University of Technology Sydney

C10369v2 Bachelor of Communication (Writing and Publishing)

Award(s): Bachelor of Communication (Writing and Publishing) (BComm)
UAC code: 600033 (Autumn session, Spring session, Spring session)
CRICOS code: 087737F
Commonwealth supported place?: Yes
Load credit points: 144
Course EFTSL: 3
Location: City Campus

Notes

Students who commenced the Bachelor of Communication (Creative Writing) before 2022 can view their revised program of study here.


Overview
Course aims
Career options
Innovation and Transdisciplinary program
Course intended learning outcomes
Admission requirements
Inherent requirements
External articulation
Course duration and attendance
Course structure
Course completion requirements
Course diagram
Course program
Honours
Other information

Overview

For those with an interest in different forms of creative writing and publishing, this practice-based course provides the skills and industry knowledge to work in the field. The Bachelor of Communication (Writing and Publishing) at UTS is an industry-led course, designed and taught by a team of award-winning published authors, editors, scholars and industry professionals. Writing and Publishing builds students’ knowledge of Australian and global publishing contexts, as well as writing and storytelling across an array of formats, like fiction and nonfiction, screenwriting, digital content and games. Students also develop strengths in critical thinking, research, editing and publishing and storytelling in broader contexts – all skills transferable to a wide range of industries and careers.

To hone their skills, students engage in interactive classes led by skilled practitioners. Subjects often rely on workshopping, with students learning key concepts, applying these to their own writing, and collaborating with other students to provide and receive feedback. In this way the course provides students with a brilliant opportunity to be a part of a unique writer’s studio and develop their craft, finishing with a folio of works covering key forms and genres.

Course aims

The aims of this degree are:

  • to produce graduates with a strong grounding in, and comprehensive knowledge of, contemporary writing practices and the publishing industry,
  • to enable students to develop innovative, creative and ethical practices as writers and editors, appropriate to a variety of professional and cultural contexts,
  • to equip students with the critical, creative and collaborative skills, aptitudes and experiences to gain employment or progress to further study.

Career options

To increase career flexibility, students can add a second major from five of the other majors offered in the Bachelor of Communication, and build further skills and portfolios that equip them for a range of work options in media and communication. These courses give students practical and transferrable skills for the expanding media industries.

Graduates of this course have found work as writers of fiction and nonfiction in a variety of forms, both as freelance writers and in media organisations. These skills are transferable to careers in communication and marketing, and in organisations with communication processes, such as government, NGOs, industry and cultural groups.

Innovation and Transdisciplinary program

Transdisciplinarity and Innovation at UTS

All UTS students have the opportunity to develop distinctive capabilities around transdisciplinary thinking and innovation through the TD School. Transdisciplinary education at UTS brings together great minds from different disciplines to explore ideas that improve the way we live and work in the world. These offerings are unique to UTS and directly translate to many existing and emerging roles and careers.

Diploma in Innovation

The Diploma in Innovation (C20060) teaches innovation, supports personal transformation and provides the hard skills needed to support the inventors and inventions of the future. Students come out of the Diploma in Innovation, with the hard skills to create and support sectoral and societal transformation. Graduates are able to fluently integrate ideas, across professional disciplines and are inventors of the future.

All UTS undergraduate students (with the exception of students concurrently enrolled in the Bachelor of Creative Intelligence and Innovation) can apply for the Diploma in Innovation upon admission in their chosen undergraduate degree. It is a complete degree program that runs in parallel to any undergraduate degree. The course is offered on a three-year, part-time basis, with subjects running in 3-week long intensive blocks in July, December and February sessions. More information including a link to apply is available at https://dipinn.uts.edu.au.

Transdisciplinary electives program

Transdisciplinary electives broaden students' horizons and supercharge their problem-solving skills, helping them to learn outside, beyond and across their degrees. Students enrolled in an undergraduate course that includes electives can choose to take a transdisciplinary subject (with the exception of students concurrently enrolled in the Bachelor of Creative Intelligence and Innovation). More information about the TD Electives program is available here.

Course intended learning outcomes

This course 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:

1.1 Act in a professional manner appropriate to communication industries
1.2 Apply theoretically informed understandings of communication industries to independent and collaborative projects across a range of media
2.1 Employ appropriate research and inquiry skills to independently gather, organise and analyse information across diverse platforms
2.2 Act as reflexive critical thinkers and innovative creative practitioners who evaluate their own and others' work
3.1 Demonstrate a strong awareness, knowledge of, and sensitivity to, diversity, equity and global contexts
4.1 Apply knowledge of Indigenous issues in professional practices and engage responsibly in communicating with and about Indigenous people and communities
5.1 Analyse and act ethically in the personal, political and professional contexts of civil society
6.1 Exemplify effective and appropriate communication in different communication industry contexts
6.2 Utilise digital literacy and production skills across a range of media

Admission requirements

Applicants must have completed an Australian Year 12 qualification, Australian Qualifications Framework Diploma, or equivalent Australian or overseas qualification at the required level.

The English proficiency requirement for international students or local applicants with international qualifications is: IELTS Academic: 6.5 overall with a writing score of 6.0; or TOEFL iBT: 79-93 overall with a writing score of 21; or AE5: Pass; or PTE: 58-64 with a writing score of 50; or C1A/C2P: 176-184 with a writing score of 169.

Eligibility for admission does not guarantee offer of a place.

International students

Visa requirement: To obtain a student visa to study in Australia, international students must enrol full time and on campus. Australian student visa regulations also require international students studying on student visas to complete the course within the standard full-time duration. Students can extend their courses only in exceptional circumstances.

Inherent requirements

Inherent requirements are academic and non-academic requirements that are essential to the successful completion of a course. For more information about inherent requirements and where prospective and current students can get assistance and advice regarding these, see the UTS Inherent requirements page.

Prospective and current students should carefully read the Inherent Requirements Statement below and consider whether they might experience challenges in successfully completing this course.

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 Communication Inherent (Essential) Requirements Statement.

External articulation

The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences has established credit recognition packages with the following institutions:

  • UTS College: Diploma of Communication
  • Nanyang Polytechnic, Singapore
  • Temasek Polytechnic, Singapore
  • Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Singapore

Course duration and attendance

The course is offered on a three-year, full-time basis.

Course structure

Students must complete 144 credit points consisting of 24 credit points of core subjects, a 48-credit-point major, a potential 48-credit-point second major, and 24 credit points of electives.

Industrial training/professional practice

Students participate in two Work-Integrated Learning subjects. In the second year of their degree, in a simulated work environment, they edit and produce a literary journal, experiencing each stage of the publication process first-hand. In their third year, students undertake an inquiry-based project investigating current issues in writing and publishing, with input from industry mentors. As writers in their final year, they develop an extended piece of creative writing in a form or genre of their choice.

Course completion requirements

STM91104 Communication core 24cp
MAJ09477 Writing and Publishing 48cp
CBK92062 Elective Choice 24cp
CBK92092 Second Major/ Electives 48cp
Total 144cp

Course diagram

Course diagram: C10369

Course program

Typical course programs are shown below for students commencing in either Autumn or Spring session who are completing 8 credit point elective subjects. Students also have the option to complete 6 credit point elective subjects under CBK92062 Elective Choice instead.

All students choose a second major stream when enrolling in their first session. This 18 credit point stream consists of three major subjects from another major (excluding Media Arts and Production).

Students who choose not to continue with their second major choice can continue in their course by choosing 30 credit points of electives (i.e., five 6 credit point subjects) - this should be requested via eRequest.

Autumn commencing, full time
Year 1
Autumn session
54000 Citizenship and Communication   8cp
52690 Narrative in Theory and Practice   6cp
52691 Writing and Editing Foundations   6cp
Select 6 credit points from the following:   6cp
CBK92086 Stream choice 18cp  
Spring session
54001 Digital Literacies   8cp
52692 Imagining the Real   6cp
Select 12 credit points from the following:   12cp
CBK92086 Stream choice 18cp  
Year 2
Autumn session
54002 Communicating Difference   8cp
52650 Screen Story   6cp
52694 Publishing Cultures   6cp
Select 6 credit points from the following:   6cp
CBK92080 Second Major Choice 48cp  
CBK92066 Electives 30cp  
Spring session
52695 Adaptations   6cp
Select 8 credit points from the following:   8cp
CBK92062 Elective Choice 24cp  
Select 12 credit points from the following:   12cp
CBK92080 Second Major Choice 48cp  
CBK92066 Electives 30cp  
Year 3
Autumn session
52696 Professional Pathways in Writing and Publishing   6cp
Select 6 credit points from the following:   6cp
CBK92080 Second Major Choice 48cp  
CBK92066 Electives 30cp  
Select 8 credit points from the following:   8cp
CBK92062 Elective Choice 24cp  
Spring session
52697 Major Writing Project   6cp
Select 6 credit points from the following:   6cp
CBK92080 Second Major Choice 48cp  
CBK92066 Electives 30cp  
Select 8 credit points from the following:   8cp
CBK92062 Elective Choice 24cp  
Spring commencing, full time
Year 1
Spring session
54001 Digital Literacies   8cp
52691 Writing and Editing Foundations   6cp
52692 Imagining the Real   6cp
Select 6 credit points from the following:   6cp
CBK92086 Stream choice 18cp  
Year 2
Autumn session
54000 Citizenship and Communication   8cp
52690 Narrative in Theory and Practice   6cp
Select 12 credit points from the following:   12cp
CBK92086 Stream choice 18cp  
Spring session
52694 Publishing Cultures   6cp
52695 Adaptations   6cp
Select 12 credit points from the following:   12cp
CBK92080 Second Major Choice 48cp  
CBK92066 Electives 30cp  
Year 3
Autumn session
52650 Screen Story   6cp
52696 Professional Pathways in Writing and Publishing   6cp
Select 6 credit points from the following:   6cp
CBK92080 Second Major Choice 48cp  
CBK92066 Electives 30cp  
Select 8 credit points from the following:   8cp
CBK92062 Elective Choice 24cp  
Spring session
52697 Major Writing Project   6cp
Select 6 credit points from the following:   6cp
CBK92080 Second Major Choice 48cp  
CBK92066 Electives 30cp  
Select 8 credit points from the following:   8cp
CBK92062 Elective Choice 24cp  
Year 4
Autumn session
54002 Communicating Difference   8cp
Select 8 credit points from the following:   8cp
CBK92062 Elective Choice 24cp  
Select 6 credit points from the following:   6cp
CBK92080 Second Major Choice 48cp  
CBK92066 Electives 30cp  

Honours

The Bachelor of Communication (Honours) (C09047) is available with an additional year of full-time study for eligible students.

Other information

Further information is available from the UTS Student Centre on:

telephone 1300 ask UTS (1300 275 887)
or +61 2 9514 1222
Ask UTS