Future Students

Communication Studies

What we know of the world and how we can act in it is critically related to the use of technologies of communication, from spoken language and written text to images on a screen or avatars on the web.

The Bachelor of Arts (Communication Studies) provides a multi-disciplinary approach to the study of communication together with a strong discipline-based training in the arts, humanities and social sciences.

Core units in the degree combine theoretical knowledge with the development of practical communication skills, including the use of the latest digital multimedia technology. 

Bachelor of Arts major

All Communication Studies students will take a disciplinary major within the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. The majors available are:

Anthropology
Asian Studies
Chinese
Classics (Latin, Greek)
Economics
English
European Studies
Fine Arts
French
German
History
Indonesian
Italian
Japanese
Linguistics
Mathematics
Music
Philosophy
Political Science

It is also possible to take a major sequence in other Arts subjects such as Women's Studies, or to take certain units from other faculties, such as marketing and management.

Communication Studies core units: Core units will examine communication from a number of different perspectives, through the study of language, culture, visual communication, mass media and new media. You will also gain knowledge of applied communication, through the study of communications policy and industry practice. At the same time, you will learn to use digital technologies such as audiovisual recording equipment, video editing software, and web-authoring software. Digital projects will be supervised by the Arts Multimedia Centre. Apart from the major subjects and the core units, you may select additional units according to your interest from named streams.

The Communication Studies streams are: culture and media; visual communication; language; power, representations and influence; and communicative practice.

Arts Practicum: You may also choose to take a communication based Practicum unit, giving you the opportunity to put into practice in the workplace the knowledge you have gained during your course. This is an excellent way to gain relevant experience in a professional environment.

Career opportunities

The course will equip you with flexible, generic, portable and internationally recognised skills essential in a rapidly changing media and communications environment.  The broad skills base and adaptable approach of graduates in Communication Studies will make you valuable in areas such as journalism, the media, advertising, public relations, multimedia, public administration, business, government and education.