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 Vertebrate Diversity and Ecology
LAW101 Environmental Management Systems and Processes
LAW102 An Introduction to Geographic Information Science and Technology
LAW103 Environmental and Resource Economics
LAW104 Integrated Environmental Management
Advanced courses (20)
14 required courses:
LAW201 Indigenous Peoples and the Environment
LAW202 Measuring Sustainability
LAW203 Communicating Sustainability
LAW204 Planning and Environmental Law
LAW205 Professional Practice: Legal Frameworks and Issues
LAW206 Special Research Project
LAW301 Workplace Learning I
LAW302 Communication and Thought
LAW303 Foundations of Australian Law A
LAW304 Foundations of Australian Law B
LAW401 Criminal Law and Procedure A
LAW402 Criminal Law and Procedure B
LAW403 Torts A
LAW404 Torts B
PLUS select 6 elective courses from:
LAW305 Contracts A
LAW306 Contracts B
LAW307 Property A
LAW308 Property B
LAW309 Constitutional Law
LAW310 Equity & Trusts
LAW311 Corporations Law
LAW312 Civil Procedure
LAW313 Administrative Law
LAW314 Professional Conduct
LAW315 Evidence
LAW316 Regulation
LAW405 Family Law
LAW406 Employment Law
LAW407 Commercial Law
LAW408 Succession
LAW409 Health Law
LAW410 Children & the Law
LAW411 Law Clinic
LAW412 Competition Law
LAW413 Building & Construction Law
LAW414 Mining & Resources Law
LAW415 Indigenous Legal Issues
The following 2 elective courses are only available to students who have been accepted into honours in Law:
LAW440 Equal Opportunity Law
LAW441 Alternative Dispute Resolution
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 Environment & Planning Law
CMN130 Elder Law
CMN150 Intellectual Property
Advanced courses (12)
CMN213 Taxation
CMN214 Public International Law
CMN227 Private International Law
CMN228 Human Rights Law
CMN235 International Social Justice Clinic
CMN237 Legal Internship
CMN240 Sports Law
CMN249 Honours Research Methods, Design and Confirmation
CMN277 Law Honours Thesis
CMN306 Introduction to Media and Communication Industries
CMN307 Introduction to Journalism
CMN330 Visual 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.