Университет Де Монфорт, BA (Hons), Journalism and Politics

Journalism Year 1: Modules include: Practical journalism 1: an introduction to United Kingdom journalism, news and news-writing; media law and public affairs: an introduction to how the law affects United Kingdom journalism and how journalism interacts with public bodies, particularly local councils, the Government and Parliament. Year 2: Practical journalism 2: this module widens students’ appreciation of the varieties of journalism, focusing on specialisms, different forms of journalistic media such as newspapers, magazines, radio, television and on-line, before looking at production, design and management of journalism; issues in journalism: in this modules students explore in more depth the fascinating range of issues in contemporary journalism from an academic point of view; ethical and moral issues, controversies and current affairs all play their part; this module also helps prepare students to write their own dissertation in their final year. Year 3: Practical journalism 3: this module offers students a chance to produce their own publication based on all the skills they have acquired over the previous 2 years; leading on from issues in journalism, it also allows students to explore complex moral and ethical issues and debate up-to-the-minute issues and controversies as they arise; dissertation: this module offers students the opportunity to write and research an area of journalism which specifically interests them. Politics Year 1: Modules include: Introduction to politics; introduction to contemporary international relations. Year 2: Political thought and research methods; United States government: domestic and foreign policy; politics of the European Union; themes and debates in international relations theory. Year 3: Politics dissertation; themes and debates in contemporary western feminism; government, politics and society in contemporary Germany; ethics in international relations; international security; politics of nationalism and ethnic conflict; moments of decision: Britain and European integration; the politics of globalisation.

A strong vocational element runs throughout both the single and joint Honours journalism course, with an emphasis on practical skills and real world journalism practice, as well as engaging with the academic debates and issues surrounding the world of contemporary journalism; on the politics course students study and debate central themes and issues in the areas of government, political theory and international relations; the programme is underpinned by e-learning, short study trips and work placement opportunities.