Bachelor of Communication (Theatre/Media)

What is this course about?

CSU's Bachelor of Communication (Theatre / Media) provides learner-centred practical and theoretical training for innovation in the entertainment, communication and information industries.

About the course

During this cutting-edge degree, you will learn a unique combination of skills in performance, dramatic structure, theatre production, media research, communication theory, professional writing, digital production, and producton management for special events. Elective choices enable you to develop particular interests.

The course concludes with industry internships and a self-initiated experimental project for public performance in a live or digital medium. This research project is externally examined by leading practitioners.

Course components

The Bachelor of Communication (Theatre / Media) is the equivalent of 24 subjects.

This course is dedicated to the creation of original works across the whole spectrum of the communication, entertainment and information industries. It comprises studies in classic, modern and Australian theatre; devised physical performance; drama workshop facilitation and theatre for young people; digital media; event design; and theatre production for diverse cultural enterprises in both indoor and outdoor settings.

Hands-on experience

This innovative degree emphasises practical skills and collaboration. You will be involved in a variety of performance based projects from the outset. It culminates in a self-initiated experimental project for live or media based public performance.

Practical experience

Students will complete a four-week internship with theatre companies, media production houses, film, radio, television or event production companies; as well as work experience at Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre, production participation in the biennial Catapult Youth Circus Festival and annual Sprung Festival of Creativity.

Academic expectations

For each 8 point subject at CSU, students should normally expect to spend between 140-160 hours engaged in the specified learning and assessment activities (such as attending lectures or residential schools, assigned readings, tutorial assistance, individual or group research/study, forum activity, workplace learning, assignments or examinations). The student workload for some subjects may vary from these norms as a result of approved course design.

Students will be assessed on the basis of completed assignments, examinations, workplace learning, or other methods as outlined in specific subject outlines.

Where applicable, students are responsible for travel and accommodation costs involved in workplace learning experiences, or attending residential schools (distance education students).

Expectations relating to academic, workplace learning, time and cost requirements for specific subjects are provided in the subject abstracts and in course materials.

Theatre/Media Twitter Updates

Career opportunities

Graduates work professionally as producers, performers, designers, trainers, digital producers, teachers, directors and writers, festival event managers, arts coordination and management, and a number have successfully established their own companies.

You can work in:

  • theatre
  • arts and event management
  • digital production
  • radio and television
  • film and new media
  • or with the addition of a Bachelor of Teaching (Secondary) you can become a drama teacher

The latest facilities

To ensure breadth of experience in the equipment and techniques found in the workplace, our facilities include:

  • a fully-equipped media centre
  • a 99-seat theatre
  • a nationally networked FM radio station
  • rehearsal studios and production rooms
  • costume, construction and wardrobe workshops

Professionals teaching you

The course is taught by skilled professionals with a wide range of academic and industry experience in the creation of site-specific events and original entertainments that explore the creative nexus between live and mediated performance.

To successfully graduate from the Bachelor Communication (with specialisation) students will be required to complete 192 points. These comprise 80 points of Communication Foundation Studies, 64 points of Discipline Specialisation Studies and 48 points of Academic Enrichment Studies offered from within SCCI and/or externally as approved by the Course Director. This structure will also serve the Geraldton University Centre (GUC) offering of the BCommunication (Journalism).

The course structure is as follows:

Communication Foundation Subjects (80 points)
COM111 Professional Writing (8)
COM114 Presentation for Communicators (8)
CCI100 Intro to Media Production (8)
IKC101 Indigenous Cultures, Histories and Contemporary Realities (8)
COM124 Communication in Context (8)
COM221 Professional Ethics in Communication and Citizenship (8)
CCI300 Communication & Creative Industries Professional Practice (24)
COM321 Communication Fieldwork (8)

Advertising Specialisation Subjects (64 points)

ADV104 Understanding Advertising (8)
ADV105 The Advertising Business (8)
ADV205 Advertising Creative (8)
ADV206 Channel Planning (8)
ADV207 Channel Planning in Action (8)
COM224 Communication Research Strategies (8)
ADV317 Advertising Strategy and Planning (16)

Commercial Radio Specialisation Subjects (64 points)
COM113 Commercial Radio Industry (8)
ADV105 The Advertising Business (8)
ADV104 Understanding Advertising (8)
ADV205 Advertising Creative (8)
COM233 Media Sales Principles (8)
COM234 Media Sales Presentation (8)
COM236 Making it Happen: Event Management (8)
ADV206 Channel Planning (8)

Journalism Specialisation Subjects (64 points) (inc GUC offering)
JRN112 Journalism in Society (8)
JRN101 Newsgathering & Writing (8)
JRN200 Convergent Storytelling (8)
JRN205 Data Mining & Research(8)
JRN225 The Specialist Reporter (8)
JRN207 Multiplatform Publishing & The Law (8)
JRN322 Beyond News: Longform Journalism (8)
JRN318 Deadline: Multiplatform Delivery (8)

Public Relations Specialisation Subjects (64)
COM116 What is Public Relations (8)
COM232 Public Relations Strategy (8)
COM222 Public Relations Tactics (8)
COM223 Communication Management (8)
COM236 Making it Happen: Event Management (8)
COM224 Communication Research Strategies (8)
COM313 SOS: Issues and Crisis Communication (8)
COM322 Going Glocal: Regional & Global Public Relations (8)

Theatre/Media Specialisation Subjects (64 points)
THM108 Principles of Theatre Media (16)
THM207 Drama & Theatre For Young People (8)
THM208 Devised Performance (16)
THM308 Applied Production Research (16)
THM300 Theatre & Cultural Action (8)

Academic Enrichment (elective) Subjects (48 points)
Students undertake 6 electives to be taken as a combination of unrestricted electives and/or professional clusters (4 subjects per cluster) from within the School of Communication & Creative Industries, or from outside the School as approved by Course Director.

Enrolment pattern

Advertising Specialisation
Full time suggested study sequence

Session 1 (30)
ADV104 Understanding Advertising
COM111 Professional Writing
COM114 Presentation for Communicators
CCI100 Intro to Media Production

Session 2 (60)
ADV105 The Advertising Business
ADV205 Advertising Creative
COM124 Communication in Context
IKC101 Indigenous Cultures, Histories and Contemporary Realities

Session 3 (30)
ADV206 Channel Planning
COM221 Professional Ethics in Communication and Citizenship
Elective 1
Elective 2

Session 4 (60)
ADV207 Channel Planning in Action
COM224 Communication Research Strategies
Elective 3
Elective 4

Session 5 (30)
ADV317 Advertising Strategy & Planning (16)
Elective 5
Elective 6

Session 6 (60)
CCI300 Professional Practice in Communication & Creative Industries(24)
COM321 Communication Fieldwork

Commercial Radio Specialisation
Full time suggested study sequence

Session 1 (30)
COM113 Commercial Radio Industry
COM111 Professional Writing
COM114 Presentation for Communicators
CCI100 Intro to Media Production

Session 2 (60)
ADV105 The Advertising Business
ADV205 Advertising Creative
COM124 Communication in Context
IKC101 Indigenous Cultures, Histories and Contemporary Realities

Session 3 (30)
COM233 Media Sales Principles
ADV104 Understanding Advertising
COM221 Professional Ethics in Communication and Citizenship
Elective 1

Session 4 (60)
COM234 Media Sales Presentation
COM236 Making it Happen: Event Management
Elective 2
Elective 3

Session 5 (30)
ADV206 Channel Planning
Elective 4
Elective 5
Elective 6

Session 6 (60)
CCI300 Professional Practice in Communication & Creative Industries(24)
COM321 Communication Fieldwork

Journalism Specialisation

Full time suggested study sequence (including Geraldton cohort)

Session 1 (30)
JRN112 Journalism in Society
COM111 Professional Writing
COM114 Presentation for Communicators
CCI100 Intro to Media Production

Session 2 (60)
JRN101 Newsgathering & Writing
JRN200 Convergent Storytelling
COM124 Communication in Context
IKC101 Indigenous Cultures, Histories and Contemporary Realities

Session 3 (30)
JRN205 Data Mining & Research
COM221 Professional Ethics in Communication and Citizenship
Elective 1
Elective 2

Session 4 (60)
JRN225 The Specialist Reporter
JRN207 Multiplatform Publishing & The Law
Elective 3
Elective 4

Session 5 (30)
JRN322 Beyond News: Longform Journalism
JRN318 Deadline: Multiplatform Delivery
Elective 5
Elective 6

Session 6 (60)
CCI300 Professional Practice in Communication & Creative Industries(24)
COM321 Communication Fieldwork

Public Relations Specialisation
Full time suggested study sequence

Session 1 (30)
COM116 What is Public Relations?
COM111 Professional Writing
COM114 Presentation for Communicators
CCI100 Intro to Media Production

Session 2 (60)
COM232 Public Relations Strategy
COM222 Public Relations Tactics
COM124 Communication in Context
IKC101 Indigenous Cultures, Histories and Contemporary Realities

Session 3 (30)
COM223 Communication Management
COM221 Professional Ethics in Communication and Citizenship
Elective 1
Elective 2

Session 4 (60)
COM236 Making it Happen: Event Management
COM224 Communication Research Strategies
Elective 3
Elective 4

Session 5 (30)
COM313 SOS: Issues & Crisis Communication
COM322 Going Glocal: Regional and Global Public Relations
Elective 5
Elective 6

Session 6 (60)
CCI300 Professional Practice in Communication & Creative Industries(24)
COM321 Communication Fieldwork

Theatre/Media Specialisation
Full time suggested study sequence

Session 1 (30)
THM108 Principles of Theatre Media (commenced)
COM111 Professional Writing
COM114 Presentation for Communicators
CCI100 Intro to Media Production

Session 2 (60)
THM108 Principles of Theatre Media (continued)
THM207 Drama & Theatre For Young People
COM124 Communication in Context
IKC101 Indigenous Cultures, Histories and Contemporary Realities

Session 3 (30)
THM208 Devised Performance (commenced)
COM221 Professional Ethics in Communication and Citizenship
Elective 1
Elective 2

Session 4 (60)
THM208 Devised Performance (continued)
Elective 3
Elective 4
Elective 5

Session 5 (30)
THM308 Applied Production Research (16)
THM300 Theatre & Cultural Action
Elective 6

Session 6 (60)
CCI300 Professional Practice in Communication & Creative Industries(24)
COM321 Communication Fieldwork

Journalism Specialisation Geraldton cohort
Part time suggested study sequence

Session 1 (30)
JRN112 Journalism in Society
COM111 Professional Writing

Session 2 (60)
JRN101 Newsgathering & Writing
JRN200 Convergent Storytelling

Session 3 (30)
COM114 Presentation for Communicators
CCI100 Intro to Media Production

Session 4 (60)
COM124 Communication in Context
IKC101 Indigenous Cultures, Histories and Contemporary Realities

Session 5 (30)
JRN205 Data Mining & Research
Elective 1

Session 6 (60)
JRN225 The Specialist Reporter
Elective 2

Session 7 (30)
COM221 Professional Ethics in Communication & Citizenship
Elective 3

Session 8 (60)
JRN207 Multiplatform Publishing & The Law
Elective 4

Session 9 (30)
JRN322 Beyond News: Longform Journalism
Elective 5

Session 10 (60)
COM321 Communication Fieldwork
Elective 6

Session 11 (30)
JRN318 Deadline: Multiplatform Delivery

Session 12 (60)
CCI300 Professional Practice in Communication & Creative Industries (24cr)

Special admission requirements

Applicants for the Bachelor of Communication (Theatre / Media) will need to attend an audition / interview to assist in the assessment of their application during late November or early December.

Year 12 applicants are admitted on the basis of their Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR) or interstate equivalent, together with the assessment of their audition and interview. You will want to:

  1. Prepare and present two 2-3 minute audition pieces that are markedly different from each other in tone and style. These may be from existing plays, films, video scripts, poetry, or original pieces. One must be directly addressed to the audience; one as though the audience is not present.
  2. Demonstrate any other skills and/or give evidence of background experience you may have, e.g. video, film, writing, singing, dancing, designing, drawing, painting, photography, circus skills, musical instrument/s, mime, mask, or knowledge of computer software and operating systems etc. Bring examples.
  3. Give a verbal outline of how you think this course will help you achieve your goals for the future.
  4. Any video demonstration tapes must be delivered via youtube, vimeo or other web link formats. These examples should demonstrate your creative understanding and ability in using video (e.g. editing, storytelling, documenting etc) or other forms of digital media.

Book your audition / course consultation.

PREP applicants

Students applying for this course through the Principal's Report Entry Program (PREP) will need to attend an audition and interview on 15 or 16 November 2013 in Bathurst. Book your audition / course consultation.

Students who are unable to attend an audition may send their audition via video to the School of Communication and Creative Industries, or upload their audition to YouTube and email the YouTube link to gboland@csu.edu.au and fplunkett@csu.edu.au 

Video or YouTube auditions must be sent or uploaded by no later than 5.00pm Friday 8 November 2013. Students unable to attend an audition must also have an interview with academic staff. This can either be face-to-face, by Skype or by phone. You will be contacted regarding this after Friday 8 November 2013.

Admission requirements

To be admitted into the course, prospective students need to indicate their likelihood of success through:

  1. previous studies, and
  2. other attainments and experience.

Previous studies

Previous studies include:

  • the NSW Higher School Certificate or interstate /overseas equivalent;
  • the International Baccalaureate Diploma;
  • a completed or part completed course of a university, college of advanced education or other accredited tertiary institution;
  • a completed or part completed course of a TAFE college or other accredited post-secondary institution (including TAFE Tertiary Preparation Certificate);
  • an approved Foundation Studies program certificate;
  • completion of undergraduate subjects as an Associate Student with the University or through another University, or Open Universities Australia.

NSW and interstate school leavers are normally selected on the basis of their Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR) or interstate equivalent. You may also be admitted on the basis of a strong performance in subjects relevant to your course preferences.

Currently no secondary school subjects are prerequisites for admission to particular CSU courses however some courses assume a certain level of knowledge. This will be specified in the course information if applicable.

English language proficiency

The University has minimum requirements for English language proficiency prior to entry to our courses. Some courses also have a requirement for a higher entry or exit level of English proficiency. More information on English language requirements.

Attainment and experience

You may also be admitted to a course based on other attainments and experience. These may include:

  • voluntary or paid work experience;
  • performance in tests and examinations conducted by professional recognised bodies;
  • participation in continuing education programs and/or staff development programs conducted by adult education agencies, consultancies, professional bodies or employers;
  • completion of the Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT).

Internet access

CSU places great emphasis on services to its students. It is a leader in the provision of online services and, in particular, the use of the internet in the support of teaching, administration and communications with students.

The online environment is so integrated into all aspects of student life and the learning experience at CSU that the University now assumes that all on campus and distance education students at CSU will have ongoing access to an internet connected computer capable of communicating with CSU online systems.

Students enrolled in Information Technology subjects (i.e. with an ITC subject code) may be required to have additional hardware and/or software that is deemed essential for the completion of the learning activities in that subject.

 

 

 

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Apply now

This course is available to commence study in

Session 1

Australian and New Zealand students

Apply through UAC/VTAC

Full-time on campus study only

Admission code: 211287

International Students

This course is not available to international students.

More information:

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