Study Film and Media Studies at Otago

Film and Media Studies is one of two majors offered by the Media, Film and Communication Studies Programme. The other major is Communication 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.

Background required

No prior background is required.

Our major subjects

We offer majors in Communication Studies, and Film and Media Studies. Students are able to tailor their studies to pursue their specific interests and goals. Our degrees can also be combined with other subjects to form a double-major or double-degree programme of study.

Communication Studies

In the Communication major, we explore:

• How everyday life is structured through media and digital technologies.
• The relationship between data and social power.
• The historical development of communication theory and practice.
• How to intervene and communicate critically in our mediatised world.
• How media creates new public and political formations.

Film and Media Studies

In the Film and Media major, we explore:

• The role of audio-visual technologies in shaping our reality.
• The historical development of film and media.
• The historical development of theories of film and media.
• The aesthetic, cultural and social developments of cinema, television & new screen technologies.

Teaching style

Our academic staff are experts in their fields (you can read about their areas of interest at the staff page on our website).

Our papers are designed to help you engage with cutting edge research and ideas through a range of coursework and assessment that will help you develop your written, oral and visual communication skills and critical competencies.

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.

Generic skills

In addition to the specialist skills gained, our programmes enable you to develop general personal and professional skills that are highly valued by employers. These are the kinds of skills that are applicable in many career contexts and in many aspects of your life:

• clear and effective written expression
• verbal reasoning and clear and effective speaking skills
• team work
• research skills
• a broad general knowledge about the world and current events
• the ability to analyse and contribute to debates
• appreciation of diverse points of view
• the ability to think broadly, critically and creatively about social and cultural processes.

Qualifications

Explore your study options further. Refer to enrolment information found on the following qualification pages.

• Bachelor of Arts (BA)
• Bachelor of Arts and Commerce (BACom)
• Bachelor of Arts and Science (BASc)
• Bachelor of Arts with Honours (BA(Hons))
• Diploma for Graduates (DipGrad)
• Postgraduate Diploma in Arts Subjects (PGDipArts)
• Master of Arts (Coursework) (MA(Coursework))
• Master of Arts (Thesis) (MA(Thesis))

Key information for future students

• Domestic students
• International students

Contact us

Media, Film and Communication Programme
School of Social Sciences
Web otago.ac.nz/mfco

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Regulations on this page are taken from the 2023 Calendar and supplementary material.