Master of Journalism (MC-JOURN)

Masters (Coursework)Year: 2025 Delivered: On Campus (Parkville)

You’re viewing the 2025 Handbook:
Or view archived Handbooks

Overview

Award titleMaster of Journalism
Year & campus2025 — Parkville
CRICOS code075464C
Fees informationSubject EFTSL, level, discipline and census date
Study level & typeGraduate Coursework
AQF level 9
Credit points200 credit points
Duration24 months full-time or 48 months part-time

The program is designed for students who are interested in pursuing careers in journalism and journalism-related fields, and for journalists and other professional practitioners working in the contemporary media industry who wish to develop additional advanced skills and knowledge.

The program teaches the full range of journalism skills and critically engages with the professional conventions of journalism, with ethical and legal issues that impact on journalism, and with contemporary questions such as how new media technologies influence journalism practices. Students will:

  • Learn real-world skills from leading industry practitioners
  • Engage with important and challenging issues facing the Australian and global media industries
  • Gain a theoretical and practical grounding in issues such as civics, governance, citizenship, and leadership
  • Investigate key concepts that frame recent developments in fields such as media law, management theory, globalisation, health policy, and climate change

Students may undertake an internship with an external organisation, and gain valuable practical experience and extend their professional networks.

Links to further information

http://arts.unimelb.edu.au/culture-communication

Entry requirements

1. In order to be considered for entry, applicants must have completed:

  • an undergraduate degree with a weighted average mark of at least H2B (70%), or equivalent.

Meeting this requirement does not guarantee selection.

2. In ranking applications, the Selection Committee will consider:

  • prior academic performance; and
  • relevance of previous studies.

3. The Selection Committee may seek further information to clarify any aspect of an application in accordance with the Academic Board rules on the use of selection instruments.

4. Applicants are required to satisfy the university’s English language requirements for graduate courses. For those applicants seeking to meet these requirements by one of the standard tests approved by the Academic Board, performance band 7 is required.

 

Applicants with the following may be awarded up to 50 points of credit:

  • an undergraduate degree in a cognate discipline, with a weighted average mark of at least H2B (70%) or equivalent; or
  • an undergraduate degree in any discipline and a Graduate Certificate in a cognate discipline, with a weighted average mark of at least H2B (70%) or equivalent; or
  • an undergraduate degree in any discipline, with a weighted average mark of at least H2B (70%) or equivalent, and at least two years of documented, relevant work experience.

Applicants with the following may be awarded up to 100 points of credit:

  • an honours degree in a cognate discipline, with a weighted average mark of at least H2B (70%), or equivalent; or
  • an undergraduate degree in a cognate discipline, with a weighted average mark of at least H2B (70%), or equivalent, and at least two years of documented, relevant work experience.

Applicants seeking credit for relevant work experience must document their experience with a brief curriculum vitae detailing the experience, contact details of two referees who can confirm the authenticity and nature of the experience claimed, and a covering letter that explains how the experience is relevant to the program and prepares them for it.

 

Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)

The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005) and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF127). For the purposes of considering requests for reasonable adjustments, academic requirements for this course are articulated in the overview, attributes, outcomes and skills of this entry. Further details about how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home.

Intended learning outcomes

Students who complete the Master of Journalism should be able to:

  • Demonstrate the skills required to become journalists, or build on existing skills and knowledge if mid-career
  • Reflect on professional issues and develop innovative forms of practice
  • Link theory and practice in ways that are informed by a reflective, critical and ethical understanding of the challenges facing journalism and journalists
  • Demonstrate the knowledge and skills they need to shape the profession at a time of great change
  • Demonstrate a real-world profession-based understanding of the norms and professional standards that inform excellent journalism
  • Produce high quality journalism through the exercise of high‐level skills in journalistic research, investigation and communication

Generic skills

Graduate attributes

Academically excellent

  • The program will be taught by leading industry practitioners
  • It will introduce students to key concepts in journalism in the context of the most recent scholarship in the field
  • Students will gain a deep understanding of the changing contexts in which the profession operates, such as globalisation, changing business models, and the impact of new technologies on business models and professional practice.

Knowledgeable across disciplines

  • Journalism is by nature an interdisciplinary profession requiring deep knowledge across a variety of specialised fields and the course is designed to reflect this
  • Through the diverse curriculum of the course students will have the opportunity to gain an understanding of major ideas and recent developments in fields such as media law, management theory, globalisation, development studies, international relations, Islamic culture, health policy, climate change, and the environment.

Leaders in Communities

  • As journalism is by nature a public-facing profession concerned with questions of civil society and leadership, students will gain a theoretical and practical grounding in issues such as civics, governance, citizenship and leadership.

Attuned to cultural diversity

  • The course places a major emphasis on issues of cultural diversity in its content, with its emphasis on issues of global development and cultural difference, and is at the same time expected to attract a diverse local and international cohort.

Active global citizens

  • Journalism is by nature a profession oriented around notions of active citizenship, both on the parts of its practitioners and consumers, and is demonstrated by the blurring of lines between the two
  • Students will, above all, acquire the skills to report on and engage in public debate, and to foster active citizenry in others.


For further information, please see http://learningandteaching.unimelb.edu.au/curriculum/graduates

Course structure

200 point program

Duration: 2 years full-time / 4 years part-time

200 point program requirement:

  • One compulsory subject (25 points)
  • A minimum of 75 points of core subjects
  • A maximum of 75 points of elective subject
  • One of the capstone stream options (25 or 50 points)

 

Course structure

Capstone Stream 1: Minor Thesis option

  • JOUR90001 Researching/Writing Stories (25 points)
  • At least 75 points from the Core Subjects list below
  • No more than 50 points from the Elective Subjects list below
  • Capstone subjects (50 points): ARTS90032 Research Principles & Practices Graduate, JOUR90015 Journalism Thesis Part 1 and JOUR90016 Journalism Thesis Part 2

or

Capstone Stream 2: Internship Option

  • JOUR90001 Researching/Writing Stories (25 points)
  • At least 75 points from the Core Subjects list below
  • No more than 75 points from the Elective Subjects list below
  • Capstone subjects (25 points): JOUR90003 Journalism Internship and JOUR90006  Dilemmas in Journalism: Law and Ethics

or

Capstone Stream 3: Journalism Project Option

  • JOUR90001 Researching/Writing Stories (25 points)
  • At least 75 points from the Core Subjects list below
  • No more than 75 points from the Elective Subjects list below
  • Capstone subjects (25 points): JOUR90025 Journalism Project Part 1 and JOUR90026 Journalism Project Part 2

Please note:

  • The thesis option requires two consecutive semesters of enrolment.
  • The Journalism Project option requires two consecutive semesters of enrolment

 

 

150 point program

Duration: 1.5 years full-time / up to 3 years part-time

150 point program requirement:

  • A minimum of 25 points of core subjects
  • A maximum of 87.5 points of elective subjects
  • One of the capstone stream options (25 or 50 points)

Course structure

Capstone Stream 1: Minor Thesis option

  • At least 25 points from the Core Subjects list below
  • No more than 75 points from the Elective Subjects list below
  • Capstone subjects (50 points): ARTS90032 Research Principles & Practices Graduate, JOUR90015 Journalism Thesis Part 1 and JOUR90016 Journalism Thesis Part 2

or

Capstone Stream 2: Internship Option

  • At least 37.5 points from the Core Subjects list below
  • No more than 87.5 points from the Elective Subjects list below
  • Capstone subjects (25 points): JOUR90003 Journalism Internship and JOUR90006 Dilemmas in Journalism: Law and Ethics

or

Capstone Stream 3: Journalism Project Option

  • At least 37.5 points from the Core Subjects list below
  • No more than 87.5 points from the Elective Subjects list below
  • Capstone subjects (25 points): JOUR90025 Journalism Project Part 1 and JOUR90026 Journalism Project Part 2

Please note:

  • The thesis option requires two consecutive semesters of enrolment.
  • The Journalism Project option requires two consecutive semesters of enrolment

 

 

100 point program

Duration: 1 year full-time / 2 years part-time

100 point program requirement:

  • A minimum of 25 points of core subjects
  • A maximum of 37.5 points of elective subjects
  • One of the capstone stream options (25 or 50 points)

Course structure

Capstone Stream 1: Minor Thesis option

  • At least 25 points from the Core Subjects list below
  • No more than 25 points from the Elective Subjects list below
  • Capstone subjects (50 points): ARTS90032 Research Principles & Practices Graduate, JOUR90015 Journalism Thesis Part 1 and JOUR90016 Journalism Thesis Part 2

or

Capstone Stream 2: Internship Option

  • At least 37.5 points from the Core Subjects list below
  • No more than 37.5 points from the Elective Subjects list below
  • Capstone subjects (25 points): JOUR90003 Journalism Internship and JOUR90006 Dilemmas in Journalism: Law and Ethics

or

Capstone Stream 3: Journalism Project Option

  • At least 37.5 points from the Core Subjects list below
  • No more than 37.5 points from the Elective Subjects list below
  • Capstone subjects (25 points): JOUR90025 Journalism Project Part 1 and JOUR90026 Journalism Project Part 2

Please note:

  • The thesis option requires two consecutive semesters of enrolment.
  • The Journalism Project option requires two consecutive semesters of enrolment

 

 

Capstone Requirement:

All students are required to complete the Capstone Requirement for the program (at least 25 points). Students must complete one of the following capstone options:

 

Capstone Stream 1: JOUR90015 Journalism Thesis Part 1, JOUR90016 Journalism Thesis Part 2, and ARTS90032 Research Principles & Practices Graduate (50 points total)

Purpose: An opportunity to integrate knowledge and research skills to address a specific Journalism research by planning and executing a substantial research-based project.

 

Capstone Stream 2: JOUR90003 Journalism Internship (12.5 points) and  JOUR90006  Dilemmas in Journalism: Law and Ethics (12.5 points) (25 Points total)

Purpose: An opportunity to complete a professionally focused project under industry standard supervision, aimed at publication in The Citizen, and participating in the newsroom experience and also completing a 20 day placement in the industry.

 

Capstone Stream 3: JOUR90025 Journalism Project Part 1 (12.5 points) and JOUR90026 Journalism Project Part 2 (12.5 points) (25 points total)

Purpose: An opportunity to complete a substantial professionally focused project under industry standard supervision. This might be a book, portfolio of articles or other substantial journalistic project.

 

For policies that govern this degree, see Academic Services Policy in the University Melbourne Policy Framework.

Majors, minors & specialisations

Name Credit Points
200pt Program 200
150pt Program 150
100pt Program 100

Further study

Students who complete the minor thesis may be eligible for entry into the PhD.

Last updated: 16 April 2025