C09093v4 Bachelor of Communication (Journalism) Bachelor of Laws (Honours)
Award(s): Bachelor of Communication (Journalism) (BComm)Bachelor of Laws (Honours) (LLB(Hons))
Commonwealth supported place?: Yes
Load credit points: 240
Course EFTSL: 5
Location: City campus
Notes
This is an exit-only course. There is no direct admission to it. Current UTS students may be able to submit an Internal Course Transfer (Graduating) application to exit with this course. See the Course transfer page for further details.
Overview
Career options
Course intended learning outcomes
Inherent (essential) requirements
Assumed knowledge
Course duration and attendance
Course structure
Course completion requirements
Course diagram
Course program
Levels of award
Honours
Professional recognition
Other information
Overview
This course is offered jointly by UTS Law and UTS Communication. It aims to produce journalists with the knowledge and analytical skills of lawyers, and lawyers with the communication skills of professional journalists. It develops a broad range of professional skills and knowledge for either legal or media practice.
Honours relates to the law component only and students must successfully complete both of the research subjects: 76090 Research Methodology and 76040 Research Thesis. Strong research skills are valued highly in contemporary professional practice.
For those wishing to specialise after graduation, the course offers a number of possibilities, including media and communications legal practice, policy and research work, specialist legal and crime reporting and publishing for print, internet, radio or television, and legal communications or publishing in the private sector.
Students have the opportunity to engage in deeper study of the law by studying 76090 Research Methodology and undertaking 76040 Research Thesis. This course can be a pathway to higher degree research programs.
Career options
Career options include journalist with professional skills in one or more of the print, radio, television or internet media; lawyer in the media and communication industry or legal policy adviser in a government department such as the Australian Broadcasting Authority.
Course intended learning outcomes
| COM.1.1 | Act in a professional manner appropriate to communication industries. |
| COM.1.2 | Apply theoretically informed understandings of communication industries to independent and collaborative projects across a range of media. |
| COM.2.1 | Employ appropriate research and inquiry skills to independently gather, organise and analyse information across diverse platforms. |
| COM.2.2 | Act as reflexive critical thinkers and innovative creative practitioners who evaluate their own and others' work. |
| COM.3.1 | Demonstrate a strong awareness, knowledge of, and sensitivity to, diversity, equity and global contexts. |
| COM.4.1 | Apply knowledge of Indigenous issues in professional practices and engage responsibly in communicating with and about Indigenous people and communities. |
| COM.5.1 | Analyse and act ethically in the personal, political and professional contexts of civil society. |
| COM.6.1 | Exemplify effective and appropriate communication in different communication industry contexts. |
| COM.6.2 | Utilise digital literacy and production skills across a range of media. |
| LAW.1.1 | A coherent and advanced understanding of fundamental areas of legal knowledge including:
a. The Australian colonial and post-colonial legal system, international and comparative contexts, theoretical and technical knowledge; b. The broader contexts within which legal issues arise and the law operates including cultural awareness, social justice and policy; c. The impact of Anglo-Australian laws on Indigenous peoples, including their historical origins in the process of colonisation and ongoing impact; d. The principles and values of justice and ethical practices in lawyers’ roles; e. Advanced theoretical and technical knowledge of underlying legal principles and concepts in one or more areas of practice or inquiry. |
| LAW.2.1 | A capacity to value and promote honesty, integrity, accountability, public service and ethical standards including: a. An understanding of approaches to ethical decision making and professional responsibility; b. An ability to recognise, reflect upon and respond to ethical issues likely to arise in professional contexts in ways that evidence professional judgment, promote justice and serve the community; and c. An ability to reflect on and engage constructively with diversity in practice. |
| LAW.3.1 | An advanced capacity to think critically, strategically and creatively, including the ability to: a. Identify and articulate legal issues in context, including the skill of critical reading and writing; b. Apply reasoning and research to generate appropriate responses to sometimes complex legal problems; c. Engage in critical analysis and make a reasoned choice amongst alternatives; and d. Think creatively in approaching legal issues and generating appropriate responses. |
| LAW.4.1 | Well-developed cognitive and practical skills necessary to identify, research, evaluate and synthesise relevant factual, legal and policy issues; advanced knowledge of legal research principles and different methodologies, and technical and planning skills to design and apply research to a significant scholarly piece of work. |
| LAW.5.1 | Effective and appropriate communication skills including: a. Highly effective use of the English language to convey legal ideas and views to different and diverse audiences and environments; b. An ability to communicate to inform, analyse, report and persuade; c. An ability to strategically select an appropriate medium and message; d. An ability to assess how messages are received and alter communication strategies accordingly; e. An ability to be responsive and adaptive to the perspectives of collaborators, clients, counter parties and others; and f. An ability to communicate a clear and coherent exposition of legal research and scholarship orally and in writing. |
| LAW.6.1 | Effective and appropriate collaboration skills in working together to achieve a common goal in a group learning environment or the workplace including: a. An ability to give and receive feedback; b. Appropriate professional and interpersonal skills in working collaboratively; c. A capacity to develop strategies to successfully negotiate group challenges; and d. An ability to be responsive and adaptive to the perspectives of collaborators, clients, counter parties and others. |
| LAW.7.1 | The capacity to work with Indigenous peoples in a professional context; a. To respect, recognise and advocate for Indigenous strengths and self-determination; b. To acknowledge and respect Indigenous Knowledges; c. To understand the impact of colonisation, specifically historical and ongoing racism and the economic impact of dispossession resulting in social and economic exclusion, and d. To identify and challenge the deficit narratives and biases of Anglo-Australian laws towards Indigenous Australians. |
| LAW.8.1 | The ability to implement appropriate self-management and lifelong learning strategies including: a. An ability to undertake and initiate self-directed work and learning, including authorship of a significant piece of work; b. Well-developed judgment and responsibility as a legal professional in a broader social context; c. The ability to support personal and professional development by: I. Reflecting on and assessing their own capabilities, wellbeing and performance; II. Making use of feedback as appropriate; III. Identifying and accessing appropriate resources and assistance; IV. Making use of resources and support in developing resilience; and d. A capacity to adapt to and embrace change and a commitment to ongoing learning. |
Key
LAW = Law course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
COM = Communication course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
Inherent (essential) requirements
Inherent (essential) requirements are academic and non-academic requirements that are essential to the successful completion of a course.
Prospective and current students should carefully read the Inherent (Essential) Requirements Statement below and consider whether they might experience challenges in successfully completing this course. This Statement should be read in conjunction with the UTS Student Rules.
Prospective or current student concerned about their ability to meet these requirements should discuss their concerns with the Academic Liaison Officer in their faculty or school and/or UTS Accessibility Service on 9514 1177 or at accessibility@uts.edu.au.
UTS will make reasonable adjustments to teaching and learning, assessment, professional experiences, course related work experience and other course activities to facilitate maximum participation by students with disabilities, carer responsibilities, and religious or cultural obligations in their courses.
For course specific information see the Bachelor of Music and Sound Design, Bachelor of Communication (Media Arts and Production), Bachelor of Communication (Journalism), Bachelor of Animation Production Inherent (Essential) Requirements Statement
and the Faculty of Law Inherent (Essential) Requirements Statement.
Assumed knowledge
Proficiency in English and computer literacy.
Course duration and attendance
The course is offered on a five-year, full-time basis. Students are required to attend approximately 17 hours of seminars and lectures a week. Timetable constraints may require attendance at daytime and evening classes for the law component.
Course structure
The course comprises 240 credit points. The study components for course completion are as follows.
The law component of 144 credit points is made up of:
- 108 credit points of compulsory core law subjects
- a 6-credit-point legal theory option
- a 30-credit-point law option, which includes either:
- 18 credit points of law options, a 6-credit-point research methodology subject, a 6-credit-point research thesis subject, or
- a 6-credit-point technology law, policy and ethics (Capstone 1) subject, a 6-credit-point applied project in law, innovation and technology (Capstone 2) subject, a 6-credit-point research methodology subject, a 6-credit-point research thesis subject, and either a disruptive technologies and the law subject or a local internship.
The communication component of 96 credit points is made up of:
- 24 credit points of compulsory subjects
- 48 credit points of subjects from the Journalism major, and
- 24 credit points of electives from cross-disciplinary subjects.
For a current listing of subjects in each course refer to the study package directory.
Industrial training/professional practice
To practise as a lawyer in NSW, students need to successfully complete an accredited legal academic qualification (e.g. Bachelor of Laws) and an accredited course of practical legal training (PLT), which UTS offers through its PLT program.
Students enrolled in this course may complete their practical legal training by undertaking a postgraduate course in PLT, such as the Graduate Certificate in Professional Legal Practice (C11232).
Course completion requirements
| STM91104 Communication core | 24cp | |
| MAJ09478 Journalism | 48cp | |
| STM90691 Law stream | 144cp | |
| CBK92067 Electives (8cp subjects) | 24cp | |
| Total | 240cp |
Course diagram
Course program
The standard program shown is for a full-time student with law options.
All options shown are law options and are to be drawn from those on offer in CBK91100.
Students wishing to study the new major MAJ09444 Legal Futures and Technology need to study 76106 Technology Law, Policy and Ethics (Capstone 1) in the Autumn session of their final year and 76107 Applied Project in Law, Innovation and Technology (Capstone 2) in their final Spring session.
| Year 1 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| 54000 Citizenship and Communication | 8cp | |
| 52640 Media Law and Ethics | 6cp | |
| 70102 Foundations of Law | 8cp | |
| Spring session | ||
| 54001 Digital Literacies | 8cp | |
| 52641 News Now | 6cp | |
| 52642 Multimedia Features | 6cp | |
| 70103 Ethics Law and Justice | 6cp | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| 54002 Communicating Difference | 8cp | |
| 52643 Sound Journalism | 6cp | |
| 70114 Criminal Law and Procedure | 8cp | |
| Spring session | ||
| 70211 Contracts | 8cp | |
| 52644 Visual Journalism | 6cp | |
| 70311 Torts | 8cp | |
| Select 8 credit points from the following: | 8cp | |
| CBK92067 Electives (8cp subjects) | 24cp | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| 70616 Australian Constitutional Law | 8cp | |
| 52645 Digital Journalism Research | 6cp | |
| 70104 Civil Practice | 6cp | |
| Spring session | ||
| 70327 Introduction to Property and Commercial Law | 6cp | |
| 52647 Professional Project | 6cp | |
| 70109 Evidence | 6cp | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| Select 6 credit points from the following: | 6cp | |
| CBK91100 Options (Honours) | 18cp | |
| 70617 Administrative Law | 8cp | |
| 70108 Public International Law | 6cp | |
| 52646 Investigations, Data and Collaboration | 6cp | |
| Spring session | ||
| Select 8 credit points from the following: | 8cp | |
| CBK92067 Electives (8cp subjects) | 24cp | |
| 70317 Real Property | 8cp | |
| 70517 Equity and Trusts | 8cp | |
| Year 5 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| 70417 Corporate Law | 8cp | |
| Select 8 credit points from the following: | 8cp | |
| CBK92067 Electives (8cp subjects) | 24cp | |
| 71116 Remedies | 6cp | |
| 76090 Research Methodology | 6cp | |
| Spring session | ||
| 76040 Research Thesis | 6cp | |
| Select 12 credit points from the following: | 12cp | |
| CBK91100 Options (Honours) | 18cp | |
| Select 6 credit points from the following: | 6cp | |
| 76008 Jurisprudence | 6cp | |
| 76033 Animal Law and Policy in Australia | 6cp | |
| 76057 Judgment and the Rule of Law | 6cp | |
| 76081 Gender and Law | 6cp | |
| 78039 Wickedness and Vice | 6cp | |
| 76902 Law and Literature | 6cp | |
| 76012 Criminology | 6cp | |
| 76068 Indigenous Peoples and the Law | 6cp | |
Levels of award
The Bachelor of Laws (Honours) may be awarded with first or second class honours, which does not require an additional honours year. Honours candidates must complete 76090 Research Methodology and 76040 Research Thesis within the course. The rules concerning the Bachelor of Laws (Honours) can be found in undergraduate course information.
Honours
The Bachelor of Communication (Honours) (C09047) is offered on a one-year, full-time basis.
Professional recognition
- This course satisfies the requirements for admission to the Supreme Court of NSW as a lawyer, provided students complete a practical legal training program, such as the Graduate Certificate in Professional Legal Practice (C11232).
- Graduates are eligible to apply for professional level membership of the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA).
- Students are eligible for student membership of the MEAA and access to the MEAA, Women in Media and Walkley Foundation network which provides skill development programs.
- The Bachelor of Communications (Journalism) is recognised by the MEAA and the Australian Press Council.
Other information
Further information is available from:
UTS Student Centre
telephone 1300 ask UTS (1300 275 887)
or +61 2 9514 1222
Ask UTS