C10238v1 Bachelor of Arts in Communication (Information and Media) Bachelor of Laws

Overview

Available for the first time in 2008, the Bachelor of Arts in Communication (Information and Media) Bachelor of Laws is offered jointly by the Faculty of Law and the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. This new interdisciplinary course aims to develop knowledge and skills in law and the dynamic area of information and media. Through a 'learning through making' approach, this course is collaborative and critical in its study of creative information practices and how the law interrelates.

The course develops a broad range of capabilities for professional practice in information and law. This is particularly relevant to the creation, organisation, retrieval, access and flow of information, particularly within electronic environments such as blogs and podcasts where students develop skills in web design and architecture, media research and writing information and media content for diverse audiences. Students learn to solve problems encountered in areas where the law intersects with information and communication technologies within society, and engage with pertinent ethical questions.

Career options

Career options include positions as collection developers, content developers or content managers, database designers, information architects, information managers, lawyers, librarians, media researchers, project managers, web designers and in many other roles particularly in legal and business contexts.

Additional assumed knowledge

HSC English and computer literacy.

Course duration and attendance

The course is offered on a five-year, full-time basis. 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 (Information and Media) and Bachelor of Laws. The study components for course completion are as follows.

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

• 102 credit points of compulsory core law subjects (14 subjects)
• 18 credit points of law options (three 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:

• 24 credit points of compulsory first-year subjects (four subjects)
• 44 credit points of Professional subjects (six subjects)
• 24 credit points of Disciplinary subjects (three subjects), and
• 8 credit points of HSS elective studies (one subject).

Industrial training/professional practice

Admission to the Supreme Court of NSW to practise as a lawyer in NSW is based upon the successful completion of an accredited legal qualification (e.g. the UTS Bachelor of Laws) and an accredited course of practical legal training (PLT). The UTS Practical Legal Training program is accredited by the Legal Profession Admission Board of the Supreme Court of NSW.

Course completion requirements

Course diagram

Course program

The standard program shown is for a full-time student who has elected to undertake PLT within the Bachelor of Laws. Students have the choice of completing PLT within the Bachelor of Laws in the final semesters of study or attempting an additional 24 credit points of Law options.

Levels of award

Professional recognition

Supreme Court of NSW

The Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences is seeking professional recognition of the course by the Australian Library and Information Association.

This course satisfies the requirements for admission as a lawyer, provided students undertake the optional PLT in the final semesters.

Other information

Further information is available from: