
- Applied Mathematics
- Applied Psychology
- Aviation
- Biomedical Science
- Biotechnology
- Branded Environments
- Chemistry
- Cinema and Screen Studies
- Climate and Social Justice
- Communication Design
- Computer Science
- Creative Writing
- Criminology
- Data Analytics
- Data Science
- Design Principles and Processes
- Digital Advertising Technology
- Digital Marketing
- Diversity and Multiculturalism
- Editing
- Engineering
- Entrepreneurship
- Film and Television Theory
- Finance
- Games and Interactivity
- Health Statistics
- Healthy Societies
- Higher Mathematics
- History
- Human Resource Management
- Indigenous Studies
- Industrial Design
- Information and Communication Technology
- Innovation
- Interior Architecture
- Interior Documentation and Construction
- International Relations and Security
- Journalism
- Literature
- Management
- Management for Health
- Managing Information Systems
- Marketing
- Media Industries
- Motion Design
- Neuroscience
- Nutrition
- Perspectives on Globalisation
- Philosophy
- Photomedia
- Physics
- Politics and International Relations
- Professional and Creative Writing
- Public Relations
- Screen Studies and Popular Culture
- Social Impact
- Social Media
- Sociology
- Space Technology
- Web Development
You'll get paid to work in an area related to your field of study for either 6 or 12 months, where you'll combine hands-on learning with academic submissions, workplace reflection and feedback from your host organisation. Most students undertake their placements in the third year of their degree, so you’ll want to map out your electives as soon as you can and register for a placement at least 6 months before your preferred start date.
| Units of study | Unit code |
|---|---|
| Option 1 | |
|
Work Experience in Industry A
Academic unit, 25.0 credit points |
WEI20001 |
|
Integrated Professional Placement A - Media and Communication
Practical unit, 25.0 credit points |
MDA20016 |
|
Work Experience in Industry B
Academic unit, 25.0 credit points |
WEI20002 |
|
Integrated Professional Placement B - Media and Communication
Practical unit, 25.0 credit points |
MDA20017 |
These recommended elective units can deepen your understanding of your chosen major or an area of interest. A full list of available elective units can be found upon enrolment.
Advertising major
- DIG10004 Digital Video and Audio
- DIG20001 Digital Narratives
- DIG20005 User Experience Design
- DIG20011 Digital Mobility
- DIG30003 Advertising Technology
- GAM20004 Writing for Interactive Narratives
- HEA10001 Introduction to Health Sciences
- HEP20002 Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
- JOU20006 Media, Law and Ethics
- MDA10001 Introduction to Media Studies
- MDA10008 Global Media Industries
- MDA20003 Networked Selves
- MDA20014 Media and Social Impact
- MDA30006 Media and Communications Project A
- MDA30007 Media and Communications Project B
- MDA30009 Radio, Audio and Podcasting
- MDA30019 Sound and the Screen
- MKT20021 Integrated Marketing Communication
- PHI10008 Introduction to Ethics
- PUB10001 Introduction to Public Relations Theory and Practice
- PUB30001 Events Management
Cinema & Screen Studies major
- ADV10001 Principles of Advertising
- COM10007 Professional Communication Practice
- DIG10004 Digital Video and Audio
- FTV20005 The Australian Screen
- FTV30001 Breaking the Screen
- FTV30005 Hollywood Cinema
- JOU10004 News Writing
- JOU20006 Media, Law and Ethics
- LIT20002 Australian Writing: Mapping Diversity
- LIT30002 Graphic Narratives: Comics, Graphic Novels, and Manga
- MDA10001 Introduction to Media Studies
- MDA10006 Innovation Cultures: Perspectives On Science and Technology
- MDA10008 Global Media Industries
- MDA20001 Business of Media
- MDA20003 Networked Selves
- MDA20009 Digital Communities
- MDA20011 Sports/Advertising/Media
- MDA20014 Media and Social Impact
- MDA20025 National Media in A Globalised World
- MDA30006 Media and Communications Project A
- MDA30007 Media and Communications Project B
Creative Writing and Publishing major
- ADV10001 Principles of Advertising
- DIG20001 Digital Narratives
- FTV10006 Genre and the Moving Image
- GAM20004 Writing for Interactive Narratives
- HIS10003 Global History
- HIS30012 History, Politics and Human Rights
- JOU10004 News Writing
- LIT20002 Australian Writing: Mapping Diversity
- LIT30004 Literary Industry Practice
- MDA10001 Introduction to Media Studies
- MDA10003 Screen Studies: Movies, Television and Ourselves
- MDA20007 Screen Franchising and Innovation
- MDA20025 National Media in A Globalised World
- MDA30007 Media and Communications Project B
- MDA30012 Researching Social Media Publics
- MDA30019 Sound and the Screen
- PHI10007 What is Power?
- POL10001 Australian Politics
- PWR10002 Editing for Writers
- PWR20003 Writing Creative Non-Fiction
- SOC10004 Sociological Foundations
- SOC20020 Deviance, Difference & Conformity
- SOC30013 Global Gender and Sex
Immersive Media major
- ADV10001 Principles of Advertising
- COM10007 Professional Communication Practice
- DIG10004 Digital Video and Audio
- JOU10004 News Writing
- JOU20006 Media, Law and Ethics
- LIT20002 Australian Writing: Mapping Diversity
- LIT30002 Graphic Narratives: Comics, Graphic Novels, and Manga
- LIT30004 Literary Industry Practice
- MDA10001 Introduction to Media Studies
- MDA10003 Screen Studies: Movies, Television and Ourselves
- MDA10008 Global Media Industries
- MDA20003 Networked Selves
- MDA20007 Screen Franchising and Innovation
- MDA20009 Digital Communities
- MDA20011 Sports/Advertising/Media
- MDA30007 Media and Communications Project B
- MDA30011 Global Screen Studies: Beyond Hollywood
- MDA30012 Researching Social Media Publics
- POL10002 International Politics
- PUB10001 Introduction to Public Relations Theory and Practice
- PUB20003 Public Relations Writing
- SOC10004 Sociological Foundations
Journalism major
- COS10005 Web Development
- FTV20005 The Australian Screen
- FTV30001 Breaking the Screen
- FTV30005 Hollywood Cinema
- INS10001 Connecting with Culture: Indigenous Australian Experiences
- JOU10007 Media Content Creation
- JOU20006 Media, Law and Ethics
- MDA20001 Business of Media
- MDA20014 Media and Social Impact
- MDA20025 National Media in A Globalised World
- MDA30006 Media and Communications Project A
- MDA30007 Media and Communications Project B
- MDA30009 Radio, Audio and Podcasting
- MDA30019 Sound and the Screen
- PHI10008 Introduction to Ethics
- POL10001 Australian Politics
- POL10002 International Politics
- POL20008 Australian Foreign Policy
- PUB20003 Public Relations Writing
- SOC30019 Social Science Research Methods
- STA10003 Foundations of Statistics
Public Relations major
- DIG10004 Digital Video and Audio
- DIG20001 Digital Narratives
- DIG20005 User Experience Design
- DIG20011 Digital Mobility
- DIG30003 Advertising Technology
- GAM20004 Writing for Interactive Narratives
- HEA10001 Introduction to Health Sciences
- HEP20002 Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
- JOU20006 Media, Law and Ethics
- MDA10001 Introduction to Media Studies
- MDA10008 Global Media Industries
- MDA20003 Networked Selves
- MDA20014 Media and Social Impact
- MDA30006 Media and Communications Project A
- MDA30007 Media and Communications Project B
- MDA30009 Radio, Audio and Podcasting
- MDA30019 Sound and the Screen
- MKT20021 Integrated Marketing Communication
Social Media major
- ADV10001 Principles of Advertising
- COM10007 Professional Communication Practice
- DIG10004 Digital Video and Audio
- DIG20001 Digital Narratives
- DIG20011 Digital Mobility
- DIG30003 Advertising Technology
- GAM20004 Writing for Interactive Narratives
- HEA10001 Introduction to Health Sciences
- HEP20002 Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
- JOU10004 News Writing
- JOU20006 Media, Law and Ethics
- MDA10001 Introduction to Media Studies
- MDA10003 Screen Studies: Movies, Television and Ourselves
- MDA10008 Global Media Industries
- MDA20001 Business of Media
- MDA20007 Screen Franchising and Innovation
- MDA20014 Media and Social Impact
- MDA30009 Radio, Audio and Podcasting
- MDA30011 Global Screen Studies: Beyond Hollywood
- PHI10003 Critical Thinking
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of this course students will be able to:
- identify and contextualise the impacts of digital transformation on media and communication industries, audiences and professional and creative practices
- analyse diverse socio-cultural influences on media and communication practices and their impact on audiences in Indigenous, local and global contexts
- demonstrate critical thinking, including theoretical, practice-led and decolonised approaches, within a specialised media and communication discipline
- initiate professional approaches to planning, problem-solving and decision-making in a range of media and communication activities and processes, both individually and in collaboration with others
- design creative and professional media and communication artefacts that focus on examining the relationship between people and technology for social impact
- explore innovative use of new media and communication technologies to engage, influence and build communities for next generation media futures
- engage ethical approaches to research methodologies for socially responsible, just and fair content creation strategies
- apply learning from Indigenous, global and cross-cultural communication contexts to support accountability, self-assessment and independence in lifelong learning
- apply a series of thinking systems, creativity toolkits and innovation frameworks to design contextually-relevant solutions addressing local and global challenges in and outside their discipline
- identify and articulate opportunities to innovate and create impact informed by user-centred research and/or data
- adapt their discipline skillsets in new situations in response to complex and changing contexts, including interdisciplinary environments
- facilitate and contribute to innovation teams that seek solutions to complex challenges, using inclusive collaboration practices to leverage different skills and perspectives
- navigate commercial, human and technical requirements aided by prototyping and testing to deliver solutions that create value
- communicate the value of experimentation, ideas and innovation with confidence in developing solutions to investors, potential partners, employers or other stakeholders
- develop futures-focused innovations that integrate responsible social, technological and environmental factors
Career opportunities
The Bachelor of Media Communication / Bachelor of Applied Innovation equips students with knowledge and skills essential for a career that encompasses the challenging and dynamic area of media and communication and innovation. The Applied Innovation units complement the Media and Communication disciplinary studies by developing students’ future workforce capabilities.
Students apply innovation toolkits, prototype solutions and participate in challenges, such as innovation sprints and interdisciplinary projects, including activities inspired by their passions and interests, developing, in the process, future workforce capabilities such as interdisciplinary collaboration, creativity and complex problem-solving, persistence, curiosity and initiative in real-world contexts.
The course helps students create a portfolio for future employability, with industry experience and additional practical skills. As an innovator, students are prepared to conceive, develop and deliver transformative projects as well as adapt to uncertain and changing contexts to secure or create fulfilling employment opportunities.
Course rules
To qualify for the Bachelor of Media and Communication / Bachelor of Applied Innovation, students must complete 400 credit points:
- eight [8] core units (100 credit points)
- eight [8] units from a Media and Communication major (100 credit points)
- six [6] units from Applied Innovation major (100 credit points)
- eight [8] units of other studies comprising of a major, co-major, minor/s and/or electives (100 credit points)
Students must not complete more than 200 credit points (normally 16 units) at introductory level.
A unit of study can only be counted once, where units are shared between majors and/or minors, students must choose an approved alternate.
Professional placements
Domestic students also have an opportunity to undertake a WIL Professional Placement through a competitive process. Please note that due to government regulation, international students holding a student visa are not able to undertake Professional Placements in this course.
Students who undertake a 12-month professional placement are subject to the following course rules and must complete 475 credit points comprising:
- eight [8] core units (100 credit points)
- eight [8] units from a Media and Communication major (100 credit points)
- six [6] units from Applied Innovation major (100 credit points)
- six [6] units comprising of a minor and/or electives (75 credit points)
- four [4] units from the Professional Placement co-major (100 credit points)
Students who elect to undertake a 6-month professional placement are subject to the following course rules and must complete 437.5 credit points comprising:
- eight [8] core units (100 credit points)
- eight [8] units from a Media and Communication major (100 credit points)
- six [6] units from Applied Innovation major (100 credit points)
- seven [7] units comprising of a minor and/or electives (87.5 credit points)
- two [2] units from the Professional Placement minor (50 credit points)
Maximum academic credit
The maximum level of credit that can be granted for the Bachelor of Media amd Communication / Bachelor of Applied Innovation is 200 credit points (normally 16 units), 100 credit points maximum from each discipline.
Admission criteria
Information about Swinburne's general admission criteria can be found at Admissions at Swinburne - Higher Education webpage.
Interested in the Bachelor of Media and Communication / Bachelor of Applied Innovation?
From state-of-the-art facilities to opportunities to engage with industry – this course is designed with your future in mind. Let's get started.