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Bachelor of Communication 

L06910     


Study Mode Study Level Duration Campus and Intake Show intake calendar
Full-time
Part-time (day) 		Undergraduate 3 years full-time or equivalent part-time Lilydale (Semester 1, Semester 2)

In this course you will study three distinct but related areas: media studies, public relations and design. You will receive grounding in media and media production, public relations and the impact of design in these specialised areas of communication. You will also have the opportunity to participate in hands-on projects designed to help you become work-ready and able to take on the challenges of the dynamic professional communication sector. You will be required to undertake a professional major in an area of specialisation, and combine it with either a co-major or two minors. There is a range of co-majors and minors available, which add depth or breadth to your degree.

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All organisations need to communicate – but it’s the quality of the communication that counts. Outside the organisation, communications need to reach people who are in a position to influence their success. Inside, they need to make sure employees are well briefed. This is true whether the organisation is a corporation, a non-government body or a government agency. However, the answer is not necessarily more communication. Rather, it's communication tailored to helping the organisation achieve its strategic goals.
 
The Bachelor of Communication aims to equip students with both the knowledge and the practical skills they require to deliver this strategic communication in a complex, dynamic marketplace. The degree recognises that people receive messages visually as well as through words. For that reason, it includes a strong design component to help students build visual as well as other communication skills.
 
Students entering the Bachelor of Communication have the opportunity to graduate with a tagged outcome listed below, depending on the Professional Major selected.

Bachelor of Communication
Bachelor of Communication (Advertising)
Bachelor of Communication (Media Studies)
Bachelor of Communication (Public Relations)
 
Got a question about this course? Ask it here.

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Students who complete the Bachelor of Communication should be able to:
  • Demonstrate skill in designing, managing and evaluating visual, written and event-based elements of a professional communication campaign
  • Competently integrate theory with practice in professional communication projects
  • Create credible briefs to communication designers, researchers and other professional colleagues
  • Demonstrate innovative, yet practical thinking in approaching unfamiliar communication problems in new contexts
  • Approach communication projects in collaborative ways that acknowledge the importance of both individual initiative and effective teamwork

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There are course restrictions and rules that must be considered when selecting units and specialisations. It is recommended that you familiarise yourself with these rules before selecting specialisations.

All programs consist of a total of 24 units (300 credit points). Each unit normally carries 12.5 credit points. In each year, eight (8) units normally constitute a full-time load and four (4) units normally constitute a part-time load.

Capstone Units
Capstone Units utilise real-world, authentic activities in the form of project-based learning. Projects may be externally sourced industry and community projects, competitions, research-based projects or internally developed project briefs.

Careers in the Curriculum (CIC)
In addition to the above, all Swinburne undergraduate students must complete a compulsory unit of study, Careers in the Curriculum. CIC is an innovative unit designed to assist Swinburne students to enhance their employability and career prospects.

CIC has been developed by Swinburne Careers and Employment who provide advice and feedback on completing job applications and undergoing interviews, directed at obtaining graduate employment. It is a one semester compulsory unit usually undertaken in second year.

Students will not incur a HECS or fee debt as the cost will be met by the university as part of an initiative to enhance students' employability skills.

Student Workload
The Bachelor of Communication programs operate under a student workload model based on eight (8) units of study for a full-time academic year. Total student contact hours per unit, including lectures, classes, tutorials and computer laboratory sessions, will normally be approximately 12 hours per week during the academic semester (Winter and Summer Term have the same number of contact hours but compressed in time).

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Students have the option to choose one of their Minors from those offered by the Faculty of Design, as this will complement their Communication Professional Major. Students who choose a minor from the Faculty of Design have the option of applying for entry to the Faculty of Design and completing an additional eight units to be eligible for a second award of either:
  • Bachelor of Design (Communication Design) or
  • Bachelor of Design (Multimedia Design)
Professional Major (16 units) in the Bachelor of Communication:
Communication

Co-Majors (8 units)

Students may choose a co-major from any of those offered by the Faculty of Higher Education, Lilydale; from the Business, Communication and Social Science programs or from any discipline across the university, timetable permitting. See the Swinburne co-majors page for more information.

Communication Co-Majors (8 units):
 
Social Science Co-Majors (8 units):
Media Studies
Public Relations and Society
Social Science Advertising
Sociology

Other Co-Majors (8 units):
External Studies

Minors (4 units)

Students may choose a minor from any of those offered by the Faculty of Higher Education, Lilydale, from the Business, Communication and Social Science programs or from any discipline across the university, timetable permitting. See the Swinburne minors page for more information.

Communication Minors (4 units):
Communication Advertising
Media Communication
Public Relations
 
Business Minors (4 units):

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HDC001 20th Century Design (Delivered on the Prahran campus)
HDC002 Methods of Investigation (Delivered on the Prahran campus)
HDC003 Design Studio (Delivered on the Prahran campus)
HDC004 Digital Design (Delivered on the Prahran campus)

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Industry-Based Learning (IBL) allows students to undertake paid work experience as part of their undergraduate degree providing professional skills and networking opportunities. IBL is only available to domestic on-campus students. The IBL program is normally only available to those students who have received a Credit grade average (or better).

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Swinburne Abroad provides students with an international learning experience as part of their degree. Students can receive credit for their overseas studies by undertaking an external studies co-major or minor allowing students to study up to one year full time overseas and not extend the time to complete their Swinburne program.

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Employment can be found in areas including advertising, public relations, journalism, radio, film and television and communications research.

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Standard Entry – Year 12
Applicants must have a qualification deemed to be the equivalent of the VCE accredited by the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA). (Passes may be accumulated over more than one year). Students not holding an appropriate Year 12 or equivalent qualification may be admitted on the basis of extensive work experience. A quota for this entry applies.

Prerequisite units
VCE prerequisites include a study score of at least 20 in English units 3 & 4.

Non-Year 12
Students not holding an appropriate Year 12 or equivalent qualification may apply on the basis of previous qualifications and/or extensive work experience. More information is available on Swinburne’s Mature Age Students and Non-School Leavers web page.

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71.00

2011 Round 1 Clearly-In ATAR (CSP)

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Applicants with prior tertiary studies that satisfy part of the academic requirements of this course may be granted ‘credit’ and/or entry into the course with ‘advanced standing’. For further information refer to Swinburne Pathways: Credit Transfer Guide.

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TAFE students may be eligible to receive credit towards completing a FHEL degree. For further information refer to the Pathways website. 

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Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is a process where a student may be granted credit or partial credit towards a qualification in recognition of skills and knowledge gained through work experience, life experience and/or formal training.

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For information about Swinburne's fees visit: www.swinburne.edu.au/fees
 

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A full listing of Swinburne and government scholarships are available on the scholarships website.

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Applications must be made through the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC).

VTAC code:
Bachelor of Communication - 35011 (CSP) 35013 (IFP)
Bachelor of Communication (Advertising) – 35321 (CSP) 35323 (IFP)
Bachelor of Communication (Media Studies) – 35331 (CSP) 35333 (IFP)
Bachelor of Communication (Public Relations) – 35341 (CSP) 35343 (IFP)

For further information, visit the VTAC website.
 
Applicants who have not already applied through VTAC can apply direct to the university by following the step-by-step process on our How to Apply page.
 

This course is available for mid-year intake. Applications are made directly to Swinburne and will be taken on a case-by-case basis. Application forms can be downloaded from our How to Apply website.

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Submit an Online Enquiry 
Tel: 1300 ASK SWIN (1300 275 794)
Email: study@swinburne.edu.au

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