Program summary
Program title: Master of Communication
Award abbreviation: MComn
Degree type: coursework
Mode of study: on campus
Duration: 1 year minimum, 18 months maximum full-time; 2 years minimum, 3 years maximum part-time.
Commence: Semester 1 or Semester 2
Fee type 2010: postgraduate coursework places, international fee-paying places
Total courses: 12
USC program code: AR841
CRICOS code: 057539E
Highlights
- Enhance your writing and communication skills
- Discover the nuances of journalistic reporting
- Create a portfolio of published works
Develop your writing proficiency and improve your job prospects.
The Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma in Communication offers you an opportunity to develop skills in contemporary communication. The programs will be attractive to professionals in the corporate or government sectors looking to upgrade their qualifications and expertise in a short time, and gain a qualification that has relevance, currency and credibility.
The ability to write and communicate well is becoming increasingly important. Employers are looking for people with the ability to write and communicate in an effective, efficient and lucid fashion. These programs impart knowledge and skills for both professional and business writing, and written communication in general.
The coursework-based Master of Communication is for those who want to develop or enrich their expertise in the rapidly expanding field of professional communication. It is ideal if you have studied in another discipline and wish to make a transition to journalism, professional writing, editing or public relations. Many media organisations place a premium on recruiting staff with degrees in fields such as science, law and business that also have postgraduate qualifications in relevant fields of communication.
You have the opportunity to specialise in the broad area of Communication Studies or the specific fields of Journalism, Public Relations or Creative Writing. Overall, you undertake the equivalent of 12 courses. After completing eight courses, five of which are electives, you complete a research project in which you choose to either research for and write a thesis of 16,000 to 20,000 words, or complete an industry-based research project. The research component involves individualised research relevant to your key area/s of interest as a professional communicator. It is equivalent in value to four courses.
You attend lectures and tutorials with undergraduate students but learning and assessment tasks are commensurate with a postgraduate standing. Because of this standing, you will be exempt from many course prerequisites although you must complete compulsory courses in your selected areas of specialisation. Research components of the program must be approved by the Program Leader, and are based on the availability of supervisory staff with relevant expertise.
Admission requirements
Candidates for the award of Master of Communication are normally required to hold a Bachelor's degree or a relevant Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma. Normally you will be precluded from pursuing a communications specialisation in a field such as Creative Writing, Journalism, or Public Relations if you have previously completed specialisations in the same area at undergraduate level. You cannot undertake any course in this degree that you have completed previously at an undergraduate level. If you have completed a Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma in communication, journalism, creative writing or public relations you may apply to receive credit transfer into this award for coursework components only. No credit transfer may be awarded for the thesis component. International students need to refer to the University's English language proficiency requirements.
Credit transfer
- If you have an undergraduate qualification no credit transfer will be granted.
- If you have completed relevant postgraduate subjects you may apply for credit transfer up to a maximum of 50 percent for the Master of Communication.
Program structure
You may undertake courses in the broad area of Communication Studies or specialise in the fields of Creative Writing, Journalism, or Public Relations. You must complete two required courses and a research project or thesis. Course selections depend on chosen fields of study as follows:
Required courses
Please note: you must discuss coursework selection with the program coordinator and receive written approval prior to enrolment through Student Administration.
2 required courses:
CMN102 Teaching Mathematics
CMN574 Alternative Schooling Pedagogies
Electives
Select 6 courses from the 4 options, as follows:
Option 1: Creative Writing
CMN116 Contexts of Disability and Differences
Plus select 5 courses from:
CMN238 Communication Theory and Practice
CMN246 Research Design: Methodology and Literature Review
CMN247 Introduction to Creative Writing
CMN260 Creative Writing D: Paperback Hero
CMN266 Creative Writing for Children and Young Adults
CMN267 Creative Writing for the Illustrated Book
EGL201 Creative Writing B: Novel Ideas
EGL285 Creativity and Literature: Chaucer to Romantics
Option 2: Journalism
CMN130 Introduction to Journalism
Plus select 5 courses from:
CMN213 Creativity and Literature: Victorians to Moderns
CMN214 Reality Bites: An Exploration of Non-Fiction
CMN227 Wonderworlds: An Exploration of English Literature
CMN228 Editing for the Communications Professional
CMN235 Computer-Assisted Reporting
CMN237 News Rounds
CMN240 The Writer and the Law
CMN249 News Writing: Print and Broadcast
CMN256 Online Journalism
CMN272 Digital Photojournalism and Feature Writing #
INT270 Advanced News Reporting
Option 3: Public Relations
CMN120 Research into Journalism
Plus select 5 courses from:
CMN213 Industry Research Project (Journalism)
CMN216 Politics and the Media
CMN218 Public Relations Strategies and Tactics
CMN231 Editing for the Communications Professional
CMN224 Crisis and Issues Management
CMN226 Media and Community Relations
CMN228 Communication Campaign Planning
CMN229 Advertising Campaigns
CMN243 Advertising: Copy and Image #
CMN248 The Writer and the Law
CMN251 Media and Promotion: Tourism and Hospitality
CMN273 Public Relations Events Project #
Option 4: Communication Studies
Select 1 course from:
CMN116 Creative Advertising
CMN120 International Communication
CMN130 Internship/Research Project (Professional Communication)
CMN140 Introduction to Creative Writing
Plus select 5 courses from (provided prerequisite equivalency has been approved by the course coordinator):
CMN213 Public Relations Strategies and Tactics
CMN214 Introduction to Journalism
CMN216 Introduction to Creative Advertising
CMN218 Editing for the Communications Professional
CMN222 Computer-Assisted Reporting
CMN226 Crisis and Issues Management
CMN228 Media and Community Relations
CMN229 Multimedia Advertising
CMN231 Advertising: Copy and Image
CMN235 The Writer and the Law
CMN237 Media and Promotion: Tourism and Hospitality
CMN238 Communication Campaign Planning
CMN240 News Writing: Print and Broadcast
CMN243 Online Journalism #
CMN246 Creative Writing D: Paperback Hero
CMN247 Digital Photojournalism and Feature Writing
CMN248 Public Relations Events Project
CMN249 Creative Writing for Children and Young Adults
CMN251 Creative Writing for the Illustrated Book
CMN256 Creative Advertising
CMN260 Advanced News Reporting
CMN266 International Communication
CMN267 Research into Journalism
EGL201 Creative Writing B: Novel Ideas
EGL285 Creativity and Literature: Chaucer to Romantics
ENP240 Creativity and Literature: Victorians to Moderns
INT270 Reality Bites: An Exploration of Non-Fiction
Thesis or industry research project
The thesis or industry research project is to be equivalent to 4 courses.
Program requirements and notes
- Students are required to successfully complete 12 courses as specified in the Master of Communication program structure.
- Refer to related policies, rules, plans and procedures.
- International students need to refer to the University's English language proficiency requirements.
- Only a full-time study option is available to international students on a Student Visa.
Enquiries
How to apply
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Tel: +61 7 5430 1259
Program Leader
Anna Potter
Tel: +61 7 5430 2846
Email: apotter@usc.edu.au