The Pearson BTEC Level 4 Higher National Certificate in Journalism offers students one general pathway to support progression to relevant occupational areas or degree-level study.? This pathway allows students to complete a qualification without committing to a particular professional specialism, offering additional flexibility to students.
Our Blended Learning delivery will see a third of the course delivered remotely. These sessions, delivered on Wednesdays, will be a mixture of live online delivery, and guided learning tasks from the tutors. The remainder of the course will be delivered face-to-face at the City of Oxford College on Thursdays and Fridays.
The course develops students’ underpinning knowledge of the subject and enables students to enter employment with the qualities necessary for job roles requiring personal responsibility.? It provides opportunities for students to develop and demonstrate knowledge and understanding, practical and transferable skills, and other attributes.?
On successful completion, students will have developed a sound understanding of the principles in their field of study and will have learned to apply them more widely. They will have learned to evaluate the appropriateness of different problem-solving approaches. They will be able to perform effectively in their chosen field and will have the qualities necessary for employment in situations that require the exercise of personal responsibility and decision-making.?
What you'll learn
Students will study one module during the year (30 academic weeks), which is made up of two parts:
Concept and Development
- Explore the history, theories and developments related to the area of practice.
- Explore and develop ideas, based on an iterative approach to problem-solving in creative practice.
- Explore technical knowledge and skills necessary to support creative practice.
- Explore professional knowledge, behaviours and practices within the sector.
- Explore techniques, media and formats to communicate ideas and concepts for diverse audiences.
Creative Project
- Apply relevant contextual knowledge to inform a creative project.
- Explore and develop ideas, based on an iterative approach to problem solving in creative practice Media.
- Apply technical knowledge and skill in the production of a project outcome
- Demonstrate professional knowledge, behaviors and practices in response to a given brief
- Present the development process and outcomes of a creative project for a specified audience
How you'll learn and be assessed
Partially studying remotely via distance learning will allow students to adapt their learning approach and enhance their digital skills. It will also provide the opportunity to ‘work from home’ for a third of the course. On Wednesdays, learners will have one five-hour day of live remote delivery via our ALO platform. These sessions will combine live online delivery with guided learning tasks from the tutors, and all sessions will be recorded.
Students will benefit from face-to-face delivery and tutorials, providing interactive teaching and learning. Two days of on-campus delivery, totalling 11 hours of face-to-face delivery per week and tutorials, will take place at City of Oxford College. Time spent on campus provides the opportunity to engage with campus communities and resources.
Students will gain a wide range of knowledge tied to practical skills gained through research, independent study, directed study and workplace scenarios. Students are involved in vocational activities that help them to develop vocational behaviours? (the attitudes and approaches required for a competence) and transferable skills, such as communication, teamwork, research and? analysis, which are highly valued in higher education and the workplace.?
Assessment
A variety of modes of assessment are used in the programme. Assessments are designed to replicate the kind of activity students would be expected to undertake in the workplace wherever possible.??
?The following tools are employed:??
- Written assignments??
- Individual presentations?
- Group presentations?
- Group assessments??
- Peer assessment??
- Portfolio assessment (including learning logs)??
This multi-dimensional approach has the benefit that as in work, students have the opportunity to develop and demonstrate their knowledge and skills in a variety of different ways.?Also, students’ written, oral and online communication skills will be tested along with their capacity to work in a team and individually to set deadlines.
Feedback
Students will receive regular formative feedback, typically as part of the academic feedback sessions during the term. During the sessions, feedback will be provided verbally and in written form. Draft presentations and assignments will also be formatively assessed, and feedback will be provided before the summative assessment. Students will receive feedback on summative assessment within 15 working days of their submission deadline.?
The Virtual Learning Environment
Students are supported by a wide range of learning resources made available via the Virtual Learning Environment (Activate Learning Online, ALO) enabling them to study wherever and whenever they want, on their laptop, tablet or smartphone.
Through Activate Learning Online (ALO) students can access various high-quality study materials designed to support their learning. These include all essential reading including textbooks, articles and multimedia content such as videos. In addition:
- Recommended reading is available in electronic format, which can be read online or downloaded onto student devices for offline reading.
- All lectures are recorded and available online so that students can watch them on their laptops, tablets or smartphones, pause and review subject matter that they find difficult to understand and watch them again as revision.
- Interactive topic reviews are provided to help students self-assess their understanding of a subject at the start or end of a topic to help embed learning.
- Discussion forums for online discussion and debate are provided.
In addition to learning resources ALO also provides students with a gateway to a wide range of other resources to help them with their studies including news and announcements, timetables, support and guidance.
Library resources include full access to an online library containing academic books and journals across a range of business-related subjects, disciplines and databases.
Progression
After studying a Level 4 Higher National Certificate in Journalism students?will have sound knowledge of the concepts of journalism. They will be?competent in a range of subject-specific skills as well as general skills and qualities relevant to key areas of journalism and written communication.?
?The qualification also aims to widen access and participation in higher education and enhance the career prospects of those who undertake it.?
Students who successfully achieve 120 credits on the HNC will be eligible to progress to the Level 5 (HND) in Journalism. Higher education providers recognise the Level 5 Higher National Diploma as meeting admission requirements to many relevant courses, for example:?
- BA (Hons) Journalism
- BA (Hons) Journalism and Publishing
- BA (Hons) Multimedia and Journalism
- BA (Hons) Fashion Journalism
- BA (Hons) Sports Journalism
- BA (Hons) Criminology and Media and Communication
- BA (Hons) Broadcast Journalism
- BA (Hons) Creative Writing and Journalism
Journalism graduates also have a range of career opportunities, including, but not limited to, media, publishing, information services, writing for newspapers, and working as broadcast journalists and reporters. Journalism provides a solid grounding for working in industry, the creative arts, and technology
Entry requirements
You will need to have achieved a full level 3 qualification, worth at least 96 UCAS points. This could from 3 A levels, an Extended Diploma, T level or Access to HE programme.
This can be gained through either:
- Three C grades at A level
- MMM grades in a BTEC/UAL/equivalent National Extended Diploma
- Minimum of 15 credits at Merit on a full Access to HE Diploma
- Qualifications obtained outside of the UK will be looked at on an individual basis (all qualifications will be subject to ECCTIS checks)
Applicants will also be required to have achieved at least a grade 4/C in GCSE English language and maths.
A typical applicant might be expected to demonstrate at the commencement of his/her studies the following:
- a general interest in journalism and/or social issues, and creative communication
- a strong interest in developing their career
- a willingness to work collaboratively with others
- good oral and written communication skills
- a willingness to build knowledge and explore multiple academic disciplines, such as sociology, criminology and English
- appropriate levels of numeracy and literacy
Additional information
Support for students and their learning
Academic and pastoral support:
- At the beginning of the programme, students will be allocated a personal tutor, who will effectively act as their academic mentor.
- Personal Tutors will provide ongoing advice on academic and pastoral matters (in partnership with academic tutors in other modules). They will act as students’ first port of call for support during their studies.
- Students will have an initial one-to-one meeting with their personal tutor in the first few weeks of their studies as part of a settling-in process. During this meeting, any early issues of an academic or pastoral nature may be addressed.
- Students’ academic progress will be formally reviewed three times per academic year by their Personal Tutor through progress review meetings.
- If a student experiences issues or problems with their Personal Tutor, the student may contact the faculty management team.
Learning support:
- Students with specific learning support needs will be directed to our GLS team to obtain support, advice and guidance on progressing through their studies. This includes addressing any special needs requirements. Further information is available in the Student Handbook.
- All students will be able to access the drop-in services of a Study Support Tutor regardless of whether they have a specific learning support need.
- Personal tutors/academic teachers will collaborate with the support team and GLS to provide holistic support to learners.
