PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION UNDERGRADUATE PROGARMMES

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1 PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION UNDERGRADUATE PROGARMMES KEY FACTS Programme name BA Journalism Award BA (Hons) School School of Arts and Social Sciences Department or equivalent Journalism UCAS Code P500 Programme code USJOUR Type of study Full Time Total UK credits 360 Total ECTS 180 PROGRAMME SUMMARY This course is aimed at you, who have decided to make a career in journalism. It provides practical education and proficiency in print, broadcast and web journalism. You will also study all the other subjects which are essential to a successful career, including media law and government, and be able to choose between other courses including Shorthand, International News and Visual Journalism. The BA in Journalism is taught in City s prestigious Department of Journalism, which has over 4,000 alumni working as journalists and media professionals in the UK and internationally. Aims Provide sound education in journalism and associated practical skills. Provide written and verbal communication skills which would enable graduates to work in the industry. Develop the ability to produce high quality journalism informed and improved by a knowledge of the history of journalism, and the government structures of Britain and Europe. Develop the ability to adapt to new technology and to seek and assimilate information from a range of sources. Bring you to a high level in the three main strands in journalism (print, internet and broadcasting). Develop your analytical skills and understanding of the major ethical issues facing journalists today. Develop your ability to produce extended pieces of journalism and also extended essays on related subjects. WHAT WILL I BE EXPECTED TO ACHIEVE? On successful completion of this programme, you will be expected to be able to: Knowledge and understanding: Work as a professional journalist, able to produce engaging news and features, suitable for a target publication or broadcast, and be able to edit for print, broadcast or internet, and design for a variety of print and internet publications. Show an awareness of the value of thorough and accurate research, and the importance of transferring findings accurately to your own work, and the importance of correct sourcing and referencing. Understand and be able to apply the laws and ethical issues relating to the media and 1

2 Skills: understand the ethical issues relating to the media. Research and assess facts, concepts, underlying values and theories from a wide variety of sources, and use this research to produce journalism, essays of varying length, and presentations, exercising professional judgement when doing so. Research, through all methods outlined above, and analyse all the sources available to journalists. Work constructively with other members of a team when producing joint projects for coursework and student publications and on work placements Individually and in teams produce magazines, newspapers, websites and broadcast programmes of professional quality and to a deadline; produce responsible solutions to ethical problems which arise in the media. Take responsibility for work both individually and in teams. Write engaging, concise, well constructed copy for different publications, both print and internet, and produce professional quality broadcast packages appropriate to a target audience. Edit journalistic material and design print and internet publications to a professional standard. Manage information and time constructively and solve problems effectively. Research topics relating to historical and ethical journalistic issues, analyse data, draw conclusions and present them in essays and orally. Values and attitudes: Show an awareness of the roles and responsibilities of a journalist in society; become aware of the importance of accuracy and fairness and the right to personal privacy; show respect for the views of others, both in the media and the outside world. Show consideration of the rules and regulations of the university. HOW WILL I LEARN? The practical journalism subjects will be taught in seminars, workshops, and one-to-one copy clinics. You will undertake individual research using electronic resources and libraries and through contacting and interviewing newsworthy people. Full use will be made of the radio and TV studios and the print newsrooms. The emphasis will be on replicating the professional world, and you will produce newspapers, magazines and radio programmes about live issues regularly. These exercises develop group working and time management skills. Work attachments and other journalism are assessed in the third year through the production of portfolios. As you progress through the course, gradually more of the work is based on your own ideas and initiative, and on live reporting assignments. You will also, through presentations and seminars, reflect critically on the values and routines underpinning journalistic practice. Politics and Current Affairs, History of Journalism, Structure of Government, International News and Media Law and Ethics will be taught through lectures, seminars, essay writing, library research, presentations and extended project work. These courses will enable you to extend your in-depth research analytical skills through extended essay writing. Assessment will be by essay writing and examinations. All the values & attitudes will be taught through the models of good professional practice provided through the work of lecturers and guest speakers, and through reflection on issues in the media now and in the past. Ethical issues are addressed during practical journalism sessions throughout the course, and media law is studied in year 1 and in more depth in year 3. 2

3 WHAT TYPES OF ASSESSMENT AND FEEDBACK CAN I EXPECT? Assessment and Assessment Criteria Coursework, essay writing and examinations. Assessment Criteria are descriptions, based on the intended learning outcomes, of the skills, knowledge or attitudes that you need to demonstrate in order to complete an assessment successfully, providing a mechanism by which the quality of an assessment can be measured. Grade- Related Criteria are descriptions of the level of skills, knowledge or attributes that you need to demonstrate in order achieve a certain grade or mark in an assessment, providing a mechanism by which the quality of an assessment can be measured and placed within the overall set of marks. Assessment Criteria and Grade-Related Criteria will be made available to you to support you in completing assessments. These may be provided in programme handbooks, module specifications, on the virtual learning environment or attached to a specific assessment task. Feedback on assessment Feedback will be provided in line with our Assessment and Feedback Policy. In particular, you will normally be provided with feedback within three weeks of the submission deadline or assessment date. This would normally include a provisional grade or mark. For end of module examinations or an equivalent significant task (e.g. an end of module project), feedback will normally be provided within four weeks. The timescale for feedback on final year projects or dissertations may be longer. The full policy can be found at: data/assets/pdf_file/0008/68921/assessment_and_feedback_policy.pdf Assessment Regulations In order to pass your Programme, you should complete successfully or be exempted from the relevant modules and assessments and will therefore acquire the required number of credits. You also need to pass each Part of your Programme in order to progress to the following Part. The Pass mark for each module is 40%. If you fail an assessment component or a module, the following will apply: 1. Compensation: where you fail up to a total of 20 credits of a Part at first or resit attempt, you may be allowed compensation if: Compensation is permitted for the module involved (see the module specification), and It can be demonstrated that you have satisfied all the Learning Outcomes of the modules in the Part, and A minimum overall mark of no more than 10 percentage points below the module pass mark has been achieved in the module to be compensated, and An aggregate mark of 40% has been achieved for the Part. If you receive a compensated pass in a module you shall be awarded the credit for that module. The original component marks shall be retained in the record of marks and the greater of the original module mark and the minimum pass mark for the module shall be used for the purpose of calculation towards the Award. 2. Resit: you will normally be offered one resit attempt. However, if you did not participate in the first assessment and have no extenuating circumstances, you may not be offered a resit. If you are successful in the resit, you shall be awarded the credit for that module. The mark used for the purpose of calculation towards your Award shall be calculated from the original marks for the component(s) that you passed at first attempt and the minimum pass mark for the component(s) for which you took a resit. 3

4 If you do not satisfy your resit by the date specified you will not progress to the next Part and the Assessment Board shall require that you withdraw from the Programme. If you fail to meet the requirements for a particular Part, but satisfy the requirements for the previous Part, then a lower qualification may be awarded as per the table below. If you fail to meet the requirements for a particular Part and are not eligible for the award of a lower level qualification, the Assessment Board shall require that you withdraw from the Programme. If you would like to know more about the way in which assessment works at City, please see the full version of the Assessment Regulations at: data/assets/word_doc/0003/69249/s19.doc WHAT AWARD CAN I GET? Bachelor s Degree with Honours: Part HE Credits Weighting (%) Class % required I II upper division II lower division 50 III 40 Ordinary Degree: Part HE Credits Weighting (%) Class % required With Distinction With Merit With Pass 40 Diploma of Higher Education: Part HE Credits Weighting (%) Class % required With Distinction With Merit 60 With Pass 40 Certificate of Higher Education: Part HE Credits Weighting (%) Class % required With Distinction 70 With Merit 60 With Pass 40 WHAT WILL I STUDY? Part 1 You begin by concentrating on basic journalism skills (news reporting, feature writing, production/subbing and the using the internet as a source and making web pages) and learning about the historic context of contemporary practice (105 credits). You also study a foreign language at an appropriate level (15 credits). 4

5 Module Title SITS Code 5 Module Credits Core/ Elective Can be compensated? 30 C N 4 Introduction to Journalism JO1105 History of Journalism JO C N 4 Politics and Current Affairs JO C N 4 The British Media JO C N 4 Language breadth module - Arabic 15 E N 4 beginner LA1501 Language breadth module - Mandarin LA E N 4 beginner French for Media (beginners, LA E N 4 French for Media (lower intermediate, LA E N 4 French for Media (upper intermediate, LA E N 4 French for Media (advanced, LA E N 4 Spanish for Media (beginners, LA E N 4 Spanish for Media (lower intermediate, LA E N 4 Spanish for Media (upper intermediate, LA E N 4 Spanish for Media (advanced, LA E N 4 German for Media (beginners, LA E N 4 German for Media (lower intermediate, LA E N 4 German for Media (upper intermediate, LA E N 4 German for Media (advanced, LA E N 4 Part 2 In Part 2 you will take three core modules: Journalism Skills, Multimedia Production, and Power without Responsibility and these together make up 75 credits. You will take three 15 credit modules from a choice of options. Module Title SITS Code Module Credits Core/ Elective Can be compensated? Writing and Reportage JO C N 5 Multimedia Production JO C N 5 Power without Responsibility JO C N 5 Shorthand JO E N 5 Political Scandals JO E N 5 Data Journalism JO E N 5 Visual Journalism JO E N 5 Humanitarian Communication JO E N 5 Reporting Conflict JO E N 5 Sports Journalism JO E N 5 The Representation of journalists and JO E N 5 the press in film and fiction 1900 present day States and Markets in and Era of Globalisation IP E N 5

6 Religion and Politics in the Age of IP E N 5 Global Change Transnational Social Movements IP E N 5 French for Media (beginners, LA E N 4 Spanish for Media (beginners, LA E N 4 German for Media (beginners, LA E N 4 French for Media (advanced/portfolio) LA E N 5 German for media (advanced/portfolio) LA E N 5 Spanish for media (advanced/portfolio) LA E N 5 French for Media (lower intermediate, LA E N 5 level 2) French for Media (upper intermediate, LA E N 5 level 2) French for Media (advanced, level 2) LA E N 5 Spanish for Media (lower intermediate, LA E N 5 level 2) Spanish for Media (upper LA E N 5 intermediate, level 2) Spanish for Media (advanced, level 2) LA E N 5 German for Media (lower intermediate, LA E N 5 level 2) German for Media (upper LA E N 5 intermediate, level 2) German for Media (advanced, level 2) LA E N 5 Part 3 To pass Part 3, you must have acquired 120 credits at HE 6, or; acquired 90 credits at HE 6 and 30 credits at HE 5 from the modules listed above in this part. You will take three core modules: Media, Law and Ethics 15 credits Advanced Practical Journalism (Print) 30 credits Advanced Practical Journalism (Broadcast) 30 credits Plus one of: Print/Online Project and Portfolio 15 credits Broadcast Project and Portfolio 15 credits You will take two 15 credit modules from a choice of options. Where modules appear at both Parts 2 and 3, you may opt to take the module only once. Module Title SITS Code 6 Module Credits Core/ Elective Can be compensated? Media, Law and Ethics JO C N 6 Advanced Practical Journalism JO C N 6 (Print/Online) Advanced Practical Journalism JO C N 6 (Broadcast) Print/Online Project and Portfolio JO CE N 6 Broadcast Project and Portfolio JO CE N 6 Dissertation JO CE N 6

7 International News JO E N 6 Fashion and Lifestyle Journalism JO E N 6 Arts and Culture Journalism JO E N 6 Reporting Conflict JO E N 6 Reporting the Environment JO E N 6 Advanced Photojournalism JO E N 6 Sports Journalism JO E N 6 The Representation of journalists and JO E N 6 the press in film and fiction 1900 present day Political Change in Europe IP E N 6 Violence in Global Politics IP E N 6 French for Media (advanced/portfolio) LA E N 6 German for media (advanced/portfolio) LA E N 6 Spanish for media (advanced/portfolio) LA E N 6 French for Media (upper intermediate, LA E N 6 level 3) French for Media (advanced, level 3) LA E N 6 Spanish for Media (upper LA E N 6 intermediate, level 3) Spanish for Media (advanced, level 3) LA E N 6 German for Media (upper LA E N 6 intermediate, level 3) German for Media (advanced, level 3) LA E N 6 TO WHAT KIND OF CAREER MIGHT I GO ON? If you would like more information on the Careers support available at City, please go to: WHAT STUDY ABROAD OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE? Year out You have the option to spend your third year studying with one of our many foreign exchange partners in destinations including Canada, Australia, the US, Hong Kong, France, Denmark, The Netherlands, and Spain. It is also possible to spend a third year out doing work placements or paid work in the industry. Those of you who undertake the year out, thus completing a four-year degree, find it extremely useful, particularly for building experience and contacts. WHAT PLACEMENT OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE? While there is no formal placement, a host of varied student journalism opportunities throughout the University offers you the chance to get hands on experience and further develop your skills, get your name in print and make exciting TV or radio programmes. Placements are about mindset and initiative. HOW DO I ENTER THE PROGRAMME? A level: 360 UCAS tariff points (typically AAA at A-) excluding key skills and general studies (320 tariff points); International Baccalaureate: 35 pts. In addition GCSE grade C or equivalent in English language and mathematics or statistics. An IELTS score of at least 7 is mandatory for all students for whom English is not their first language. 7

8 Full details of acceptable English language qualifications are given in the Undergraduate Prospectus. Students are selected on the basis of academic performance, writing ability as well as their commitment to journalism. Students may be invited for interviews and/or be asked to send in some journalism work. Applications are welcomed from mature students who have attended Access courses. Once offers are made, students and their parents are invited to an open day to meet lecturers and students, hear more about the course, and tour the university. APL/AP(E)L Requirements *Direct entry onto Part 2* Direct entry onto Part 2 of BA Journalism will also be offered to students who have successfully completed the first year of one of City's two joint undergraduate programmes. It may be possible, if suitable candidates apply, to offer a place to students who have successfully completed the first year of a single or joint honours journalism degree at another institution, using the AP(e)L procedure. In this case a reference from the tutor at the original university, confirmation that the student has obtained 120 credits, (making one third of the total of 360 for the degree) and an interview may take place. The maximum AP(e)L available shall be 120 credits at HE 1. Students whose mother tongue is not English will be required to hold an IELTS pass of 7 or higher, unless they have proof of several years of study in an English environment. City University London is offering a Scholarship of up to 3,000 per year to UK and EU undergraduate students achieving grades AAB or above at A-level (or equivalent) starting an undergraduate course at City in September Further details can be found on the University s website at Version: 3.2 Version date: June 2014 For use from: 2014/15 8