• Program summary
• Program overview
• Career opportunities 
• Special features
• Credit transfer, recognition of prior learning and articulation
• Program structure
• Program requirements and notes 
• Enquiries

Program summary

QTAC code: 011131
OP/Rank for 2009 entry: OP-17 / Rank-66
Award abbreviation: BJourn
Degree type: undergraduate
Mode-of study: on campus
Duration: 3 years full-time or equivalent part-time
Fee type 2010: Commonwealth supported places, visiting non-award domestic places, international fee-paying places
Total units: 288
Recommended prior study: English
Commence: Semester 1 or Semester 2
USC program code: AR343
CRICOS code: 057535J

Program overview

Journalism is a rewarding, always interesting, and sometimes exciting vocation that offers opportunities to meet new people, travel, and explore events and decisions that shape lives around the world.

In a newsroom, the ability to collect, analyse and present information quickly and accurately is essential for success, as is a general understanding of media, current affairs, and the structure of society.

USC’s Bachelor of Journalism focuses on journalism as a significant, ethical profession in a democratic society. It encourages you to develop professional skills and theoretical understandings across the different media—print, broadcast and the web.

The program has been developed in conjunction with industry, and courses are taught by respected professionals, including practising print and broadcast journalists.

A strong practical focus will see you complete professional-level journalism projects, while an internship with a media organisation will allow you to gain valuable experience and build a portfolio of published work. USC journalism graduates have a high success rate in gaining employment in their chosen field.

Courses in the program focus on news writing, online journalism, feature writing, digital photojournalism, media law, editing and computer-assisted reporting. You will also undertake studies in economics, science and Australian politics, and can undertake a minor (four courses) by choosing from a range of study areas.

Career opportunities

Graduates work as journalists in print, broadcast and web formats, in a range of media organisations around the world. Skills are also transferable across a variety of communications roles in the public and private sectors. Jobs may be found in:

• journalism and photo-journalism for media companies
• corporate/government/non-profit communications
• creative writing
• editing/sub-editing
• multimedia
• journalism in converged media environments
• news/features/sport photo-journalism
• print/radio/television/web journalism
• professional writing in areas such as science and medicine
• technical writing
• travel writing
• web writing/editing

Special features

• strong internship program supported by key media outlets
• emphasis on multi-skilling—students learn to work across a mix of media platforms: print, broadcast and the web
• graduates are sought after by industry—most leave university ‘work-ready’ and capable of working in more than one medium

Program structure

Core courses

Select 2 courses from:
COR109 Health Promotion Needs Assessment and Planning
COR110 Public Health Foundations
COR111 Food Safety: Laws, Regulations and Quality Assurance

Introductory courses

4 required courses:
BUS102 Environmental Health Risk Management
CMN102 Science Research Methods
CMN130 Communication and Thought
INT140 Innovation, Creativity and Entrepreneurship

Plus select 2 introductory courses:
1 introductory Arts and Social Sciences course from an area of study other than Communication.
1 introductory Science course (Semester 2 any year)

Advanced courses

10 required courses:
CMN213 Environment, Technology and Sustainability
CMN214 Cell Biology
CMN227 Chemistry
CMN228 Science Research Methods
CMN235 Biodiversity and Ecology
CMN237 Earth's Surface Processes, Materials and Soils
CMN240 Plant Diversity and Ecology
CMN249 An Introduction to Geographic Information Science and Technology
CMN256 Introduction to Mathematics
CMN272 Animal Diversity and Ecology

Elective courses

Select 6 elective courses from any faculty (Arts and Social Sciences, Business or Science, Health and Education)

It is recommended that students utilise electives to complete a minor (4 courses) in one of the following areas:

Course substitution: the GO (Global Opportunities) Program

As part of your USC program, you may apply to participate in the GO Program to undertake courses with an overseas higher education provider.

Program requirements and notes

1. No more than 10 introductory level courses are to be completed, including core courses.
2. Some required introductory courses may count towards some minors.
3. No courses may be counted towards more than one major or minor.
4. Refer to the Academic Rules.
5. Refer to explanation of terms.
6. Refer to the recommended enrolment patterns. For previous recommended enrolment patterns refer to the relevant archived Student Handbook.
7. Courses within this program are assessed using a variety of assessment methods including, for example, essays, seminar presentations, reports, in-class tests, and examinations.

Enquiries

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

Program Leader
Associate Professor Stephen Lamble
Tel: +61 7 5459 4478
Email: slamble@usc.edu.au

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