Program summary
Program title: Graduate Certificate in Communication
Award abbreviation: GCComn
Degree type: coursework
Mode of study: on campus
Duration: 6 months minimum full-time, 2 years maximum part-time
Commence: Semester 1 or Semester 2
Fee type 2010: postgraduate coursework places, international fee-paying places
Total courses: 4
USC program code: AR541
CRICOS code: 058562J
Highlights
- Enhance your writing and communication skills
- Discover the nuances of journalistic reporting
- Create a portfolio of published works
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
A student entering the Graduate Certificate program will normally be required to hold an undergraduate degree, or equivalent, from a recognised higher education institution. Entry by non-graduates who have extensive relevant industry experience may be considered on a case-by-case basis by the Dean, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.
Program objectives
On completion of this program students should be able to:
- demonstrate proficiency in areas of professional writing
- identify and evaluate a particular audience, and develop the styles of written communication and modes of delivery accordingly
- identify the generic conventions of different forms of written communication
- analyse written and oral communications in order to identify and implement proper drafting, revising, and editing techniques.
- graduate and pursue further vocational studies and apply theoretically advanced approaches to communication studies
Program structure
Select 1 course from:
CMN102 Advanced Strategic Management
CMN116 Communication Theory and Practice
CMN120 Introduction to Creative Writing
CMN130 Public Relations Strategies and Tactics
CMN140 Introduction to Journalism
Plus select 3 courses from: (provided prerequisite equivalency has been approved by the course coordinator)
CMN213 Introduction to Creative Advertising
CMN214 Editing for the Communications Professional
CMN216 Computer-Assisted Reporting
CMN218 Crisis and Issues Management
CMN224 Media and Community Relations
CMN226 Advertising Campaigns
CMN227 Advertising: Copy and Image
CMN228 News Rounds
CMN229 The Writer and the Law
CMN231 Media and Promotion: Tourism and Hospitality
CMN235 Communication Campaign Planning
CMN237 News Writing: Print and Broadcast
CMN238 Online Journalism
CMN240 Creative Writing D: Paperback Hero
CMN243 Digital Photojournalism and Feature Writing #
CMN246 Public Relations Events Project
CMN247 Creative Writing for Children and Young Adults
CMN248 Creative Writing for the Illustrated Book
CMN249 Creative Advertising
CMN251 Advanced News Reporting
CMN256 International Communication
CMN260 Research into Journalism
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
ENP240 Wonderworlds: An Exploration of English Literature
# Students are required to seek approval from the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences prior to enrolling in this course.
Requirements and notes
- The Graduate Certificate in Communication is a 48-unit program.
- The courses that constitute the Graduate Certificate in Communication will be existing undergraduate courses but will be assessed at a more advanced level than they are for undergraduate students.
- The Graduate Certificate articulates into the Graduate Diploma and the Master of Communication. Students who undertake 48 units in the Graduate Certificate can apply those units to the Graduate Diploma.
- Refer to related policies, rules, plans and procedures.
- Only a full-time study option is available to international students on a Student Visa.
- International students need to refer to the University's English language proficiency requirements.
Enquiries
How to apply
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Tel: +61 7 5430 1259
Program Leader
Anna Potter
Tel: +61 7 5430 2846
Email: apotter@usc.edu.au