Harness your critical and lateral thinking for a career in journalism or law
Our journalism degree produces journalists with a strong sense of ethics and practical skills in print, broadcast and digital media. Develop cutting-edge problem-solving and communication skills to work across a range of media platforms. In the Law component, you’ll cover all the academic courses required for admission as a legal practitioner in Australia.
- * It is recommended that students planning to study part-time apply for the Bachelor of Laws rather than a double degree.
Our journalism degree produces journalists with a strong sense of ethics and practical skills in print, broadcast and digital media. Develop cutting-edge problem-solving and communication skills to work across a range of media platforms. In the Law component, you’ll cover all the academic courses required for admission as a legal practitioner in Australia.
Choose from a range of Law electives to suit your interests and career ambitions. You’ll conduct client interviews, prepare legal advice, undertake legal research and observe litigation and gain practical experience in USC’s Law Clinic and moot court.
From first year, you’ll work with local legal practitioners at the Suncoast Community Legal Service assisting real clients with their legal problems — an opportunity not available anywhere else in Queensland. Elective courses Legal Internship and Law Clinic are offered to students in the later years of their studies.
Take advantage of careers for law graduates with especially strong English skills in areas such as parliamentary counsel, contract drafting, corporate writing and legal publishing.
Honours is available for high performing students.
Career opportunities
Solicitor, barrister, government legal officer, journalist, corporate or government communications, technical writing.
Registration
The degree is an approved academic qualification for admission to the legal profession. Graduates must undertake a further period of practical legal training before being admitted as a legal practitioner.
Program structure
USC Law School courses
Introductory courses (5)
COR109 Workplace Learning I
LAW101 Communication and Thought
LAW102 Foundations of Australian Law A
LAW103 Foundations of Australian Law B
LAW104 Criminal Law and Procedure A
Advanced courses (20)
14 required courses:
LAW201 Criminal Law and Procedure B
LAW202 Torts A
LAW203 Torts B
LAW204 Contracts A
LAW205 Contracts B
LAW206 Property A
LAW301 Property B
LAW302 Constitutional Law
LAW303 Equity & Trusts
LAW304 Corporations Law
LAW401 Civil Procedure
LAW402 Administrative Law
LAW403 Professional Conduct
LAW404 Evidence
PLUS select 6 elective courses from:
LAW305 Regulation
LAW306 Family Law
LAW307 Employment Law
LAW308 Commercial Law
LAW309 Succession
LAW310 Health Law
LAW311 Children & the Law
LAW312 Law Clinic
LAW313 Competition Law
LAW314 Building & Construction Law
LAW315 Mining & Resources Law
LAW316 Indigenous Legal Issues
LAW405 Equal Opportunity Law
LAW406 Alternative Dispute Resolution
LAW407 Environment & Planning Law
LAW408 Elder Law
LAW409 Intellectual Property
LAW410 Taxation
LAW411 Public International Law
LAW412 Private International Law
LAW413 Human Rights Law
LAW414 International Social Justice Clinic
LAW415 Legal Internship
The following 2 elective courses are only available to students who have been accepted into honours in Law:
LAW440 Sports Law
LAW441 Honours Research Methods, Design and Confirmation
Please note: Semester offerings for Law elective courses are subject to change and are dependent on student demand. For more information on elective availability please contact your Program Leaders.
Journalism courses
Introductory courses (3)
CMN104 Law Honours Thesis
CMN130 Introduction to Media and Communication Industries
CMN150 Introduction to Journalism
Advanced courses (12)
CMN213 Visual Journalism
CMN214 Editing for the Communications Professional
CMN227 Investigative and Data Journalism
CMN228 News Rounds
CMN235 Media Publishing: Law & Ethics
CMN237 News Writing and Reporting
CMN240 Online Journalism
CMN249 Feature Writing
CMN277 Television & Video Journalism
CMN306 Radio Journalism
CMN307 Professional Journalism Practice A
CMN330 Professional Journalism Practice B
Note: Not all USC courses are available on every USC campus.
Total units: 480
Recommended study sequences
Program requirements and notes
Program requirements
In order to graduate you must:
- Complete 5 introductory level (100 coded) required law courses including COR109
- Complete 14 advanced level (200/300/400 coded) required law courses
- Complete 6 law electives
- Complete 3 introductory level (100 coded) required School of Communication and Creative Industries courses
- Complete 12 advanced level (200/300 coded) required journalism courses
- Complete no more than 15 introductory level (100 coded) courses in total, including the core course
Program notes
- Completing this program within the specified (full-time) duration is based on studying 48 unit points per semester (normally 4 courses).
- Courses within this program are assessed using a variety of assessment methods including essays, seminar presentations, reports, in-class tests and examinations. Not all courses will necessarily include all methods.
- As part of your USC program, you may apply to Study Overseas to undertake courses with an overseas higher education provider. It is advisable to contact your Program Advisor to discuss timing and course issues.
- When enrolling, refer to the Study Plan.
- Semester offerings for Law elective courses are subject to change and are dependent on student demand. For more information on elective availability please contact your Program Leaders.
- Honours in Law available for high performing students.