Bachelor of Communication/Bachelor of LawsApproved Abbreviation: BComm/LLB
Western Sydney University Course Code: 2752.6
AQF Level: 7
CRICOS Code: 105744J
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 2018 to 2021.
Students commencing in 2022 should use the link to the new handbook for details.
Bachelor of Communication/Bachelor of Laws
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 2017 - 2752.5 Bachelor of Communication/Bachelor of Laws
Commencement Year Spring 2014 to 2016 - 2752.4 Bachelor of Communication/Bachelor of Laws
Commencement Year Autumn 2014 - 2752.3 Bachelor of Communication/Bachelor of Laws
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. Communication units are offered at Parramatta, Penrith, WSO and Sydney City campuses and Law units are offered at Campbelltown and Parramatta campuses. Students may be required to travel between campuses in order to complete their units.
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). 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/
All other International applicants must apply directly to the 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.
Special Requirements Prerequisites
Students enrolling in these units may need to have a National Police Certificate and consent or prohibited employment declarations as they may be conducting their placement in circumstances where they work with minors. This would be managed on an as needs basis:
• 200699 Clinical Legal Placement
• 200701 Issues in the Criminal Justice System (corrective services field trip requirement) also records and identity check.
The following units require a visa for the relevant country and the ability to travel at a specified time:
• 200759 Foundations of Chinese Law
• 200983 Foundations of Indian Law
Work Integrated Learning
Western Sydney University seeks to enhance student learning experiences by enabling students to engage in the culture, expectations and practices of their profession or discipline. This course includes a placement or other community-based unpaid practical experience.
There is an optional work component available in this course. Please contact the Course Advisor listed above for information.
International students should be aware that if an elective is a requirement of the course but the work itself was not registered with CRICOS, students can still complete these electives but it would be counted towards the work limitation. For more details, refer to the 'Work Integrated Learning (WIL) for international students' website.
Work Integrated Learning (WIL) for international students
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.
Students enrolled in the 2752 Bachelor of Communication/Bachelor of Laws will only be eligible to graduate from their Bachelor of Laws degree upon completion of the entire 400 credit point course. Students enrolled in this course who wish to graduate with a standalone law degree prior to completion of the entire Bachelor of Communication component must transfer to course 2502 Bachelor of Laws (Non Graduate Entry) which requires the completion of 320 credit points (inclusive of 80 credit points of non-LLB study).
Commencing from Spring 2021 - Students may early exit with the Diploma in Laws on completion of 80 credit points, comprising 20 credit points of specified Law core units and 60 credit points of Law core or alternate units, as provided in the course structure. Please refer to the links below for details.
2827- Diploma in Laws
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. However students who enrol in 200277 Fundamentals of Australian Law must also be enrolled in 200010 Criminal Law and students who enrol in 200978 Legal Analysis and Critique must also be enrolled in 200008 Torts.
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
| M1094 | Media Arts Production |
Please note: M1094 Media Arts Production has been replaced by M1135 Screen Media for students who commence this course from the 2021 academic year.
Recommended Sequence
Full-time
Year 1
Autumn session
| 200977 | Fundamentals of Australian Law |
Two of the following eight core first year Communications units
| 100706 | Advertising: An Introduction |
| 102825 | Introduction to Screen Media |
| 100556 | Introduction to Journalism |
| 101926 | Media Cultures and Industries |
| 100212 | Public Relations Theory and Practice |
Spring session
| 200978 | Legal Analysis and Critique |
Two of the following eight core first year Communications units
| 100706 | Advertising: An Introduction |
| 102825 | Introduction to Screen Media |
| 100556 | Introduction to Journalism |
| 101926 | Media Cultures and Industries |
| 100212 | Public Relations Theory and Practice |
Year 2
Autumn session
Choose one of
| 101929 | Professional Writing and Editing |
Plus two of the first year units listed above.
Spring session
| 200811 | Alternative Dispute Resolution |
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 two Level 2 units from your chosen major (see below)
Students in Journalism Major
Level 2 units
| 102017 | Journalism: Research and Investigation |
Students in Media Arts Production Major
Level 2 units
| 102828 | Animation and Visual Effects |
| 102826 | Screen Media Fundamentals |
Students in Public Relations Major
Level 2 units
| 101941 | Account and Client Management |
| 102056 | Communication Strategies |
| 102064 | Issues, Risk and Crisis Communication |
Students in Advertising Major
Level 2 units
| 101941 | Account and Client Management |
| 102056 | Communication Strategies |
Students in Screen Media Major
Level 2 units
| 102828 | Animation and Visual Effects |
| 102829 | Narrative: Fictional Screen Media |
| 102830 | Documentary: Factual Screen Media |
Spring session
| 200984 | Government and Public Law |
Choose one of
| 101930 | Communication Research Project |
Plus two Level 3 units from your chosen major (see below)
Students in Journalism Major
Level 3 units
| 102057 | Digital Journalism Production |
Students in Media Arts Production Major
Level 3 units
Students in Public Relations Major
Level 3 units
| 102729 | Public Relations: Campaigns |
Students in Advertising Major
Level 3 units
Students in Screen Media Major
Level 3 units
Choose one of
| 102780 | Personal Branding Strategies: Build and Manage Your Career Profile |
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
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
| 200813 | Civil Procedure and Arbitration |
Two LLB alternate units
LLB Alternate Units
Students must complete 80 credit points of units from the list of Bachelor of Laws 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 |
| 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 |
| 200755 | Advanced Constitutional Law |
| 200759 | Foundations of Chinese 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 |
| 200900 | Self-Managed Superannuation and Trusts |
| 200905 | Australian Competition Law |
| 200908 | Human Rights and the Asia Pacific |
| 200943 | Practising in the Public Interest |
| 200944 | First Peoples and the Australian Legal System |
| 200955 | Information and Data Governance Law and Regulation |
| 200956 | Islam, International Law and Human Rights |
| 200983 | Foundations of Indian Law |
| 201007 | Revenue Law Industry Placement |
| 201020 | Elder Law Industry Placement |
| 201027 | Law's Self-Understanding |
| 201039 | Technology, Innovation and the Law |
| 201040 | Designing Law Apps for Access to Justice |
| 201089 | Legal, Economic and Social Transformation in Taiwan |
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
Students may be eligible to undertake the embedded Law Honours program as part of their course attempt. Students who meet the criteria for admission to the program must complete the 20 credit point Bachelor of Laws Alternate unit 200700 Law Honours Dissertation.
For criteria for admission to the Law Honours program and further information, see
School of Law Honours Award Level guidelines
Replaced Units
The units listed below count towards completion of this course who passed these units in 2019 or earlier.
102055 - Communication Campaigns
200295 - Bioethics
The units listed below count towards completion of this course who passed these units in 2020 or earlier.
101927 - Foundations of Media Arts Production
102406 - Screen and Sound Practices 1
102407 - Screen and Sound Practices 2
102054 - Animation and Visual Effects