The course includes the following awards:

Bachelor of Communication (Advertising) BComm(Advert)

Bachelor of Communication (Journalism) BComm(Journ)

Bachelor of Communication (Media Practice) BComm(MediaPrac)

Bachelor of Communication (Public Relations) BComm(PubRel)

Bachelor of Communication (Radio) BComm(Radio)

Bachelor of Communication (Theatre Media) BComm(TheatreMedia)

Course Study Modes and Locations

Bachelor of Communication (Media Practice) (1415CM)

Distance Education - Bathurst
On Campus - Bathurst

Bachelor of Communication (Radio) (1415CR)

On Campus - Bathurst

Bachelor of Communication (Advertising) (1421AD)

On Campus - Bathurst
On Campus - Port Macquarie

Bachelor of Communication (Journalism) (1421JR)

Distance Education - Wagga Wagga
On Campus - Bathurst

Bachelor of Communication (Public Relations) (1421OC)

On Campus - Bathurst
On Campus - Port Macquarie

Bachelor of Communication (Theatre Media) (1421TM)

On Campus - Bathurst

Availability is subject to change, please verify prior to enrolment.

Normal course duration

Bachelor of Communication (with specialisations)

Full-time 3 years (6.0 sessions)

Part-time 6.0 years (12.0 sessions)

Bachelor of Communication (Media Practice) can be taken in Part Time mode, duration 6 years.

Normal course duration is the effective period of time taken to complete a course when studied Full-time (Full-time Equivalent: FTE). Students are advised to consult the Enrolment Pattern for the actual length of study. Not all courses are offered in Full-time mode.

Admission criteria

CSU Admission Policy

Admission to the BCommunication (with specialisation) is based on:

1. 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. Candidates may also be admitted on the basis of a strong performance in subjects relevant to course preferences.

2. English proficiency
Applicants will be deemed to have sufficient English proficiency if they

• have undertaken an academic International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with an average score of 6.5, and with scores of 6 or higher in each of the individual skill areas within the last 12 months; or 
• undertaken a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a score of 577 (or computerised TOEFL score of 233), with a Test for Written English Score (where reported) of at least 5.0 or an Internet-based score of 90 with a written score of 24 within the last 12 months; or 
• undertaken other equivalent examinations, as determined by the Examinations Committee; or 
• completed a university degree where the language of assessment is in English; 

3. Attainment 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).

4. Schools Recommendation Scheme

5. Special admission requirements
Some Specialisations will have special admission requirements, as follows:

Bachelor of Communication (Theatre Media).  Applicants attend an audition/interview to assist in the assessment of their application.

Bachelor of Communication (Journalism). Year 12 students are admitted on the basis of their ATAR and one prescribed essay.

Bachelor of Communication (Advertising), Bachelor of Communication (Public Relations), Bachelor of Communication (Radio). Year 12 students are admitted on the basis of their Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank(ATAR), and a supplementary consultation or interview.

Bachelor of Communication (Media Practice)

Non-school leavers and those completing courses in relevant areas at other universities and tertiary institutes are eligible for admission to the course.

The principle criteria used to assess applications are:

•     capacity to pursue tertiary studies
•     motivation to pursue tertiary studies in professional communication
•     demonstrated potential for writing, media production, and research
•     relevant professional and industry experience

Credit

CSU Credit Policy

n/a

Graduation requirements

To graduate students must satisfactorily complete 192 points.

Course Structure

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)

Radio Specialisation Subjects (64 points)
COM113 Commercial Radio Industry (8)
COM112 Digital Media
COM125 Radio Production and Content Management (8)
COM233 Media Sales Principles (8)
COM234 Media Account Management (8)
COM236 Making it Happen: Event Management (8)
COM343 Communication Project 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)

Media Practice Specialisation Subjects (64 points)
COM112 Digital Media(8)
COM126 Production Planning(8)
VIS101 Visual Communication(8)
VPA106 Intro to Sound Production(8)
COM229 Documentary Production (8)
COM212 Scriptwriting(8)
COM219 Media Communication & Globalisation(8)
COM343 Communication Project Management(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 -6 subjects per cluster) from within the School of Communication & Creative Industries, or from outside the School as approved by Course Director.

*students in the Media Practice specialisation draw their academic enrichment cluster from the disciplines of Advertising, Public Relations, Journalism, Graphic Design and Marketing.(or others 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

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

Media Practice Specialisation (DE & Int)
Full time suggested study sequence

Session 1 (30)
COM126 Production Planning
COM111 Professional Writing
COM114 Presentation for Communicators
CCI100 Intro to Media Production

Session 2 (60)
COM112 Digital Media
VPA106 Intro To Sound Production
COM124 Communication in Context
IKC101 Indigenous Cultures, Histories and Contemporary Realities

Session 3 (30)
VIS101 Visual Communication
COM212 Scriptwriting
Elective 1
Elective 2

Session 4 (60)
COM229 Documentary Production
COM219 Media Communication & Globalisation
Elective 3
Elective 4

Session 5 (30)
COM343 Communication Project Management
COM221 Professional Ethics in Communication and Citizenship
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

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)
COM125 Radio Production & Content Management
COM112 Digital Media
COM124 Communication in Context
IKC101 Indigenous Cultures, Histories and Contemporary Realities

Session 3 (30)
COM233 Media Sales Principles
ADV206 Channel Planning
Elective 1
Elective 2

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

Session 5 (30)
COM343 Communication Project Management
COM221 Professional Ethics in Communication and Citizenship
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)

Media Practice Specialisation
Part time suggested study sequence (DE)

Session 1 (30)
COM111 Professional Writing
CCI100 Intro to Media Production

Session 2 (60)
COM112 Digital Media
COM124 Communication in Context

Session 3 (30)
COM114 Presentation for Communicators
COM126 Production Planning

Session 4 (60)
VPA106 Intro To Sound Production
IKC101 Indigenous Cultures, Histories and Contemporary Realities

Session 5 (30)
VIS101 Visual Communication
Elective 1

Session 6 (60)
COM219 Media Communication & Globalisation
Elective 2

Session 7 (30)
COM212 Scriptwriting
Elective 3

Session 8 (60)
COM229 Documentary Production
Elective 4

Session 9 (30)
COM221 Professional Ethics in Communication and Citizenship
Elective 5

Session 10 (60)
COM321 Communication Fieldwork
Elective 6

Session 11(30)
COM343 Communication Project Management

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

Workplace learning

Please note that the following subjects may contain a Workplace Learning component.

COM223 Communication Management
COM233 Media Sales Principles
COM321 Communication Fieldwork

Accreditation

The BCommunication (Public Relations) is accredited by the Public Relations Institute Australia (PRIA). The B Communication (Advertising) is accredited by the International Advertising Association (IAA) and professionally recognised by the Media Federation of Australia (MFA). The BCommunication (Radio) is professionally recognised by Commercial Radio Australia (CRA).