The Bachelor of Arts (BA) is Otago's most flexible undergraduate degree programme, enabling students to study from a selection of more than 40 arts and social science subjects, as well as papers offered elsewhere in the University. Academic breadth is complemented by in-depth knowledge gained through majoring in one or two subjects with the option of minors in one or two others.

Students are taught by research-active scholars, are expected to undertake a diverse range of learning tasks and are challenged to develop their intellectual independence. Graduates of the programme are well-informed, versatile, independent thinkers with the information literacy, communication, research and interpersonal skills necessary for a career or further academic study. The completed BA is an possible qualification for the PGDipArts in the major subject of the degree.

Film and Media Studies

Why study Media, Film and Communication?

Our courses will challenge your thinking, broaden your views and help you develop an increased awareness of the role of media in transforming society and culture.

Our mission is to prepare students to engage critically and creatively in an increasingly mediated world and allow them to contribute to their communities and chosen professional field. To serve this goal, our scholarship and teaching is interdisciplinary, inventive and practical.

But that is not all that we do. Employers look for life-long skills – written and visual literacy, communication skills, the ability to lead and contribute to teams, and to solve problems through effective research methods. All of these skills are taught in our programmes; they underlie most of what we do.

We also value and develop an understanding of cultural diversity and difference, so it is not surprising that our graduates are to be found in many walks of life.

We have a well-established record of teaching and research, with staff who are internationally recognised in their disciplines.

Our major subjects

Communication Studies

Film and Media Studies

Career opportunities

Our graduates work in a variety of fields, including media production, journalism, education, advertising, administration, archival and curatorial work, media policy analysis, public relations, and tourism. Some go on to postgraduate study in our honours, master’s and PhD programmes.

A degree from our programme prepares you for a wide range of career options, including new and emerging career pathways. In the future, media will play an increasingly central role in how we understand and navigate our rapidly changing world. The skills and competencies developed across our two majors – the ability to think critically, communicate in a range of different ways, appreciate diversity, and respond effectively to change – will be in strong demand.

Programme Requirements

100-level

• MFCO 101 Screen Form and Culture
• MFCO 102 Understanding Contemporary Media

200-level

• MFCO 210 Theory of Film and Media
• Two further papers from 200-level MFCO papers, ASIA 201, CHIN 242, GEND 205

300-level

• MFCO 301 Film and Media Theory
• Three further papers from 300-level MFCO papers

Either CHIN 342 or GEND 305 may be substituted for one MFCO paper

Plus

198 further points; must include 54 points at 200-level or above.

Up to 90 points may be taken from outside Arts