Arts (media and communications)

[mangmang712]

Hi,
I was just wondering if someone could explain the difference between the Bachelor of Arts at UoM and the Arts (media and communications).
How different are the career prospects and etc..

I apologise if this question has already been asked!
Thanks in advance

[Eriny]

Bachelor of Arts is more general and has more choice, whereas Media and Comms is less general, aimed specifically for students who want to work in the media. It's also more difficult to get into the latter degree because journalism is uber competitive.

[mangmang712]

Thank-you for your reply
I am still curious though about the career prospects in doing a general Arts degree. I have looked at some of the subjects and find them all very intriguing, but cannot think of a career path that can be derived from them, besides journalism, as i am not interested in psychology or studying a language. 
Any help is much appreciated!

[ninwa]

DISCLAIMER: contrary to my username I absolutely love my arts subjects and I think arts is an awesomely interesting and versatile degree. I just lost a bet with the admin which meant I had to change my name to this


Anyway, the beauty of the arts degree is that you can mould it to suit a whole range of career choices. For example I'm interested in the diplomacy/international relations side of things, so my majors and minors are French, German and either politics or international studies.
I know someone who ...
- wants to be an author. She's focusing on English, literature, creative writing etc.
- wants to be a translator. He's doing 4 languages.
- wants to be a journalist. She's doing journalism, international studies, English.
- wants to go into academia in the area of gender/sexual orientation. He's doing stuff like women's studies/feminist theory, gender studies, philosophy of sex. And will do a masters and perhaps a PhD in this area.
- wants to be a drama teacher. She's obviously majoring in drama and theatre studies!

... I think you get the point. It's impossible to list all the possibilities!

Which subjects exactly are you interested in?

[mangmang712]

DISCLAIMER: contrary to my username I absolutely love my arts subjects and I think arts is an awesomely interesting and versatile degree. I just lost a bet with the admin which meant I had to change my name to this

haha...

Wow, thanks for of your help!
I am interested in communications, philosophy and creative writing...
Also, what is linguistics? and what paths can history bring?
Thanks again

[Eriny]

linguistics is the study of language. Stuff like syntax, morphology, phonology, etc. If you're interested, David Crystal's How Language Works is a great introduction to the kinds of things a linguist might study (some parts seem more boring than others).

Nothing will stop you from getting a career in communications from doing a general arts degree, however a specific media and communications degree is an obvious path if you're completely sure that you want to work in communications. Also, there is some opportunity to diversify your studies in Media and Communications. According to this, it is possible to take more general arts courses alongside the core courses: https://app.portal.unimelb.edu.au/CSCApplication/view/2009/105-MC

Paths for history might include things like curatorship, teaching, academia and even more general stuff. I once met a philosophy major who is currently the editor of the Trading Post! I also know another person who did Arts/Science majoring in Psych and Sociology and now works in IT! Also, many arts graduates get jobs in the public service as a generalist applicant. So, sometimes what you study may not lead obviously to a job, but the skills you pick up while you're studying can make you a top notch employee.

[mangmang712]

Thanks Eriny, that was really helpful! I feel that i have a better understanding of everything now