School leavers seeking careers in journalism will have a new option from 1998 with the introduction of a bachelor of journalism degree at the University of Queensland.
The specialised degree is a major new development for the University, which is Australia's oldest and best-known provider of journalism education. (The University has been teaching journalism courses since 1921.)
Intending students will be able to include the bachelor of journalism among their QTAC choices in 1997, subject to final approval. The QTAC code for the new BJ degree is 737001.
Journalism Department head Professor John Henningham said the bachelor of journalism degree would be offered alongside the traditional method of studying journalism through the bachelor of arts. Students could also study journalism as an elective within other degrees, such as economics.
The new degree includes a double major in journalism subjects, together with specifed subjects from other departments in the humanities and social sciences.
The degree was developed with the assistance of the department's Industry Advisory Board, whose members represent major Queensland media organisations.
'The journalism subjects in the degree provide a solid foundation in journalism theory and practice, including print and broadcast reporting and subediting, law, ethics, research methods and media issues,' Professor Henningham said.
Students will be involved in producing the Department's innovative monthly newspaper, The Weekend Independent, and in news and current affairs broadcasts on Brisbane radio.
Specified subjects from other departments include Australian government, history and literature, with further choices to be made from a group including economics, philosophy, Aboriginal and Islander studies, Asian studies, state government and local government.
Professor Henningham said the new degree was designed to give students a well-rounded preparation for careers in journalism.
'The bachelor of journalism combines a solid foundation in practical journalism with preparation for professional practice through knowledge of ethics, law and theory,' he said.
'In addition, it includes study of carefully-chosen subjects in the humanities and social sciences designed to provide future journalists with an understanding of contemporary Australian society.'
Like the bachelor of arts, the bachelor of journalism will consist of 240 credit points (24 ten-point subjects) and will take three years (six semesters) to complete full-time. Part-time enrolment will also be possible. HECS charges will be at the same level as for the BA.
Students will still be able to study a single or double major in journalism within the bachelor of arts. The advantage of studying journalism in a BA is that students have more choice of their non-journalism subjects. For example a student wishing to combine journalism with a major in Japanese or another language would be able to do this within the BA.
Opportunities will be available for students for transfer from the BA to the BJ or from the BJ to the BA after beginning study.
Because a separate quota will apply to the BJ, it is uncertain what OP score will be needed to gain entry to the new course. However, it is likely to be a higher OP than that for the BA.
Students whose primary interest is journalism are advised to make the BJ their first choice and the BA their second choice on the QTAC enrolment form. If admitted to the BA they will be free to choose journalism subjects. If successfully completing these subjects in first year they will be likely to be admitted to the bachelor of journalism as second-year entry students.
For further details: contact the Journalism Department, (telephone 07 3365 3088; email: journ@mailbox.uq.edu.au).
