Harness your critical and lateral thinking for a career in journalism or law
Our journalism degree produces journalists with a strong sense of ethics and practical skills in print, broadcast and digital media. Develop cutting-edge problem-solving and communication skills to work across a range of media platforms. In the Law component, you’ll cover all the academic courses required for admission as a legal practitioner in Australia.
- * It is recommended that students planning to study part-time apply for the Bachelor of Laws rather than a double degree.
Our journalism degree produces journalists with a strong sense of ethics and practical skills in print, broadcast and digital media. Develop cutting-edge problem-solving and communication skills to work across a range of media platforms. In the Law component, you’ll cover all the academic courses required for admission as a legal practitioner in Australia.
Choose from a range of Law electives to suit your interests and career ambitions. You’ll conduct client interviews, prepare legal advice, undertake legal research and observe litigation and gain practical experience in USC’s Law Clinic and moot court.
From first year, you’ll work with local legal practitioners at the Suncoast Community Legal Service assisting real clients with their legal problems — an opportunity not available anywhere else in Queensland. Elective courses Legal Internship and Law Clinic are offered to students in the later years of their studies.
Take advantage of careers for law graduates with especially strong English skills in areas such as parliamentary counsel, contract drafting, corporate writing and legal publishing.
Honours is available for high performing students.
Career opportunities
Solicitor, barrister, government legal officer, journalist, corporate or government communications, technical writing.
Registration
The degree is an approved academic qualification for admission to the legal profession. Graduates must undertake a further period of practical legal training before being admitted as a legal practitioner.
Program structure
USC Law School courses
Introductory courses (5)
COR109 Work Integrated Learning Project
LAW101 Work Integrated Learning Placement
LAW102 Mathematics Foundations
LAW103 Calculus and Algebra
LAW104 Statistics with Teeth: Understanding Ecological Data
Advanced courses (20)
14 required courses:
LAW201 Discrete Mathematics
LAW202 Applied Mathematics
LAW203 Numerical Analysis
LAW204 Applied Systems Modelling
LAW205 Science Research Methods
LAW206 Clinical Foundations in Orthotics
LAW301 Clinical Foundations in Prosthetics
LAW302 Developing Professional Practice in Prosthetics & Orthotics
LAW303 Clinical Reasoning in Prosthetics & Orthotics
LAW304 Advanced Concepts in Prosthetics & Orthotics
LAW401 Prosthetics and Orthotics Practicum
LAW402 Therapeutic Skills
LAW403 Foundations of Practice 1: Exploring Core Concepts of Professional Practice
LAW404 Biomechanics I
PLUS select 6 elective courses from:
LAW305 Biomechanics II
LAW306 Planning and Environmental Law
LAW307 Environmental Impact Assessment
LAW308 Environmental Economics
LAW309 Environmental Health Risk Management
LAW310 Communication and Thought
LAW311 Introductory Counselling Skills and Theory
LAW312 Introduction to Psychology A
LAW313 Introduction to Sociology: Society, Culture and Change
LAW314 Introduction to Indigenous Australia
LAW315 Social Work and Human Services Practice
LAW316 Group Processes and Practice
LAW405 Regions, Change and Sustainability
LAW406 International Community Development and Global Justice
LAW407 Social Justice, Welfare and the State
LAW408 Human Services Placement 1
LAW409 Human Services Placement 2
LAW410 Working With Families
LAW411 Ethics and Professional Practice
LAW412 Community Development and Social Action
LAW413 Complexity and Social Work: Policy and Practice
LAW414 An Introduction to Australian and Comparative Politics
LAW415 Indigenous Australia and the State
The following 2 elective courses are only available to students who have been accepted into honours in Law:
LAW440 Social Research
LAW441 Understanding Society: An Introduction to Social Theory
Please note: Semester offerings for Law elective courses are subject to change and are dependent on student demand. For more information on elective availability please contact your Program Leaders.
Journalism courses
Introductory courses (3)
CMN104 Health, Society and Culture
CMN130 Disability: Culture, Community and Change
CMN150 Understanding Cultural Diversity
Advanced courses (12)
CMN213 Gender and Culture
CMN214 Human Services Placement 1
CMN227 Human Services Placement 2
CMN228 Managing Research
CMN235 Systems Analysis
CMN237 Relational Database Systems
CMN240 Data Wrangling
CMN249 Network Technology and Management
CMN277 Non-Relational Database Systems
CMN306 Data and System Integration
CMN307 Data Analytics
CMN330 Data Science Practice
Note: Not all USC courses are available on every USC campus.
Total units: 480
Recommended study sequences
Program requirements and notes
Program requirements
In order to graduate you must:
- Complete 5 introductory level (100 coded) required law courses including COR109
- Complete 14 advanced level (200/300/400 coded) required law courses
- Complete 6 law electives
- Complete 3 introductory level (100 coded) required School of Communication and Creative Industries courses
- Complete 12 advanced level (200/300 coded) required journalism courses
- Complete no more than 15 introductory level (100 coded) courses in total, including the core course
Program notes
- Completing this program within the specified (full-time) duration is based on studying 48 unit points per semester (normally 4 courses).
- Courses within this program are assessed using a variety of assessment methods including essays, seminar presentations, reports, in-class tests and examinations. Not all courses will necessarily include all methods.
- As part of your USC program, you may apply to Study Overseas to undertake courses with an overseas higher education provider. It is advisable to contact your Program Advisor to discuss timing and course issues.
- When enrolling, refer to the Study Plan.
- Semester offerings for Law elective courses are subject to change and are dependent on student demand. For more information on elective availability please contact your Program Leaders.
- Honours in Law available for high performing students.