Lights, camera, action! Yes, it’s clichéd but that’s what it’s all about!
Practically, our Screen & Sound degree seeks to teach you the practical elements of film and tv production – we even have 2 TV production studios to help you learn in a real-life environment. The degree not only sees you out and about filming, up to all hours of the night editing, writing and producing your own scripts, but we also provide you with an understanding of the industry, both within Australia and internationally. You will also learn about new media applications that have an impact on screen and sound – think about animation, special effects and so on. And if these kind of stuff is your thing, you might even want to consider adding an Interactive Digital Design or Games Technology major so you are more qualified to pursue a career in that kind of scene.
What can I do with my Media degree?
Wow, think about the diversity of options, do you want to see work in TV, film, radio, media communications, public relations, marketing, advertising…the list goes on. Depending on your area of specialisation and the unit mix you choose to take, your Murdoch studies can prepare you for a range of roles within the media industries.
And because you will be learning form some of the best – for instance, Martin Mhando, one of our Media academics was nominated for an Oscar – you will already have a professional network when you graduate!
Our entry requirements tool will help you find the most appropriate and quickest pathways to admission. The tool will take you through a couple of steps to help identify the best pathways for you based on your situation. Once you have chosen the most suitable pathway you will also be provided you with information on how to apply based on the criteria you are using for admission.
Domestic student applications:
If you would like to apply for this course you can now:
We don’t have prerequisite subjects for any of our courses as we are a strong promoter of a well rounded education. However, remember that you will also need to demonstrate competence in English, normally through passing either English or English Literature or by getting a sufficiently high score in ESL.
Course structure:
Year 1
Foundation Unit
All new first year students take a Foundation Unit. These are designed so you have some idea what’s going on, because, let’s face it, you’ve never been to uni before!
Media Core Units
You must take these units for a particular major to gain a specialisation in this area.
Introduction to Screen and Sound Studies
Introduction to Digital Media
Institutions, Culture and Power OR Contemporary Indigenous Issues OR Introduction to Mass Communication
Specified Electives
These are elective units that must be chosen from a specified list to give you further specialisation in your area of study.
Select one unit from the following list:
Introduction to Journalism
Screen and Sound Production I (TV Studio)
Introduction to Drama
Institutions, Culture and Power
Introduction to Mass Communication
Introduction to Communication, Technology and Policy
Principles of Multimedia
Screen & Sound Core Units
You must take these units for a particular major to gain a specialisation in this area.
Introduction to Screen and Sound Studies
Introduction to Digital Media
Screen and Sound Production I
General Electives
You must take these units to have enough units to graduate. General Electives give you the flexibility to learn from a variety of different areas.
To take a double major, students simply take the core units from another major in place of their general elective units. Further details on double majors are available in the Prospectus.
All the Media majors combine well with each other, however some other recommended double majors include:
Marketing Management;
Interactive Digital Design;
Gender & Cultural Studies;
Games Technology;
Games Software Design & Production;
Public Relations;
Journalism.
What are my career options?
As a Murdoch Media Studies graduate, your employment outlook is excellent, especially if you combine it with other disciplines. Depending on which skill combinations or specialisations you have, your Murdoch degree may lead you towards work and study opportunities in a number of areas. The following are some professions to consider, including extra majors that will improve your prospects of achieving them.
Professions
What they do
Suggested double majors
Media Planner
Media Planners gather information on the public’s viewing and reading habits, and evaluate editorial content and programming to determine the potential use of media such as newspapers, magazines, radio, television, or the Internet. The media staff calculates the numbers and types of people reached by different media, and how often they are reached.
Communication, Technology and Policy
Marketing Management
Gender and Cultural Studies
Media Buyers
Media Buyers track the media space and times available for purchase, negotiate and purchase time and space for ads, and make sure ads appear exactly as scheduled. Additionally, they calculate rates, usage, and budgets.
Communications, Technology and Policy
Marketing Management
Advertising Sales Agents
Advertising Sales Agents sell air time on radio and television, and page space in print media. They generally work in firms representing radio stations, television stations, and publications.
Communications, Technology and Policy
Producer / Director
Producers look for ideas that they believe can be turned into lucrative film projects or television shows. They may see many films, read hundreds of manuscripts, and maintain numerous contacts with literary agents and publishers. Producers are also responsible for all of the financial aspects of a film, including finding financing for its production. The Producer works closely with the director on the selection of the script, the principal members of the cast, and the filming locations, because these decisions greatly affect the cost of a film. Directors interpret the script and develop its thematic and visual images for the film. They direct the entire cast and crew during shooting.
Screen and Sound
English and Creative Arts
Gender and Cultural Studies
Production / Set Designers / Art Directors
Production Designers design the physical environment of the film or television set to create the mood called for by the script. Television art directors may design elaborate sets for use in situation comedies or commercials. They supervise many different people, including illustrators, scenic designers, model makers, carpenters, painters, electricians, labourers, set decorators, costume designers, and makeup and hairstyling artists. These positions can provide an entry into the motion picture industry. Many start in such jobs in live theatre productions and then move back and forth between the stage, film, and television. Art Directors and their assistants develop the visual concepts and designs of advertisements. They prepare paste-ups and layouts for print ads and television storyboards, cartoon-style summaries of how an advertisement will appear. They also oversee the filming of television commercials and photo sessions.
Screen and Sound
English and Creative Arts
Gender and Cultural Studies
Desktop Publisher
Using computer software, Desktop Publishers format and combine text, numerical data, photographs, charts, and other visual graphic elements to produce publication-ready material. Depending on the nature of a particular project, desktop publishers may write and edit text, create graphics to accompany text, convert photographs and drawings into digital images and then manipulate those images, design page layouts, create proposals, develop presentations and advertising campaigns, typeset and do colour separation, and translate electronic information onto film or other traditional forms. Materials produced by desktop publishers include books, business cards, calendars, magazines, newsletters and newspapers, packaging, slides, and tickets. As companies have brought the production of marketing, promotional, and other kinds of materials in-house, they increasingly have employed people who can produce such materials.
Journalism
Communication, Technology and Policy
English and Creative Arts
Multimedia
