| Overview and Aims of the Program |
This specialisation will enable students to acquire and advanced and integrated understanding of media and technology law. They will also gain specialised knowledge and skills for research and professional practice in technology and e-commerce law, media law and culture, law and globalisation, and intellectual property law. |
| Graduate Capabilities |
The Graduate Capabilities Framework articulates the fundamentals that underpin all of Macquarie’s academic programs. It expresses these as follows:
Cognitive capabilities
(K) discipline specific knowledge and skills
(T) critical, analytical and integrative thinking
(P) problem solving and research capability
(I) creative and innovative
Interpersonal or social capabilities
(C) effective communication
(E) engaged and ethical local and global citizens
(A) socially and environmentally active and responsible
Personal capabilities
(J) capable of professional and personal judgement and initiative
(L) commitment to continuous learning |
| Program Learning Outcomes |
In addition to achieving PLOs of either the LLM or JD, by the end of this program it is anticipated you should be able to:
1. Demonstrate an advanced understanding of principles and their application to the specialised area of media and technology law (K)
2. Appreciate the special ethical, policy and professional challenges raised by practice in the area of media and technology law (E)
3. Apply advanced research and problem solving skills to address contemporary challenges in the area of media and technology law (T, P). |
| Learning and Teaching Methods |
The Media and Technology Law specialisation employs three main learning and teaching methods, lectures, tutorials and interactive independent online learning.
• Lectures: the Media and Technology Law specialisation encompasses a wide ambit of legal content. Accordingly, the weekly lectures are critical for providing you with a comprehensive understanding of the legal and policy framework applicable to the area of study. Each of the units in the program provide 24 hours of lectures that will equip you with a sound understanding of the fundamental legal principles in the field. The lectures will articulate the relevant legislation and case law, as well as the leading scholarly literature and the ongoing law reform discourse in the field. The objective of the lectures therefore is to:
a. Provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the legal principles relating to media and technology law, derived chiefly from legislation, case law, reform reports and scholarly literature in the field.
b. Equip you with knowledge of content so as to enable you to analyse complex hypothetical problems, identify relevant legal and factual issues, and apply legal principles to solve problems and provide appropriate legal advice.
• Tutorials: building upon the knowledge obtained in lectures, the tutorials provide you with an opportunity to apply this knowledge to real life situations and engage with your peers in refining your understanding and considering differing points of view. The aim of the tutorials is therefore to:
a. Train you to adopt an enquiring, critical and analytical approach to media law and information technology law, as well as your potential role within the media and technology sector.
b. Enable you to apply the wide ambit of legal knowledge presented by the lectures to specific issues in the media and technology sectors.
c. Provide you with skills to formulate, evaluate and present sophisticated oral arguments relating to media and technology law, drawing upon relevant statutes, judicial precedent and policy considerations .
• Online interactive learning: the websites provide videos, interactive online experiences and links to related sights to ensure that you develop an understanding of how your learning relates to the media and information technology sectors. The objective is to enable you to:
a. Develop graduate capabilities in demand in workplaces dealing with new and emerging technologies, so as to address the contemporary issues being faced in legal policy development.
b. Relate legal issues related to the regulation of media and technology to the wider social and cultural context to better understand commercial decisions and practices. |
| Assessment |
The Media and Technology Law specialisation involves a range of assessment methods, including an extended research essay, contribution to tutorial discussion and a take-home exam. Whilst the specific assessment regimes vary slightly between the units in the program, the following form fundamental assessment methods in the media and information technology law program:
• Extended research dissertation: the extended research dissertation typically involves researching relevant materials, reading and analysing the materials to formulate a sophisticated and authoritative response to the question under examination. The objective of the research essay is to test a student’s ability to analyse and develop an extended and sophisticated thesis on a specific legal issue or topic in the field of media and information technology law. The word limit is typically 3,000 words, and represents a substantial proportion, example 40-60%, of the final mark.
• Contribution to tutorial discussion: you are expected to read the prescribed materials and listen to lectures and then contribute to the discussions in tutorials. Tutorial participation hence assesses a student’s ability to analyse complex hypothetical fact problems, identify relevant legal and factual issues involving intellectual property, and apply legal principles to provide legal advice. Tutorial participation typically comprises 10-20% of the final mark.
• Take-home exam: a feature of the Media and Technology Law specialisation is that it involves a multifaceted and wide ranging ambit of inquiry that encompasses legislation, case law and theoretical and law reform discourse in a variety of fields. As such the objective of the final take-home exam is to test a student’s understanding of the legal principles covered in the program and the ability to apply legal understanding to solve real legal problems and issues. The exam typically comprises 40%, of the final mark.
In certain units you will have the opportunity to sub-specialise by selecting the topic of your assignment. Many students for example research social media and internet copyright issues their assignment to develop specialised understanding in these areas. |
| Recognition of Prior Learning |
Macquarie University may recognise prior formal, informal and non-formal learning for the purpose of granting credit towards, or admission into, a program. The recognition of these forms of learning is enabled by the University’s Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) Policy and its associated Procedures and Guidelines. For recognition of prior informal and non-formal learning, please refer to the relevant RPL Plan, which describes the evidential requirements and approval processes for recognising prior learning for entry or credit in this program.
For undergraduate RPL plans visit www.goto.mq.edu.au/nonschoolrpl
For postgraduate RPL plans visit www.goto.mq.edu.au/pgrpl |
| Support for Learning |
Macquarie University aspires to be an inclusive and supportive community of learners where all students are given the opportunity to meet their academic and personal goals. The University offers a comprehensive range of free and accessible student support services which include academic advice, counselling and psychological services, advocacy services and welfare advice, careers and employment, disability services and academic skills workshops amongst others. There is also a bulk billing medical service located on campus.
Further information can be found at www.students.mq.edu.au/support/
Campus Wellbeing contact details:
Phone: +61 2 9850 7497
Email: campuswellbeing@mq.edu.au
www.students.mq.edu.au/support/health_and_wellbeing/contact_us |
| Program Standards and Quality |
The program is subject to an ongoing comprehensive process of quality review in accordance with a pre-determined schedule that complies with the Higher Education Standards Framework. The review is overseen by Macquarie University's peak academic governance body, the Academic Senate and takes into account feedback received from students, staff and external stakeholders. |
| Graduate Destinations and Employability |
Graduates will be able to apply their expertise acquired from this specialisation in a range of professional settings across the corporate and commercial sector, as well as in professional practice relating to private industry, government regulators and business relevant to media and technology sectors. |
| Assessment Regulations |
This program is subject to Macquarie University regulations, including but not limited to those specified in the Assessment Policy, Academic Honesty Policy, the Final Examination Policy and relevant University Rules. For all approved University policies, procedures, guidelines and schedules visit www.mq.edu.au/policy. |
