C10134v3 Bachelor of Arts in Communication (Social Inquiry) Bachelor of Laws

Note(s)

Overview

The Bachelor of Arts in Communication (Social Inquiry) Bachelor of Laws is offered jointly by the Faculty of Law and the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. The course is designed for students who want to use their professional legal qualification together with social research, policy development and political advocacy. It aims to promote understanding of how communities and political systems work, along with positive and effective intervention skills.

The combination of communication, social science and law puts students at the forefront of social change. This course integrates theory and practice through project work with possibilities for professional attachment. As many law graduates do not work as lawyers after graduation, the social inquiry subjects broaden students' employment options as well as extending their knowledge of the broader context in which the legal system operates.

Course aims

The course aims to provide students with a range of professional and analytical skills grounded in sociology, social policy, politics, public history and international studies, for either legal or social science practice.

Career options

Career options include legal practitioner in community, public sector, business or media organisations as advocates, policy makers, political activists, political advisers or social or media researchers.

Additional assumed knowledge

HSC English and computer literacy.

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, and may be required to attend evening classes.

Course structure

The course comprises 244 credit points. It allows students to graduate with the separate degrees of Bachelor of Arts in Communication (Social Inquiry) 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

To practice as a legal practitioner in NSW students must successfully complete an accredited legal qualification (i.e. Bachelor of Laws) and an accredited course of practical legal training, such as the UTS Practical Legal Training (PLT) program.

Course completion requirements

Course diagram

Course program

Levels of award

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 the final semester.

Other information

Further information on the Law component is available from the Law Information Office on: