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Study Communication Studies at Otago

Make sense of your world.

Communication Studies focuses on the social, technological, political and cultural implications of current and changing communicative practices and networks.

With an emphasis on social and media-based communication, courses initiate a critical and creative understanding of digital, broadcast, print and mobile communication, and develop written and screens-based skills. These are central to comprehending the role of media and communication industries and practices in the wider context of society and culture.

Challenge your mind and broaden your views in a diverse, stimulating learning environment that demands you be critical, creative and innovative.

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Why study Communication Studies?

Our courses will challenge your mind, broaden your views, and help you develop an increased awareness of transformations in society and culture.

Our goal is to prepare students to take their place as responsible and engaged citizens, who are critical, creative and innovative, equipped to connect with a diverse and fast-changing media world and to productively contribute to their communities and chosen professions. To serve this goal, our scholarship and teaching is interdisciplinary, inventive, and practical.

But that is not all that we do. Almost all employers look for fundamental life-long skills – literacy, numeracy, communication skills, the ability to lead and contribute to teams, as well as the ability to solve problems through dependable research. All of these skills are taught in our programme; they underlie most of what we do. We also value and develop an understanding of cultural diversity and differing perspectives, 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, and staff who are internationally recognised in their disciplines.

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, tourism, and some go on to postgraduate study in our Honours, Masters and PhD programmes. A degree from our Programme prepares you for a wide range of career options, including career pathways that might not yet exist.

Communication Studies at Otago

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

Teaching style

Our academic staff are experts in their fields (you can read about their areas of interest on our staff page on our website.)  You will learn from the people who are doing the research. 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.

Background required

No prior background is required.

Requirements

Communication Studies as a minor subject for a BA, MusB, BPA, BTheol, BSc, BCom, BEntr, BHealSc, BACom, BASc or BComSc degree

Available as a minor subject for a Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Music (MusB), Bachelor of Performing Arts (BPA), Bachelor of Theology (BTheol), Bachelor of Science (BSc), Bachelor of Commerce (BCom), Bachelor of Entrepreneurship (BEntr), Bachelor of Health Science (BHealSc), Bachelor of Arts and Commerce (BACom), Bachelor of Arts and Science (BASc) or Bachelor of Commerce and Science (BComSc) degree

LevelPapersPoints
100-level

MFCO 102 Understanding Contemporary Media

MFCO 103 Introduction to Communication Studies

18

18

Above 100-level

MFCO 202 Theory of Communication Studies

Two further MFCO papers, of which one must be above 200-level

Note: GEND 205 or 305 may be substituted for one MFCO paper at the same level.
18

36

Total 90

MFCO papers

Paper Code Year Title Points Teaching period
MFCO101 2025 Screen Form and Culture 18 Semester 1
MFCO102 2025 Media, Power, Society 18 Semester 2
MFCO103 2025 Introduction to Communication Studies 18 Semester 1
MFCO201 2025 The History of Film 18 Not offered in 2025
MFCO202 2025 Theory of Communication Studies 18 Semester 1
MFCO203 2025 Media History 18 Not offered in 2025
MFCO205 2025 Communication Research Methods 18 Not offered in 2025
MFCO210 2025 Theory of Film and Media 18 Semester 2
MFCO212 2025 Global Media and Communication 18 Semester 2
MFCO213 2025 Media Genres 18 Semester 2
MFCO216 2025 Cinema of Aotearoa New Zealand 18 Semester 1
MFCO217 2025 Television Studies 18 Not offered in 2025
MFCO220 2025 Writing for the Media 18 Not offered, expected to be offered in 2026
MFCO222 2025 Science, Technology, and Society 18 Not offered in 2025
MFCO223 2025 Documentary and Reality Media 18 Semester 1
MFCO224 2025 Studying Selfies: Celebrity, Surveillance and Cyberspace 18 Not offered in 2025
MFCO231 2025 Special Topic: Journalism Now: Seeking the Truth in a World of Disinformation and Fake News 18 Not offered in 2025
MFCO242 2025 Special Topic 18 Not offered in 2025
MFCO250 2025 Celebrity 18 Semester 1
MFCO251 2025 Television Studio Production 18 Semester 2
MFCO301 2025 Critical Problems in Film and Media 18 Semester 2
MFCO303 2025 Critical Problems in Communication Studies 18 Semester 2
MFCO312 2025 Communication and the City 18 Not offered in 2025
MFCO313 2025 Culture, Politics and Media 18 Semester 1
MFCO314 2025 French Cinema 18 Not offered in 2025
MFCO315 2025 Digital Media and Society 18 Semester 1
MFCO317 2025 Digital Culture 18 Not offered in 2025
MFCO318 2025 Indigenous Media 18 Semester 2
MFCO319 2025 Contemporary American Cinema 18 Not offered in 2025
MFCO330 2025 Special Topic 18 Not offered in 2025
MFCO333 2025 Film Festivals 18 Not offered in 2025
MFCO350 2025 Celebrity 18 Semester 1
MFCO401 2025 Advanced Media, Film and Communication Theory 30 Semester 1
MFCO406 2025 Audience Studies 30 Not offered in 2025
MFCO408 2025 Screening Gender 30 Not offered in 2025
MFCO410 2025 Documentary Film and Media 30 Not offered in 2025
MFCO411 2025 Independent Study in Media, Film and Communication 30 Semester 1
MFCO412 2025 Communicating the Self 30 Not offered in 2025
MFCO414 2025 Discourse Theory and Practice 30 Semester 2
MFCO441 2025 Special Topic: Digital Asia 30 Not offered in 2025
MFCO490 2025 Dissertation 60 Full Year, 1st Non standard period
MFCO590 2025 Research Dissertation 60 1st Non standard period, 2nd Non standard period

More information

Contact us

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

Studying at Otago

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Regulations on this page are taken from the 2024 Calendar and supplementary material.

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