Honours

Why do Honours?

"An Honours graduate once told me: 'Honours is the jewel in the crown of your degree". For me Honours at Sydney was my most challenging ” and rewarding ” year of study to date. It is a year in which you bundle together all the things you've learnt over your Bachelor degree and put them to good use in a project that interests you. As an Honours student, for the first time you are not only engaging with knowledge within your field, but contributing to it. You are a budding scholar. During your Honours year, under the one-on-one guidance of an expert in your field, you lay out your topic like pieces of a puzzle, grouping ideas into corners and sides, sky and sand, even clicking some together around the edges to form an outline of a problem you are so determined to solve. It's when you start putting together those sides and filling in the gaps of a picture” that at the beginning you thought only existed in parts” and emerge at the end with a finished thesis, that you will understand why an Honours year, like the jewel in the crown, is so rewarding. ", 2009 Honours Student.
"Studying Honours in Media and Communications significantly improved the skill set that I developed in my undergraduate degree and broadened my horizons professionally. The program encourages a collegial atmosphere in which Honours students and academics come together to discuss a range of issues that relate to Media and Communications. One of the things I enjoyed most about the program was having direct contact with academics who are experts in their fields and receiving their feedback on my work. The program also equipped me with excellent writing skills, the ability to manage long-term projects and extensive research experience, all skills that are now highly valued in my role in Public Relations. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who is interested in exploring the area of Media and Communications further, improving their academic skills or has an interest in distinguishing themselves from other job candidates", 2007 Honours Student.

An Honours year in Media and Communications unites theory and practice in illuminating ways. It allows students to further explore ideas and concepts introduced in their undergraduate degree and/or develop skills and approaches that will enhance their abilities as media researchers and practitioners. While seen as a path to a further academic postgraduate studies in the form of an MPhil or PhD, Honours is also a year of research training in skills highly prized across a range of government, non-government and commercial organisations involved in media and communications research, media debates, and policy development. An Honours year can give an Arts degree an edge, demonstrating to potential employers that the candidate has the discipline to thoroughly research, write and manage a project to completion.

Honours students gain experience in managing and designing their own research project, on a personally selected topic, culminating in an 18 - 20,000 word thesis or equivalent (proposals for mixed-media submissions must be described in the initial application). They are able to explore aspects of an issue or their field of study in greater depth than possible in their undergraduate study. In 2009 students explored topics as diverse as music sampling copyright, social movement radio, media attitudes to rugby league players, the television viewing habits of students in residential colleges and new approaches to the slash fiction genre. Each student works closely with an academic supervisor and benefits from the camaraderie developed with other Honours candidates.

Honours in Media and Communications

The Honours program is a one-year course for students who have completed the requirements of an undergraduate degree at the University of Sydney or at another Australian institution. Honours has a research rather than purely course-work focus. The program is designed to allow students to focus on developing their research skills and their own research project. In the first semester, students will be exposed to theoretical concepts and research methodologies that are central to the discipline as well as skills for research design and practice. The program involves a 2-hour weekly Reading Seminar conducted by Dr Steven Maras and a 2-hour weekly Research Methods Seminar, delivered by academic staff across the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences according to their areas of expertise. These seminars include course-work assessments focused on research design, theory, methodology and critical reading comprising 12 - 13,000 words of written work. The second semester is given over to the preparation of the 18 - 20,000 word thesis with students working towards a submission deadline of early October. Throughout the year, Honours candidates are also required to attend departmental seminars that showcase contemporary research in Media and Communications (TBA).

Honours is a single, unified program. While students will receive marks for all pieces of assessment, their academic transcript will record a final, overall Honours mark. The thesis is worth 60% of the final mark and the seminar assessments comprise the remaining 40%. A variety of academics from the Department of Media and Communications will mark the course-work throughout the first semester. Two examiners will mark the thesis. Usually, both markers will be staff members of the Department. Each marker will recommend a grade and percentage for the dissertation. The choice of examiners will be determined by the Honours Coordinator, in consultation with the supervisor. The Honours Coordinator will then confirm the availability of the preferred examiners.

Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Guidelines for the Examination of Honours Theses

Grade Descriptors for Honours Work in Arts

Endorsed by the Faculty Board on 8 November 2010

These grade descriptors apply to all Honours assessments, coursework as well as theses.

These descriptors are broad indices. They are not intended to replace departmental statements on marking criteria. Discipline-specific statements of marking criteria are valuable complements to general faculty-wide descriptors, and departments and programs are encouraged to develop such statements.

This document replaces the ‘Interpretative Scale for the Award of Honours Grades and Medals in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences’, also known as the ‘Clunies Ross document’, which the Faculty adopted in 1999.

The Grade Descriptors

80-100: First Class (I)

90
Work demonstrating the highest levels of accomplishment and intellectual autonomy that can be expected from an undergraduate student. An overall Honours mark of 90 or higher is a requirement for the award of a University Medal, though Medals are not automatically awarded to students with overall results of 90 or more.

In many fields of the humanities and social sciences, a mark in this range indicates substantial and innovative research; wide and deep reading in the scholarly literature; sophisticated, perceptive, and original interpretations of data, documentary evidence, fieldwork, literary texts, or works of art; and a very high level of independent thought and argument.

In work written in a language other than English, a mark in this range indicates an excellent level of grammatical accuracy, syntactical sophistication, and nuance in use of vocabulary and register.

85-89
Work that demonstrates a very high level of proficiency in the methodologies, subject matter, and modes of expression and argumentation appropriate to the field or fields studied. Work in this range shows strong promise for doctoral study.

In many fields of the humanities and social sciences, a mark in this range indicates substantial original research; wide and deep reading in the scholarly literature; a very high level of skill in interpreting data, documentary evidence, fieldwork, literary texts, or works of art; and a high level of independent thought.

In work written in a language other than English, a mark in this range indicates a very high level of grammatical accuracy with only some mistakes, as well as syntactical sophistication, and nuance in use of vocabulary and register.

80-84
Work that demonstrates a high level of proficiency in the methodologies, subject matter, and modes of expression and argumentation appropriate to the field or fields studied, and shows potential for doctoral study.

In many fields of the humanities and social sciences, a mark in this range can indicate thorough research; a firm grasp of the relevant scholarly literature; and a high level of skill in interpreting data, documentary evidence, fieldwork, literary texts, or works of art.

In work written in a language other than English, a mark in this range indicates a very high level of grammatical accuracy with few mistakes and only very rare basic errors, with vocabulary and syntax varied and expression highly coherent and well structured.

75-79: Second Class, First Division (II.1)
Work that demonstrates a generally sound knowledge of the methodologies, subject matter, and modes of expression and argumentation appropriate to the field or fields studied.

In many fields of the humanities and social sciences, a mark in this range can indicate solid research; a firm grasp of the relevant scholarly literature; and competent interpretations of data, documentary evidence, fieldwork, literary texts, or works of art. However, work in this range may also show evidence of a higher level of independent thought combined with some significant lapses in research or expression.

In work written in a language other than English, a mark in this range indicates a high standard of grammatical accuracy with few mistakes and only very rare basic errors, with vocabulary and syntax varied and expression highly coherent and well structured.

70-74: Second Class, Second Division (II.2)
Work that demonstrates an adequate but limited performance in the methodologies, subjects, and/or languages studied.

In many fields of the humanities and social sciences, a mark in this range can indicate an adequate general knowledge of the subject from the reading of both primary material and secondary literature, straightforward argumentation, and clear expression. A mark in this range may also reflect a superior performance in one or more of these areas combined with serious lapses in others.

In work written in a language other than English, a mark in this range indicates a good standard of grammatical accuracy, albeit with some mistakes, including occasional basic ones; the work shows a good grasp of complex sentence structures and an appropriately varied vocabulary.

65-69: Third Class (III)
Work only barely above the standard of pass-degree work in the field studied. A mark in this range indicates a basic but limited understanding of the methodologies and subject matter of the field or fields studied, and skills in argument and expression that are only just adequate for Honours-level study and research.

Below 65%
Honours not awarded.

A student with a Distinction or higher average in their undergraduate course, an honours mark of 90 and an outstanding academic record throughout the award course may be considered by the Dean, on the advice of the Faculty Honours Committee, for the award of a University Medal.

Applying for Honours

All students interested in applying for Honours must make an appointment to speak with the Honours Coordinator, Dr Megan Le Masurier. The Coordinator administers the program, provides Honours students with academic advice about the choices within the program and generally assists students in their supervisory arrangements and in assessment. The Coordinator is also responsible for any ethical issues involved in research projects. In the case of projects that require approval by the University Ethics committee, the Coordinator will guide the student through this process.

Honours HANDBOOK 2011

The role of Coordinator is not to be confused with that of a Research Supervisor. Honours students should expect from their Supervisor guidance in the design of their research project (methodology), advice of planning, timing and protocols for undertaking research. Students should be aware that the role of the Supervisor does not include initiating research questions - rather their role is to assist the student in developing his or her own ideas. Students are responsible for 'owning' their projects“ this includes, but is not limited to, what is the most relevant literature for enquiries, what is the appropriate method, suggested chapter outline and so on. Students can expect to meet with their supervisor each fortnight for an hour, however this may be negotiated between both parties towards the completion of the dissertation. Students have the responsibility of negotiating suitable meeting times with their supervisors and being proactive in maintaining contact.

It is in the student's interest to have a reasonably well-developed idea of what his or her area of research will be at the proposal stage so that an appropriate Supervisor can be arranged. Students may wish to refer to Media & Communications staff to gain an understanding of the research strengths and interests of the department. Students should not confine their attention to academics who have taught them before, and should not hesitate to seek advice from the Honours Coordinator.

Please note that all applicants are expected to have achieved at least a solid credit average throughout an undergraduate degree comprised of 48 credit points in 8 Senior Units of Study, as described at Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences - Honours. Students who have completed their bachelor degree at another university more than two years previously should contact the Honours Coordinator to discuss whether the classes they have taken are equivalent to the prerequisites required for Honours in Media and Communications at University of Sydney.

For information on applying for Honours please click here

All students applying for Honours must submit this proposal by the beginning of December. The document should outline the intended research project in two to three pages and include (as a minimum):
* A description of the field the student is interested in studying for the thesis and a question/problem within that field that he or she believes requires investigation.
* A brief literature review that outlines the key theorists in the field, identifying where the student believes his or her work will enhance the existing body of work and/or address a gap in knowledge.

Part-Time and Mid-Year Enrolments

The department requires that all students enrol in first semester on a full-time basis. At this stage, the Program is unable to accept mid-year enrolments.

Content and Structure of the Honours Program

Honours has Unit of Study codes that differ from Junior and Senior Units. Honours students enrol in four 'shell' units each semester. These shell units do not correspond directly to the Honours seminars or thesis; they are simply an enrolment mechanism. The overall Honours mark will be recorded as the result for the 'Honours D' Unit.

Semester One:

MECO4011 Honours Research Methods A

MECO4012 Honours Research Methods B


Semester Two:

MECO4013 Honours Seminar C

MECO4014 Honours Thesis D

Scholarships

Each year the University of Sydney offers around 50 Honours Scholarships, each worth $6000. Further information about these scholarship will be available on the Scholarships website each year from late August.

Previous Honours Theses titles include:

• I am your worst fear, I am your best fantasy: new approaches to slash fiction
• The Disconnect Between Journalism and Governance: A Critical Analysis of the Interaction of Journalism and Governance in the Virtual World Second Life.
• The Mythic Monument and Monumental Myth: 9/11 Through Film Posters
• Telling Bodies: Reading Pro-anorexia websites in search of anorexic voices
• Niche Publications and Subcultural Authenticity: The Case of Stealth Magazine
• Difficult Territory: Reporting and Representing under the Northern Territory Permit System
• The Friend I Hate the Most: British Popular Culture, Cultural Studies and the American Other
• Informing A Distracted Audience: News Narratives in Breakfast Television
• In the Public Interest? Investigative Journalism and Fourth Estate Philosophy within the Australian Press
• Technology and Culture: Charting the Conceptualisation of Digital Audio Broadcasting in Australia
• So everyone's a rock critic? Music Journalism in a Networked Society
• MySpace: a place for friends? A Study of Friendship on MySpace
• Misconceived: Representations of 'The RU486 Debate' in Australian Media
• Making Traks: Hip-hop subculture in Sydney (Video and discussion paper)