COURSE CURRICULUM

The Media, Journalism and Culture BA program provides a comprehensive foundation in the study of media, journalism, and cultural industries, equipping students with analytical, research, and communication skills essential for understanding modern society. In the first year, all single honours students share a common curriculum designed to establish a strong grounding in historical and contemporary contexts of media and culture, alongside academic writing, analysis, and research skills. Students complete five core modules, exploring topics such as the history of mass communication, media scholarship, media audiences, advertising, and journalism studies, with opportunities to select optional modules on media representations and Welsh political culture. In the second year, students study two core modules focused on media, power, society, and research methodologies while choosing from a wide range of optional modules covering political violence, celebrity culture, public relations, media law, film and media theory, gender, and screen industries. Seminar work becomes more advanced, developing research protocols and methodological skills needed for dissertation preparation. In the final year, students undertake an optional dissertation and select from a variety of elective modules that allow them to specialise in areas of interest, including news production, cultural industries, popular music, digital media, and visual communication. The program emphasizes independent research, critical analysis, and practical application of theoretical concepts, preparing graduates for careers in media, communications, and cultural sectors.