Bachelor of Communication/Bachelor of LawsApproved Abbreviation: BComm/LLB
Western Sydney University Course Code: 2752.3
AQF Level: 7
CRICOS Code: 054282E
Course Status: CONTINUING
This version of the course is available only to continuing or completing students.
Students should follow the course structure for the course version relevant to the year they commenced. This version applies to students whose commencement year for this course is 2014 or later.
Units may be revised or replaced to ensure students are provided with up to date curriculum throughout their studies, and this may result in a new course version. Refer to the Check My Course Progress page in MySR for the most up to date information for your course.
Commencement Year 2013 - 2752.2 Bachelor of Communication/Bachelor of Laws
Commencement Year 2011 - 2752.1 Bachelor of Communication/Bachelor of Laws
This double degree permits students to undertake multi-skilling into two diverse career paths, providing increased marketability to multiple areas of expertise. The Bachelor of Laws provides students with professional skills including: the ability to analyse legal material and understand fundamental legal principles; an understanding of the relationship between law and society; the skills to analyse and solve legal and non-legal problems and specialised study into the Australian legal system. The Bachelor of Communication encompasses a wide range of units in the field of communication and media with a core program of media studies, practices and theory, and specialised major sequences in advertising, journalism, public relations and media arts production.
Study Mode
Five years full-time or ten years part-time
Course Advice
Accreditation
Graduates from the Bachelor of Laws are eligible to apply to the Legal Profession Admission Board for admission to legal practice in NSW after undertaking prescribed practical legal training. The Bachelor of Communication is accredited with the International Advertising Association (IAA), the Public Relations Institute of Australia (PRIA) and the Media Federation of Australia (MFA).
Inherent requirements
There are inherent requirements for this course that you must meet in order to complete your course and graduate. Make sure you read and understand the requirements for this course online.
Inherent requirements
Admission
Eligibility for admission to the Bachelor of Communication Studies/Bachelor of Laws is based on the following requirements:
Assumed knowledge: any 2 units of HSC English
Recommended studies: HSC English standard or equivalent
Applications from Australian and New Zealand citizens and holders of permanent resident visas must be made via the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC).
Applicants who have undertaken studies overseas may have to provide proof of proficiency in English. Local and International applicants who are applying through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) will find details of minimum English proficiency requirements and acceptable proof on the UAC website. Local applicants applying directly to the University should also use the information provided on the UAC website.
UAC
International applicants must apply directly to Western Sydney University via the International Office.
International students applying to The University through the International Office can find details of minimum English proficiency requirements and acceptable proof on their website.
International Office
Overseas qualifications must be deemed by the Australian Education International - National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition (AEI-NOOSR) to be equivalent to Australian qualifications in order to be considered by UAC and Western Sydney University.
Course Structure
Qualification for a double degree in law requires the successful completion of 400 credit points including the units listed in the recommended sequences for the relevant double degree programs.
Students are eligible to graduate in the associated degree at the end of three years of full-time study, only when they have completed all non-law units plus the eight law units specified in the study sequence as being in the first three years of the relevant double degree.
It may be possible to vary the sequence of units so that students study a greater concentration of either law or their second discipline of study each semester to minimise travel between campuses and to overcome timetabling problems. Students should speak to their academic advisor as needed.
Students considering varying their recommended course sequences outlined below, should also refer to the separate Bachelor of Laws (course code 2501 or 2502) and Bachelor of Communication (course code 1696) recommended course sequences, to ensure that they are completing their studies in a manner which will avoid problems due to a lack of prerequisites or prior knowledge. Continuing students should refer to the earlier versions of the above courses.
The Bachelor of Communication/Bachelor of Laws requires students to undertake the 12 core Communication units plus 40 credit points from one of the following majors, selecting 20 credit points at Level 2, and 20 credit points at Level 3:
M1064.1 Advertising
M1067.1 Journalism
M1066.1 Media Arts Production
M1065.1 Public Relations
The major in Media Arts Production will only be offered at the Penrith campus and is NOT offered at Parramatta campus.
Recommended sequence
Full-time
Year 1
Autumn session
Two of the following eight core first year Communications units
| 101927 | Foundations of Media Arts and Production |
| 100706 | Advertising: An Introduction |
| 101926 | Media Cultures and Industries |
| 100212 | Public Relations Theory and Practice |
| 100556 | Introduction to Journalism |
Spring session
Two of the following eight core first year Communications units
| 101927 | Foundations of Media Arts and Production |
| 100706 | Advertising: An Introduction |
| 101926 | Media Cultures and Industries |
| 100212 | Public Relations Theory and Practice |
| 100556 | Introduction to Journalism |
Year 2
Autumn session
Choose one of:
| 101929 | Professional Writing and Editing |
Plus two of the first year units listed above.
Spring session
Choose one of:
| 101929 | Professional Writing and Editing |
Plus two of the remaining first year units listed above.
Year 3
Autumn session
| 200020 | Professional Responsibility and Legal Ethics |
Choose one of:
| 101930 | Communication Research Project |
Plus 20 credit points from the major sequence (see below):
Students in Journalism Major
20 credit points from:
| 102017 | Journalism: Research and Investigation |
| 102057 | Digital Journalism Production |
Students in Media Arts Production Major
20 credit points from:
| 102059 | Screen and Sound Practices |
| 102054 | Animation and Visual Effects |
Students in the Public Relations Major
20 credit points from:
| 102056 | Communication Strategies |
| 101941 | Account and Client Management |
| 102064 | Issues, Risk and Crisis Communication |
| 102058 | Digital and Social Media Communications |
Students in Advertising Major
20 credit points from:
| 102056 | Communication Strategies |
| 101941 | Account and Client Management |
| 102058 | Digital and Social Media Communications |
Spring session
Choose one of:
| 101930 | Communication Research Project |
Plus 20 credit points from the major sequence (see list above).
As above, students would normally be expected to select Level 2 units in their chosen major sequence but may select Level 3 units as long as they meet any prerequisites.
NOTE: Students who wish to exit this double degree after their third year and graduate with 1696 - Bachelor of Communication must have completed 240 credit points and completed the units as listed above in Years 1, 2 and 3
HONOURS: Honours year is available in stand alone course code 1657
Year 4
Autumn session
| 200811 | Alternative Dispute Resolution |
Two LLB alternate units
Spring session
Two LLB alternate units
Year 5
Autumn session
| 200814 | Commercial Transactions Law |
| 200813 | Civil Procedure and Arbitration |
Two LLB alternate units
Spring session
| 200015 | Criminal Procedure and Evidence |
Two LLB alternate units
LLB Alternate Units
Students must complete 80 credit points from the list of LLB alternate units below.
| 200220 | International Criminal Law |
| 200296 | Law Economics and Business Ethics |
| 200298 | Immigration and Refugee Law |
| 200529 | Comparative Law: Legal Systems of the World |
| 200631 | Competition Law and Policy |
| 200638 | International Business Transactions Law |
| 200647 | Planning and Environment Law |
| 200650 | Advanced Torts and Civil Wrongs |
| 200652 | Space Law - Commercial Aspects |
| 200653 | Public International Law |
| 200659 | Insolvency Law and Policy |
| 200663 | International Moot Court |
| 200697 | Banking and Securities Law |
| 200699 | Clinical Legal Placement |
| 200700 | Law Honours Dissertation |
| 200701 | Issues in the Criminal Justice System |
| 200741 | Indigenous Australians and the Law |
| 200772 | Family Dispute Resolution |
| 200799 | Work Health and Safety Law |
| 200800 | International Climate Law |
| 200801 | International Environmental Law |
| 200802 | Law and Public Policy (Development and Implementation) |
| 200803 | Law of International Organisations |
Please note that the availability of Bachelor of Laws Alternate Units may vary from year to year. New units may become available and some others discontinued. The most recent version of course 2501 indicates which units are offered in the course. The School will publish information on which units are available in a session.
Honours
An Honours award is offered - see the Honours in Bachelors Awards Policy and associated Guidelines for the admission criteria.
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