Master of Communication | UniSC | University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia

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Master of Communication

  • Enhance your writing and communication skills
  • Discover the nuances of journalistic reporting
  • Create a portfolio of published works

Program summary

Program title: Master of Communication
Award abbreviation:
MComn
Degree type: coursework
Study mode: on campus
Duration: 1 year minimum, 18 months maximum full-time; 2 years minimum, 3 years maximum part-time.
Commence: Semester 1 or Semester 2
Fee type 2012: postgraduate coursework places, international fee-paying places
Total courses: 12
USC program code: AR841
CRICOS code: 057539E

Develop your writing proficiency and improve your job prospects.

The Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma in Communication offers you an opportunity to develop skills in contemporary communication. The programs will be attractive to professionals in the corporate or government sectors looking to upgrade their qualifications and expertise in a short time, and gain a qualification that has relevance, currency and credibility.

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. These programs impart knowledge and skills for both professional and business writing, and written communication in general.The coursework-based Master of Communication is for those who want to develop or enrich their expertise in the rapidly expanding field of professional communication. It is ideal if you have studied in another discipline and wish to make a transition to journalism, professional writing, editing or public relations. Many media organisations place a premium on recruiting staff with degrees in fields such as science, law and business that also have postgraduate qualifications in relevant fields of communication.

You have the opportunity to specialise in the broad area of Communication Studies or the specific fields of Journalism, Public Relations or Creative Writing. Overall, you undertake the equivalent of 12 courses. After completing eight courses, five of which are electives, you complete a research project in which you choose to either research for and write a thesis of 16,000 to 20,000 words, or complete an industry-based research project. The research component involves individualised research relevant to your key area/s of interest as a professional communicator. It is equivalent in value to four courses.

You attend lectures and tutorials with undergraduate students but learning and assessment tasks are commensurate with a postgraduate standing. Because of this standing, you will be exempt from many course prerequisites although you must complete compulsory courses in your selected areas of specialisation. Research components of the program must be approved by the Program Leader, and are based on the availability of supervisory staff with relevant expertise.

Admission requirements

Candidates for the award of Master of Communication are normally required to hold a Bachelor's degree or a relevant Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma. Normally you will be precluded from pursuing a communications specialisation in a field such as Creative Writing, Journalism, or Public Relations if you have previously completed specialisations in the same area at undergraduate level.

You cannot undertake any course in this degree that you have completed previously at an undergraduate level. If you have completed a Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma in communication, journalism, creative writing or public relations you may apply to receive credit transfer into this award for coursework components only. No credit transfer may be awarded for the thesis component.

Refer also to the University's English language proficiency requirements.

Credit transfer
  • If you have an undergraduate qualification no credit transfer will be granted.
  • If you have completed relevant postgraduate subjects you may apply for credit transfer up to a maximum of 50 percent for the Master of Communication.
Enquiries

Faculty of Arts and Business
Tel: +61 7 5430 1259

Program Leader
Dr Rod McCulloch
Tel: +61 7 5459 4867
Email: rmcullo@usc.edu.au

Study Plan

This Study Plan is valid from Study Period 1, 2011.

For students who commenced study in this program prior to Study Period 1, 2011:

  • Find the Student Handbook for the semester in which you commenced.
  • Select the program in which you are enrolled.
  • Scroll down to your relevant Program Structure.
Program requirements and notes
  • Students are required to successfully complete 8 required courses, and a thesis or industry research project equivalent to 4 courses.
  • Completing this program within the specified (full-time) duration is based on studying 48 unit points per semester (normally 4 courses).
  • If you have an undergraduate qualification no credit transfer will be granted.
  • If you have completed relevant postgraduate subjects you may apply for credit transfer up to a maximum of 50 percent for the Master of Communication.
  • Only a full-time study option is available to international students on a Student Visa.
Required courses: (2)
CourseSemester of offerUnitsRequisites
CMN102 Health Promotion Implementation and Evaluation
CMN574 Communication Theory and Practice
Elective courses: (6)

Select 6 courses from one of the four options, as follows:

Option 1: Creative Writing

Required elective: (1)

CourseSemester of offerUnitsRequisites
CMN116 Research Design: Methodology and Literature Review

PLUS select 5 courses from:

CourseSemester of offerUnitsRequisites
CMN238 Introduction to Creative Writing
CMN246 Creative Writing D: Paperback Hero
CMN247 Creative Writing for Children and Young Adults
CMN260 Creative Writing for the Illustrated Book
CMN266 Creative Writing B: Novel Ideas
CMN267 Creativity and Literature: Chaucer to Romantics
EGL201 Creativity and Literature: Victorians to Moderns
EGL285 Reality Bites: An Exploration of Non-Fiction
Option 2: Journalism

Required elective: (1)

CourseSemester of offerUnitsRequisites
CMN130 Wonderworlds: An Exploration of English Literature

PLUS select 5 courses from:

CourseSemester of offerUnitsRequisites
CMN213 Introduction to Journalism
CMN214 Editing for the Communications Professional
CMN227 Computer-Assisted Reporting
CMN228 News Rounds
CMN235 The Writer and the Law
CMN237 News Writing: Print and Broadcast
CMN240 Online Journalism
CMN249 Digital Photojournalism and Feature Writing
CMN256 Advanced News Reporting
CMN272 Research into Journalism
INT270 Industry Research Project (Journalism)
Option 3: Public Relations

Required elective: (1)

CourseSemester of offerUnitsRequisites
CMN120 Politics and the Media

PLUS select 5 courses from:

CourseSemester of offerUnitsRequisites
CMN213 Public Relations Strategies and Tactics
CMN216 Editing for the Communications Professional
CMN218 Crisis and Issues Management
CMN231 Media and Community Relations
CMN224 Communication Campaign Planning
CMN226 Creative and Interactive Advertising
  • Sunshine Coast: Semester 1
  • Moreton Bay: Semester 1
  • Online: Semester 1
12 
CMN228 Media Law and Ethics
  • Sunshine Coast: Semester 1
  • Moreton Bay: Semester 1
  • Online: Semester 1
12 
CMN229    
CMN243    
CMN248    
CMN251    
CMN273    
Option 4: Communication Studies

Select 1 course from:

CourseSemester of offerUnitsRequisites
CMN116 Playing with Words: an Introduction to Creative Writing Craft
  • Sunshine Coast: Semester 1
  • Moreton Bay: Semester 1
  • Fraser Coast: Semester 1
  • Online: Semester 1
12 
CMN120 Introduction to Contemporary Global Media and Communication
  • Sunshine Coast: Semester 1
  • Moreton Bay: Semester 1
  • Online: Semester 1
12 
CMN130 News and Reporting
  • Sunshine Coast: Semester 1
  • Moreton Bay: Semester 1
  • Online: Semester 1
12 
CMN140    

PLUS select 5 courses from:

CourseSemester of offerUnitsRequisites
CMN213    
CMN214    
CMN216    
CMN218    
CMN222    
CMN226 Creative and Interactive Advertising
  • Sunshine Coast: Semester 1
  • Moreton Bay: Semester 1
  • Online: Semester 1
12 
CMN228 Media Law and Ethics
  • Sunshine Coast: Semester 1
  • Moreton Bay: Semester 1
  • Online: Semester 1
12 
CMN229    
CMN231 Communication Campaign Planning
  • Sunshine Coast: Semester 2
  • Moreton Bay: Semester 2
  • Online: Semester 2
12 
CMN235    
CMN237    
CMN238    
CMN240 Feature Writing
  • Sunshine Coast: Semester 2
  • Moreton Bay: Semester 2
  • Online: Semester 2
12 
CMN243    
CMN246 Writing for Children and Young Adults
  • Sunshine Coast: Semester 1
  • Moreton Bay: Semester 1
  • Online: Semester 1
12 
CMN247 Creative Writing for the Illustrated Book
  • Sunshine Coast: Semester 2
  • Moreton Bay: Semester 2
  • Online: Semester 2
12 
CMN248    
CMN249    
CMN251    
CMN256    
CMN260 Writing the Short Story
  • Sunshine Coast: Semester 2
  • Moreton Bay: Semester 2
  • Online: Semester 2
12 
CMN266 Writing Poetry
  • Sunshine Coast: Semester 1
  • Moreton Bay: Semester 1
  • Online: Semester 1
12 
CMN267    
EGL201 Reality Bites: An Exploration of Non-Fiction
  • Sunshine Coast: Semester 1
  • Moreton Bay: Semester 1
  • Online: Semester 1
12 
EGL285    
ENP240    
INT270    
Thesis or industry research project

The thesis or industry research project is to be equivalent to 4 courses (48 Units)

TOTAL UNITS 144