Graduate Certificate in Communication | UniSC | University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia

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Graduate Certificate in Communication

Program summary

Program title: Graduate Certificate in Communication
Award abbreviation:
GCComn
Degree type: coursework
Mode of study: on campus
Duration: 6 months minimum full-time, 2 years maximum part-time
Commence: Semester 1 or Semester 2
Fee type 2010: postgraduate coursework places, international fee-paying places
Total courses: 4
USC program code: AR541
CRICOS code: 058562J

Program overview

The Graduate Certificate in Communication offers students an opportunity to develop skills and conceptual understandings in contemporary communication. It will provide an attractive opportunity to gain a qualification that has relevance, currency and credibility. The Certificate will be attractive to professionals within the corporate and government sectors who wish to upgrade their qualifications and expertise within a short time frame. In many of these job markets the ability to write and communicate well is becoming increasingly important. Employers are looking for people with the ability to write and communicate in an effective, efficient and lucid fashion. The program does not just impart knowledge and skills pertinent to professional and business writing, but also ones pertinent to written communication more generally.

Admission requirements

A student entering the Graduate Certificate program will normally be required to hold an undergraduate degree, or equivalent, from a recognised higher education institution. Entry by non-graduates who have extensive relevant industry experience may be considered on a case-by-case basis by the Dean, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.

Program objectives

On completion of this program students should be able to:

  • demonstrate proficiency in areas of professional writing
  • identify and evaluate a particular audience, and develop the styles of written communication and modes of delivery accordingly
  • identify the generic conventions of different forms of written communication
  • analyse written and oral communications in order to identify and implement proper drafting, revising, and editing techniques.
  • graduate and pursue further vocational studies and apply theoretically advanced approaches to communication studies

Program structure

Select 1 course from:
CMN102 Innovation, Creativity and Entrepreneurship
CMN116 Environment, Technology and Sustainability
CMN120 Science Research Methods
CMN130 Communication Theory and Practice
CMN140 Introduction to Creative Writing
Plus select 3 courses from: (provided prerequisite equivalency has been approved by the course coordinator) 
CMN213 Public Relations Strategies and Tactics
CMN214 Introduction to Journalism
CMN216 Introduction to Creative Advertising
CMN218 Editing for the Communications Professional
CMN224 Computer-Assisted Reporting
CMN226 Crisis and Issues Management
CMN227 Media and Community Relations
CMN228 Advertising Campaigns
CMN229 Advertising: Copy and Image
CMN231 News Rounds
CMN235 The Writer and the Law
CMN237 Media and Promotion: Tourism and Hospitality
CMN238 Communication Campaign Planning
CMN240 News Writing: Print and Broadcast
CMN243 Online Journalism #
CMN246 Creative Writing D: Paperback Hero
CMN247 Digital Photojournalism and Feature Writing
CMN248 Public Relations Events Project
CMN249 Creative Writing for Children and Young Adults
CMN251 Creative Writing for the Illustrated Book
CMN256 Creative Advertising
CMN260 Advanced News Reporting
CMN266 International Communication
CMN267 Research into Journalism
EGL201 Creative Writing B: Novel Ideas
EGL285 Creativity and Literature: Chaucer to Romantics
ENP240 Creativity and Literature: Victorians to Moderns

Requirements and notes

  1. The Graduate Certificate in Communication is a 48 unit program.
  2. The courses that constitute the Graduate Certificate in Communication will be existing undergraduate courses but will be assessed at a more advanced level than they are for undergraduate students.
  3. The Graduate Certificate articulates into the Graduate Diploma and the Master of Communication. Students who undertake 48 units in the Graduate Certificate can apply those units to the Graduate Diploma.
  4. Refer to the Academic Rules.
  5. Only a full-time study option is available to international students on a Student Visa. 
  6. International students need to refer to the University's English language proficiency requirements.

Enquiries

How to apply

Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Tel: +61 7 5430 1259

Program Leader
Anna Potter
Tel: +61 7 5430 2846
Email: apotter@usc.edu.au

# Students are required to seek approval from the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences prior to enrolling in this course.

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