Bachelor of Laws / Bachelor of Journalism | UniSC | University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia

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Bachelor of Laws / Bachelor of Journalism

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.

Study location QTAC code
  • Sunshine Coast 018271
Minimum selection threshold
OP - 8 Rank - 84
UniSC program code
AR395
Commence
Semester 1
Duration
5 years full time or equivalent part time *
Prerequisites
English (4,SA)
Fee type 2016
  • What will I pay?
Total courses
40
Total units
480
Footnotes
  • * 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.

You will cover all the academic courses required for admission as a legal practitioner in Australia. You will engage in active learning experiences and gain practical skills right from your first year. For example, you will observe volunteer lawyers conducting client interviews at an advice clinic operated by Suncoast Community Legal Service.

You will research answers to legal problems, prepare advice, present legal argument, observe court proceedings, and take part in simulated court presentations in our new Moot Court venue. You can further develop your skills by working with Legal Service clients under legal supervision in law professional practice, or undertake a legal internship.

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.

Law Honours is available, usually without extending the time required to complete your degree.

Career opportunities

This double degree offers a wide range of career opportunities including as a 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

Program Structure
USC Law School courses
Introductory courses (5)

COR109 Marketing Essentials
LAW101 Social Media: Content Curation and Creation
LAW102 Social Media Communication
LAW103 Social Media: Monitoring and Measurement
LAW104 Ageing in Australia

Advanced courses (20)

14 required courses:

LAW201 Leadership in Clinical Practice
LAW202 Community and Primary Healthcare
LAW203 Learning and Teaching in the Practice Environment
LAW204 Independent Study
LAW205 Research in Health Care
LAW206 Assessment in Mental Health
LAW301 Advanced Health Assessment
LAW302 Indigenous Wellbeing Foundations
LAW303 Issues in Health Sector Management
LAW304 Public Health Foundations
LAW401 Leading and Managing Organisations
LAW402 Understanding and Managing Organisational Behaviour
LAW403 Understanding and Preventing Suicide
LAW404 Communication Theory and Practice

PLUS select 6 elective courses from:

LAW305 Communication and Thought
LAW306 Visual Literacy: Design Principles and Practice
LAW307 Introduction to Design
LAW309 Introduction to Creative Writing
LAW310 Public Relations: Contemporary Perspectives
LAW311 Introduction to Journalism
LAW312 Introduction to Creative Advertising
LAW313 Ways of Seeing: Understanding Images
LAW315 Digital Photographic Practice
LAW316 Visual Worlds: An Introduction to Art and Design History
LAW405 Typography
LAW406 Editing for the Communications Professional
LAW407 Investigative and Data Journalism
LAW408 Crisis and Issues Management
LAW409 Multimedia Advertising
LAW410 Advertising Campaigns
LAW411 Advertising: Copy and Image
LAW412 News Rounds
LAW414 The Writer and the Law
LAW415 Communication Campaign Planning

The following 2 elective courses are only available to students who have been accepted into honours in Law:
LAW440 News Writing and Reporting
LAW441 Online Journalism

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 Feature Writing
CMN130 Creative Advertising
CMN150 Advanced News Reporting

Advanced courses (12)

CMN213 Research into Journalism
CMN214 Graphic Design A
CMN227 Graphic Design B
CMN228 Graphic Design C
CMN235 Graphic Design D
CMN237 Graphic Design E - Internship/Professional Project
CMN240 Graphic Design F - Professional Portfolio
CMN249 e-Media A
CMN277 e-Media B
CMN306 e-Media C
CMN307 e-Media D
CMN330 e-media E - Internship/Professional Project

Note: Not all USC courses are available on every USC campus.

Total units: 480

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
  • 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 Coordinator
  • Honours in Law available for high performing students