CRICOS Code: 088185C

This program applies to students who commenced in Spring 2018 or later.

Students should follow the program structure for the session start date relevant to the year they commenced.

Commencement Year 2017 to Autumn 2018 - please refer to 1707.3 Bachelor of Communication/Bachelor of International Studies

Commencement Year 2016 - please refer to 1707.2 Bachelor of Communication/Bachelor of International Studies

Commencement Year 2013 to 2015 - please refer to 1707.1 Bachelor of Communication/Bachelor of International Studies

This double degree permits students to undertake multi-skilling into two diverse career paths, providing enhanced marketability into multiple areas of expertise.

The Bachelor of International Studies examines the relationships of societies, cultures, languages and systems of government within the international system. It develops students' capacity to analyse the historical development of relations among nation states and contemporary political, social and cultural issues, such as globalisation, transnationalism and migration. Students complete a major in International Relations and Asian Studies and a minor in Arabic, Chinese or Japanese.

The Bachelor of Communication encompasses a wide range of subjects in the field of communication with a core program of media studies, practice and theory, and specialised Major sequences in Advertising, Journalism, Screen Media and Public Relations.

Students in this double degree also have the opportunity to extend their combined studies through a semester studying abroad. In addition, students complete an internship in their Communications Major.

Students in this double degree also have the opportunity to complete a semester of study overseas and receive advanced standing towards their majors and minors subject to Western Sydney University limits on advanced standing. Students are encouraged to do so but must discuss this with their program advisor first.

Study Mode

Five years full-time or ten years part-time

Program Advice

Dr Myra Gurney

Prospective students should visit the following websites for general enquiries about this program.

Enquire about this program| Local Admission | International Admission |

Location

Location

Campus	Attendance	Mode	Advice
Parramatta Campus - Victoria Road	Full Time	Internal	See above

Accreditation

The Bachelor of Communication is accredited by professional organisations including the Public Relations Institute of Australia (PRIA) and the Media Federation of Australia (MFA).

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 program includes a placement or other community-based unpaid practical experience.

There is a mandatory work component required for completion of this program.  Please contact the Program Advisor listed above for information.

International students should also refer to the link below for more information and a link to the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS).

Work Integrated Learning (WIL) for international students

Admission

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 may be made via the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) or directly through the Western Portal. Use the links below to apply via UAC or Western Sydney University. Applications made directly to Western Sydney do not have an application fee.

http://www.uac.edu.au/
https://westernsydney.uac.edu.au/ws/

Applicants who have undertaken studies overseas may have to provide proof of proficiency in English. Local 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.

International students currently completing an Australian Year 12 in or outside Australia, an International Baccalaureate in Australia or a New Zealand National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) level 3 must apply via UAC International.

http://www.uac.edu.au/

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.

Program Structure

Qualification for this award requires the successful completion of 400 credit points including the subjects listed in the recommended Sequence tab.

Students must complete the four Bachelor of Arts (BA) core subjects (40 credit points):

Subject List

Subject	Title	Credit Points
HUMN 1052	Australian Politics and Active Citizenship	10
LANG 1030	Thinking Critically About Texts and Society	10
HUMN 1053	Diversity, Language and Culture	10
LANG 1029	Foundations of Academic English	10
Total Credit Points		40

Equivalent Core Subjects

The core subjects listed below count towards completion of this program for students who passed these subjects in 2019 or earlier.

HUMN 1002 - Analytical Reading and Writing, replaced by LANG 1029 Foundations of Academic English
HUMN 1005 - Australia and the World, replaced by HUMN 1052 Australian Politics and Active Citizenship
HUMN 1009 - Contemporary Society, replaced by HUMN 1053 Diversity, Language and Culture
LANG 1026 - Texts and Traditions, replaced by LANG 1030 Thinking Critically About Texts and Society

Students must complete the eight Bachelor of Communications core subjects (80 credit points):

Subject List

Subject	Title	Credit Points
COMM 3008	Communication Research Project	10
COMM 1012	Data, Mediation, Power	10
COMM 1020	Media Cultures and Industries	10
COMM 2024	Media Law and Ethics	10
COMM 3022	Media Memory	10
COMM 2032	Professional Writing and Editing	10
DESN 1018	Visual Storytelling	10
COMM 1032	Writing Ecologies	10
Total Credit Points		80

Majors (160 credit points)

Students must complete the International Relations and Asian Studies (IRAS) Major:

And must complete one of the Bachelor of Communication Majors from the list below:

Introductory Subjects to the Communication Majors (40 credit points)

Students must also complete the four introductory subjects to the Communication Majors as per the list below:

Subject List

Subject	Title	Credit Points
MKTG 1001	Advertising: An Introduction	10
COMM 1018	Introduction to Journalism	10
COMM 1039	Introduction to Screen Media	10
MKTG 1009	Public Relations Theory and Practice	10
Total Credit Points		40

Minor (40 credit points)

Students must also complete a minor in Arabic, Chinese, Japanese or Immersion Language (LOTE)

Students should seek program advice in relation to the level 2/3 language sequences.

Note: The following Language sub-majors have inherent requirements. Please see the link below:

Click here for details of the Inherent Requirements

Students may complete the Immersion Language minor which covers languages that are not taught at Western Sydney University. The handbook entry for 0014 Immersion Language contains further details.

Electives used towards major (40 credit points)

For their electives, students may choose four Language subjects and graduate with a major in Arabic, Chinese or Japanese.

Students considering this option should seek program advice as they may need to follow an amended sequence.

The major listed below counts towards completion of this program for students who began studying this majors prior to the year indicated below.

M1094 Media Arts Production, Major, replaced by Screen Media, Major in 2021 (listed above).

Recommended Sequence

Language Skill Level: Beginner

Plan of Study Grid

Year 1
Autumn session		Credit Points
COMM 1032	Writing Ecologies	10
COMM 1018	Introduction to Journalism	10
LANG 1029	Foundations of Academic English	10
HUMN 1053	Diversity, Language and Culture	10
	Credit Points	40
Spring session
DESN 1018	Visual Storytelling	10
MKTG 1001	Advertising: An Introduction	10
LANG 1030	Thinking Critically About Texts and Society	10
HUMN 1052	Australian Politics and Active Citizenship	10
	Credit Points	40
Year 2
Autumn session
COMM 1020	Media Cultures and Industries	10
MKTG 1009	Public Relations Theory and Practice	10
CULT 1001	Asia in the World	10
Select Level 1 Language subject		10
	Credit Points	40
Spring session
COMM 1012	Data, Mediation, Power	10
COMM 1039	Introduction to Screen Media	10
POLI 1007	World Politics and International Relations	10
Select Level 1 Language subject		10
	Credit Points	40
Year 3
Autumn session
POLI 2006	Politics of Australia and Asia Relations	10
Select one Communication Major subject		10
Select two Level 2 Language subjects		20
	Credit Points	40
Spring session
Select one Communication Major subject		10
Select one Communication Major subject		10
Select one IRAS Major subject		10
Select one IRAS Major subject		10
	Credit Points	40
Year 4
Autumn session
COMM 2024	Media Law and Ethics	10
Select three Communication Major subjects or IRAS Major subjects		30
	Credit Points	40
Spring session
COMM 2032	Professional Writing and Editing	10
HUMN 3079	The Asian Century	10
Select two Communication Major subjects or IRAS Major subjects		20
	Credit Points	40
Year 5
Autumn session
Select one of the following:		40
Study Abroad semester with four elective subjects to be studied overseas (consultation with the Academic Program Advisor is required)
Four elective subjects in relevant area to be studied at Western Sydney University (consultation with the Academic Program Advisor is highly recommended) 1
	Credit Points	40
Spring session
COMM 3022	Media Memory	10
COMM 3008	Communication Research Project	10
Select two Communication Major subjects or IRAS Major subjects		20
	Credit Points	40
	Total Credit Points	400

1	Students may choose 4 Language subjects from Arabic, Chinese or Japanese as part of their electives, and graduate with a Major in Arabic, Chinese or Japanese.

Language Skill Level: Intermediate/Advanced

Plan of Study Grid

Year 1
Autumn session		Credit Points
COMM 1032	Writing Ecologies	10
COMM 1018	Introduction to Journalism	10
LANG 1029	Foundations of Academic English	10
HUMN 1053	Diversity, Language and Culture	10
	Credit Points	40
Spring session
DESN 1018	Visual Storytelling	10
MKTG 1001	Advertising: An Introduction	10
LANG 1030	Thinking Critically About Texts and Society	10
HUMN 1052	Australian Politics and Active Citizenship	10
	Credit Points	40
Year 2
Autumn session
COMM 1020	Media Cultures and Industries	10
MKTG 1009	Public Relations Theory and Practice	10
CULT 1001	Asia in the World	10
COMM 2024	Media Law and Ethics	10
	Credit Points	40
Spring session
COMM 1012	Data, Mediation, Power	10
COMM 1039	Introduction to Screen Media	10
POLI 1007	World Politics and International Relations	10
COMM 2032	Professional Writing and Editing	10
	Credit Points	40
Year 3
Autumn session
POLI 2006	Politics of Australia and Asia Relations	10
Select one Communication Major subject		10
Select two Language Level 2/3 subjects		20
	Credit Points	40
Spring session
Select one IRAS Major subject		10
Select one Communication Major subject		10
Select two Language Level 2/3 subjects		20
	Credit Points	40
Year 4
Autumn session
Select four Communication Major subjects or IRAS Major subjects		40
	Credit Points	40
Spring session
HUMN 3079	The Asian Century	10
Select three Communication Major subjects or IRAS Major subjects		30
	Credit Points	40
Year 5
Autumn session
Select one of the following:		40
Study Abroad semester with four elective subjects to be studied overseas (consultation with the Academic Program Advisor is required)
Four elective subjects in relevant area to be studied at Western Sydney University (consultation with the Academic Program Advisor is highly recommended) 1
	Credit Points	40
Spring session
COMM 3022	Media Memory	10
COMM 3008	Communication Research Project	10
Select two Communication Major subjects or IRAS Major subjects		20
	Credit Points	40
	Total Credit Points	400

1	Students may choose 4 Language subjects from Arabic, Chinese or Japanese as part of their electives, and graduate with a Major in Arabic, Chinese or Japanese.

Language Skill Level: Beginner/Intermediate/Advanced (Indonesian language only)

Plan of Study Grid

Year 1
Autumn session		Credit Points
COMM 1032	Writing Ecologies	10
COMM 1018	Introduction to Journalism	10
LANG 1029	Foundations of Academic English	10
HUMN 1053	Diversity, Language and Culture	10
	Credit Points	40
Spring session
DESN 1018	Visual Storytelling	10
MKTG 1001	Advertising: An Introduction	10
LANG 1030	Thinking Critically About Texts and Society	10
HUMN 1052	Australian Politics and Active Citizenship	10
	Credit Points	40
Year 2
Autumn session
COMM 1020	Media Cultures and Industries	10
MKTG 1009	Public Relations Theory and Practice	10
CULT 1001	Asia in the World	10
Select one Language subject (Indonesian)		10
	Credit Points	40
Spring session
COMM 1012	Data, Mediation, Power	10
COMM 1039	Introduction to Screen Media	10
POLI 1007	World Politics and International Relations	10
Select one Language subject (Indonesian)		10
	Credit Points	40
Year 3
Autumn session
POLI 2006	Politics of Australia and Asia Relations	10
Select one Communication Major subject		10
Select one IRAS Major subject		10
Select one Language subject (Indonesian)		10
	Credit Points	40
Spring session
Select one Communication Major subject		10
Select one Communication Major subject		10
Select one IRAS Major subject		10
Select one Language subject (Indonesian)		10
	Credit Points	40
Year 4
Autumn session
COMM 2024	Media Law and Ethics	10
Select three Communication Major subjects or IRAS Major subjects		30
	Credit Points	40
Spring session
COMM 2032	Professional Writing and Editing	10
HUMN 3079	The Asian Century	10
Select two Communication Major subjects or IRAS Major subjects		20
	Credit Points	40
Year 5
Autumn session
Select one of the following:		40
Study Abroad semester with four elective subjects to be studied overseas (consultation with the Academic Program Advisor is required)
Four elective subjects in relevant area to be studied at Western Sydney University (consultation with the Academic Program Advisor is highly recommended) 1
	Credit Points	40
Spring session
COMM 3022	Media Memory	10
COMM 3008	Communication Research Project	10
Select two Communication Major subjects or IRAS Major subjects		20
	Credit Points	40
	Total Credit Points	400

1	Students may choose 4 Indonesian Language subjects as part of their electives and graduate with a Major in Indonesian.

Equivalent Core Subjects

The core subject listed below count towards completion of this program for students who passed this subject in 2022 or earlier.

POLI 1002 Introduction to International Relations, replaced by POLI 1007 World Politics and International Relations