C10260v1 Bachelor of Arts in Communication (Social Inquiry) Bachelor of Laws
Award(s): Bachelor of Arts in Communication (BA)Bachelor of Laws (LLB)
UAC code: 609003
CRICOS code: 032311J
Commonwealth supported place?: Yes
Load credit points: 240
Course EFTSL: 5
Location: City campus
Overview
Course aims
Career options
Assumed knowledge
Course duration and attendance
Course structure
Course completion requirements
Course diagram
Course program
Levels of award
Professional recognition
Other information
Overview
This course is offered jointly by UTS: Law and UTS: Communication. It provides 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. It is designed for students who want to use their professional legal qualification together with social research, policy development and political advocacy.
The program provides full-time study for students wishing to obtain a professional legal qualification that satisfies the requirements for admission as a lawyer together with specialisation in social, cultural and communication theory and practice. Studies in social inquiry increase students' employment options in the diverse fields of social science, media and communication, as well as extending their knowledge of the broader context in which the legal system operates.
Course aims
The course aims to promote understanding of how communities and political systems work, along with positive and effective intervention skills.
Career options
Career options include lawyer in business or media organisations, community or public sector, as advocates, policy makers, political activists, political advisers or social or media researchers.
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 in the law component.
Course structure
The course comprises 240 credit points. 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 Communication component of 96 credit points is made up of:
- 48 credit points of compulsory subjects (six subjects), and
- 48 credit points of subjects from the Social Inquiry major (six subjects).
Refer to the course entry in the UTS: Handbook 2007 for the pre-2008 course structure.
For a current listing of subjects in each course, refer to the study package directory. In particular, refer to the correct structure of the Practical Legal Training options in CBK90437.
Industrial training/professional practice
To practise as a lawyer in NSW students must successfully complete an accredited legal qualification (e.g. Bachelor of Laws) and an accredited course of practical legal training, such as the UTS Practical Legal Training program.
Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Laws or combined Bachelor of Laws degrees have the option of completing the Practical Legal Training program within their undergraduate law degree. Alternatively, students can complete their Bachelor of Laws by including further law electives and undertake a postgraduate course in Practical Legal Training, such as the Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice (C07075).
Course completion requirements
STM90691 Law stream | 144cp | |
STM90550 Core subjects | 48cp | |
MAJ09395 Social Inquiry | 48cp | |
Total | 240cp |
Course diagram

Course program
The standard program shown is for a full-time student who has elected to undertake the Practical Legal Training within the Bachelor of Laws. Students have the choice of completing Practical Legal Training within the Bachelor of Laws in the final semesters of study or attempting an additional 24 credit points of law options. All options shown are law options and are to be drawn from those on offer in CBK90592.
Year 1 | ||
Autumn semester | ||
STM90550 | ||
58101 Understanding Communication | 8cp | |
58102 Language and Discourse | 8cp | |
MAJ09395 | ||
58122 Introduction to Social Inquiry | 8cp | |
Spring semester | ||
STM90688 | ||
70115 Perspectives on Law | 8cp | |
70120 Legal Method and Research | 6cp | |
MAJ09395 | ||
58123 Society, Economy and Globalisation | 8cp | |
Year 2 | ||
Autumn semester | ||
STM90688 | ||
70311 Torts | 8cp | |
70218 Criminal Law | 8cp | |
STM90550 | ||
58103 Ideas in History | 8cp | |
Spring semester | ||
STM90688 | ||
70211 Contracts | 8cp | |
70616 Australian Constitutional Law | 8cp | |
MAJ09395 | ||
58124 Local Transformations | 8cp | |
Year 3 | ||
Autumn semester | ||
STM90688 | ||
70327 Commercial Law | 6cp | |
70317 Real Property | 8cp | |
MAJ09395 | ||
58218 Ideology, Beliefs and Visions | 8cp | |
Spring semester | ||
STM90688 | ||
70617 Administrative Law | 8cp | |
70517 Equity and Trusts | 8cp | |
MAJ09395 | ||
58219 Social Change Communication | 8cp | |
Year 4 | ||
Autumn semester | ||
STM90688 | ||
70417 Corporate Law | 8cp | |
70717 Evidence and Criminal Procedure | 6cp | |
STM90550 | ||
58201 Communication and Cultural Industries and Practices | 8cp | |
Select 6 credit points of options | 6cp | |
Spring semester | ||
MAJ09395 | ||
58314 Social Inquiry Placement | 8cp | |
STM90550 | ||
58202 Regulating Communication - Law, Ethics, Politics | 8cp | |
Select 6 credit points of options | 6cp | |
Year 5 | ||
Autumn semester | ||
STM90550 | ||
58301 Communication Practice Project | 8cp | |
STM90688 | ||
75421 Civil Litigation | 6cp | |
75420 Ethics and Professional Conduct | 6cp | |
Select 6 credit points of options | 6cp | |
Spring semester | ||
STM90687 | ||
75412 Legal Skills | 6cp | |
75413 Advocacy | 6cp | |
75403 Commercial and Estate Practice | 6cp | |
75402 Property Transactions | 6cp | |
75411 Practical Experience | 0cp |
Levels of award
Students graduate with the separate degrees of Bachelor of Arts in Communication (Social Inquiry) and Bachelor of Laws. The Bachelor of Laws may be awarded with first or second class honours, which does not require an additional honours year. Honours candidates must complete the research thesis within the law option component. The rules concerning the Bachelor of Laws with Honours can be found in undergraduate course information.
Professional recognition
Supreme Court of NSW
This course satisfies the requirements for admission as a lawyer, provided students undertake the optional Practical Legal Training in the final semesters.
Other information
Further information is available from:
