Bachelor of Communication/Bachelor of Creative Industries (1840)
- Approved Abbreviation: BComm/BCrInd
- Western Sydney University Program Code: 1840
- AQF Level: 7
CRICOS Code: 095718J
This program applies to students who commenced in 2021 or later.
Students should follow the program structure for the session start date relevant to the year they commenced.
Communication graduates who previously would have planned a career in media, public relations, journalism or advertising companies now face a future where they will be required to continuously adapt and reapply their skills to changing work environments. This double degree brings together the existing Communication program with studies that explore emerging creative industries and allows students who are interested in pursuing communications careers, to also engage with new paradigms of creative and cultural production, developing skills in entrepreneurship and working in collaborative projects with creative industries in Greater Western Sydney (GWS).
- Director of Academic Program - Dr Nicole Bridges
Study Mode
Four years full-time or eight years part-time.
Program Advice
enquiriesHCA@westernsydney.edu.au
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parramatta Campus - Victoria Road | Full Time | Internal | See above |
| Parramatta Campus - Victoria Road | Part Time | Internal | See above |
Accreditation
The Bachelor of Communication and the Bachelor of Creative Industries are accredited by professional organisations including the Public Relations Institute of Australia (PRIA) and the Media Foundation 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).
Admission
Students are admitted on the basis of their ATAR score.
Applicants wishing to pursue a major in Music will be selected by one of three methods:
1. Attain an HSC Music result in band 4 or above. No audition is required.
2. Hold the following AMEB or equivalent (e.g. Trinity College) qualification:
a. PASS standard (minimum) of 6th Grade Performance (instrument or voice) AND
b. PASS standard (minimum) of 4th Grade musicianship and/or theory.
No audition is required.
3. Attend an audition in person as a performer and/or composer. Applicants applying as a composer will need to bring recordings and/or scores of original compositions to the audition. After applying to UAC or Directly to Western applicants are required to book an audition online.
Online audition booking system
If not auditioning, applicants wishing to pursue a Music major will need to upload their supporting documentation (e.g. AMEB certificates demonstrating level of achievement in performance and musicianship and/or music theory).
All applicants
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.
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.
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 Current
If you commenced in 2023 please refer to the Structure 2023 tab for details.
Qualification for this award requires the successful completion of 320 credit points.
Students must complete
• 80 credit points of Communication core subjects
• 80 credit points of Creative Industries core subjects (which may include one Introduction to Major Pool subject or one elective)
• 80 credit point Communication Major
• 80 credit point Creative Industries Major
Creative Industries Introduction to Major Subject Pool
Some majors require the successful completion of an introductory subject prior to commencing studies in the major. Depending on the major chosen students select one of the following subjects or, where no introductory subject is required, students should select an elective subject. Students should consult their Academic Program Advisor for advice on appropriate elective subjects.
| Subject | Title | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|
| COMM 1010 | Creative Writing: The Imaginative Life | 10 |
| HUMN 1066 | Introduction to Culture and Society | 10 |
| LANG 1015 | Introduction to Literary Studies | 10 |
| BUSM 1026 | Organisational Behaviour | 10 |
| DESN 1011 | Image Design | 10 |
| DESN 1021 | Web and Time-based Design | 10 |
| LAWS 1003 | Fundamentals of Australian Law | 10 |
| PERF 1014 | Music Production | 10 |
Majors
Communication
Major for Bachelor of Communication component to be selected from the below list:
Creative Industries
Major for Bachelor of Creative Industries component to be selected from the below list:
Note: Each major must have no more than three Level 1 subjects (including the introduction to major subject) and a minimum of three Level 3 subjects)
Note: This double degree has been structured so that, after selecting the Bachelor of Communication major, students may choose to undertake one of the 3 remaining Communication majors for their Bachelor of Creative Industries specialisation should they wish to.
Recommended Sequence Current
If you commenced in 2023 please refer to the Sequence 2023 tab for details.
Qualification for this award requires the successful completion of 320 credit points including the subjects listed in the recommended sequence below.
Full-time start-year intake
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Autumn session | Credit Points | |
| COMM 1045 | Foundations of the Communication Industry | 10 |
| COMM 1020 | Media Cultures and Industries | 10 |
| COMM 1036 | Introduction to the Creative Industries | 10 |
| BUSM 1008 | Enterprise Leadership | 10 |
| Credit Points | 40 | |
| Spring session | ||
| INFO 1004 | Data Analysis and Storytelling | 10 |
| Select one Communication Major subject | 10 | |
| Select one Creative Industries Introduction to major subject or one elective subject | 10 | |
| Select one Creative Industries Major subject | 10 | |
| Credit Points | 40 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| COMM 1044 | Professional Communication | 10 |
| COMM 1012 | Data, Communication and Power | 10 |
| BUSM 1006 | Enterprise Innovation and Markets | 10 |
| BUSM 1010 | Financing Enterprises | 10 |
| Credit Points | 40 | |
| Spring session | ||
| COMM 3011 | Creative TEAMS 1 | 10 |
| Select two Communication Major Subjects | 20 | |
| Slect one Creative Industries Major Subject | 10 | |
| Credit Points | 40 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| COMM 2024 | Media Law and Ethics | 10 |
| COMM 3012 | Creative TEAMS 2 | 10 |
| Select one Communication Major Subject | 10 | |
| Select one Creative Industries Major Subject | 10 | |
| Credit Points | 40 | |
| Spring session | ||
| COMM 3052 | Writing for our Digital Lives | 10 |
| Select two Creative Industries Major Subjects | 20 | |
| Select one Communication Major Subject | 10 | |
| Credit Points | 40 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| COMM 3053 | Industry Research Project | 10 |
| Select two Creative Industries Major Subjects | 20 | |
| Seelect one Communication Major Subject | 10 | |
| Credit Points | 40 | |
| Spring session | ||
| COMM 3010 | Creative Industries Professional Project or Internship | 10 |
| Select two Communication Major Subjects | 20 | |
| Select one Creative Industries Major Subject | 10 | |
| Credit Points | 40 | |
| Total Credit Points | 320 | |
Full-time mid-year intake
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spring session | Credit Points | |
| INFO 1004 | Data Analysis and Storytelling | 10 |
| Select one Communication Major subject | 10 | |
| Select one Creative Industries Introduction to major subject or one elective subject | 10 | |
| Select one Creative Industries Major subject | 10 | |
| Credit Points | 40 | |
| Autumn session | ||
| COMM 1045 | Foundations of the Communication Industry | 10 |
| COMM 1020 | Media Cultures and Industries | 10 |
| COMM 1036 | Introduction to the Creative Industries | 10 |
| BUSM 1008 | Enterprise Leadership | 10 |
| Credit Points | 40 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Spring session | ||
| COMM 3011 | Creative TEAMS 1 | 10 |
| Select two Communication Major Subjects | 20 | |
| Slect one Creative Industries Major Subject | 10 | |
| Credit Points | 40 | |
| Autumn session | ||
| COMM 1044 | Professional Communication | 10 |
| COMM 1012 | Data, Communication and Power | 10 |
| BUSM 1006 | Enterprise Innovation and Markets | 10 |
| BUSM 1010 | Financing Enterprises | 10 |
| Credit Points | 40 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Spring session | ||
| COMM 3052 | Writing for our Digital Lives | 10 |
| Select two Creative Industries Major Subjects | 20 | |
| Select one Communication Major Subject | 10 | |
| Credit Points | 40 | |
| Autumn session | ||
| COMM 2024 | Media Law and Ethics | 10 |
| COMM 3012 | Creative TEAMS 2 | 10 |
| Select one Communication Major Subject | 10 | |
| Select one Creative Industries Major Subject | 10 | |
| Credit Points | 40 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Spring session | ||
| COMM 3010 | Creative Industries Professional Project or Internship | 10 |
| Select two Communication Major Subjects | 20 | |
| Select one Creative Industries Major Subject | 10 | |
| Credit Points | 40 | |
| Autumn session | ||
| COMM 3053 | Industry Research Project | 10 |
| Select two Creative Industries Major Subjects | 20 | |
| Seelect one Communication Major Subject | 10 | |
| Credit Points | 40 | |
| Total Credit Points | 320 | |
Program Structure 2023
If you commenced in 2024 or later please refer to the Structure Current tab for details.
Qualification for this award requires the successful completion of 320 credit points including the subjects listed in the recommended sequence below.
Students must complete
- 80 credit points of Communication core subjects (which includes one Introduction to Major Pool subject)
- 80 credit points of Creative Industries core subjects (which includes one Introduction to Major Pool subject)
- 80 credit point Communication Major
- 80 credit point Creative Industries Major
Introduction to Major Subject Pool
Students select two of the following subjects as their Introduction to Major Subjects
- One subject which corresponds to the Communication major selected and
- One subject which corresponds to the Creative Industries major selected. Where no introductory subject is required, students should select an elective subject. Students should consult their Academic Program Advisor for advice on appropriate elective subjects.
| Subject | Title | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|
| MKTG 1001 | Advertising: An Introduction | 10 |
| COMM 1010 | Creative Writing: The Imaginative Life | 10 |
| HUMN 1066 | Introduction to Culture and Society | 10 |
| LAWS 1003 | Fundamentals of Australian Law | 10 |
| DESN 1011 | Image Design | 10 |
| COMM 1018 | News and Media Today | 10 |
| LANG 1015 | Introduction to Literary Studies | 10 |
| COMM 1039 | Introduction to Screen Media | 10 |
| PERF 1014 | Music Production | 10 |
| BUSM 1026 | Organisational Behaviour | 10 |
| MKTG 1009 | Public Relations Theory and Practice | 10 |
| DESN 1021 | Web and Time-based Design | 10 |
Equivalent Subjects
The subject listed below counts towards completion of the Introduction to Major Pool Subject for students who passed this subject in 2021 or earlier.
HUMN 1017 - Everyday Life, replaced by HUMN 1066 Introduction to Culture and Society
Majors
Communication
Major for Bachelor of Communication component to be selected from the below list
Creative Industries
Major for Bachelor of Creative Industries component to be selected from the below list
Note: Each major must have no more than three Level 1 subjects (including the introduction to major subject) and a minimum of three Level 3 subjects)
Note: This double degree has been structured so that, after selecting the Bachelor of Communication major, students may choose to undertake one of the 3 remaining Communication majors for their Bachelor of Creative Industries specialisation should they wish to.
Recommended Sequence 2023
If you commenced in 2024 or later please refer to the Sequence Current tab for details.
Recommended sequence subject to variation based on the students nominated Creative Industries major.
Full-time start-year intake
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Autumn session | Credit Points | |
| COMM 1044 | Professional Communication | 10 |
| COMM 1020 | Media Cultures and Industries | 10 |
| COMM 1036 | Introduction to the Creative Industries | 10 |
| Select one Communication introduction to major subject | 10 | |
| Credit Points | 40 | |
| Spring session | ||
| COMM 1012 | Data, Communication and Power | 10 |
| BUSM 1010 | Financing Enterprises | 10 |
| INFO 1004 | Data Analysis and Storytelling | 10 |
| Select one Creative Industries Introduction to major subject | 10 | |
| Credit Points | 40 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| COMM 2024 | Media Law and Ethics | 10 |
| Select one Communication major subject | 10 | |
| Select two Creative Industries major subjects | 20 | |
| Credit Points | 40 | |
| Spring session | ||
| BUSM 1008 | Enterprise Leadership | 10 |
| COMM 2032 | Professional Writing and Editing | 10 |
| Select one Communication major subject | 10 | |
| Select one Creative Industries major subject | 10 | |
| Credit Points | 40 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| Select two Communication major subjects | 20 | |
| Select two Creative Industries major subjects | 20 | |
| Credit Points | 40 | |
| Spring session | ||
| COMM 3011 | Creative TEAMS 1 | 10 |
| Select two Communication major subjects | 20 | |
| Select one Creative Industries major subject | 10 | |
| Credit Points | 40 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| BUSM 1006 | Enterprise Innovation and Markets | 10 |
| COMM 3012 | Creative TEAMS 2 | 10 |
| Select one Communication major subject | 10 | |
| Select one Creative Industries major subject | 10 | |
| Credit Points | 40 | |
| Spring session | ||
| HUMN 3033 | Digital Cultures | 10 |
| COMM 3010 | Creative Industries Professional Project or Internship | 10 |
| Select one Communication major subject | 10 | |
| Select one Creative Industries major subject | 10 | |
| Credit Points | 40 | |
| Total Credit Points | 320 | |
Equivalent Subjects
The subjects listed below count towards completion of the program for students who may have passed subjects in the list in 2023 or earlier.
COMM 1032 Writing Ecologies, replaced by COMM 1044 Professional Communication
The subject listed below counts towards completion of this program for students who passed this subject in 2022 or earlier.
DESN 1018 - Visual Storytelling, replaced by INFO 1004 Data Analysis and Storytelling
Replaced Subject
The subject listed below counts towards completion of the program for students who may have passed the subject in 2023 or earlier.
COMM 3022 Media Memory
Full-time mid-year intake
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spring session | Credit Points | |
| COMM 1012 | Data, Communication and Power | 10 |
| BUSM 1010 | Financing Enterprises | 10 |
| INFO 1004 | Data Analysis and Storytelling | 10 |
| Select one Creative Industries Introduction to major subject | 10 | |
| Credit Points | 40 | |
| Autumn session | ||
| COMM 1044 | Professional Communication | 10 |
| COMM 1020 | Media Cultures and Industries | 10 |
| COMM 1036 | Introduction to the Creative Industries | 10 |
| Select one Communication introduction to major subject | 10 | |
| Credit Points | 40 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Spring session | ||
| BUSM 1008 | Enterprise Leadership | 10 |
| COMM 2032 | Professional Writing and Editing | 10 |
| Select one Communication major subject | 10 | |
| Select one Creative Industries major subject | 10 | |
| Credit Points | 40 | |
| Autumn session | ||
| Select two Communication major subjects | 20 | |
| Select two Creative Industries major subjects | 20 | |
| Credit Points | 40 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Spring session | ||
| BUSM 1006 | Enterprise Innovation and Markets | 10 |
| COMM 3011 | Creative TEAMS 1 | 10 |
| Select one Communication major subject | 10 | |
| Select one Creative Industries major subject | 10 | |
| Credit Points | 40 | |
| Autumn session | ||
| COMM 2024 | Media Law and Ethics | 10 |
| COMM 3012 | Creative TEAMS 2 | 10 |
| Select one Communication major subject | 10 | |
| Select one Creative Industries major subject | 10 | |
| Credit Points | 40 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Spring session | ||
| HUMN 3033 | Digital Cultures | 10 |
| COMM 3010 | Creative Industries Professional Project or Internship | 10 |
| Select one Communication major subject | 10 | |
| Select one Creative Industries major subject | 10 | |
| Credit Points | 40 | |
| Autumn session | ||
| Select two Communication major subjects | 20 | |
| Select two Creative Industries major subjects | 20 | |
| Credit Points | 40 | |
| Total Credit Points | 320 | |
Equivalent Subjects
The subjects listed below count towards completion of the program for students who may have passed subjects in the list in 2023 or earlier.
COMM 1032 Writing Ecologies, replaced by COMM 1044 Professional Communication
The subject listed below counts towards completion of this program for students who passed this subject in 2022 or earlier.
DESN 1018 - Visual Storytelling, replaced by INFO 1004 Data Analysis and Storytelling
Replaced Subject
The subject listed below counts towards completion of the program for students who may have passed the subject in 2023 or earlier.
COMM 3022 Media Memory