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Course Title:
Journalism
This course will suit you if you want to acquire valuable communication skills in preparation for a wide range of careers, such as newspaper or magazine journalism, book production or teaching. Journalists are trained to research complex issues, pick out the main threads quickly and explain them in a straightforward way. This subject seeks to develop these practical skills, along with journalism theory and the business of media. The course is aimed at students who wish to study Journalism together with another subject. It is not necessarily expected that this would lead directly to a career as a news reporter, but many students go on to work in the media or in other media-related posts.
Key Facts
Award Type:
Comb Hons
Ancillary:
Level:
Undergraduate
Study mode:
Full Time and Part Time
Delivery Method:
Standard
Course Length:
Full time:
3 years
Part time: 5 years+
Part-time students attend the course with full-time students (which in the first year normally involves Monday afternoons and Wednesday mornings, plus occasional days by arrangement), but they do not take the normal quota of other subjects in the same year.
No.of modules:
UCAS Code:
Y003
School:
Combined Honours Unit
Campus:
Preston,
Partner Colleges:
Year of Entry:
2012
Start Month:
September
Entry Requirements
260-300 points at A2 are required for this course, plus GCSE English at Grade C.
Course Content
Journalism is an interesting, mind-stretching and satisfying subject in its own right. Journalists are trained to research complex issues, pick out the main threads quickly and explain them in a clear and accurate way. Subject Journalism seeks to develop these practical skills, along with journalism theory and the business of media.
The ability to find things out and report them clearly is a vital skill in most jobs. Methods are changing fast. Today’s journalists need to be able to source information from electronic databases as well as from reference books and to evaluate and sift what is available on the internet. One research skill that has not changed is the ability to approach people and ask them questions - useful in any job and part of every journalist’s training.
The course is ideal for those who are attracted to journalism but who are not yet certain that they want to make a career of it. Those who want the traditional, industry-validated qualifications, including shorthand and media law, which provide the conventional route into general news reporting should consider a postgraduate diploma or BA(Hons) Journalism, both available at UCLan. The Combined Honours Journalism course, with its emphasis on clear thought and clear writing, is an excellent basis for postgraduate work.
The School of Journalism, Media and Communication is one of the longest established in the United Kingdom. It is also one of the best and acknowledged as such within the journalism industry. A special feature of the Preston course is its strong links with the industry and the practical experience of its teaching staff. The subject is taught by professionals recruited from radio, television and newspapers.
Course at a Glance
Year 1
Introduction to Journalism Practice.
Principles UK Journalism.
You will then choose modules from your other combined honours subject.
Year 2
Print Journalism Practice.
International Journalism.
Journalism Issues.
You will then choose options from your other subject.
Year 3
Multimedia Journalism Practice.
Ethics and Regulation.
Journalism Design.
Investigating Public.
Administration.
Ethics and Regulation.
The Future of Journalism.
You will then choose options from your other modules.
This Subject is offered as part of the Combined Honours Programme and must be taken in combination with other subjects. Your selection of subjects should be indicated on the UCAS form. For full details see Combined Honours.
You must study this course in conjuction with another course.
Structure - Timetable
Allied Subjects: English Literature (ELT) Business (BUS) History (HIS) Politics (POL) Sociology (SOC)
Restricted Subject Combinations:
A small number of subjects are only available as Joint or Minor routes.
Learning Environment:
We provide a student-centred learning environment embedded in real-life scenarios, in which you apply theory and skills to real journalism practice. You can draw from multiple sources of information and skills
(including lectures, workshops and seminars) and are guided to become independent learners and “thinking doers”. This is both challenging and rewarding.
Careers:
A course module that will help you plan your career is available as a free choice module (called an elective), which you can study as part of your degree programme.
Additional Information
What careers can you follow?
This course does not restrict students to a career in journalism - they often try to combine their interests and use their communications skills to enter the world of PR, marketing and advertising. Students are also in a good position to pursue a career in teaching. Often their career path will depend on which other subject they have studied.
What work experience can I get?
Superb links with industry enable work placements with leading news organisations.
Students on this course are encouraged to gain as much work experience in their required field as possible. This ranges from newspapers, radio and TV to online publications. We also encourage them to work in press offices to see journalism from another angle.
What are our graduates doing now?
Journalism has been taught in Preston for more than 40 years and the course has an excellent employment record. Graduates work for BBC radio, television and interactive, the Press Association, Sky TV, independent radio and television, national and regional newspapers and magazines.
What international opportunities are available?
International opportunities are available to all students whether this is studying abroad in their second year or seeking work experience abroad. Often this is only possible for those students who have chosen to study a foreign language as their other subject.
Want to know more about this course and subject?
Our students were awarded the Press Gazette’s national student journalist of the year award in 2007 and 2008. They have the opportunity to work for the University's newspaper Pluto and for the radio station Frequency 1350.
Want to know more about studying at UCLan?
Find out more about the Advantage that studying at UCLan can give you in your future career.
How to Apply
If you are interested in applying for this course, our comprehensive How to Apply pages will guide you through the process. Here at UCLan, our aim is to encourage you to develop your potential and we offer a flexible approach to admissions, which reflects our commitment to all those who would benefit from our courses.
UCAS Code: Y003
Short form of course:
JOU
Institution code name: CLANC
Institution code: C30
Campus Site: U
University of Central Lancashire
Preston PR1 2HE, Lancashire, United Kingdom
Fees and Finance
The standard fee for this course will be: £9,000 per year
For further information including the availability of bursaries/scholarships or student financial support please view our Fees and Finance pages.
Accommodation
There is a wide range of high quality student accommodation to students, close to the UCLan Preston campus.
Study Support
UCLan offers a comprehensive range of support services to our students, ranging from study support through WISER, the student information centre, the ‘i’, and the UCLan Students’ Union, and support for international students. In addition, there are local support services within certain academic schools.
In addition, Flying Start is a great free service on offer to new students before they begin their studies to help prepare them for student life at UCLan.
Students with Disabilities/Learning Difficulties
The University is concerned to provide an educational experience of the highest quality for students with disabilities/learning difficulties. We strongly recommend you contact us before applying to find out if we can offer you the support you need. We are always pleased to hear from those enquiring about or applying to the University. Tel: 01772 892593 (telephone/text phone) for advice.
International Applications
We welcome applications from international students for full-time study and the application procedure previously described should be used. Forms and literature on studying in the United Kingdom are available from the British Council offices or British Embassies throughout the world. You can also find lots of information about living and studying in the UK on the British Council's website www.educationuk.org
Students’ union
Find out more about the UCLan Students’ Union.
More about UCLan
Find out more information about studying at UCLan.
About Preston
Preston is a student-friendly, lively city in the heart of North West England, close to Manchester and Liverpool, and with London just over two hours away by train. Find out more about the city.
Contact Details
Course Enquiries
University of Central Lancashire
Preston
PR1 2HE
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0)1772 892400
Email: cenquiries@uclan.ac.uk
Visit us
You are welcome to see the University and all it has to offer at one of our Open Days which run throughout the year. However, if you would like to visit the University independently, you are welcome to join one of our regular Campus Tours. For more information about both, ask for Advancement Services on 01772 201201 or book online at www.uclan.ac.uk/opendays/.
