good unis for communication? (1 Viewer)

[nyx84]

heya...am torn between these few universitites for studying Communication: murdoch, QUT and UQ. I applied to murdoch and qut because I was told that these unis provided more practical coursework rather than theory based in UQ. On the other hand, I was also told that its better to go to UQ because of the prestige thing etc etc etc. Another option for UQ would be to study Arts majoring in Media Studies. anybody know anything about these studying comms and these unis? I seriously need help. thanks!

 

[kami]

I can't tell you about those unis in particular, but I can tell you that you shouldn't be choosing based on prestige. In the 'arty' industries you'll find experience is more important than a degree, and it won't make your degree more prestigious if you've gone to a prestigious uni with a weaker communications faculty.

Also, from the little that I know, most BAs[even if you major in media] usually don't specialise to the extent a communication degree does. So it may be good if you're unsure about how much you want to do communications as a career, or if you don't know which specialisation do go for yet. Its best to go to the individual uni websites and look at the degree structures if you're uncertain as well, as the information will probably be more accurate than anything anyone here can tell you.

 

[nyx84]

I can't tell you about those unis in particular, but I can tell you that you shouldn't be choosing based on prestige. In the 'arty' industries you'll find experience is more important than a degree, and it won't make your degree more prestigious if you've gone to a prestigious uni with a weaker communications faculty.

i agree with you on choosing a uni based on the program rather than prestige. which is why i was attracted to QUT. However, the BCommunication degree at UQ is looking more and more attractive everytime I look at the program structure. It may be more theory based than at QUT but I am working towards a career in advertising. In my UQ application, I placed the BA as first preference and Communication as second. I know this is a dumb qn, but lets say I'm eligible for both, will I just get an offer for the first preference or will I receive both?

Anyone who did communication (whether through a BA or BCommunication, what uni did you guys go to? appreciate the help.

 

[nyx84]

Who did or is doing a Communications degree?

Hey guys.

Am planning on doing a Communications degree. Am hoping to get into advertising or public relations. Can u guys recommend some good unis for communications, preferably in Perth or Brisbane? Hows QUT and UQ? Which uni do you guys go to? Thanks, much appreciate the help.

 

[nwatts]

Re: Who did or is doing a Communications degree?

I go to UOW and do a B Communication & Media Studies. It's decent, not brilliant. My major is journalism. We're apparently building a rep for journalism, but I can't call our PR related subjects.

 

[AsyLum]

First offer, they are offered on a preference priority, so you won't get offered two

I'm currently at Macquarie University, and Kami is at UTS, speaking for myself, I really don't have any idea as to the Queensland courses.

 

[nyx84]

First offer, they are offered on a preference priority, so you won't get offered two

thanks for both your replies. ah crap, is it possible to send admissions an email to change my preferences?

I was seriously considering UTS and it would have been my main choice, but its just way beyond my means to move cross-country.

 

[kami]

thanks for both your replies. ah crap, is it possible to send admissions an email to change my preferences?

I was seriously considering UTS and it would have been my main choice, but its just way beyond my means to move cross-country.

I know in NSW, we can change our preferences for quite a while after we've received our admission results so you probably can change it. Check with QTAC first though. There are also Late Rounds if you don't make it in immediately.

EDIT:I'd also add, that QUT and UTS are both ATN unis and therefore have special transfer arrangements so if you want to keep UTS as an option later on, QUT would be easier to transfer from than UQ.

 

[nyx84]

I know in NSW, we can change our preferences for quite a while after we've received our admission results so you probably can change it. Check with QTAC first though. There are also Late Rounds if you don't make it in immediately.

EDIT:I'd also add, that QUT and UTS are both ATN unis and therefore have special transfer arrangements so if you want to keep UTS as an option later on, QUT would be easier to transfer from than UQ.

Oh excellent! Will keep that in mind, thanks. How are you finding UTS and your program so far? Is coursework theory-based, practical-based or a good balance of both? I've heard its a popular course at UTS, with a large number of students in each class.

 

[kami]

Oh excellent! Will keep that in mind, thanks. How are you finding UTS and your program so far? Is coursework theory-based, practical-based or a good balance of both? I've heard its a popular course at UTS, with a large number of students in each class.

This is basically a collation of my responses to similar questions, so this'll be a little bit long...

In first year, your studies will be divided up into four areas:

Your core:
* Communications and Media type stuff - basically study how the media interacts with our society, culture and life. For example, Rupert Murdoch's monopoly on news allowing him to influence public affairs and politics. It also discusses how and why audiences value and react to certain info. I actually find its sorta interesting, but I can't wait for second year when I don't need to do this stuff anymore. This provides most of the theory for Journalism, Info Management and Public Communications
* Sociopolitical studies - this is essentially about the social policies of our nation and how they affect the individual. For example, aboriginal rights and access to power and benefits or gay marriage and adoption rights. There is also an online component to this area. Hate this one - completely, alot of the others seem to enjoy it though.
* Cultural studies - It essentially is about investigating cultural texts and phenomena in a contemporary environment. The lectures are interesting, and so is the reading content but it is an extreme bitch to actually study. This provides the bulk of the theory for the writing[ie me] and media production subjects.

Then there are the 'proffessional strands' ie what strand of communications you'd do:
* Writing - this is my one. It involves studying the various ways and forms of writing. For example in one week we might analyse poetry and compose multiple stanzas and in another we might discuss genre writing. This subject is mostly about the practise of writing but does contain a little theory. This area also closely resembles hsc english extension 2 in its assessments in that we have a major work and a journal that we must submit and I'd say the majority of writing students did english extension 2 for their hsc, but its definitely not a prerequisite. Also, this class isn't in lecture/tute form - they just deliver 'seminars' which are rather like ordinary classes. There are about 5 classes each having anywhere from 12 - 25 people each. Oh, and I love this part of the course.
*Journalism - from what I've observed, this is a very practical area as students go out on a field trips and submit articles on a regular basis. Seems to be very demanding and also quite popular.
* Social Inquiry - Don't know much about this one
* Public Communication - As above
* Information Management - As above
* Media Arts & Production - As above

There are no electives in first year, however in second and third year you only do 3 subjects a semester, 2 of which are your majors[your proffessional subject and the core theory one that goes with it]. The third subject can either be a free elective from the humanities faculty which includes single semester units on Genocide Studies, Psychology and a proffessional internship as well as several subjects in aboriginal studies. You also have the choice of taking an arts elective from any of the other universities to make up this third subject each semester.

This structure will of course change if you do say Law or International Studies in combination. I think with International Studies all of your free communications electives go toward your language + you must study the sociopolitics subjects for your entire degree and then in the fourth year you study overseas. Whereas when combining with Law, you will recieve only 1 or 2 electives in the entire course and you would progress more slowly through the communications component[i think]. If you do Honours, you will enter in a fourth year of communications which would involve writing an extensive work and pretty much nothing but that.

Regarding workload and assessments, the workload is quite high - there are 14 assessments in a semester[12 weeks a semester + 2 weeks holiday] including 4 or so major work type projects [1 for each subject]. This means however that there are no exams whatsoever, and you also gain additional holidays but it is at the cost of a higher workload. It's still quite manageable though.

Regarding the students themselves, you'll find there are 600+ communications students in first year and that you'll be sharing all the same subjects apart from writing(which only writing and cultural people do). The candidature is also overwhelmingly in the female arena, with over 80% of students that I've met so far being girls. Most students are also younger - there are maybe 4 mature age students that I've even seen in the lectures.

Most of the people are friendly but there isn't much to do on the campus itself, so its not like MQ/UNSW/USYD where you all hang out in the quadrangle or cafeteria during breaks and this ends up with alot of people pretty much just scurrying off 'somewhere'.

Um, the tutors are pretty much a mixed bag I think - for example 1 of my tutors bores me to tears, another is a total dragon and the other 2 are fairly laid back and helpful.

So to sum up, its a good course that has a pretty good mix of practical and theory(considering the course as a whole itll lean more to prac which is better for career prospects) though its a bit difficult at the moment.

 

[iamspartacus]

Am planning on applying to the Bachelor of Communication at UQ. Can anyone tell me about it and if its a good choice? am also looking at the Business COmmunication degree.