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 Research Project B
LAW101 Research Project C
LAW102 Research Project F
LAW103 Communication and Thought
LAW104 Foundations of Australian Law A
Advanced courses (20)
14 required courses:
LAW201 Foundations of Australian Law B
LAW202 Criminal Law and Procedure A
LAW203 Criminal Law and Procedure B
LAW204 Torts A
LAW205 Torts B
LAW206 Contracts A
LAW301 Contracts B
LAW302 Property A
LAW303 Property B
LAW304 Constitutional Law
LAW401 Equity & Trusts
LAW402 Corporations Law
LAW403 Civil Procedure
LAW404 Administrative Law
PLUS select 6 elective courses from:
LAW305 Professional Conduct
LAW306 Evidence
LAW307 Regulation
LAW308 Family Law
LAW309 Employment Law
LAW310 Commercial Law
LAW311 Succession
LAW312 Health Law
LAW313 Children & the Law
LAW314 Law Clinic
LAW315 Competition Law
LAW316 Building & Construction Law
LAW405 Mining & Resources Law
LAW406 Indigenous Legal Issues
LAW407 Equal Opportunity Law
LAW408 Alternative Dispute Resolution
LAW409 Environment & Planning Law
LAW410 Elder Law
LAW411 Intellectual Property
LAW412 Taxation
LAW413 Public International Law
LAW414 Private International Law
LAW415 Human Rights Law
The following 2 elective courses are only available to students who have been accepted into honours in Law:
LAW440 International Social Justice Clinic
LAW441 Legal Internship
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 Sports Law
CMN130 Honours Research Methods, Design and Confirmation
CMN150 Law Honours Thesis
Advanced courses (12)
CMN213 Introduction to Media and Communication Industries
CMN214 Introduction to Journalism
CMN227 Visual Journalism
CMN228 Editing for the Communications Professional
CMN235 Investigative and Data Journalism
CMN237 News Rounds
CMN240 Media Publishing: Law & Ethics
CMN249 News Writing and Reporting
CMN277 Online Journalism
CMN306 Feature Writing
CMN307 Television & Video Journalism
CMN330 Radio Journalism
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.