Course

Bachelor of Communication/Bachelor of Laws

Approved 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

M1121Advertising
M1067Journalism
M1122Public Relations
M1094Media 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.

M1135Screen Media

Recommended Sequence

Full-time

Year 1

Autumn session

200977Fundamentals of Australian Law
200010Criminal Law

Two of the following eight core first year Communications units

100706Advertising: An Introduction
102421Data, Mediation, Power
102825Introduction to Screen Media
100556Introduction to Journalism
101926Media Cultures and Industries
100212Public Relations Theory and Practice
101921Visual Storytelling
101920Writing Ecologies

Spring session

200978Legal Analysis and Critique
200008Torts Law

Two of the following eight core first year Communications units

100706Advertising: An Introduction
102421Data, Mediation, Power
102825Introduction to Screen Media
100556Introduction to Journalism
101926Media Cultures and Industries
100212Public Relations Theory and Practice
101921Visual Storytelling
101920Writing Ecologies

Year 2

Autumn session

200011Contracts

Choose one of

101928Media Law and Ethics
101929Professional Writing and Editing

Plus two of the first year units listed above.

Spring session

200811Alternative Dispute Resolution

Choose one of

101928Media Law and Ethics
101929Professional Writing and Editing

Plus two of the remaining first year units listed above.

Year 3

Autumn session

200020Professional Responsibility and Legal Ethics

Choose one of

101930Communication Research Project
101931Media Memory

Plus two Level 2 units from your chosen major (see below)

Students in Journalism Major

Level 2 units

102061Feature Writing
102017Journalism: Research and Investigation
102062News Reporting
100953Photo Journalism

Students in Media Arts Production Major

Level 2 units

102828Animation and Visual Effects
101935Documentary Media
102826Screen Media Fundamentals
102827Digital Narrative

Students in Public Relations Major

Level 2 units

101941Account and Client Management
102056Communication Strategies
101940Events Management
102064Issues, Risk and Crisis Communication

Students in Advertising Major

Level 2 units

101941Account and Client Management
100552Advertising: Creative
101034Advertising: Media
102056Communication Strategies

Students in Screen Media Major

Level 2 units

102828Animation and Visual Effects
102829Narrative: Fictional Screen Media
102830Documentary: Factual Screen Media

Spring session

200984Government and Public Law

Choose one of

101930Communication Research Project
101931Media Memory

Plus two Level 3 units from your chosen major (see below)

Students in Journalism Major

Level 3 units

102057Digital Journalism Production
101173Internship
102063News Teams
101939Transmedia Production

Students in Media Arts Production Major

Level 3 units

101173Internship
101938Media Arts Project
101939Transmedia Production
102408TV Production 1
102409TV Production 2

Students in Public Relations Major

Level 3 units

102518Digital Communication
102729Public Relations: Campaigns
101173Internship

Students in Advertising Major

Level 3 units

102730Advertising: Campaigns
102518Digital Communication
101173Internship

Students in Screen Media Major

Level 3 units

102831Episodic Screen Media
102832Immersive Screen Media

Choose one of

101173Internship
102780Personal 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

200757Equity & Trusts
200012Property Law

Two LLB alternate units

Spring session

200013Administrative Law
200018Law of Associations

Two LLB alternate units

Year 5

Autumn session

200009Constitutional Law
200015Criminal Procedure and Evidence

Two LLB alternate units

Spring session

200756Remedies
200813Civil 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.

200019Revenue Law
200021Land Transactions Law
200186Advanced Taxation Law
200220International Criminal Law
200271Financial Services Law
200294Mediation
201044Bioethics
200296Law Economics and Business Ethics
200297Law of Employment
200298Immigration and Refugee Law
200529Comparative Law: Legal Systems of the World
200629Advanced Family Law
200632Elder Law
200633Family Law
200635Human Rights Law
200637Intellectual Property
200638International Business Transactions Law
200639International Trade Law
200641Wills and Succession
200646Advocacy
200647Planning and Environment Law
200649Jurisprudence
200650Advanced Torts and Civil Wrongs
200652Space Law - Commercial Aspects
200653Public International Law
200654Anti-Discrimination Law
200656Conflict of Laws
200657Corporate Governance
200659Insolvency Law and Policy
200661Media Law
200663International Moot Court
200697Banking and Securities Law
200699Clinical Legal Placement
200700Law Honours Dissertation
200701Issues in the Criminal Justice System
200702Public Health Law
200704Independent Study (Law)
200755Advanced Constitutional Law
200758Transactional Law
200759Foundations of Chinese Law
200772Family Dispute Resolution
200773Moot Court
200799Work Health and Safety Law
200800International Climate Law
200801International Environmental Law
200802Law and Public Policy (Development and Implementation)
200803Law of International Organisations
200804Law of the Sea
200856Medical Law
200858Australian Consumer Law
200900Self-Managed Superannuation and Trusts
200905Australian Competition Law
200908Human Rights and the Asia Pacific
200943Practising in the Public Interest
200944First Peoples and the Australian Legal System
200955Information and Data Governance Law and Regulation
200956Islam, International Law and Human Rights
200982Mental Health Law
200983Foundations of Indian Law
201007Revenue Law Industry Placement
201018Cyber Law and Justice
201020Elder Law Industry Placement
201027Law's Self-Understanding
201028Judicial Internship
201039Technology, Innovation and the Law
201040Designing Law Apps for Access to Justice
201080Legal Internship
201089Legal, 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



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