Introduction to Media Studies
36 hours face to face + blended + swinburne online
One Semester or equivalent
Hawthorn, Online
Available to incoming Study Abroad and Exchange students
Overview
This unit introduces students to the fundamentals of media studies, with a focus on texts, contexts, and the history of media and media studies. This enables students to understand the significant contribution that the media make to the formation of society and culture. Students will also be introduced to competing frameworks for understanding media and their merits
Requisites
Teaching periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Semester 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
03-August-2026
01-November-2026
01-November-2026
Last self-enrolment date
16-August-2026
Census date
01-September-2026
Last withdraw without fail date
22-September-2026
Results released date
08-December-2026
Teaching Period 3
Location
Online
Start and end dates
02-November-2026
07-February-2027
07-February-2027
Last self-enrolment date
15-November-2026
Census date
01-December-2026
Last withdraw without fail date
22-December-2026
Results released date
02-March-2027
Semester 1
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
01-March-2027
30-May-2027
30-May-2027
Last self-enrolment date
14-March-2027
Census date
30-March-2027
Last withdraw without fail date
20-April-2027
Results released date
06-July-2027
Semester 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
02-August-2027
31-October-2027
31-October-2027
Last self-enrolment date
15-August-2027
Census date
31-August-2027
Last withdraw without fail date
21-September-2027
Results released date
07-December-2027
Unit learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
- Relate specific texts to broader social contexts
- Describe the purpose of cultural and critical theory
- Analyse the relationship between theory and practice
- Critically analyse media texts
- Examine the issues surrounding media production, distribution and ownership
Teaching methods
Hawthorn
| Type | Hours per week | Number of weeks | Total (number of hours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| On-campus Lecture |
1.50 | 12 weeks | 18 |
| On-campus Class |
1.50 | 12 weeks | 18 |
| Online Learning and Independent Learning |
2.00 | 12 weeks | 24 |
| Unspecified Activities Various |
7.50 | 12 weeks | 90 |
| TOTAL | 150 |
Swinburne Online
| Type | Hours per week | Number of weeks | Total (number of hours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online Directed Online Learning and Independent Learning | 1.00 | 4 weeks | 4 |
| Online Learning activities | 12.17 | 12 weeks | 146 |
| TOTAL | 150 |
Assessment
| Type | Task | Weighting | ULO's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | Individual | 40% | 1,2,3,4,5 |
| Online Journal | Individual | 40% | 1,2,3,4,5 |
| Tutorial Paper/Presentation | Individual | 20% | 1,2,3,4 |
Content
- Media Texts and Analysis
- Semiotics and Signs
- Form and Content
- Analysing Media Industries
- Media Audiences
- Media Representations of Gender, Sexuality, Class and Race
- Celebrities and Celebrity Culture
- Media History and Aesthetic Movements
- Graduate Attribute – Communication Skills: Verbal communication
- Graduate Attribute – Communication Skills: Communicating using different media
- Graduate Attribute – Teamwork Skills: Collaboration and negotiation
- Graduate Attribute – Teamwork Skills: Teamwork roles and processes
- Graduate Attribute – Digital Literacies: Information literacy
Study resources
Reading materials
A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.
