Graduate Certificate in Communication | UniSC | University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia

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Graduate Certificate in Communication

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

Program summary

Program title: Graduate Certificate in Communication
Award abbreviation:
GCComn
Degree type: coursework
Study mode: on campus
Duration: 6 months minimum full-time, 2 years maximum part-time
Commence: Semester 1 or Semester 2
Fee type 2012: postgraduate coursework places, international fee-paying places
Total courses: 4
USC program code: AR541
CRICOS code: 058562J

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
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

Program structure

Program requirements and notes
  • Students are required to successfully complete the 4 required courses as listed below.
  • Completing this program within the specified (full-time) duration is based on studying 48 unit points per semester (normally 4 courses).
  • Only a full-time study option is available to international students on a Student Visa.
  • When enrolling, refer to the Study Plan.
Introductory courses

Select 1 intrductory course from:
CMN102 Corporate Governance and Social Responsibility
CMN116 Principles of International Business
CMN120 Cross-Cultural Management
CMN130 Trade and Finance in a Global Economy
CMN140 International Marketing

Advanced courses

Select 3 advanced courses from:
CMN213 Managing Global Logistics
CMN214 Global e-Business
CMN216 Communication and Thought
CMN218 Innovation, Creativity and Entrepreneurship
CMN224 Environment, Technology and Sustainability
CMN226 Applied Research Methods
CMN227 Introduction to Economics
CMN228 Business Law and Ethics
CMN229 Management and Organisational Behaviour
CMN231 Accounting for Business
CMN235 Introduction to Informatics
CMN237 Database Design
CMN238 Telecommunications and Networks
CMN240 Software Development 1
CMN243 Advanced Network Topics, Management and Security
CMN246 Systems Analysis and Design
CMN247 Software Development 2
CMN248 Database Programming
CMN249 Architecture and Systems Integration
CMN251 ICT Professional Practice
CMN256 ICT Project Management
CMN260 Financial Reporting
CMN266 Managerial Finance
CMN267 Legal Regulation of Business Structures
EGL201 Corporate Reporting
EGL285 Strategic Management Accounting
ENP240 Taxation Law and Practice

TOTAL UNITS 48

Study Plan

The Graduate Certificate in Communication Study Plan is for students commencing in the current semester.

Required courses (4)

Select 1 course from:

CourseSemester of offerUnitsRequisites
CMN102 Critical Practice: Self Determination and Social Change
CMN116 Families: challenges, critique and change
CMN120 Critical Social Work in Health
CMN130 Communication and Thought
CMN140 Innovation, Creativity and Entrepreneurship

PLUS select 3 courses from:
CourseSemester of offerUnitsRequisites
CMN213 Environment, Technology and Sustainability
CMN214 Theories and Systems of Counselling and Psychotherapy
CMN216 Introduction to Psychology A
CMN218 Introduction to Psychology B
CMN224 Introduction to Indigenous Australia
CMN226 Counselling for the Human Services Professional
CMN227 Social Research
CMN228 Counselling Placement 1
CMN229 Counselling Placement 2
CMN231 Counselling Theory and Practice
CMN235 Critical Practice with Trauma, Bereavement and Crisis
CMN237 Group Work
CMN238 Ethics and Professional Practice
CMN240 Developmental and Family Counselling
CMN243 Health, Society and Culture
CMN246 Understanding Cultural Diversity
CMN247 Communication and Thought
CMN248 Innovation, Creativity and Entrepreneurship
CMN249 Environment, Technology and Sustainability
CMN251 Applied Research Methods
CMN256 Introduction to Economics
CMN260 Business Law and Ethics
CMN266 Management and Organisational Behaviour
CMN267 Introduction to Marketing
EGL201 Accounting for Business
EGL285 Introduction to Informatics
ENP240 Strategic Management

TOTAL UNITS 48

 

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