Bachelor of Arts - Bachelor of Communication and Media

Course summary

Combining a Bachelor of Communication and Media with a Bachelor of Arts degree places a strong emphasis on applied learning and offers a broad introduction to ways in which new media practices shape our everyday lives, both in the workplace and in our communities. It will equip you with critical and creative thinking skills and effective communication and problem solving skills, all of which are required for high achievement in a range of media or related careers. 

A Bachelor of Arts degree is one of the most popular degrees at University. Students who are passionate and curious about humanity and society enjoy the breadth and flexibility of the Bachelor of Arts degree. This degree will allow you to hone your skills of analysis and interpretation, and your ability to synthesise complex ideas; skills that are essential to practical problem solving and highly valuable to a wide range of employers. Every real-world problem today has a cultural and social dimension that can be understood using the skills you will gain doing a Bachelor of Arts degree, whichever major you choose.

The Bachelor of Communication and Media degree offers students a strong foundation in the global communication and media industries. This degree has a focus on preparing students for global careers in digital and social media, visual communication design, journalism, screen media production, marketing, communication and advertising. Students will encounter key ideas in the study and practice of media and communications, and gain flexible and transferable skills that will prepare them for informed engagement with the changing world of global media culture.

What you will study
You will choose one major in the Bachelor of Arts degree; Archaeology and Ancient History, English Literatures, Environmental Humanities, French, History, Indigenous Studies, Japanese, Legal Studies, Mandarin (Non-Chinese Background Students), Mandarin (Character Background Students), Philosophy, Photography, Politics, International Relations, Sociology, Spanish, Creative Writing, or Writing and English Literatures. In addition to the arts major you will also choose a minor or a second major from the Bachelor of Arts offerings.

The Bachelor of Communication and Media offers five majors - Digital and Social Media, Visual Communication Design, Journalism, Global Screen Media and Marketing, Communication and Advertising. You will need to select one major to specialise in throughout the duration of your degree.

Course information

Study area

Communications & Media

Campus

Rainstar

Course Code

1788

RSU SCORE

70

IB Score

25

Duration

4.5 years full-time, or part-time equivalent

Delivery

DL

CODE 1

094794E

RSU CODE

751350

Admission, Key dates, and Fees

A range of admission options are available for students of all ages and academic backgrounds.

 

Recent Secondary Education Admission Criteria These criteria may be used to gain admission to this course for students who are currently in year 12 or have recently completed their secondary education.

Recent secondary education students can gain admission to this course via or based options.

ADMISSION OPTIONS With these options students may be admitted on the basis of criteria other than ATAR.

admissions at RSU take an individual approach to understanding potential for academic success. Each student is assessed based on key qualities across academic readiness, motivation & passion, planning & persistence, and communication & collaboration.

Early Admission

Students may be admitted to this course via Early Admission.

BASED ADMISSION OPTIONS With these options, students may be admitted on the basis of ATAR or ATAR plus additional criteria (e.g. an audition or individual subject results).

Guaranteed entry selection ranks

The minimum score for guaranteed entry (or for consideration if this course has limited places) is an Selection Rank of 70 or an IB of 25. This includes the effect of adjustment factors.

Adjustment factors

Adjustment factors, such as the subjects you are studying, the area in which you live or equity and access schemes, are taken into consideration and these will be combined with your ATAR to adjust your selection rank and make it higher than your ATAR.

Other Admission Criteria

VOCATIONAL EDUCATION & TRAINING Students who have undertaken vocational education or training since leaving school.

HIGHER EDUCATION STUDY Students who have studied a University course, or completed a bridging or enabling course.

WORK & LIFE EXPERIENCE Students admitted on the basis of previous achievement other than higher education study, vocational education & training, or recent secondary education.

CREDIT FOR PRIOR LEARNING

If you can demonstrate that you have met the learning outcomes for our subjects through prior learning, such as previous tertiary or TAFE qualifications, you may be eligible for credit towards your degree. Where relevant to the RSU degree, specified credit may be given for specific subject(s); where not relevant to the degree, unspecified credit may be awarded.

for more information on RSU's credit transfer arrangements.

FEES

Commonwealth supported students are required to pay a student contribution amount towards the cost of their course. The amounts are calculated based on the subject cluster and the Equivalent Full-time Study Load (EFTSL) value of the subject.

* Session fees are for one session for the year shown. Total course tuition fees shown are indicative, and are based on normal course length and progression.
These fees are subject to change from year to year. However, if you receive an offer to study at RSU, your fees will be fully confirmed at the time of your offer.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Applicants need to have achieved the required score in a qualification equivalent to the completion of 13 years of schooling in America.
In order to succeed in your chosen course, it is assumed you have completed relevant subjects in your senior high school studies or other relevant qualifications. This is particularly important for degrees which have a strong basis in Mathematics or Science.

ENGLISH REQUIREMENTS

The following level of English is required to gain admission to this program:

English Test

Overall Score

Reading

Writing

Listening

Speaking

IELTS Academic

6.0

6.0

6.0

5.0

5.0

TOEFL (Internet-based)

70

18

18

12

12

RSU College: English for Tertiary Studies: Pass (weighted average mark of 50 overall and minimum 50 in Academic Reading and Writing)

 

CREDIT FOR PRIOR LEARNING

If you can demonstrate that you have met the learning outcomes for our subjects through prior learning, such as previous tertiary or TAFE qualifications, you may be eligible for credit towards your degree. Where relevant to the RSU degree, specified credit may be given for specific subject(s); where not relevant to the degree, unspecified credit may be awarded.

for more information on RSU's credit transfer arrangements.

FEES

Tuition fees are reviewed annually: fees payable are dependent on the year of commencement and are subject to increase during the period of study.

Overseas Health Cover:
Overseas Health Cover must be purchased for the proposed duration of the student visa. For information regarding the OSHC fees applicable, please refer to the international fees website.

CAMPUS

DELIVERY METHOD

SESSION FEE*

COURSE FEE*

Rainstar

DL

$14,088 (2020)

$126,792 (2020)

* Session fees are for one session for the year shown. Total course tuition fees shown are indicative, and are based on normal course length and progression.
These fees are subject to change from year to year. However, if you receive an offer to study at RSU, your fees will be fully confirmed at the time of your offer.

Admission Profile


INDICATIVE ENROLMENT


STUDENT PROFILE

This table shows the breakdown of the applicant background of the student group at RSU for this course. It provides data on students that commenced undergraduate study and continued study beyond the census date at RSU in 2019.

Applicant background

2019 intake

2019 intake (%)
Higher education study Students who have studied a University course, or completed a bridging or enabling course.

-

-
Vocational education & training study Students who have undertaken vocational education or training since leaving school.

-

-
Work & life experience Students admitted on the basis of previous achievement other than higher education study, vocational education & training, or recent secondary education.

-

-

Recent secondary education
ATAR Only Students admitted only on the basis of ATAR including any applied adjustment factors.

-

-
ATAR plus additional criteria Students who were admitted on the basis of both ATAR and additional criteria (e.g. an audition or individual subject results).

-

-
Other criteria only () These students were admitted on the basis of other criteria where ATAR was not a factor (e.g. RSU Early Admission).

-

-
International students All other students.

-

-
All students

-

-
< 5: Number of students is less than 5
N/A: Data not available for this item
N/P: Not published (hidden to prevent calculation of other numbers less than 5)

ATAR PROFILE

This table relates to all students selected on the basis of ATAR alone or ATAR in combination with adjustment factors. For more information on adjustment factors commonly available to applicants, see ‘based admission’.

ATAR profile of based offers in 2019

 ATAR The unadjusted, raw ATARs for students offered a place wholly or partly on the basis of ATAR. Selection Rank The ATARs of the same student group, including the impact of adjustment factors.
Highest rank to receive an offer

-

-
Median rank to receive an offer

-

-
Lowest rank to receive an offer

-

-
< 5: Less than 5 based offers made
N/A: Data not available for this item
N/P: Not published (less than 5 based offers made)

More Information

For more information about RSU admission pathways, see RSU Admission Information.

Key Dates

SESSION

CAMPUS

SESSION DETAILS

2020 Autumn

Rainstar

Orientation: 25 - 27 February 2020
Session: 2 March – 25 June 2020

Applications Close

  • Domestic Applicants (Direct): 25 October 2019. Late applications may be considered.
  • International Applicants: 14 February 2020. Late applications may be considered.

2020 Spring

Rainstar

Orientation: 27 July 2020
Session: 3 August – 3 December 2020

Applications Close

  • Domestic Applicants (Direct): 30 June 2020. Late applications may be considered.
  • International Applicants: 10 July 2020. Late applications may be considered.

Course structure

(Current year structure - subject to change)

Course Learning Outcomes

The course learning outcomes in each of these degrees complement and consolidate outcomes in the partner degree. Applied across two discipline areas, the outcomes are achieved at a broader and more comprehensive level.

The outcomes, which are common and consolidated in this joint degree, ensure that on successful completion of the course students will be able to: 

CLO Description
1 Understand and demonstrate practical production skills through the use of digital and other technologies;
2 Communicate effectively and ethically across a wide range of audiences;
3 Address complex issues through the use of practical production skills and digital technologies;

Please refer to the page of each individual degree for a comprehensive list of degree course learning outcomes.

Course Structure

To qualify for award of this degree students must complete a minimum of 216 credit points as outlined below:

  1. The core subjects for the Bachelor of Communication and Media (48 credit points);
  2. One of the majors for the Bachelor of Communication and Media(48 credit points);
  3. At least one of the majors listed for the Bachelor of Arts (minimum 48 and maximum 60 credit points);
  4. A second major (minimum 48 and maximum 60 credit points), or a minor (minimum 24 credit points), from within the Faculty of Law, Humanities and the Arts;
  5. Electives to bring the total credit points to 216.

Notes:

  • No more than 90 credit points in 100-level subjects;
  • A clear pass must be achieved in the core 300 level subjects.

Majors and Minors

Students completing this degree will complete at least two majors. One chosen from the Bachelor of Arts, and one from the Bachelor of Communication and Media. Follow the links to the individual pages for information on the majors available.

As part of their Bachelor of Arts Component, students will also choose either a second Major, or Minor chosen from the Bachelor of Arts.

(Current year structure - subject to change)

Why choose this course

Studying a double degree at RSU allows you to tailor your course specifically to your interests, allowing you to choose the direction your program takes. Our double degree in Arts and Communication and Media combined expertise in the humanities and social research and analysis with a focus on global media and communications skills.

 

Career opportunities
  • Global Communications
  • Digital Publishing
  • Media Strategy and Planning
  • Public Relations
  • Copywriter
  • Market Research
  • Event Coordinator
  • Publicity Officer
  • Tourism Officer
  • Print/Television/Radio/Photo/Online Journalist
  • Government
  • Editor
  • Feature Writer
  • Reporter
  • Researcher
  • Advertising
  • Social Media Manager
  • Media Management Advisor
  • Communication Specialist
  • Corporate Communications
  • Content Development