Media Studies
Please note: Information on this page relates to the 2010 academic year unless otherwise specified.
On this page:
- Overview
- Undergraduate Study
- Postgraduate Study
- How to find out more
- Related Subjects and Careers
- List of Courses
Media Studies Website:
Overview
Media Studies is an interdisciplinary academic field which analyses the meaning and role of media such as newspapers, magazines, television, the internet and popular music. Media are a major social, cultural and political force in society. They can have enormous influence, shaping not only knowledge, values and desires but also our perceptions of society, culture, and nation.
Media Studies courses allow students to explore political, institutional, industrial, historical, cultural and aesthetic aspects of media through a variety of media forms, contexts, theories and production/reception cultures. Media Studies courses also foster an understanding of how media products are constructed in response to a combination of technological, institutional, creative and cultural conditions.
The Media Studies Programme offers a range of courses at undergraduate level. At first year level (MDIA 101, 102, 103) courses provide a coherent and complementary introduction to basic concepts, analytical techniques and research methodologies. Each course at subsequent levels is designed to build upon, put into practice and develop these in relation to more specific topics and contexts, such as news, popular music, television, new media, advertising, cultural production, and identity (notably gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity and indigeneity).
Undergraduate Study
BA Major Requirements
- 20 points from MDIA 100–199, and 20 further points from ENGL, MDIA, FILM or THEA 100–199
- 40 points from MDIA 200–299
- 40 points from MDIA 300–399
- 20 further points from MDIA 200–399
Please note that under the new regulations, MDIA 201 is no longer a compulsory course for the major.
Course Planning
Students intending to major in Media Studies are advised to take at least two 100-level MDIA courses (MDIA 101, 102, 103) in order to fulfil prerequisites for advanced courses in this subject.
Broad strands run through the three levels of study to ensure students can progress through the degree while following coherent sets of options. Following any of these strands is not mandatory; students are encouraged to choose from among them in accordance with their interests.
The strands are:
-
Media, Society and Identity:
MDIA 102; 103; 201; 208; 301; 306; 308; 310; 321 -
Visual Media Culture:
MDIA 101; 203; 220 -
Popular Media Culture (with an emphasis on television and popular music):
MDIA 103; 202; 205; 302; 305 -
News Culture:
MDIA 102; 207; 304; 311 -
New Media/Digital Culture:
MDIA 102; 103; 206; 309.
Postgraduate Study
Postgraduate Qualifications in Media Studies
How To Find Out More
You can order more information on this subject using our Request for Study Material form.
Victoria's Student Recruitment and Course Advice Office offers advice on courses and help with planning your degree.
Contact the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences' Student and Academic Services Office for information on admission, qualifications and courses, course advice and selection criteria, exemptions and prerequisites.
Media Studies courses are taught within the School of English, Film, Theatre, and Media Studies.
Media Studies Office: Room 201, 42-44 Kelburn Parade.
Email: address
Related Subjects and Careers
| Related Subjects | Careers |
|---|---|
|
English Literature |
Advertising |
List of Courses
For a complete course listing, see the list of all Media Studies courses.
| 100 Level Media Studies Courses |
|---|
MDIA 101 – Media: Texts and Images |
MDIA 102 – Media, Society and Politics |
MDIA 103 – Popular Media Culture |
| 200 Level Media Studies Courses |
|---|
MDIA 201 – Media in Aotearoa New Zealand |
MDIA 202 – Television Studies |
MDIA 203 – Visual Culture |
MDIA 205 – Popular Music Studies |
MDIA 206 – Media and Digital Cultures |
MDIA 207 – News Analysis |
MDIA 208 – Media Audiences |
MDIA 220 – Special Topic: Critical Approaches to Advertising |
| 300 Level Media Studies Courses |
|---|
MDIA 301 – Media Theory and Cultural Production |
MDIA 302 – Television Narrative |
MDIA 304 – News Culture |
MDIA 305 – A Social History of Popular Music |
MDIA 306 – Media, Gender & Sexuality |
MDIA 308 – Maori and the Media |
MDIA 309 – New Media: Theory and Practice |
MDIA 310 – Cultural Identity and the Media |
MDIA 311 – Content Analysis |
MDIA 321 – Special Topic: Media and the Environment |
| 400 Level Media Studies Courses |
|---|
MDIA 401 – Media Theory and Research Methods |
MDIA 402 – Film, Culture and Society |
MDIA 403 – Mass Media and Popular Culture |
MDIA 404 – Television Industries and Forms |
MDIA 407 – Media, Subjectivity and Identity |
MDIA 408 – Media Policy |
MDIA 409 – Special Topic: Postcolonial Media Cultures |
MDIA 412 – International News Media |
MDIA 413 – Advanced Studies in New Media |
MDIA 414 – Advanced Studies in Television Culture |
MDIA 489 – Research Project |