Off-Campus Learning Guide 2004
Arts

Bachelor of Arts (Communication)

Course code: 1708 + Gippsland campus + HECS fees applicable + Attendance optional

Aims

The Bachelor of Arts (Communication) degree covers an interdisciplinary area which responds to a need for graduates who are knowledgeable about mass communications and who can apply that knowledge in a range of vocational and academic areas. The degree is aimed at satisfying the community and professional needs for graduates who not only have undertaken a major in communications theory in combination with studies in humanities, but who will have detailed knowledge of an area of specialisation which will direct their future career paths.

Entry requirements

All applicants should satisfy the university's minimum entry requirements as outlined in the section on entry requirements in this guide.

Special requirements

Workload

All applicants should be willing to undertake a normal initial workload of at least 24 points a year by off-campus learning. Off-campus learning students should note that this may have implications regarding eligibility for Austudy or similar schemes.

Attendance

There are no compulsory attendance requirements in the degree structure, and it is possible to complete the entire course without attending the campus, unless journalism or psychology sequences are included. Classes will be held in most units at each weekend school. Normally, this will include lectures and seminars or tutorials. Attendance at weekend school classes is recommended, but not compulsory for the completion of most units offered by the School of Humanities, Communications and Social Sciences.

Course structure

The course of study is normally six years part-time by off-campus learning. In order to meet the requirements for the Bachelor of Arts (Communication) degree, students must complete:
(a) a communication major (48 points)
(b) an arts minor (24 points)
(c) another first-year arts sequence (12 points)
(d) a further 12 points of arts at first, second or third-year level
(e) a specialisation sequence (36 points)
(f) a minimum of eight and a maximum of 10 first-level units, including COM1010 and COM1020.
(g) a minimum of 36 points at third-year level, including those completed in the communications major and specialisation sequence

(h) a total of 144 points (24 units), including a minimum of 96 points within the Faculty of Arts.

Definitions

A first-level sequence is a pair of first-level units that usually form the first part of a major, minor or specialisation sequence.
A minor is units in a single discipline, totalling 24 points, including no more than 12 points at first-year level.
A specialisation sequence is units in a single discipline, totalling 36 points. It comprises six units spanning either first, second and third year or second and third year. It is not equivalent to a major.

Course plan

An example of a course plan for the Bachelor of Arts (Communication) is shown below:

Communication major

Communication major

• COM1010 Media studies
• COM1020 Introduction to communication studies
• COM2407 / COM3407 Authorship and writing
• COM2411 / COM3411 Media, culture, power: theories of mass communications
• COM2423 / COM3423 Citizens, media, audiences
• COM2409 / COM3409 Media text: practices and audiences
• COM2413 / COM3413 Communications industries and policies
• and one of
• COM2408 / COM3408 Screen theories and techniques
• PRL2410 Public relations theory and processes
• COM2417 / COM3417 Virtual cultures: sex, politics and war in cyberspace

Arts minor studies

• Australian Indigenous studies
• Australian studies
• Behavioural studies
• Community studies
• History-politics
• Indonesian
• Psychology
• Public relations (subject to approval)
• Sociology

Details of the various arts sequences and the first-level units offered within them are included under the entry for the Bachelor of Arts.

Specialisation sequences

Students must choose one of the following sequences and are required to specify on their application form (under major study area) which specialisation sequence they wish to undertake.

Business computing

Students must complete the following six units (note that prerequisites must be met):

• GCO1851 Computing systems and applications
• GCO2851 Programming for business applications
• GCO2852 Business systems analysis
• GCO2813 Information systems design
• GCO3851 Database management systems
• GCO3816 Information systems and management

Management

Students must complete six of the following units:

Recommended units:

• MGW1010 Managing people and organisations
• MGW1100/MGW2100 Managerial communication
• MGW2430 Human resource management
• MGW2130/MGW3130 Organisational change and development
• MGW3401 Strategic management

Plus one of the following units:

• MGW2230 Organisational behaviour
• MGW2351/MGW3351 International business
• MGW2681/MGW3681 International management
• MGW2332 Services management
• MGW2323 Employment relations

Marketing

Students must complete six of the following units (note that prerequisites must be met):

• MKW1120 Marketing theory and practice
• MKW2402 Consumer behaviour
• MKW2420 Market research methods
• MKW3440 Marketing strategy
• MKW2460 Integrated marketing communication
• MKW3444 International marketing
• MKW3121 Marketing planning and implementation

Journalism

Students must complete six of the following units (including at least two at third-year level):

• JRN1902 Newsroom practice and theory
• JRN1903 News feature writing
• JRN2903 / JRN3903 Online journalism
• JRN2907 Radio/TV journalism
• JRN3901 International journalism
• JRN2909 / JRN3909 Media law
• JRN2910 / JRN3910 Journalism ethics

Writing

Students must complete all of the following units including at least two units at second-year level:

• WRT2405 / WRT3405 Contemporary fiction
• WRT2406 / WRT3406 Women's writing
• COM2408 / COM3408 Screen theories and techniques
• HPL2506 / HPL3506 Researching and writing community history
• WRT3421 Writing 1: techniques
• WRT3422 Writing 2: portfolio

Advanced standing for previous study

Students with previously completed or partially completed tertiary studies should complete an application for advanced standing to apply for credits and exemptions. The onus is on the student to provide course records and details of course content and duration (including extracts from relevant handbooks). Students in this category are advised to complete a course plan prior to the commencement of study to ensure they will complete the major/s or minor they intend. Students may be granted up to a maximum of 96 points of credits/exemptions. As a general rule, credits will not be granted for studies completed more than 10 years prior to the date of enrolment in the current course.

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