C10132v3 Bachelor of Arts in Communication (Journalism) Bachelor of Laws

Overview

The Bachelor of Arts in Communication (Journalism) Bachelor of Laws is offered jointly by the Faculty of Law and the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. The course aims to produce journalists with the knowledge and analytical skills of lawyers, and lawyers with the communication skills of professional journalists. It develops a broad range of professional skills and knowledge for either legal or media practice.

For those wishing to specialise after graduation, the course offers a number of possibilities including media and communications legal practice, policy and research work, specialist legal and crime reporting and publishing for print, Internet, radio or television, and legal communications or publishing in the private sector.

Career options

Career opportunities include legal practitioner in the media and communication industry, journalist with professional skills in one or more of the print, radio, television or Internet media. or legal policy advisor in a government department such as the Australian Broadcasting Authority.

Additional assumed knowledge

HSC English and computer literacy.

Additional recognition of prior learning

The Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences has established recognition of prior learning packages with the following institutions for the courses listed:

• Insearch UTS: Diploma of Communication
• School of Communication, Taylor's College, Malaysia: Diploma in Communication (Journalism)

Course duration and attendance

The course is offered on a five-year, full-time basis in which the Arts degree studies are integrated with studies in Law. Students are required to attend approximately 17 hours of seminars and lectures per week. Timetable constraints may require attendance at daytime and evening classes in the Law component.

Course structure

The course comprises 244 credit points. It allows students to graduate with the separate degrees of Bachelor of Arts in Communication (Journalism) and Bachelor of Laws. The study components for course completion are as follows:

The Law component of 144 credit points is made up of:

• 96 credit points of compulsory core law subjects (14 subjects)
• 24 credit points of law options (four subjects), and
• either 24 credit points of practical legal training subjects (five subjects) or an additional 24 credit points of law options (four subjects).

The Arts component of 100 credit points is made up of:

• 36 credit points of compulsory first-year (100-level) subjects (six subjects)
• 56 credit points of subjects from Disciplinary and/or Professional Strands where specified (seven subjects), and
• 8 credit points of Elective Studies (one subject).

Industrial training/professional practice

Admission to practise as a legal practitioner in NSW is based upon the successful completion of an undergraduate law degree (such as the Bachelor of Laws) plus an accredited course of practical legal training. Students can elect to attempt part of the practical legal training within the Bachelor of Laws in the final semester.

For more information about the practical legal training program, see:

Course completion requirements

Course diagram

Course program

Honours

Professional recognition

Supreme Court of NSW

This course satisfies the requirements for admission as a legal practitioner, provided students undertake the optional Practical Legal Training in their final semester.

Other information

For further information on the Law component, contact the Law Information Office: