BSSc (Hons) in Communication with Options in:

BSSc (Hons) in Communication - Broadcast Journalism (Programme Code 2632)

BSSc (Hons) in Communication - Chinese Journalism (Programme Code 2644)

BSSc (Hons) in Communication - International Journalism (Programme Code 2656)

Journalism is an exciting and meaningful job at the heart of the information society. The Journalism option is designed to fit students for responsible roles in this demanding profession. Every modern society needs information about what is happening, about what is being thought, said, discovered and planned. Most people get this information from the mass media in the form of news. Journalism as a career is not only attractive but also important.

The option has three concentrations, which stress the requirements of the Chinese, English and Broadcast media. It is designed, though, to provide a broad professional preparation and all students are given some experience in all three modes of expression.

The Journalism course may be divided into three major areas:

Professional subjects, in which the students learn the principles and skills involved in gathering, presenting and production of news and current affairs.

Theoretical foundations of the profession, in which students develop conceptual understanding of the profession and its role in society through ethical, legal, economic, political, and historical studies, as well as mass communication theory.

Complementary studies of society and its relationship to journalism through studies of government, business, law and politics in both a local and international context. This area includes a large elective component in which students can pursue their own interests in areas outside journalism in some depth.

At the end of the course students are expected to produce an honours project in which theory and practice are integrated in either a substantial piece of journalism or a scholarly dissertation.

Students are also required to participate in the production of the workshop of their concentration: the San Po Yan and The Young Reporter for Chinese and International Journalism and the Broadcast News Network for students in the Broadcast Journalism concentration.

These workshops are experimental publications run by students. They provide the chance to put theory into practice, to tackle real-world problems and to develop professional skills. Students also have to undertake a professional internship in a media organization during the summer break between the second and third years.

In order to encourage the breadth of view required of journalists in an international city, the department encourages students to spend part of their undergraduate career abroad if possible. As well as participating in university-wide student exchange programmes, the department has arrangements of its own with journalism departments in Australia, Canada and the UK. Study tours are also organized. In recent years, groups of students and staff from the department have visited Brisbane, Taipei and Shanghai.

Journalism is an exciting career and there is never a shortage of people willing to try it. Entry to the profession is highly competitive and the possession of a journalism degree, while a help, does not guarantee success. However, graduates of the department have entered the media profession in large numbers and the rate of success in finding jobs generally after graduation is very high.

The Chinese Journalism concentration is designed to suit those whose aspirations are in the mass circulation press, radio or television in Hong Kong. It will also suit those who hope to specialize in reporting from China. The Broadcast Journalism concentration prepares graduates for jobs in radio or television stations as reporters, producers or anchorpersons, as well as work in the public affairs and information functions in corporations. The International Journalism concentration meets the needs of those interested in the English-language media, international news organizations or work overseas.

Click here

http://www.hkbu.edu.hk/~jour/

CTV's aim:

To equip students with the theoretical and practical basis for further specialization in diverse professional and creative work for film, video television and Digital animation.

CTV's objectives:

To provide creative experience, basic to advanced, in both the conceptual and production phases of film and video, television and radio;

To educate students in various areas of film and video production, such as scriptwriting, cinematography, sound, animation and editing;

To present a critical and historical perspective for the development and application of students' own analytical skill.

Careers in film/video and television industries; arts administration and education.

Click here

http://www.hkbu.edu.hk/~ctv/index.htm

The Digital Graphic Communications (DGC) option was established in 1994. It is the first-degree program offered in Hong Kong with an emphasis on "Deploying Information Design & Management Methodology strategically to Achieve Effective Communication through Technology".

The DGC option teaches design concepts, theories and skills within the new domain of "multiple-media", which include computer graphics, animation, film, sound, video, internet, interactive multi-media and different kinds of computer-mediated communication technology to convey information effectively. "If a picture is worth a thousand word, then multiple-media is worth a million words".

DGC prepares students for Innovative Leadership for the Media Industries in the Asia-Pacific region. We prepare students to design, realize and manage functional messages for appropriate audiences using digital technology. "Technology is our tool and effective communication is our goal".

Our curriculum is dynamic as it reflects the changing face of modern communication. DGC courses and faculty encourage the development of critical thinking skills, nurture the creative process at group and individual levels, explore the possibilities of digital media and tools, and cultivate innovative idea generation for strategic communication solutions in the real world.

After completing the Option, students will be able to work in any field demanding computer-mediated communication technology. Our students have become 2D/3D Animators, Interaction Designers, Web Developers, Information Architects, Graphic Designers, Media Project Managers and Digital Communication Consultants.

In the first year, students establish a practical and intellectual basis for the study of digital graphic communication, with an overview of Visual Communication Fundamentals & History coupled with the basics skills of Desktop Publishing, Typography, and Digital Imaging. Students are also introduced to the history and culture of media technology against the background of communication theories taught in the Communication Core Subjects.

In the second year, students begin to engage in creative/technical study of digital graphic design and production including advertising design /3-D modeling and animation, digital audio and video editing, and also their access on the Internet. This enables the students to fit within a broad yet fully focused and integrated program.

In the third year, students move into intensive study of digital graphics that concentrates on animation and multimedia design and production. The students also apply their talent and professional skill through their individual honors project. In the final semester, students study the managerial and professional practices of visual, sequential and interactive communication.

Click here

http://www.coms.hkbu.edu.hk/dgc/aims.htm

The Organizational Communication (ORGC) Option prepares students for professional careers as communication specialists in profit and non-profit organizations and provides students with essential analytical and expressive skills for problem solving and decision making in interpersonal, group, public, and mediated communication to fill any of the vast number of the newly emergent communication functions demanded in modern organizations.

The ORGC Option curriculum is a strong blend of theory and practical application in all areas of human communication, with a strong concentration of knowledge integration and creation rather than media production. The set of sequential and integrated subjects are specifically tailored to enhance a broad communication background and to develop analytic and expressive abilities.

The programme has a considerable emphasis of practice in various organizational settings.  Graduates acquire depth of knowledge in both theories and practice in different contexts of face-to-face communication while also developing an understanding of the function of mass media in Chinese society and elsewhere.

The Option is specially tailored to develop analytic and expressive abilities to prepare students with a broad knowledge and skills of organizational communication. Graduates can fill any of the vast number of the newly emergent communication functions demanded in modern profit and non-profit organizations.

The sequence of study for organizational communication begins with the establishment of a context for understanding and practising organizational communication in the contemporary world. In the first year of study, students examine the parameters of communication as an academic area, as well as the historical, intellectual and professional elements of the field.

Building upon the contextual foundation, a sequence of subjects has been established to provide the progressive development of a coherent, in-depth understanding of the levels of human communication in the first year. Students progress through subjects examining interpersonal, group, public, cultural, and intercultural communication in a variety of organizational settings.

In the final year, subjects in persuasion, conflict management and communication management provide the opportunity for students to integrate the different levels of organizational communication skills in specific contexts. To top off these capstone subjects is the Honours Project, which is a formal, written dissertation involving all the skills of research and presentation developed in the course.

Permeating the ORGC curriculum is an awareness of the importance of an intercultural approach to organizational communication in  the globalization climate. All Communication subjects endeavor to prepare the student for the unique opportunities Hong Kong offers in bridging cultures. The final year of study has been designed to provide students the opportunity to focus on particular aspects of organizational communication. Students are encouraged to develop and refine their particular areas of interest from the variety of electives available. Several groups of relevant subjects can be clustered from classes offered with the option, department, school and university.

The program has been awarded the IAA's (International Advertising Association) highly regarded professional accreditation.  Graduates from this program will receive IAA's Diploma in Marketing Communication in addition to the degree awarded by The University.

This is a unique program among all universities in Hong Kong to develop state of the art education for preparing individuals for the public relations and advertising industry of the 21st century. Students learn the concepts, processes, management, and skills of integrated marketing communications. Students involve in the process of creating persuasive messages, managing campaigns and events, researching, and planning media budget. The emphasis is on Hong Kong, Mainland China, and the Asia-Pacific environment. Students are taught to analyze the relationship between the media and the cultural infrastructure, to develop a sense of social consciousness and ethical responsibilities, and to acquire a mastering in new technology.

The program places emphasis on both theoretical knowledge and professional practices. Students are required to participate in The Young Agency, a public relations and advertising workshop run by the students, company visits, campaign competitions, and designing integrated marketing communication activities for real-life clients or organizations. We also arrange students to take internship in the second year so as to prepare them for valuable working experience in the marketing communications profession.

Students are divided into public relations and advertising streams in their second and third years. Students in the public relations stream will place emphasis on corporate communication and crisis management. Students in the advertising stream will place emphasis on advertising creative execution, and social responsibilities of advertising.

Students also need to enhance their visual, written and oral communication through taking subjects such as public speaking, graphic communication, news writing, and persuasion. This course also covers public relations and advertising in cross-cultural contexts. Subjects throughout the curriculum provide instruction in the concepts, processes, and management of public relations and advertising campaigns designed to persuade audiences to accept the communicator's idea and to act affirmatively on them.

Graduates from the Public Relations and Advertising Option are familiar with the marketing communications industry. They are ready to take up jobs in public relations firms and advertising agencies such as public relations officers, media relation officers, community relation officers, account executives, copywriters, art directors, media planners, marketing communication specialists and web masters. Some of our graduates are employed in marketing communication positions in business and non-profit making organizations. The public relations and advertising practitioners recognize the depth and breadth of our option in preparing communication professionals. We have over one thousand alumni engaging in managerial and executive levels in advertising agencies, public relations firms, business, non-profit making organizations, and internet companies.

Click here

http://www.coms.hkbu.edu.hk/pra/aims.htm