Digital Communication and Culture
Coursework
Digital media are implicated in many recent transformations in culture, communication, creativity, politics, consumption, work, play and everyday life. The Digital Cultures postgraduate coursework programs investigate the interplay between cultural change and technological innovations. We take a critical and transdisciplinary approach, framing technologies in social, historical and political contexts.
The core units explore key topics in Digital Cultures
- ARIN6902 Internet Governance
- ARIN6904 Mobile Media and Games
- ARIN6905 New Media Audiences
- ARIN6912 Digital Research and Publishing
The Digital Communication and Culture programs are aimed at people pursuing careers in fields where digital media present the greatest challenges and opportunities. These include media, education, museums, web, marketing, publishing, creative industries, social media, mobile media, communications and computer games.
Research track option: Develop independent research skills in Digital Cultures, and move towards higher-level academic research.
Students have a wide range of over 30 electives to choose from**.
These include units from the Department of Media and Communications (online journalism, social marketing, social media communication, editing and manuscript preparation); Sydney College of the Arts (web, moving image, postproduction); Interaction Design and Electronic Arts (design programming, interface design and design thinking); Museum Studies; School of IT; cybersecurity; Linguistics; US Studies; Gender and Cultural Studies; Writing (professional writing, professional editing); and Research (doing social research, research methods).
** For some of these units you may need to demonstrate relevant competencies to the faculties.
Capstone experience:
Towards the end of their degree, students in the Master of Digital Communication and Culture complete a capstone experience. This can be:
- an internship organised by the Department of Media and Communications (MECO6928); or
- a professional project (1 semester: MECO6935); or
- a dissertation (2 semesters: MECO6904 Dissertation Part 1 and MECO6905 Dissertation Part 2), investigating some aspect of cultural change associated with digital technologies.
Dissertation research is typically interdisciplinary in scope, and may involve interpretive, historical and/or field research with digital media artefact, texts, producers or users.
Before you can enrol in the Dissertation, contact degree coordinator Dr Chris Chesher, submit a research proposal, and give evidence of your academic and professional track record. Admission is conditional upon a viable proposal, a high credit average, and the availability of appropriate supervision. Students in the dissertation are required to take MECO6939 Research Methods, and are encouraged to take MECO6940 Theoretical Traditions and Innovations.
Research degrees
The Digital Cultures Program invites expressions of interest for research projects in the MA Research. MPhil and PhD programs exploring themes in digital communication and culture. We can supervise projects on themes such as social media; new media arts; social robotics; computer games; interactive entertainment and cultural aspects of new technologies.
Please refer to the degree resolutions in this Handbook and to the Faculty Admissions Policy and Procedure for:
Doctor of Philosophy: Pathways to admission, for information on the specific admission requirements for different research award courses sydney.edu.au/handbooks/arts_PG/research/phd.shtml
Doctor of Arts and Doctor of Social Science
Doctor of Philosophy and Master of Philosophy
Awards and requirements
Please refer to the degree resolutions in this handbook for information on the specific admission requirements for different coursework award courses.
Graduate Certificate in Digital Communication and Culture
Candidates for the Graduate Certificate in Digital Communication and Culture must complete 24 credit points typically including:
- 12 credit points of core units of study
- 12 credit points from elective units of study (can include additional core units)
Graduate Diploma in Digital Communication and Culture
Candidates for the Graduate Diploma in Digital Communication and Culture must complete 48 credit points typically including:
- 24 credit points of core units of study
- 24 credit points from elective units of study (can include additional core units)
Master of Digital Communication and Culture
Candidates for the Master of Digital Communication and Culture must complete 72 credit points typically including:
- 24 credit points of core units of study
- up to 42 credit points from elective units of study
- at least 6 credit points of capstone units of study
Candidates who have completed previous study in a relevant discipline may be eligible for a reduction in the requirements in accordance with the table below.
| Level of prior learning | Full-time duration | Credit points to complete |
|---|---|---|
| AQF Level 7 eg. a bachelor's degree in the Humanities, Social Sciences or Law | 1.5 years | 72 |
| Relevant professional experience equivalent to a Graduate Certificate | 1 year | 48 |
| AQF Level 8 eg. Honours in the Humanities, Social Sciences or Law | 1 year | 48 |
Contact
Department website: http://sydney.edu.au/arts/media_communications/
School website: http://sydney.edu.au/arts/slam/
Degree Coordinator: Dr Chris Chesher
Phone: +61 2 9036 6173
Email: