Bachelor of Communication/Bachelor of Laws (Honours) (2833)
- Approved Abbreviation: BComm/LLB(Hons)
- Western Sydney University Program Code: 2833
- AQF Level: 8
CRICOS code: 108420E
This program applies to students who commenced in 2022 or later.
This program is designed for high achieving law students in the Bachelor of Communication/ Bachelor of Laws program who wish to undertake an extended level of study and research in Law. An honours degree indicates academic excellence in a professional context and, as an Australian Qualifications Framework Level 8 qualification, students may also have direct entry into postgraduate programs including Masters and Doctor of Philosophy programs.
There is no direct entry into the Honours program. Entry is by application only following completion of at least 160 credit points of Law study and by meeting specified criteria (see Admission details). As an embedded honours program, students are not required to undertake an additional period of study. Further details regarding the honours program and its requirements are available at: Honours in Law and School of Law Honours Guidelines.
The Bachelor of Laws (Honours) program satisfies the academic degree requirements for admission to practice as an Australian lawyer. Students will engage in collaborative face-to-face problem and case-based learning, will be supported by online learning materials, and will participate in authentic assessment to develop knowledge and skills. The program provides students with a broad progressive legal education with a strong practical orientation to the law. Students develop skills in problem-solving, critical thinking, research, communication, collaboration, self-management, and ethical and professional awareness and judgement. Students will have the opportunity to develop skills in legal advocacy, negotiation, and legal technology and extend their professional and learning experiences through work integrated learning, clinical placement and international exchange engagements.
Study Mode
Five years full-time or ten years part-time. Communication subjects are offered at Parramatta, Penrith, WSU Online and Sydney City campuses and Law subjects are offered at Campbelltown and Parramatta campuses. Students may be required to travel between campuses in order to complete their subjects.
Program Advice
Prospective students should visit the following websites for general enquiries about this program.
Enquire about this program| Local Admission | International Admission |
Location
| Campus | Attendance | Mode | Advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Campbelltown | Full Time | Internal | See Above |
| Campbelltown | Part TIme | Internal | See Above |
| Parramatta Campus - Victoria Road | Full Time | Internal | See Above |
| Parramatta Campus - Victoria Road | Part Time | Internal | See Above |
Accreditation
Graduates from the Bachelor of Laws (Honours) program are eligible to apply to the Legal Profession Admission Board for admission to legal practice in NSW after undertaking prescribed practical legal training.
The Bachelor of Communication is accredited with the International Advertising Association (IAA), the Public Relations Institute of Australia (PRIA) and the Media Federation of Australia (MFA).
Inherent Requirements
There are inherent requirements for this program that you must meet in order to complete your program and graduate. Make sure you read and understand the requirements for this program online.
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).
Admission
This program is designed for students in the Bachelor of Communication/Bachelor of Laws program who wish to undertake an Honours program.
Students must meet all of the following criteria for admission:
- Completion of at least 160 credit points of law study (or 140 credit points if two Summer subjects are undertaken);
- Demonstration of the likelihood of graduating with an Honours Weighted Average Mark (HWAM) of at least 70 at the time of graduation; or an Admission Average Mark (AAM) of at least 70 at the time of admission to the Honours program. Refer to https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/schools/sol/honours for details
- Submission of a ‘Nomination of Topics’ form which expresses preferences among supervisor-defined topics and/or describes a student-defined topic in a scholarly manner. Refer to https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/__data/assets/word_doc/0008/1784474/Honours_topic_nomination_form_2020.docx
- Demonstration of satisfactory academic writing skills
- Availability of a principal supervisor
Special Requirements
Students enrolling in these subjects may need to have a National Police Certificate and consent or prohibited employment declarations as they may be conducting their placement in circumstances where they work with minors. This would be managed on an as needs basis:
- JUST 4001 Clinical Legal Placement
- LAWS 3074 Judicial Internship
- LAWS 3077 Legal Internship
- LAWS 4012 First Nations Peoples' Access to Justice Clinic
- LAWS 3080 Street Law Clinic
- JUST 3011 Issues in the Criminal Justice System (corrective services field trip requirement) also records and identity check.
The following units require a visa for the relevant country and the ability to travel at a specified time:
Program Structure
Qualification for a double degree in law requires the successful completion of 400 credit points including the subjects listed in the recommended sequences for the relevant double degree programs.
Students are eligible to graduate in the associated degree at the end of three years of full-time study, only when they have completed all non-law subjects plus the eight law subjects specified in the study sequence as being in the first three years of the relevant double degree.
Students enrolled in the 2833 Bachelor of Communication/Bachelor of Laws (Honours) will only be eligible to graduate from their Bachelor of Laws (Honours) degree upon completion of the entire 400 credit point program. Students enrolled in this program who wish to graduate with a standalone law degree prior to completion of the entire Bachelor of Communication component must transfer to program 2829 Bachelor of Laws (Honours) (Non Graduate Entry) which requires the completion of 320 credit points (inclusive of 80 credit points of non-LLB study).
It may be possible to vary the sequence of subjects so that students study a greater concentration of either law or their second discipline of study each semester to minimise travel between campuses and to overcome timetabling problems. Students should speak to their academic advisor as needed.
Students considering varying their recommended program sequences outlined below, should also refer to the separate 2829 Bachelor of Laws (Non-Graduate Entry) (Honours) and 1696 Bachelor of Communication recommended program sequences, to ensure that they are completing their studies in a manner which will avoid problems due to a lack of prerequisites or prior knowledge. Continuing students should refer to the earlier versions of the above programs.
The Bachelor of Communication/Bachelor of Laws (Honours) requires students to undertake the 12 core Communication subjects plus 40 credit points from one of the following majors, selecting 20 credit points at Level 2, and 20 credit points at Level 3
Students must also complete 240 credit points of Law subjects comprising:
Recommended Sequence
Qualification for this award requires the successful completion of 400 credit points as per the recommended sequence below.
Full-time start year intake
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Autumn session | Credit Points | |
| LAWS 1003 | Fundamentals of Australian Law | 10 |
| LAWS 2004 | Criminal Law | 10 |
| Select two First Year Communication subjects | 20 | |
| Credit Points | 40 | |
| Spring session | ||
| LAWS 1009 | Legal Analysis and Critique | 10 |
| LAWS 2013 | Torts Law | 10 |
| Select two First Year Communication subjects | 20 | |
| Credit Points | 40 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| LAWS 2003 | Contracts | 10 |
| Select one of the following: | 10 | |
| Media Law and Ethics | ||
| Professional Writing and Editing | ||
| Select two First Year Communication subjects | 20 | |
| Credit Points | 40 | |
| Spring session | ||
| LAWS 2001 | Alternative Dispute Resolution | 10 |
| Select one of the following: | 10 | |
| Media Law and Ethics | ||
| Professional Writing and Editing | ||
| Select two First Year Communication subjects | 20 | |
| Credit Points | 40 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| LAWS 2015 | Professional Responsibility and Legal Ethics | 10 |
| Select one of the following: | 10 | |
| Communication Research Project | ||
| Media Memory | ||
| Select two Level 2 subjects from your chosen Major | 20 | |
| Credit Points | 40 | |
| Spring session | ||
| LAWS 2008 | Government and Public Law | 10 |
| Select one of the following: | 10 | |
| Communication Research Project | ||
| Media Memory | ||
| Select two Level 3 subjects from your chosen Major | 20 | |
| Credit Points | 40 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| LAWS 3018 | Equity & Trusts | 10 |
| LAWS 3082 | Property Law | 10 |
| Select two LLB alternate subjects | 20 | |
| Credit Points | 40 | |
| Spring session | ||
| LAWS 3081 | Administrative Law | 10 |
| LAWS 3045 | Law of Associations | 10 |
| Select two LLB alternate subjects | 20 | |
| Credit Points | 40 | |
| Year 5 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| LAWS 4015 | Constitutional Law | 10 |
| LAWS 4004 | Criminal Procedure and Evidence | 10 |
| LAWS 4016 | Legal Research and Methodology | 10 |
| Select one LLB alternate subject | 10 | |
| Credit Points | 40 | |
| Spring session | ||
| LAWS 4014 | Remedies | 10 |
| LAWS 4013 | Civil Procedure and Arbitration | 10 |
| LAWS 4011 | Law Honours Dissertation | 20 |
| Credit Points | 40 | |
| Total Credit Points | 400 | |
First year Communications Subjects
| Subject | Title | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|
| MKTG 1001 | Advertising: An Introduction | 10 |
| INFO 1004 | Data Analysis and Storytelling | 10 |
| COMM 1012 | Data, Mediation, Power | 10 |
| COMM 1018 | Introduction to Journalism | 10 |
| COMM 1039 | Introduction to Screen Media | 10 |
| COMM 1020 | Media Cultures and Industries | 10 |
| MKTG 1009 | Public Relations Theory and Practice | 10 |
| COMM 1032 | Writing Ecologies | 10 |
Chosen Majors
Students in Advertising Major
| Subject | Title | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|
| Level 2 subjects | ||
| COMM 2001 | Account and Client Management | 10 |
| MKTG 2001 | Advertising: Creative | 10 |
| COMM 2006 | Advertising: Media | 10 |
| COMM 2011 | Communication Strategies | 10 |
| Level 3 subjects | ||
| COMM 3045 | Advertising: Campaigns | 10 |
| COMM 3018 | Internship | 10 |
| COMM 3014 | Digital Communication | 20 |
Students in Journalism Major
| Subject | Title | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|
| Level 2 subjects | ||
| COMM 2017 | Feature Writing | 10 |
| COMM 2022 | Journalism: Research and Investigation | 10 |
| COMM 2027 | News Reporting | 10 |
| COMM 2029 | Photo Journalism | 10 |
| Level 3 subjects | ||
| COMM 3015 | Digital Journalism Production | 20 |
| COMM 3018 | Internship | 10 |
| COMM 3025 | News Teams | 10 |
| COMM 3037 | Transmedia Production | 10 |
Students in Screen Media Major
| Subject | Title | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|
| Level 2 subjects | ||
| COMM 2051 | Animation and Visual Effects | 10 |
| COMM 2052 | Documentary: Factual Screen Media | 10 |
| COMM 2053 | Narrative: Fictional Screen Media | 10 |
| Level 3 subjects | ||
| COMM 3047 | Episodic Screen Media | 10 |
| COMM 3048 | Immersive Screen Technologies | 10 |
| Select one of the following: | 10 | |
| Internship | ||
| Personal Branding Strategies: Build and Manage Your Career Profile | ||
Students in Public Relations Major
| Subject | Title | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|
| Lvel 2 subjects | ||
| COMM 2001 | Account and Client Management | 10 |
| COMM 2011 | Communication Strategies | 10 |
| COMM 2015 | Events Management | 10 |
| MKTG 2005 | Issues, Risk and Crisis Communication | 10 |
| Level 3 subjects | ||
| MKTG 3018 | Public Relations: Campaigns | 10 |
| COMM 3018 | Internship | 10 |
| COMM 3014 | Digital Communication | 20 |
LLB Alternate Units
Students must complete 50 credit points of subjects from the list of Bachelor of Laws alternate subjects below.
| Subject | Title | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|
| LAWS 4017 | Access to Justice Clinic | 10 |
| LAWS 3001 | Advanced Family Law | 10 |
| LAWS 4003 | Advanced Taxation Law | 10 |
| LAWS 3002 | Advanced Torts and Civil Wrongs | 10 |
| LAWS 3003 | Advocacy | 10 |
| LAWS 3004 | Anti-Discrimination Law | 10 |
| LAWS 3005 | Australian Competition Law | 10 |
| LAWS 3006 | Australian Consumer Law | 10 |
| LAWS 3007 | Banking and Securities Law | 10 |
| LAWS 2014 | Bioethics | 10 |
| LAWS 3089 | Children's Rights: Local and International | 10 |
| LAWS 3011 | Comparative Law: Legal Systems of the World | 10 |
| LAWS 3013 | Conflict of Laws | 10 |
| LAWS 3088 | Construction Law | 10 |
| LAWS 3014 | Corporate Governance | 10 |
| LAWS 3015 | Cyber Law and Justice | 10 |
| LAWS 4010 | Designing Law Apps for Access to Justice | 10 |
| LAWS 3016 | Elder Law | 10 |
| LAWS 3022 | Family Dispute Resolution | 10 |
| LAWS 3023 | Family Law | 10 |
| LAWS 2005 | Financial Services Law | 10 |
| LAWS 2007 | First Peoples and the Australian Legal System | 10 |
| LAWS 4012 | First Nations Peoples' Access to Justice Clinic | 10 |
| LAWS 3024 | Foundations of Chinese Law | 10 |
| LAWS 3025 | Law, Culture and Entrepreneurial Innovation in India | 10 |
| LAWS 3083 | Gender and the Law | 10 |
| LAWS 3028 | Human Rights and the Asia Pacific | 10 |
| LAWS 3027 | Human Rights Law | 10 |
| LAWS 3029 | Immigration and Refugee Law | 10 |
| JUST 3008 | Independent Study (Law) | 10 |
| LAWS 3030 | Information and Data Governance Law and Regulation | 10 |
| LAWS 3031 | Insolvency Law and Policy | 10 |
| LAWS 3032 | Intellectual Property | 10 |
| LAWS 3033 | International Business Transactions Law | 10 |
| LAWS 4006 | International Climate Law | 10 |
| LAWS 3034 | International Criminal Law | 10 |
| LAWS 4007 | International Environmental Law | 10 |
| LAWS 3036 | International Trade Law | 10 |
| LAWS 3039 | Islam, International Law and Human Rights | 10 |
| JUST 3011 | Issues in the Criminal Justice System | 10 |
| LAWS 3074 | Judicial Internship | 10 |
| LAWS 3042 | Jurisprudence | 10 |
| LAWS 3079 | Law, Economics, Ethics and Change | 10 |
| LAWS 3084 | Law and Literature | 10 |
| LAWS 3044 | Law and Public Policy (Referendum 2023: engaging in constitutional change) | 10 |
| LAWS 3046 | Law of Employment | 10 |
| LAWS 3047 | Law of International Organisations | 10 |
| LAWS 3048 | Law of the Sea | 10 |
| LAWS 3085 | Law of War | 10 |
| LAWS 3075 | Law's Self-Understanding | 10 |
| LAWS 3078 | Legal, Economic and Social Transformation in Taiwan | 10 |
| LAWS 3077 | Legal Internship | 10 |
| LAWS 4016 | Legal Research and Methodology | 10 |
| LAWS 3086 | Managing Legal Risk in Construction Law | 10 |
| LAWS 3049 | Media Law | 10 |
| JUST 2013 | Mediation | 10 |
| LAWS 3050 | Medical Law | 10 |
| LAWS 3052 | Mental Health Law | 10 |
| LAWS 3053 | Moot Court | 10 |
| LAWS 3055 | Planning and Environment Law | 10 |
| LAWS 3056 | Practising in the Public Interest | 10 |
| LAWS 3061 | Public Health Law | 10 |
| LAWS 3063 | Public International Law | 10 |
| LAWS 4008 | Revenue Law | 10 |
| LAWS 3067 | Self-Managed Superannuation and Trusts | 10 |
| LAWS 3068 | Space Law - Commercial Aspects | 10 |
| LAWS 3087 | Sports Law | 10 |
| LAWS 3080 | Street Law Clinic | 10 |
| LAWS 3076 | Technology, Innovation and the Law | 10 |
| LAWS 3071 | Wills and Succession | 10 |
| LAWS 3072 | Work Health and Safety Law | 10 |
Please note that the availability of Bachelor of Laws Alternate subjects may vary from year to year. New subjects may become available and some others discontinued. The School will publish information on which subjects are available in a session.
Equivalent Subjects
The subjects listed below count towards completion of the program for students who may have passed subjects in the list in 2022 or earlier.
JUST 4001 Clinical Legal Placement, replaced by LAWS 4017 Access to Justice Clinic
DESN 1018 Visual Storytelling, replaced by INFO 1004 Data Analysis and Storytelling