Radio and Audio Media Major - Bachelor of Communication Studies
Develop key skills for a career in radio, and run an FM and online radio station with other radio students. Make industry connections and get practical experience.
Radio is fast-paced, dynamic and immediate. Radio works smoothly on multiple platforms, and is at the forefront of popular culture – delivering music, opinion and information to ever more savvy and demanding audiences. If you love music and popular culture, radio and audio media could offer a number of great career opportunities.
AUT radio and audio media students are sought after by major radio companies for part-time work during their studies and exciting careers after they graduate.
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This is part of the Bachelor of Communication Studies.
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Get to know the business of radio, and run an FM and online radio station with other students. You create the format, manage the playlists, sell advertising, write features and commercials, promote the station and its clients, and learn how to work as a team in a fast paced and creative media enterprise.
Our podcasting studios are cutting-edge with full camera set-ups for making professional multimedia shows.
You can go on air from our state-of-the-art radio studios and:
Year 1
This year you take eight core courses that give you an overview of the media world and communication theories.
Semester 1 courses
- COMM505 Text, Image and Sound (15 points)
- COMM513 Media Technology and Society (15 points)
- COMM516 Media Production Foundations (15 points)
- DIGD507 Mahitahi | Collaborative Practices (15 points)
Semester 2 courses
- COMM512 Communication Ethics (15 points)
- COMM514 Intercultural Communication (15 points)
- COMM515 Media, Politics and Citizenship (15 points)
- COMM517 Media Production Studio (15 points)
Year 2
You take four courses related to radio and audio media, getting to know the business of radio, studio practices, radio programming strategies and the different roles involved in putting a radio show together. You learn more about podcasting and the role of the internet in radio productions.
Semester 1 courses
- RADC601 Radio Production: Context and Creativity (15 points)
- RADC604 Sound Production: Podcasting (15 points)
- Plus two courses from your second major, minor(s) or elective courses
Semester 2 courses
- RADC602 Radio Production: Programming and Performance (15 points)
- RADC603 Web Media for Radio (15 points)
- Plus two courses from your second major, minor(s) or elective courses
Year 3
You learn more about the role of the music industry in radio operations, and interact with key people from Radio New Zealand, MediaWorks, NZME and The Radio Bureau.
Semester 1 courses
- RADC701 Radio Project (15 points)
- RADC703 Advanced Radio Practice (15 points)
- Plus two courses from your second major, minor(s) or elective courses
Semester 2 courses
- COMM705 The Music Industries (15 points)
- RADC706 Radio Studio (15 points)
- Plus two courses from your second major, minor(s) or elective courses
Year 1
This year you take the first of your core courses to give you an overview of the media world and communication theories, and start to take the first radio and audio media courses.
Semester 1 courses (starting in July)
- COMM512 Communication Ethics (15 points)
- COMM515 Media, Politics and Citizenship (15 points)
- COMM516 Media Production Foundations (15 points)
- DIGD507 Mahitahi | Collaborative Practices (15 points)
Semester 2 courses (starting in February)
- COMM505 Text, Image and Sound (15 points)
- RADC601 Radio Production: Context and Creativity (15 points)
- RADC604 Sound Production: Podcasting (15 points)
- Plus a course from your second major, minor(s) or elective courses*
Year 2
You continue to take courses related to communications and the media, and further develop the knowledge for a career in radio and audio media.
Semester 1 courses (starting in July)
- COMM517 Media Production Studio (15 points)
- RADC602 Radio Production: Programming and Performance (15 points)
- RADC603 Web Media for Radio (15 points)
- Plus a course from your second major, minor(s) or elective courses*
Semester 2 courses (starting in February)
- COMM513 Media Technology and Society (15 points)
- RADC701 Radio Project (15 points)
- RADC703 Advanced Radio Practice (15 points)
- Plus a course from your second major, minor(s) or elective courses*
Year 3
You learn more about the role of the music industry in radio operations, and interact with key people from Radio New Zealand, MediaWorks, NZME and The Radio Bureau.
Semester 1 courses (starting in July)
- COMM514 Intercultural Communication (15 points)
- COMM705 The Music Industries (15 points)
- RADC706 Radio Studio (15 points)
- Plus a course from your second major, minor(s) or elective courses*
Semester 2 courses (starting in February)
- Four courses from your second major, minor(s) or elective courses*
*Because of timetabling and the prerequisites required for higher-level courses, you may not be able to take a second major if you start in July and want to complete your degree in three years. If you do a second major, you may need to do an additional semester.
Ready to enrol in your courses?
Find out how you can enrol in the courses and classes for your programme, whether you’ve just joined AUT as a new student or you’re already studying with us. If you’re looking for a course timetable or more info on a specific course use our course search.
Build your degree
Use our online tool to build your own degree and see what your three years of study could look like.
- Announcer/radio journalist
- Podcaster
- Copywriter
- Account executive
- Media planner
- Music director or programmer
- Producer
- Production or studio engineer
- Programme director
- Promotions or station manager
- Record company representative
- Studio engineer
- Web content multimedia specialist
Find out more about industry trends, job descriptions and what employers may be looking for.
Other majors in the Bachelor of Communication Studies
- NZ’s only university degree in radio
- Access to our state-of-the-art radio and audio studios
- Real experience in our student radio station, Static 88.1 FM
- Interact with representatives from Radio New Zealand, RadioWorks, NZME and The Radio Bureau
- Option to include subjects from across AUT in your degree
- A creative thought starter
- Capable of thinking on your feet
- Interested in people, popular culture and current events
- Keen to communicate through radio
The information on this page was correct at time of publication. For a comprehensive overview of AUT qualifications, please refer to the Academic Calendar.