C10261v1 Bachelor of Arts in Communication (Public Communication) Bachelor of Laws
Award(s): Bachelor of Arts in Communication (BA)Bachelor of Laws (LLB)
UAC code: 609005
CRICOS code: 040702E
Commonwealth supported place?: Yes
Load credit points: 240
Course EFTSL: 5
Location: City campus
Overview
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 interdisciplinary knowledge of public communication processes and industries, and their social, economic and political contexts with specialised expertise in public relations and/or advertising, together with studies in law. It allows students to graduate with the separate degrees of Bachelor of Arts in Communication (Public Communication) and Bachelor of Laws.
The course provides full-time study for students wishing to obtain a professional legal qualification that satisfies the requirements for admission as a lawyer in NSW together with practical skills and knowledge for contemporary public communication practice. Assessments and a professional industry placement ensure industry relevance and that students are work-ready.
Career options
Career options include advertising account manager, corporate communications adviser, lawyer in the public communication industry, media liaison officer, political media adviser, public or community relations manager or special events coordinator.
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 Public Communication 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 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 | |
MAJ10024 Public Communication | 48cp | |
Total | 240cp |
Course diagram

Course program
Students have the option of completing either a Public Relations stream (STM90541) or an Advertising stream (STM90540) in Year 1 of this course. The standard program shown is for a full-time student who has elected to undertake 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.
Public Relations stream | ||
Year 1 | ||
Autumn semester | ||
STM90550 | ||
58101 Understanding Communication | 8cp | |
58102 Language and Discourse | 8cp | |
MAJ10024 | ||
58116 The Ecology of Public Communication | 8cp | |
Spring semester | ||
STM90688 | ||
70115 Perspectives on Law | 8cp | |
70120 Legal Method and Research | 6cp | |
STM90541 | ||
58117 Principles of Public Relations | 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 | |
STM90541 | ||
58128 Strategic Public Relations | 8cp | |
Year 3 | ||
Autumn semester | ||
STM90688 | ||
70327 Commercial Law | 6cp | |
70317 Real Property | 8cp | |
MAJ10024 | ||
58214 Media Writing and Production | 8cp | |
Spring semester | ||
STM90688 | ||
70617 Administrative Law | 8cp | |
70517 Equity and Trusts | 8cp | |
MAJ10024 | ||
58215 Strategic Planning and Campaign Development | 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 | ||
MAJ10024 | ||
58312 Public Communication Management | 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 | |
Advertising stream | ||
Year 1 | ||
Autumn semester | ||
STM90550 | ||
58101 Understanding Communication | 8cp | |
58102 Language and Discourse | 8cp | |
MAJ10024 | ||
58116 The Ecology of Public Communication | 8cp | |
Spring semester | ||
STM90688 | ||
70115 Perspectives on Law | 8cp | |
70120 Legal Method and Research | 6cp | |
STM90540 | ||
58118 Principles of Advertising | 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 | |
STM90540 | ||
58129 Advertising Campaign Practice | 8cp | |
Year 3 | ||
Autumn semester | ||
STM90688 | ||
70327 Commercial Law | 6cp | |
70317 Real Property | 8cp | |
MAJ10024 | ||
58214 Media Writing and Production | 8cp | |
Spring semester | ||
STM90688 | ||
70617 Administrative Law | 8cp | |
70517 Equity and Trusts | 8cp | |
MAJ10024 | ||
58215 Strategic Planning and Campaign Development | 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 | ||
MAJ10024 | ||
58312 Public Communication Management | 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
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
UTS: Communication is seeking professional recognition of the course by the Public Relations Institute of Australia and the International Advertising Association.
The Bachelor of Laws satisfies the requirements of the Supreme Court of NSW for admission as a lawyer, provided students undertake the optional Practical Legal Training in the final semesters.
Other information
Further information on the Communication component is available from:
Service Desk https://servicedesk.uts.edu.au
Further information on the Law component is available from:
Service Desk https://servicedesk.uts.edu.au
