Bachelor of Communication
Subjects on offer
Subject descriptions
CMM10 Screen History and Culture
Undertake historical research into fi lm and television. You will explore the main ways in which scholars working in the academic discipline of Film and Television Studies develop historical research programs. You will be introduced to a range of explanatory frameworks including: Biographical history; Industrial or economic history; Aesthetic
history; Technological history; Audiences and social/cultural/political history. The unit aims to develop your skills in the use and verification of evidence, descriptive research, and historical explanation.
Back to the top ▲CMM16 New Communication Technologies
Get hands-on experience of new communication technologies and develop a critical awareness of the theoretical debates around new technologies for communication. You will explore computer and internet history, the Screen Age, multimedia, emerging technologies, the Second Media Age, recreating democracy, nomads and stories, questions of identity, alternatives and media and technological futures.
Back to the top ▲CMM17 Introduction to Screen Analysis
Learn how films and television communicate different meanings to audiences. You begin with the technical practices of form and style in film and television. You then focus on documentaries and how narrative and non-narrative texts are organised and can work with and without narrative. Next, you learn the techniques of character construction in fiction and non fiction and delve further into screen studies. You will be expected to apply the concepts and vocabulary introduced in this unit in your analysis of film and television.
Back to the top ▲CMM18 News and Politics
Challenge yourself by reading news and current affairs in a critical fashion. You will combine the development of practical news writing skills with an overview of Australian political and media institutions. You will examine newswriting style, news and politics and the media as the fourth estate. The unit also covers Australian political institutions, the Constitution and citizenship, Cabinet, parliament and parties, the states and local government, the judiciary; pressure groups, lobbying and elections. You are expected to be aware of current affairs on a daily basis.
Back to the top ▲CMM19 Text and Culture
Gain an introduction to key theoretical perspectives and concepts of contemporary visual media analysis. This unit is themed to allow you access to a wide range of examples and perspectives from which to work from. The unit is broken into three blocks. Block One provides an introduction to semiotics and discourse analysis. Block Two introduces you to the concepts of narrative and genre, while Block Three focuses on models and understandings of audience and consumption. Various texts are discussed and analysed; from clothing and advertising, to theme-parks and public spaces. A range of theoretical perspectives and drawn upon; from semiotics to theories of spectacle and consumption.
Back to the top ▲COM12 Business Communications
Gain an introduction to communication in a business environment. You will develop skills such as the ability to inform, instruct and persuade. For businesses and organisations to prosper, they need communicators who can speak, write and interact with others efficiently, effectively and professionally.
Back to the top ▲COM13 Organisational Behaviour and Communication
Embark on a theoretical and practical investigation of organisational behaviour and communication. This unit explores the theoretical foundations of business organisations and communications. It will enable you to develop a wide range of interview techniques and improve organisational and team building skills. You will gain a strong understanding of the theoretical and practical approach to building an organisation.
Back to the top ▲COM14 Creative and Professional Writing
Delve into creative and professional writing, particularly journalistic writing. You will explore the approaches, techniques and genres involved in creative writing. You will also examine a myriad of writing styles, including games, novels, plays, poetry, songs, public relations and advertising. In addition, you will be guided in developing practical ways of working with words across a range of creative genres.
Back to the top ▲COM15 Developing Research and Analytical Skills
Gain an overview of research and analytical skills. You will learn about research planning and critical and analytical tools/techniques. The unit also offers you practical experience in applying research tools and processes through engagement with topical issues and ideas from the field of communications studies and related discipline areas.
Back to the top ▲GEN11 Gender, History and Culture
Delve into how everyday life and social practices organise gender. You will focus on family life and the private sphere as places where gender identities are produced. You will look at television and photography to examine how gender is culturally constructed and transmitted from one generation to the next. You will also investigate how meanings
change to accommodate wider social changes. The unit examines various discourses of everyday life, images and narratives, practices such as watching television, taking photographs, making family albums and institutions.
Back to the top ▲AUS11 Australian Studies: Images of Australia 1A
This unit introduces some of the fundamental questions in the study of Australian history, politics and culture. You will consider and analyse the concepts of 'nation' and 'national identity'. The unit provides you with an opportunity to explore some of the major ideas and debates about the nature and meaning of 'Australia' and 'Australian national identity' over the last 100 years. It encourages you to investigate why and how particular ideas and images of the nation and national identity came to be so powerful at different times, and asks students to consider how and why those ideas and images changed over time.
Back to the top ▲AUS12 Australian Studies: Images of Australia 1B
Build on the issues explored in AUS11 by providing students with an opportunity to examine in greater depth some of the major ideas and debates about the nature and meaning of 'Australia' and 'Australian national identity' that have emerged in the last two decades. Through analysis of these debates, you will extend your academic skills developed in AUS11 to include the skills of critical analysis and evaluation of arguments. In particular, AUS12 investigates the extent to which debates among the intelligentsia (academics, intellectuals, journalists) and politicians play a key role in constructing ideas about the nation.
Back to the top ▲MAN11 Introduction to Management
Explore the study of management and the basic academic skills relevant to university study in this discipline. You will examine the following topics: Managerial work in organisations; Historical and contemporary theories in management; Management environment; Social responsibility and managerial ethics; Planning and managerial decision-making; Managing individuals and groups; Motivation; Leadership; Employment relations and managerial control.
Back to the top ▲MAR11 Marketing Theory and Practice
Embark on an introduction to marketing theory and practice. Consumers serve as the most important resource for most firms. This unit explains the marketing process, outlining how a firm should go about achieving its goals by determining and satisfying the needs of its customers. This unit is relevant to a wide range of academic disciplines as everyone is subject to marketing activities. In fact, many regard marketing as the most important function any business can undertake.
Back to the top ▲VIS14 Making Your Mark in Drawing
Explore three sources of visual imaging in nature, culture and imagination. You will be encouraged to develop your capacity to generate ideas, develop them thematically and in depth and consider them within an historical context. The unit clarifies techniques used to represent three-dimensional forms on a two-dimensional surface and includes studies in the principal elements and conventions of line, tone, contrast, form, space, composition, proportion, perspective, scale and gesture. Aspects of landscape, still life and drawing will be addressed and the study will include a survey of materials and methods of production as well as touching on aspects of conservation of drawings.
Back to the top ▲CMM26 Media Law
Learn legal and ethical skills relevant to the publishing environment in Australia and internationally. You will gain an understanding of legal constraints on public speech, along with an outline of law and its impact on the Australian and international media environment. This will include consideration of issues such as copyright and intellectual property within the context of an information society. You will explore issues surrounding gender-related and cross-cultural research and writing and the relationships between the mass media and other social institutions.
Back to the top ▲CMM29 Styles and Genres of Journalism
Learn the principles of journalism while exploring current debates in the area. You will acquire an understanding of the possibilities and limitations regarding the work practices of journalism. You will explore the variety of styles and genres that constitute film and television journalism including: Documentaries; News/current affairs; Lifestyle shows; Youth shows; Community television; Narrowcast television; and Pay television. This unit combines a theoretical and practical approach, you are encouraged to apply theory to practical situations.
Back to the top ▲CMM23 Media Buying and Planning
Seize an opportunity to engage in media production. While also developing media buying and planning strategies for a media campaign. The unit offers you the opportunity to work through the creative development of at least one advertising or PR campaign project. You will plan and develop a full media strategy and costing to a defined budget of the campaign. Journalism and communication students will develop and apply advanced advertising campaign techniques in the print and broadcast media as well as developing strategic media buying capabilities.
Back to the top ▲CMM33 Media Buying and Planning
Seize an opportunity to engage in media production. While also developing media buying and planning strategies for a media campaign. The unit offers you the opportunity to work through the creative development of at least one advertising or PR campaign project. You will plan and develop a full media strategy and costing to a defined budget of the campaign. Journalism and communication students will develop and apply advanced advertising campaign techniques in the print and broadcast media as well as developing strategic media buying capabilities.
Back to the top ▲CMM27 Introduction to Public Relations
Understand public relations in a theoretical and practical context while developing research, planning and writing skills relevant to public relations. You will explore the history and theories of public relations, ethics, social responsibility and the law, research and evaluation, planning, strategy and budgeting, tactics, skills and new communication technologies. You will also learn about key practice areas of media relations, internal and community relations, government relations, issues and crisis management, event management, sponsorship and industry structure.
Back to the top ▲CMM28 Classic Hollywood Cinema
Explore the rich history of the American film industry. You will study the period of film output known as Classic Hollywood Cinema, from the late teens to the 1960s, as well as its precursors (vaudeville, photography) and its successors (video, DVD). Media history and culture are central to this investigation and the achievement of Hollywood's global dominance is of critical concern.
Back to the top ▲CMM37 Documentary Scriptwriting
Learn the skills and formats used in the production of a documentary script. Using established Australian industry criteria and guidelines for documentaries, you will develop practical scriptwriting techniques in conjunction with an understanding of constraints and opportunities within policy and institutional settings. You will prepare an industry-format package including project synopsis, treatment, script and marketing brief.
Back to the top ▲CMM220 Media Relations
Learn the important role of media relations within public relations theory and practice. This unit equips you with the skills necessary to function in a media relations role. It also develops an understanding of the critical relationship between the public relations practitioner and the media and provides insights into the different needs of different types of media. The unit covers writing and distribution of media releases, media ownership and structures, compiling a media kit and organising a news conference.
Back to the top ▲CMM31 Media Audiences
Investigate the key debates, interventions and sites of conflict in the field of audience research. You will examine the ways in which the media and cultural industries conduct and use audience research. You are introduced to the ways in which media audiences are defined, researched and theorised. Particular emphasis is placed on competing conceptualisations, methodologies and intended or unintended outcomes of audience research. The unit's content and assessment will assist you in developing skills in constructing and evaluating quantitative and qualitative audience research.
Back to the top ▲CJR220 News and Information Gathering
Delve into the challenges and constraints of journalistic research. In this unit you will explore difficult and complex decisions within the professional environment. You will also be presented with opportunities to work through practical problems. The unit encourages you to develop a systematic approach to information gathering that reflects the your own style and interests. You must meet tight deadlines, confront ethical uncertainties and work across a range of fields.
Back to the top ▲CJR320 Broadcast Journalism
Extend and develop the skills you developed in second level journalism. In this unit you will focus on researching, writing and producing news and current affairs stories for television and the internet. You will explore these specific topics: History of broadcast journalism; Radio and television; The newsroom; The studio; Writing for broadcast; The line-up; Voice and presentation; Camera and sound; Principles of interviewing; The edit; The pitch; Story planning and Preparation for production.
Back to the top ▲CJR200 News Writing and Ethics
Learn about the different ways that information and news is gathered and reproduced. You will learn about the range of print and electronic media professions that exist in the information society. In addition, you will explore global trends and issues arising from the growth of information media and society's expectations.
Back to the top ▲CJR300 Journalism Cultures
Gain knowledge and understanding of the ways in which journalism is theorised and applied across different media cultures in the Asia-Pacific region. You will look broadly at the different roles of journalism as a cultural resource. The unit seeks to develop your cross-cultural awareness and encourages you to critically analyse journalistic practices across the Asia-Pacific region.
Back to the top ▲CJR310 International Journalism
Explore the ways in which journalism is theorised and applied in a global media environment. You will look at the different roles of journalism as a global cultural resource and examine international case studies based on current events. The unit examines how journalism and media practices are applied internationally. You will be encouraged to nominate locations that could become the focus of analysis.
Back to the top ▲CJR340 Newspapers in History
Learn about the role of the newspaper in the history of modern Western society. You will focus on the emergence of mass circulation and new forms of journalism in the second half of the nineteenth century. You will explore historical topics and events such as: Commercialisation of the press; Political opinion; Cultural authority; Structure and ownership of the press; Historical analysis of aspects of newspapers; Relationship between mainstream and radical press; Journalism as a profession and the effects of commercialisation on journalism.
Back to the top ▲CJR350 Feature Writing
Learn the techniques of researching and writing in a range of feature styles. You are encouraged to analyse the work of a variety of feature writers while developing your own ideas about news values, style and subject matter used in this genre. You will have the opportunity to produce work for both the newspaper and magazine market. The unit provides instruction in writing techniques, research and interviewing. It also introduces you to the world of freelance journalism, providing techniques to write pitch letters and sell stories to magazines.
Back to the top ▲CJR330 Online News Production
Develop your online news production skills to an advanced level. Journalism is changing. The Columbine school shootings, September 11 and the second Gulf War all provide examples of online reporting beating the mainstream media to the story while also providing greater depth and connectivity to a significant audience. You will develop relevant research, writing, planning and production skills. Assessment is based around the production of an online news site.
Back to the top ▲MAR24 Buyer Behaviour
This unit builds on MAR11 Marketing Theory and Practice and will enable you to gain an in-depth understanding of the factors that influence, explain and predict consumption behaviour for both individuals and organisations. The unit covers consumer behaviour for physical goods as well as services. You will examine concepts and theories associated with the behavioural sciences, which provide the theoretical background to understand individual, cultural and group influences on consumption behaviour. You will also investigate how marketers use this information to develop marketing strategies, predict behaviour and influence consumers. You will be encouraged to draw on your own buying experience to locate examples of marketing's influence.
Back to the top ▲MGM21 Management Communication and Negotiation
Improve your understanding and skills in communication and negotiation. Through your study, you will critically evaluate the role of power and conflict in relation to communication and negotiation. You will identify the strategies and behaviours involved in successful communication and negotiation. In addition, you will critically evaluate various key communication and negotiation theories, methods, approaches and models. You will be encouraged to apply these theories to real life situations to improve the quality of your personal communication and negotiation.
Back to the top ▲ENG210 Creative Writing 1
Gain a practical introduction to a range of processes and techniques used in creative writing. Through writing exercises and online workshops with both the tutor and others, you will explore a number of different approaches to creative writing. You will
develop a range of skills relevant to different types of creative writing and are encouraged to reflect on your own writing as a method of developing
skills and approaches useful for future writing. Workload includes writing and interactive online workshopping of other students work.
Back to the top ▲MTM304 Event Management
Gain a management overview of the growing field of events and Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibition (MICE) management. You will cover: Event conceptualisation; Planning and staging; Sponsorship and marketing; Human resources; ICT; Legal and risk management; Project management, Event administration, Controls and Budgets; and Evaluation. Both leisure and corporate events are reviewed including, special events, festivals, meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions. The relationships between the tourism industry and MICE sectors are also explored.
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