Mass Communications
This is an exciting programme that brings together four subjects with natural synergies between them. You will gain a range of practical and intellectual skills, that will make you valuable in the job market. There’s a real growth area in media-related jobs and a shortage of computer literate, technically able graduates who can not only create layouts for print-based publications, but also produce quality web-based publishing using animation and video streaming and can also write and communicate well. You can select from four subjects from the following list; English Language & Communication, Film, Journalism, Media Cultures and New Media Publishing. For more details about these individual subjects you can read the relevant pages in this booklet. You will study two modules of each of your four chosen subjects each year. For example at the end of your programme, you may have studied six Film modules, six New Media Publishing modules, six Journalism modules and six English Language & Communication modules.
Depending on your choices, this programme will involve watching films from around the world and examining them from historical, critical and theoretical perspectives. Studying how communication works, and the history and nature of the media. Learning how to write like a journalist and by the end of the degree you will be able to use software packages to design layouts for magazines and websites. Our graduates go on to careers in media, publishing, journalism, web design and postgraduate study.
Our innovative programme is taught by academics and practitioners who are at the cutting edge of their subjects. We encourage you to develop an intellectual curiosity and to engage with your subjects by interviewing and writing articles for publication, becoming involved with FDMX, the Film and Digital Media Exchange, working with local charitable organizations to design web sites and media packs. Many students gain work experience by undertaking work on the University students’ paper or working with volunteer groups in the areas of web design, film production and publishing. Others take our work-based learning modules to compliment their work placements or part-time voluntary or paid work.
Many of the transferable skills developed over the course of the degree will give you a cutting edge in today’s job market e.g. the ability to write press releases or the skill of being able to design the layout of a magazine will make you more desirable to employers. At the end of your course, you’ll have a portfolio of work to show at your job interview.
You can study for a year in North America or Europe through the SOCRATES-ERASMUS exchange programme during the second or third year of the degree. In some cases, you may be able to graduate with a degree from your partner university as well as from Hertfordshire. You may be eligible for a grant if you meet certain conditions.
Special features
You have the opportunity to work on the University newspaper or radio and to show your work at Mayfest, our annual University festival of student work. Staff will help you to find work experience and encourage you to engage in finding real-life work-based projects. Students have found work placements at Pearsons Publishing, local papers and magazines such as the Welwyn and Hatfield Times and BBC Three Counties. At the end of the year the Harry Victor Prize is awarded for the best contribution to Journalism. You may wish to take a year abroad or gain further work experience through one of our work-based modules.
