University of Technology Sydney

57209 Strategic Communication Project

Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a particular session, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.

Subject handbook information prior to 2024 is available in the Archives.

UTS: Communication: Strategic Communication
Credit points: 16 cp
Result type: Grade and marks

There are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.

Description

This capstone subject allows students to pursue further studies in their area of professional and/or scholarly interest in the field of strategic communication. They further develop their critical and analytical skills appropriate to working in consultancy and advanced management roles. Students reflect on and apply learning from all subjects in the course to a work-related project. They produce a major document that may be a strategic communication plan for an organisation or a campaign; a critical analysis of an existing communication strategy or campaign; an evaluation of a communication strategy or campaign; or a small original research project to inform a strategic communication campaign. The project should demonstrate evidence of original research as well as reflective and critical thinking.

Subject learning objectives (SLOs)

a. Analyse theoretical concepts and professional practices in communication
b. Design and conduct a project in an area of their professional and/or scholarly interest in strategic communication management
c. Effectively produce and support recommendations for strategic communication

Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)

This subject engages with the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs), which are tailored to the Graduate Attributes set for all graduates of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences:

  • Apply an advanced body of practice-oriented knowledge and skills to develop, implement and evaluate innovative solutions to real-world communication challenges with a high level of personal autonomy, leadership and accountability (1.1)
  • Plan, execute and utilise a substantial body of research for professional practice (2.1)
  • Critically and creatively rethink and reflect on public relations, advertising and organisational change models and practices for the 21st century beyond dominant models and approaches and seek innovative approaches (2.2)
  • Locate, gather, organise and synthesise information across diverse platforms to guide their mastery of contemporary communication issues and challenges (2.3)
  • Graduates have high-level knowledge and skills to engage with diverse audiences through both written and oral communication strategies, across a range of media formats, with consideration of others' needs and views (6.1)

Teaching and learning strategies

The subject explores an experiential learning approach where students are immersed in a practical case study where they develop a conceptually informed report for a strategic communication campaign. Students interact with each other and with the subject coordinator, both within and outside formal class sessions. Individual consultations provide students with advice and feedback on developing and managing their strategic communication projects. Formative feedback will be provided in weeks 2 and 4 on the first assessment. In week 8, students receive formative feedback in class on assessment 2.

Content (topics)

Contemporary industry practice

Context of practice within the theory of strategic communication management

Project management

Advanced research techniques

Effective professional writing and presentation

Assessment

Assessment task 1: Situation Analysis Report

Objective(s):

a, b and c

Weight: 40%
Length:

2,000 words

Criteria linkages:
Criteria Weight (%) SLOs CILOs
Depth of analysis of communication theory and concepts 30 a 2.2
Integration of literature and original research 30 b 2.3
Coherence of structure 20 a 6.1
Clarity of expression 20 c 6.1
SLOs: subject learning objectives
CILOs: course intended learning outcomes

Assessment task 2: Strategic Communication Research Design, Implementation, and Report

Objective(s):

a, b and c

Weight: 60%
Length:

4000 words

Criteria linkages:
Criteria Weight (%) SLOs CILOs
Persuasiveness of the research design rationale 30 a 1.1
Appropriateness of methodological choices 25 b 2.1
Clarity of expression 15 c 6.1
Well supported recommendations 30 c 2.3
SLOs: subject learning objectives
CILOs: course intended learning outcomes

Minimum requirements

Attendance

Attendance at classes is essential in this subject because it is based on a collaborative approach which involves workshopping and interchange of ideas with other students and the tutor. An attendance roll will be taken at each class. Where possible, students should advise the tutor in a timely manner if they are unable to attend. Students must attend a minimum of 9 of 11 classes, or a minimum equivalent of 80% of their contact hours (see additional information for additional details). Students who fail to meet this attendance requirement will, in the case of an individual final assessment task, be refused the marking of their final assessment; or, in the case of a group/team final assessment task, be penalised 20% of their earned overall mark for the subject.