BA (Hons) Communication, Media and Journalism

Course Outline

The main BA degree in this area comprises study and training in a wide range of aspects of the subject-field, including online media, news management, PR, advertising, photojournalism, broadcast journalism and legal / ethical issues in journalism, and is intended for those considering careers in these and related fields.

The degree consists of a combination of courses in communication and English language studies together with a range of introductory and then advanced-level courses in media and journalism. The former aim to professionalise students’ English language and writing abilities, while the latter include courses in the technological aspects of media and journalism.

This degree differs from the department’s English Studies with Media Communications or with Journalism programmes in the following ways:

• Students do suitable communication projects of their own choosing related to media or journalism.
• There are no literature courses but there are free choice options.
• There is an extra course on film making.

Teaching Method

The Media minor programmes at the University of Buckingham offer students small student: tutor ratios (8:1) with a dedicated media lab at their disposal. The work is production-based, allowing students to graduate from the programme with a portfolio to present to potential employers.

This can include press journalism (news stories, features, interviews), a website (created by the student as part of the Online Media module), video and sound packages for Broadcast Journalism (for Journalism minors) or an advertising campaign (Media Studies minors).

Students also learn to use industry-standard software including QuarkXpress, CoolEdit and Photoshop, as well as DV cameras and digital still cameras.

What our students and alumni say

‘I am just arranging an interview with Mark Thompson, Director-General of the BBC, via his PA, to learn about Media Management at a senior management level and the growth of online media. As you can see, ambition – in the best sense – seems a way of life here, and my teachers have wanted me to aim high. I’ve felt challenged but supported. With a clear career aim, I wanted lecturers who had practised for top media companies, and also an international environment, and that’s what I’ve found. My hard work was eventually rewarded with a Sir Ray Tindle Scholarship, of which I’m proud. Buckingham, I hope, has an eye for talent!’
Macaulay Iyayi, Communication and Media Studies (2006-2007)