Which first - USyd Political Economy or UTS Journalism? (1 Viewer)

[bustinjustin]

I'd love to do Journalism at UTS or even CSU but I really want the broad, generalist education that I can get in an Arts degree at Sydney Uni, hence I'm considering postgrad Journalism. I should also add that I intend to do Grad Law (all in all I'll probably finish everything in 8 Years

Recently got my UAI of 95.35 which should be enough to get into UTS Journalism, but I'm considering applying for flexible entry into USyd Media. Comm. However, after having heard that the general consensus in the Comm. industry is that UTS and CSU are highly favoured (and that Media Comm at Sydney is complete bs according to I-Jester), I am leaning back to UTS Journalism...

Others have also advised to do a general Arts degree first and major in Political Economy in order to have something to write/report about, which is highly appealing to me, and as I mentioned, I do want that broad-based education. But I can always do UTS Journalism first, and go back to Sydney later and do a postgrad course in Political Economy, which I'm really keen on after hearing from and meeting Professor Frank Stilwell.

So what should I do first?
International Studies at Sydney, then UTS or CSU postgrad Journalism
OR
UTS Journalism, then postgrad Political Economy
OR
Media Comm at Sydney where I can combine both

All options will take four years, plus I'll slot in Grad Law (I've secretly opted against transferring) either before or after Journalism (I can always traverse between the two fields Liz Jackson style).

 

[braindrainedAsh]

I wouldn't recommend USyd Media/Comm. From what I heard you do nothing practical at all and it is more geared towards things like PR/advertising than journalism.

You can do political subjects and broad learning in your UTS journalism degree, you get electives each semester from second year onwards. IN first year you do broad disciplinary subjects as well as professional subjects but you don't get to pick them in first year, they are compulsory.

You sound like you want to do heaps of degrees. Personally I think if you spend 8 years at uni you will just come out overqualified... you won't have much real world experience and you will be expensive for somewhere to hire as a graduate/cadet. I personally would do UTS journalism, where you do get to do other non media subjects if you wish (you can basically pick ANYTHING for your electives from any faculty as long as you have met any prereqs... languages, humanities, business, yadda yadda... you can also organize to do subjects from USyd if you want as well for electives) and then do grad law. Six years is still a long time to spend at uni.... a few extra politics subjects isn't really going to make a difference if you have a law degree because you learn about politics in law somewhat. You can always go back and do postgrad political theory and stuff but I think if you come out with an undergrad degree, a law degree and a masters/grad cert without having worked a proper job in any sort of specialist field you might actually scare employers off.

UTS is much better than USyd if you want to be a journalist because we actually do a lot of practical stuff as well as the theory. Getting a portfolio together is one of the most important things if you are looking to get a journalism job and at UTS you get all the opportunities to get things published and broadcast.

If you are hell bent on doing the general arts degree at USyd, and you want to be a journalist, UTS has heaps of good postgrad courses.

I once had grand plans like yours... but here I am, two years in to my UTS degree which I have really enjoyed and I am thinking that I might just get (well, try and get) a job in journalism when I finish because that is what I want to do now... I might do honours though. Do what you (think you) want to do that will send you down your career path first because you might get over uni sooner than you think. Also, situations may change (e.g. family situation, finances etc) and you might be pushed in to the real world sooner than you think. Better to have done the "essential" degree first or ASAP in case things come up.
I don't want to rain on your parade so to speak, it's just that things change and while if you could study all these things it would be wonderful and probably very fulfilling there can sometimes be other factors at play.

In short, decide what career path you think you want most right now. Try and pursue it via your choice of degrees. While I think there is nothing wrong with the sake of going to uni to simply learn, I think you should do the thing you feel most passionate about right now, whether than is journalism or politics or whatever.

Quitea few UTS journalism students get accepted in to journo/law via a transfer, that is always an option. That is only five years.

 

[grrl4jesus]

be warned: UTS sucks at non-media subjects.

You are right to want to study Political Economy

International Studies *then* postgrad Journalism IMO

of course, I do International Studies at Sydney....

but yeah i'm doing this course so I can go on to further study (in theology lol) whilst having a degree that can actually get me a job if at the end of it i'm sick of studying.

 

[bustinjustin]

Ashlee:

Thanks so much for your help. I take it that you saw a bit of your self in what I proposed, and I totally understand what you mean about being 'overqualified'. Admittedly, I am not too confident about a career in Journalism and on 2nd/3rd/4th/100th thoughts, as it stands, I am keener on Law. That said, I'm still considering pursuing all three qualifications because I don't see my self 'letting go' of Journalism, especially UTS and CSU (Bathurst is attractive). I've just finished reading Jonathan Harley's 'Lost in Transmission' (ABC South Asia correspondent reflects on his three year posting), while former teachers and my friends unanimously agreed that I'd make a feisty journalist, and I can't help but believe them.

grrl4jesus:

Tell me more about International Studies! I will most probably do this next year (it's still 2005 at the time of writing), but will it let major Political Economy and study French as well as Asian Studies?

Also, between French and Asian Studies, what would you recommend? I've forever planned to do French at uni, but my fascination with Asia is soon catching up with me and I do believe Asian Studies will be of greater value in the eyes of an employer. Is Asian Studies really the 'niche' department I perceive it to be, or does it have heaps of students like the other schools?

 

[absolution*]

Political Economy @ USYD. Simple. You'd be wanting to do a B. Eco and Social Sciences yo.

 

[braindrainedAsh]

It's true that I see a bit of myself in your situation. I am still trying to decide whether to do an honours year on my journo degree, do grad law at unsw, or just try and get a proper job, even if it is at the very bottom end of the pecking order! It's a bit hard too, I come from a bit of a family that has it's roots in small business so it's hard to balance the desire to study more and travel with the desire to acrue some sort of financial security.... *sigh*

But really, any of those degrees would be beneficial to a journalism career, you aren't really going to do yourself any harm whichever path you travel down so don't stress too much.

 

[bustinjustin]

Yeah, I get ya, at the end of the day it does come down to money - if only it grew on trees. I guess that's another thing, an underlying fear about job security in the field of media and communications. I've heard that Journalism is very cliquey and you really do need connections to get established, hence the fear and uncertainty - can you corroborate this? But I guess at the end of the day, job security is a problem with many other fields and if one was really committed to a career in journalism then he or she would really pursue it and succeed, but at this stage, I don't have the tenacity or maturity to pursue a definite career path.

 

[absolution*]

Therefore, do a degree which allows for more than one career path.

Studies in Political Economy are a focal point for critical inquiry into contemporary economic issues, taking account of their connections with social, political and environmental concerns. Political Economy is an excellent background for a wide range of careers such as journalism and the media, economic research, teaching, public service, and management.

I really don't see how its even a point of contest.

 

[Henry_Kissinger]

Yes, you can major in French, Political Economy, and Asian Studies. You will be encouraged to spend six months at a french uni.

 

[xeuyrawp]

You will be encouraged to spend six months at a french uni.

Time overseas is very impressive on a resume, too.

 

[bustinjustin]

Even if its an independent, self-funded holiday to a terrorist-riddled continent at the age of 18?

 

[ujuphleg]

I can't advise you on the finer points of doing Media/Communications, but I would like to offer you one piece of advice.

DO NOT do B. International Studies at USyd if you want to do Political Economy. You would be far better off doing my degree (B. Economic and Social Sciences).

Why?

Its not that I'm biased. Really. Its just that, the International Studies degree is very new, its only in its second year, and from what I can glean, there are a few teething problems at the moment. Primarily, the first year core units in Government (which you will be required to take if you take International Studies) are Geopolitics and World Politics. After having taken both, by choice, this year, I would not bestow the torture upon most decent people. World Politics is boring and Geopolitics is just shocking - I don't know where to begin.

You would be far better off taking B. Economic and Social Sciences purely because you will have the flexibility to choose.

The requirements used to be that if you took a Major in Political Economy/Economics/Econometrics or Accounting you would have to minor in either Government or Industrial Relations. The rules have changed now, but so long as you have 80 credit points out of 144 from the Economic and Business Faculty, you can get your degree. (I think its 36 credit points for a Major but don't quote me on that. Stas is your man for more information)

With the extra units you have left, you can branch out and take subjects even from the Arts faculty. Next year, I'll be taking Government, Political Economy and Political Philosophy - something that I wouldn't have been able to do if I was doing International Studies, because there are core units that you have to complete whether you like it or not.


This is my advice, by all means, please investigate further and don't take what I've said for gospel. If you don't mind being part of an experiment, then go ahead with International Studies. But for greater flexibility and freedom, do Economics and Social Sciences.

Futher information can be found here:

2006 Economics and Business Faculty Handbook in PDF
Bachelor of Economic and Social Sciences Information
Bachelor of International Studies Information

 

[bustinjustin]

I can't advise you on the finer points of doing Media/Communications, but I would like to offer you one piece of advice.

DO NOT do B. International Studies at USyd if you want to do Political Economy. You would be far better off doing my degree (B. Economic and Social Sciences).

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Right now I'm still tossing up between Eco (Soc. Sci) and Int. Studies (Ash, I'll decide on Postgrad Journalism in 3 years time). I'm drawn to Int. Studies because of the Practicum it offers, but dread doing those two junior Gov units. Ujuphleg, your course may not have the practicum but:
- it is the 'flag' flown by the demi-God, Prof. Frank Stilwell. I've yet to have a proper lecture with him, and already, he's my idol. He also did hint at 'teething problems' in International Studies.
- it doesn't require us to do said shit Gov units
- to me, a label with the word 'Economic(s)' is much... sexier in the eyes of employers (Frank Stilwell told me that at the end of the day, the decision came to what degree had a better label. As soon as he said this, the stigma-plagued Arts was out of the running).

I've checked the course resolutions and with Eco Soc Sci, I'd still be dealt the 'major in one minor in the other' requirement.

Unfortunately, they only allow for a maximum of 60 credit points to be taken from another faculty. I was planning on taking up all my non compulsory units with the Arts faculty (bummer). Extended major it is.

Questions that I forgot to ask at today's info day because, in typical uni style, I was distracted by friends
- Under the Int. Studies resolutions it states that students can apply for $10 000 travel grants from the 'Eco Bus' faculty - is this available to Eco Soc Sci students as well?
- Can I count pre-honours units as part of the 36 senior units required for a major (or 60 for an extended major)?
- Is it worth missing out on the Int. Studies practicum/internship?

Thanks for all your help!