Bachelor of Communication/Bachelor of LawsApproved Abbreviation: BComm/LLB
Western Sydney University Course Code: 2752.1
AQF Level: 7
CRICOS Code: 054282E
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 2012 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.
This double degree permits students to undertake multi-skilling, and offers diverse career paths providing high marketability in 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 including specialised studies in advertising, journalism, public relations and media production.
Study Mode
Five years full-time. Law units are available at Campbelltown and Parramatta campuses. Communication units are available at Penrith campus.
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.
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.
Students taking the Bachelor of Communication as part of the joint degree with the Bachelor of Laws may select four units from one of the following majors.
M1044.1 Advertising
M1047.1 Journalism
M1048.1 Media Arts Production
M1045.1 Public Relations
Recommended sequence - Parramatta campus
Full-time
Year 1
Autumn session
Two of the following four core first year Communications units
| 101057 | Writing as Communication |
| 100706 | Advertising: An Introduction |
| 101040 | Approaches to Communication |
Spring session
Two of the following core first year Communications units
| 100212 | Public Relations Theory and Practice |
| 100556 | Introduction to Journalism |
Year 2
Autumn session
| 101243 | Communication Law and Ethics |
Plus the remaining two of the four Autumn first years units listed above.
Spring session
Plus the remaining two of the four Spring first year units listed above.
Year 3
Autumn session
| 200020 | Professional Responsibility and Legal Ethics |
Plus two units from the student’s choice of four available major sequences:
- Advertising
- Journalism
- Media Arts Production
- Public Relations
Students would normally be expected to select the first two units in the sequence of their selected major.
Spring session
| 101053 | Researching Media Audiences |
Plus two units from the student’s preferred major sequence.
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.
Year 4
Autumn session
Two LLB alternate units
Spring session
Two LLB alternate units
Year 5
Autumn session
| 200017 | Dispute Resolution and Civil Procedure |
Two LLB alternate units
Spring session
| 200015 | Criminal Procedure and Evidence |
Two LLB alternate units
Recommended Sequence - Campbelltown campus
Full-time
Year 1
Autumn session
Two of the following four core first year Communications units.
| 101057 | Writing as Communication |
| 100706 | Advertising: An Introduction |
| 101040 | Approaches to Communication |
Spring session
Two of the following core first year Communications units.
| 100212 | Public Relations Theory and Practice |
| 100556 | Introduction to Journalism |
Year 2
Autumn session
| 101243 | Communication Law and Ethics |
Plus the remaining two of the four Autumn first year units listed above.
Spring session
Plus the remaining two of the four Spring first year units listed above.
Year 3
Autumn session
| 200020 | Professional Responsibility and Legal Ethics |
Plus two units from the student’s choice of four available major sequences:
- Advertising
- Journalism
- Media Arts Production
- Public Relations
Students would normally be expected to select the first two units in the sequence of their selected major.
Spring session
| 101053 | Researching Media Audiences |
Plus two units from the student’s preferred major sequence.
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.
Year 4
Autumn session
Two LLB alternate units
Spring session
Two LLB alternate units
Year 5
Autumn session
| 200015 | Criminal Procedure and Evidence |
Two LLB alternate units
Spring session
| 200017 | Dispute Resolution and Civil Procedure |
Two LLB alternate units
LLB Alternate Units
Students may choose 80 credit points of units from the following
| 200220 | International Criminal Law |
| 200278 | Professional Legal Skills 1 |
| 200279 | Professional Legal Skills 2 |
| 200293 | Alternative Dispute Resolution |
| 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 |
| 200658 | Electronic Financial Transactions Law |
| 200659 | Insolvency Law and Policy |
| 200660 | Occupational Health and Safety Law |
| 200697 | Banking and Securities Law |
| 200699 | Clinical Legal Placement |
| 200663 | International Moot Court |
| 200700 | Law Honours Dissertation |
| 200701 | Issues in the Criminal Justice System |
| 200741 | Indigenous Australians and the Law |
| 200772 | Family Dispute Resolution |
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.
Policies Website