Course

Bachelor of Communication/Bachelor of International Studies

Approved Abbreviation: BComm/BIntlSt

Western Sydney University Course Code: 1707.3

AQF Level: 7

CRICOS Code: 088185C

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 2017 or later.

Commencement Year 2016 - 1707.2 Bachelor of Communication/Bachelor of International Studies

Commencement Year 2013 TO 2015 - 1707.1 Bachelor of Communication/Bachelor of International Studies

Director of Academic Program - Jacki Montgomery

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 into two diverse career paths, providing enhanced marketability into multiple areas of expertise.

The Bachelor of International Studies examines the relationships of societies, cultures, languages and systems of government within the international system. It develops students' capacity to analyse the historical development of relations among nation states and contemporary political, social and cultural issues, such as globalisation, transnationalism and migration. Students complete a major in International Relations and Asian Studies and a sub-major in Arabic, Chinese, Japanese or Indonesian.

The Bachelor of Communication encompasses a wide range of units in the field of communication with a core program of media studies, practice and theory, and specialised Major sequences in advertising, journalism, and public relations.

Students in this double degree also have the opportunity to extend their combined studies through a semester studying abroad. In addition, students complete an internship in their Communications Major.

Students in this double degree also have the opportunity to complete a semester of study overseas and receive advanced standing towards their BA majors and sub majors subject to WSU limits on advanced standing. Students are encouraged to do so but must discuss this with a BA course advisor first.

Study Mode
Five years full-time.

Accreditation
The Bachelor of Communication is accredited by professional organisations including the Public Relations Institute of Australia (PRIA) and the Media Federation of Australia (MFA).

Admission

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). Use the links below to apply via UAC or Western Sydney University. Applications made directly to Western Sydney do not have an application fee.

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.

http://www.uac.edu.au/

https://westernsydney.uac.edu.au/ws/

International applicants must apply directly to the 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 this award requires the successful completion of 400 credit points including the units listed in the recommended sequence below.

Students must complete the four Bachelor of Arts (BA) core units

100846

Analytical Reading and Writing

100960

Contemporary Society

100968

Texts and Traditions

100958

Australia and the World

Majors

Students must complete the International Relations and Asian Studies (IRAS) Major

M1055

International Relations and Asian Studies

and must complete one of the Bachelor of Communication Majors from the list below

M1121

Advertising

M1067

Journalism

M1094

Media Arts Production

M1122

Public Relations

Sub-major

Students must also complete a sub-major in Arabic, Chinese, Indonesian or Japanese (LOTE)

Note: The following Language sub-majors have inherent requirements, SM1077 Arabic, SM1078 Chinese, SM1080 Japanese and SM1112 Indonesian. Please see the link below:

Inherent Requirements

Arabic

Chinese

Indonesian

Japanese

Students may complete the Immersion Language sub-major which covers languages that are not taught at Western Sydney University. Details of this sub-major are available via the link below:

SM1128

Immersion Language

Recommended Sequence

Year 1

Autumn session

101920

Writing Ecologies

100556

Introduction to Journalism

100212

Public Relations Theory and Practice

100846