Bachelor of Communication (Public Relations) / Bachelor of Business Studies

What is this course about?

CSU'S Bachelor of Communication (Public Relations) / Bachelor of Business Studies equips graduates for the planning and management of communication strategies for a variety of organisations.

About the course

Diverse, fascinating and challenging careers are available to graduates of this course. Workshops, case studies and projects in the core subjects cover planning and management of communication strategies for a variety of organisations, as well as crisis and issues management, writing for organisations, communication audits, media relations and communication campaigns are some of the subjects covered by the course.

You will become acquainted with the substance of business so that you can aspire to accept responsibility and learn to manage technical and organisational change. It will also provide you with skills that will help you become an effective manager, able to understand the needs of colleagues, apply technology, and have an extensive knowledge of the political, economic and social environment.

Supplementary consultations

One of the unique things about CSU's Bachelor of Communication (Public Relations) / Bachelor of Business Studies is we have small class sizes, which allow intensive learning and interaction with your lecturers and fellow students, as well as the opportunity to work in small groups on projects with real clients, not just watch the work being done. This makes our course very competitive. To give you the best opportunity to gain entry into the Bachelor of Communication (Public Relations) / Bachelor of Business Studies, CSU offers you the opportunity to undertake a supplementary consultation as part of your application process. This gives you the chance to meet with the course lecturers and demonstrate your interest, enthusiasm and talent for this career area as well as finding out more about the course, our excellent facilities and exceptional work placements.

Hands-on experience

Case studies and projects in the core subjects cover planning and management of communication strategies, ensuring graduates are provided with a portfolio of work that demonstrates a high level of expertise.

Practical experience

Recent additions to the course structure provide students with the opportunity to work in teams on real projects in the Bathurst-Orange-Oberon region to gain valuable experience prior to their internship.

Students complete internships of four weeks with major public relations firms and corporate public affairs offices to equip them with practical, useable skills developed while working with real clients on real projects.

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.

Where it will take you

Increasingly organisations are recognising that many of their largest problems are communication problems. Medium and large organisations employ communication staff, or contract public relations consultants to assist them with internal communication, media relations, government and community relations, product and services communication, or investor communications. Nearly every senior executive communication job advertisement calls for high level communication skills.

Completion of this course and industry internships will help prepare you for initial positions, and with subsequent managerial roles, in:

  • government and private organisations
  • public relations or corporate affairs departments
  • public relations consultancies
  • non-profit organisations and community relations

The latest facilities

To make sure you are experienced using the equipment and techniques found in the workplace, our facilities include:

  • on campus community radio station
  • online newsroom
  • television studio
  • online media technologies

Professionals teaching you professional skills

The course is taught by dedicated professionals with a wide range of industry experience in public relations and organisational communication.

The course consists of 14 core Communication subjects (equivalent) (128 points), one Indigenous subject (8 points) and 15 Business Studies subjects (120 pints):

Core Subjects

Communications
COM111 Professional Writing
COM114 Presentation for Communicators
COM124 Communication in Context
CCI100 Intro to Media Production
COM222 Public Relations Tactics
COM223 Communication Management
COM224 Communication Research Strategies
COM321 Communication Fieldwork
COM322 Going Global: Regional & Global Public Relations
COM116 What Is Public Relations
COM232 Public Relations Strategy
COM236 Making It Happen: Event Management
COM313 SOS: Issues and Crisis Communication
CCI300 Professional Practice in Communication & Creative Industries (24 pts)

Indigenous subject:

IKC101 Indigenous Cultures, Histories and Contemporary Realities

Business Studies Restricted Electives

Students must complete 15 standard eight point subjects in business-based or business related discipline areas approved by the Course Director. The total number of Business subjects must include at least four subjects at level two (or its equivalent) and four subjects at level three (or it's equivalent). Level 3 subjects must be taken in the final year of study.

Core Business subjects:
MGT100 Organisations and Management
MKT110 Marketing & Society
MGT210 Organisational Behaviour
MKT220 Buyer Behaviour
MGT230 Ethics, Sustainability & Culture
MGT330 Business Strategy

Students must choose 9 subjects from the list below:

ACC100 Accounting 1: Information for Business
ACC110 Accounting 2: Management Decisions
ECO110 Microeconomics
ECO130 Macroeconomics
LAW110 Business Law
MGT100 Organisations and management
MKT110 Marketing Principles
QBM117 Business Statistics
ECO320 International Economics
FIN211 Financial Management
HRM210 Human Resource Management
INR210 Industrial Relations in Australia
LAW220 Business Organsiation Law
MGT210 Organisational Behaviour
MGT310 Service Operations Management
MGT320 Managing Change
MGT330 Business Strategy
MGT340 International Business Management
INR310 Comparative Industrial Relations
LAW335 International Business Law
MGT250 Asia Pacific Business
FIN340 International Finance
MKT220 Buyer Behaviour
MKT260 International Marketing
MGT290 Project Management
MKT230 Business and Professional Ethics
MKT310 Promotions Management
MKT350 Product Innovation Management
MKT235 Internet Marketing
MKT335 Marketing of Services
MKT340 Strategic Marketing Management
QBM217 Advanced Business Statistics
MKT240 Market Analysis
MKT336 Business to Business Marketing
MGT230 Business and Professional Ethics

Enrolment pattern

Full-time

Session 1

COM114 Presentation for Communicators
COM111 Professional Writing
MGT100 Organisations and Management
MKT110 Marketing and Society

Session 2

COM124 Communication in Context
IKC 100 Indigenous Cultures Histories and Realities
MGT210 Organisational Behaviour
MKT220 Buyer Behaviour

Session 3

COM116 What is Public Relations
CCI100 Intro to Media Production
Business Studies Elective
Business Studies Elective

Session 4

COM232 Public Relations Strategy
COM222 Public Relations Tactics
Business Studies Elective
Business Studies Elective

Session 5

COM223 Communication Management
MGT230 Ethics Sustainability & Culture
Business Studies Elective
Business Studies Elective

Session 6

COM236 Making it Happen: Event Management
COM224 Communication Research Strategies
Business Studies Elective
Business Studies Elective

Session 7

COM313 SOS: Issues and Crisis Communication (16 Points)
COM322 Going Glocal: Regional & Global Public Relations
COM321 Communication Fieldwork
Business Studies Elective

Session 8

CCI300 Professional Practice in Communication & Creative Industries (24 pts)
MGT330 Business Strategy

Special admission requirements

In addition to applying through UAC, applicants should complete a Supplementary Application Form. On the basis of your Supplementary Application Form, you may be contacted for a course consultation. The consultation is completely informal and relaxed and is designed to ensure that you have the opportunity to gain first-hand information that will help you make an informed decision about your course. Alternatively you can organise a telephone interview.

Principal's Report Entry Program applicants

Students applying for this course through PREP should submit the additional application form direct to CSU with their PREP application.

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: 211257

International Students

This course is not available to international students

More information:

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