Graduate Certificate in Communication | UniSC | University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia

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Graduate Certificate in Communication

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.

CRICOS code
058562J
Commence
Semester 1 or Semester 2
Footnotes
  • Only a full-time option is available to international students on a Student visa. Online programs are not available to Student visa holders.
  • * Estimated tuition fees are based on 2023 rates. Refer to international fees for more information.
  • Not all majors/minors and elective options are available at every campus. You should refer to the What Can I Study tab, and the proposed study sequence for your chosen campus and intake for further information.
UniSC program code
AR541
Commence
Semester 1 or Semester 2
Duration
6 months minimum full time, 2 years maximum part time
Study mode
on campus
Fee type 2013
  • International fee-paying places
  • Postgraduate coursework places
Total courses
4

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

A student entering the Graduate Certificate program will normally be required to hold an undergraduate degree, or equivalent, from a recognised higher education institution. Entry by non-graduates who have extensive relevant industry experience may be considered on a case-by-case basis by the Executive Dean, Faculty of Arts and Business.

Program objectives

On completion of this program students should be able to:

  • demonstrate proficiency in areas of professional writing
  • identify and evaluate a particular audience, and develop the styles of written communication and modes of delivery accordingly
  • identify the generic conventions of different forms of written communication
  • analyse written and oral communications in order to identify and implement proper drafting, revising, and editing techniques.
  • graduate and pursue further vocational studies and apply theoretically advanced approaches to communication studies

Program structure

Program structure

Program requirements and notes
  • Students are required to successfully complete the 4 required courses as listed below.
  • Completing this program within the specified (full-time) duration is based on studying 48 unit points per semester (normally 4 courses).
  • Only a full-time study option is available to international students on a Student visa.
  • When enrolling, refer to the Study Plan
Introductory courses

Select 1 intrductory course from:

CMN102 Communication Theory and Practice
CMN116 Public Relations: Contemporary Perspectives
CMN120 Introduction to Journalism
CMN130 Introduction to Creative Advertising
CMN140 An Introduction to Australian Politics: The Makings of a Republic?

Advanced courses

Select 3 advanced courses from:

CMN213 Editing for the Communications Professional
CMN214 Crisis and Issues Management
CMN216 Advertising: Copy and Image
CMN218 Communication Campaign Planning
CMN224 News Writing: Print and Broadcast
CMN226 Public Relations Events Project
CMN227 Creative Advertising
CMN228 International Communication
CMN229 Media and Community Relations
CMN231 Media and Promotion: Tourism and Hospitality
CMN235 Media and Community Relations
CMN237 Advertising Campaigns
CMN238 The Writer and the Law
CMN240 Media and Promotion: Tourism and Hospitality
CMN243 Online Journalism
CMN246 Applied Research Methods
CMN247 Introduction to Economics
CMN248 Business Law and Ethics
CMN249 Management and Organisational Behaviour
CMN251 Introduction to Marketing
CMN256 Accounting for Business
CMN260 Introduction to Informatics
CMN266 Strategic Management
CMN267 Advanced Research Methods
EGL201 Corporate Governance and Social Responsibility
EGL285 Consumer Behaviour
ENP240 Services Marketing

TOTAL UNITS 48

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