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Bachelor of Communication and Media (BCNM) - BCmn

QTAC code (Australian and New Zealand applicants): Online: 909885; Toowoomba campus: 909881

CRICOS code (International applicants): 093872D

 On-campusOnline
Semester intake:Semester 1 (February)
Semester 2 (July)
Semester 1 (February)
Semester 2 (July)
Semester 3 (November)
Campus:Springfield, Toowoomba -
Fees:Commonwealth supported place
Domestic full fee paying place
International full fee paying place
Commonwealth supported place
Domestic full fee paying place
International full fee paying place
Standard duration:3 years full-time, 6 years part-time  

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Contact us

Future Australian and New Zealand students   Future International students   Current students  

Freecall (within Australia): 1800 269 500
Phone (from outside Australia): +61 7 4631 5315
Email: study@usq.edu.au  

Phone: +61 7 4631 5543
Email: international@usq.edu.au  

Freecall (within Australia): 1800 007 252 Phone (from outside Australia): +61 7 4631 2285
Email: usq.support@usq.edu.au  

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Professional accreditation

The Bachelor of Communication and Media (Public Relations) and the Bachelor of Communication and Media (Public Relations Extended) are accredited with the (PRIA).

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Program aims

This program aims to produce graduates who have mastery over the professional practice of contemporary communication industry skills, supported by scholarly engagement with communication/media theory. Graduates will demonstrate professional practice in preferred areas of journalism, public relations, advertising and marketing, supported by a range of cognate skills from contemporary communication and media studies. Students can complement their major study with nominated major and minor studies from across the ¾«¶«´«Ã½app’s programs. The Bachelor of Communication and Media program allows specific emphasis on those skills required in communications professions, with emphasis on journalism, public relations and mass communication.

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Program objectives

On successful completion of the program students should be able to:

  • express themselves with clarity and coherence and in terms of the industry-knowledge of the communication professions

  • explain and describe the fundamental nature of the process of communication in a range of communication forms including journalism, public relations, advertising and marketing

  • critically examine and describe the theoretical issues, problems and methodologies of the communication professions

  • solve problems according to the ethical and social responsibilities that are integral to the function of professional communication

  • assess and apply methods, concepts, techniques and theories in projects from different professional communication contexts.


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Australian Qualifications Framework

The Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) is a single national, comprehensive system of qualifications offered by higher education institutions (including universities), vocational education and training institutions and secondary schools. Each AQF qualification has a set of descriptors which define the type and complexity of knowledge, skills and application of knowledge and skills that a graduate who has been awarded that qualification has attained, and the typical volume of learning associated with that qualification type.

This program is at AQF Qualification Level 07. Graduates at this level will have broad and coherent knowledge and skills for professional work and/or further learning.

The full set of levels criteria and qualification type descriptors can be found by visiting .

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Program Information Set

View USQ’s admission criteria, student profiles and a summary of all offers made under via the QTAC website.

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Admission requirements

To be eligible for admission, applicants must satisfy the following requirements:

  • Have achieved a minimum Overall Position (OP) 15, tertiary entrance rank 68 or equivalent qualification.^
  • Subject pre-requisite: English (4, SA) or equivalent.

  • English Language Proficiency requirements for Category 2.


All students are required to satisfy the applicable .

If students do not meet the English language requirements they may apply to study a ¾«¶«´«Ã½app-approved . On successful completion of the English language program, students may be admitted to an award program.

^

These are determined by the ¾«¶«´«Ã½app for specific programs each Semester. The 2019 OP and tertiary entrance ranks are based on agreed QTAC schedules which assess formal study at Year 12 or , tertiary, preparatory, professional or vocational qualifications or work experience, as detailed in the QTAC Assessment of Qualifications Manual and QTAC Assessor Guidelines.

Special admissions may help you get into the program of your choice by increasing your Selection Rank. The additional points don't apply to all applicants or all programs. Please read the information about USQ's carefully to find out what you may be eligible for.

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Program fees

Commonwealth supported place

A Commonwealth supported place is where the Australian Government makes a contribution towards the cost of a students' higher education and students pay a , which varies depending on the courses undertaken. Students are able to calculate the fees for a particular course via the .

Commonwealth Supported students may be eligible to defer their fees through a Government loan called .

Domestic full fee paying place

Domestic full fee paying places are funded entirely through the full fees paid by the student. Full fees vary depending on the courses that are taken. Students are able to calculate the fees for a particular course via the

Domestic full fee paying students may be eligible to defer their fees through a Government loan called provided they meet the residency and citizenship requirements.

Australian citizens, Permanent Humanitarian Visa holders, Permanent Resident visa holders and New Zealand citizens who will be resident outside Australia for the duration of their program pay full tuition fees and are not eligible for .

International full fee paying place

International students pay full fees. Full fees vary depending on the courses that are taken and whether they are studied on-campus, via distance education/online. Students are able to calculate the fees for a particular course via the .

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Program structure

The Bachelor of Communication and Media is comprised of 24 single-unit courses as indicated in the table below. Students are not permitted to complete more than 10 Level 1 courses as part of the program.

Area of study   Number of units  
OPTION 1 
Core courses  8 units 
1 x 12–unit major from the Bachelor of Communication and Media:
  • Journalism Extended

  • Television and Radio Extended

  • Public Relations Extended


AND 1 x 4-unit minor
or
4 units of elective courses  
16 units 
TOTAL  24 units 
OPTION 2 
8 x core courses  8 units 
1 x 8–unit major from the Bachelor of Communication and Media:
  • Advertising

  • Communication and Media Studies

  • Journalism

  • Marketing

  • Public Relations

  • Television and Radio


AND one of the following
  • A second major from within the Bachelor of Communication and Media (8 units)*, or

  • 2 x 4-unit minors from areas of study within the Bachelor of Communication Media, or

  • 1 x 4-unit minor and 4 units of elective courses (from across the ¾«¶«´«Ã½app subject to prerequisite requirements).


*Alternatively, students may select one major from the list above and a second major from another USQ undergraduate program subject to meeting prerequisite requirements and with the approval of the Program Coordinator. Programs where students may consider a second major include: Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Business and Commerce, Bachelor of Information Technology and Bachelor of Science
 
16 units 
TOTAL  24 units 

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Required time limits

Students have a maximum of 9 years to complete this program.

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Core courses

All students must take the core courses:


The recommended pattern for enrolment in core courses by full-time on-campus students is:

Year   Semester of offer   Course  
1, 2 or 3    
 
 
 
1, 3   
 
 
 

This pattern should only be varied with the permission of the Program Coordinator.

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Major studies

8-unit majors:

  • Advertising

  • Communication and Media Studies

  • Journalism

  • Marketing

  • Public Relations

  • Television and Radio


12-unit extended majors:

  • Journalism Extended

  • Public Relations Extended

  • Television and Radio Extended


Majors from outside the program

Students may select one major from the list above and a second major from another USQ undergraduate program subject to meeting prerequisite requirements and with the approval of the Program Coordinator. Programs where students may consider a second major include:


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Minor Studies

Students may take one minor from those listed in the section of this Handbook. Students should take courses to the value of at least four units in the selected Minor ¾«¶«´«Ã½app. Choice of a minor will depend on the availability of the subject area, timetabling constraints, quotas and other restrictions such as auditions and interviews in certain areas of the Arts, as well as the approval of the Program Coordinator.

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Practical experience

In many majors within this program, on-campus and external students will be required to work on practical, real world projects and in some cases, will be required to work in teams. Public Relations, Communication, Marketing, Television and Radio and Advertising students will work on at least two client projects during their study. Students undertaking the Journalism and Public Relations majors are able to undertake work experience and have this recognised as part of their course through and .

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IT requirements

For information technology requirements please refer to the .

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Exit points

Students may exit with the Diploma of Arts if they have completed 8 courses as follows:

  • 7 other courses from the Bachelor of Communication and Media.


Students may exit with the Associate Degree of Communication and Media if they have completed 16 courses as follows:

  • 4 core units from the Bachelor of Communication and Media

  • 12 other units, with no more than 10 level one units.


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Credit

Candidates for admission to the Bachelor of Communication and Media may be eligible for up to 16 units of credit on the basis of successful completion of relevant, equivalent undergraduate study from a recognised university or institution offering equivalent study. Credit approved in this program will not automatically apply to other programs offered by USQ.

Claims for credit for previous study should be submitted prior to or at the time of enrolment. Each claim will be assessed on individual merit in line with USQ policy.

Note:Where credit is granted, maximum and minimum duration will be adjusted in the same proportion as credit, for example, where eight units of credit is granted, maximum time will be six years and minimum time will be four semesters.

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Enrolment

Given the program structure information, students should plan their enrolment making sure that they have fulfilled all core, major and minor requirements (depending on their choice of enrolment pattern). Enrolment requirements must be satisfied before enrolling in a course.
As a guide, full-time students should plan to undertake 8 courses per year and online students, who are in employment, a maximum of 6 courses per year, with a minimum of 4 courses per year. This is exclusive of any semester 3 enrolments.
Courses are normally offered on-campus and externally in the same semester. If a course is offered twice in one year, the second offering will normally be on an external basis only.

Recommended enrolment patterns

In this section:

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Advertising (8-unit major)

Students are able to enrol in any offered mode of a course (on-campus, external or online), regardless of the program mode of study they enrolled in.


CourseYear of program and semester
in which course is normally studied
Enrolment requirements
On-campus
(ONC)
External
(EXT)
Online
(ONL)
YearSemYearSemYearSem

Students must complete the following:

11 11, 3
1212
2121
2121Pre-requisite:
2222Pre-requisite:
2222
ADV3000 Advertising Campaign Planning and Management3131
ADV3001 Advertising Pitching and Project3232

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Communication and Media Studies (8-unit major)

Students are able to enrol in any offered mode of a course (on-campus, external or online), regardless of the program mode of study they enrolled in.


CourseYear of program and semester
in which course is normally studied
Enrolment requirements
On-campus
(ONC)
External
(EXT)
Online
(ONL)
YearSemYearSemYearSem

Students must complete the following:

1212
2121
2222
2222
2222
3232
3232
3131, 3

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Journalism (8-unit major)

Students are able to enrol in any offered mode of a course (on-campus, external or online), regardless of the program mode of study they enrolled in.


CourseYear of program and semester
in which course is normally studied
Enrolment requirements
On-campus
(ONC)
External
(EXT)
Online
(ONL)
YearSemYearSemYearSem
^1212, 3
2121Pre-requisite: JRN1000 or
2121Pre-requisite:
2222Enrolment is not permitted in if JRN2002 has been previously completed.
§2222
†3131Pre-requisite: JRN1000 or

Select ONE of the following two courses:

31Pre-requisite: Completion of 16 units, of which 5 must be in area of proposed study project; subject to agreement of appropriate supervisor. Enrolment is not permitted in or if PRL3002 has been previously completed.
32Pre-requisite: Completion of 16 units, of which 5 must be in area of proposed study project; subject to agreement of appropriate supervisor. Enrolment is not permitted in or if PRL3002 has been previously completed.

Select ONE of the following two courses:

3232Pre-requisite: JRN2003 or
32

Footnotes
^Formerly JRN1000.
§Formerly JRN3006: Students who have successfully completed JRN3006 should not enrol in JRN2006.
† This course is not offered on-campus S1, 2019

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Journalism Extended (12-unit major)

Students are able to enrol in any offered mode of a course (on-campus, external or online), regardless of the program mode of study they enrolled in.

This major will qualify students for work as practising journalists in industry. On-campus classes are available at Toowoomba and Springfield.


CourseYear of program and semester
in which course is normally studied
Enrolment requirements
On-campus
(ONC)
External
(EXT)
Online
(ONL)
YearSemYearSemYearSem

Required Courses:

     #1212, 3
     2121Pre-requisite: JRN1000 or
     2121Pre-requisite:
     2222Enrolment is not permitted in if JRN2002 has been previously completed.
     Â§2222
     21
     â€ 3131Pre-requisite: JRN1000 or
     $31Pre-requisite: Completion of 16 units, of which 5 must be in area of proposed study project; subject to agreement of appropriate supervisor. Enrolment is not permitted in or if PRL3002 has been previously completed.
     3131, 3
     32
     3232Pre-requisite: JRN2003 or
     32

Footnotes
#Formerly JRN1000: Students who have completed JRN1000 should not enrol in JRN1020.
§Formerly JRN3006: Students who have successfully completed JRN3006 should not enrol in JRN2006.
† This course is not offered on-campus S1, 2019
$Students who have not completed HMT3001 must complete HMT3002.

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Marketing (8-unit major)

Students are able to enrol in any offered mode of a course (on-campus, external or online), regardless of the program mode of study they enrolled in.


CourseYear of program and semester
in which course is normally studied
Enrolment requirements
On-campus
(ONC)
External
(EXT)
Online
(ONL)
YearSemYearSemYearSem

Required courses:

     11 (TW) 1, 2 (SP)11, 2, 3
     1111, 2
     2222, 3
     2121Enrolment is not permitted in if MKT2012 has been previously completed.
     2121, 3
     2222Enrolment is not permitted in if MKT2002 and MKT2004 have been previously completed.
     3232Pre-requisite:

Select ONE of the following:

     3131Pre-requisite:
     31, 231, 2, 3Pre-requisite: Co-requisite: or or PRL3012 or
     #32, 3Pre-requisite: Students must have successfully completed a minimum of 16 units in their program of study.

Footnotes
#International students are unable to enrol in PWE3000 Professional Work Experience.

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Public Relations (8-unit major)

Students are able to enrol in any offered mode of a course (on-campus, external or online), regardless of the program mode of study they enrolled in.


CourseYear of program and semester
in which course is normally studied
Enrolment requirements
On-campus
(ONC)
External
(EXT)
Online
(ONL)
YearSemYearSemYearSem
1212
2121
2121
2222
22, 3Students who have completed PRL3012 are not permitted to enrol in .
31Pre-requisite: or PRL3012
3232

Select ONE of the following. International on-campus students should consult with the PR discipline co-ordinator before making their selection.

31Pre-requisite: Completion of 16 units, of which 5 must be in area of proposed study project; subject to agreement of appropriate supervisor. Enrolment is not permitted in or if PRL3002 has been previously completed.
32Pre-requisite: Completion of 16 units, of which 5 must be in area of proposed study project; subject to agreement of appropriate supervisor. Enrolment is not permitted in or if PRL3002 has been previously completed.

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Public Relations Extended (12-unit major)

Students are able to enrol in any offered mode of a course (on-campus, external or online), regardless of the program mode of study they enrolled in.


CourseYear of program and semester
in which course is normally studied
Enrolment requirements
On-campus
(ONC)
External
(EXT)
Online
(ONL)
YearSemYearSemYearSem
1111, 2, 3
1212

Select one of the following two courses:

     11, 211, 2, 3
     1111, 2
1212
2121
2121
2222
22, 3Students who have completed PRL3012 are not permitted to enrol in .
31Pre-requisite: or PRL3012
3232
32

Select ONE of the following two courses. International on-campus students should consult with the PR discipline co-ordinator before making their selection.

31Pre-requisite: Completion of 16 units, of which 5 must be in area of proposed study project; subject to agreement of appropriate supervisor. Enrolment is not permitted in or if PRL3002 has been previously completed.
32Pre-requisite: Completion of 16 units, of which 5 must be in area of proposed study project; subject to agreement of appropriate supervisor. Enrolment is not permitted in or if PRL3002 has been previously completed.

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Television and Radio (8-unit major)

Students are able to enrol in any offered mode of a course (on-campus, external or online), regardless of the program mode of study they enrolled in.

Students undertaking radio courses from Year 2 are able to enrol in any offered mode of a course (on-campus, external or online), regardless of the program mode of study they enrolled in. Students undertaking television courses from Year 2 must enrol on campus.


CourseYear of program and semester
in which course is normally studied
Enrolment requirements
On-campus
(ONC)
External
(EXT)
Online
(ONL)
YearSemYearSemYearSem
1111
12
1212

Select ONE of the following two courses:

     12
     12

Select ONE of the following two courses:

     2121
     21Pre-requisite:

Select ONE of the following two courses:

     2222Pre-requisite:
     22Pre-requisite:

Select the following courses:

32Pre-requisite: Students enrolled in BCAR (FilmTelevRadio+Animation 17195): . Students enrolled in BCAR (FilmTelevRadio+Television 17197): . Students enrolled in BCAR (FilmTelevRadio 17306): .
32Pre-requisite: Completion of 16 units, of which 5 must be in area of proposed study project; subject to agreement of appropriate supervisor. Enrolment is not permitted in or if PRL3002 has been previously completed.

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Television and Radio Extended (12-unit major)

Students are able to enrol in any offered mode of a course (on-campus, external or online), regardless of the program mode of study they enrolled in.


CourseYear of program and semester
in which course is normally studied
Enrolment requirements
On-campus
(ONC)
External
(EXT)
Online
(ONL)
YearSemYearSemYearSem
1111
1212
12
12
2121
21Pre-requisite:
2222Pre-requisite:
22Pre-requisite:
31
31Pre-requisite: Completion of 16 units, of which 5 must be in area of proposed study project; subject to agreement of appropriate supervisor. Enrolment is not permitted in or if PRL3002 has been previously completed.
32Pre-requisite: Completion of 16 units, of which 5 must be in area of proposed study project; subject to agreement of appropriate supervisor. Enrolment is not permitted in or if PRL3002 has been previously completed.
32Pre-requisite: Students enrolled in BCAR (FilmTelevRadio+Animation 17195): . Students enrolled in BCAR (FilmTelevRadio+Television 17197): . Students enrolled in BCAR (FilmTelevRadio 17306): .