Bachelor of Arts (Public Relations)
Course summary for international students
G = Geelong Waurn Ponds Campus
S = Geelong Waterfront Campus
W =Warrnambool Campus
X = Off campus
| Award granted | Bachelor of Arts (Public Relations) |
|---|---|
| Campus | Offered at Melbourne Burwood Campus, Geelong Waurn Ponds Campus |
| Off-campus | Yes |
| Length | 3 years full time |
| Next available intake | March (Trimester 1), July (Trimester 2), November (Trimester 3) |
| Indicative annual fee 2013 | $20,830* AUD |
| Level | Undergraduate |
| CRICOS course code | 022247F |
| IELTS Requirement | IELTS overall score of 6.5 (with no band score less than 6) or equivalent. |
| VTAC Codes | 14193 - Burwood (Melbourne), International full-fee paying place 15793 - Waurn Ponds (Geelong), International full-fee paying place |
| Deakin course code | A325 |
| Faculty contacts | Deakin International Tel +61 3 9627 4877 Online enquiry |
Course sub-headings
- Course overview
- Off campus studies
- Professional recognition
- Fees and charges
- Career opportunities
- Course rules
- Course structure
- Entry requirements - general
- Entry requirements - specific
- Pathways
- Credit for prior learning - general
- How to apply
Course overview
Deakin’s Bachelor of Arts (Public Relations) will provide you with a solid grounding in the principles and practice of public relations and communications theory, together with a broader general education in the social sciences and liberal arts.
You will be exposed to a range of models, skills and techniques necessary for the management of public relations in a wide variety of private and public organisations. You will study the social and behavioural sciences providing an understanding of human and societal behaviour. The course also examines communication research techniques, organisational planning, problem analysis, strategy development for effective communication within and between organisations and their associates, the counselling of management on trends in issues affecting communication policy, and the production of messages, their transmission and the evaluation of their effectiveness.
You will have the opportunity to establish links with professionals in the industry through the Public Relations Institute of Australia Young Practitioners' program.
Off campus studies
Deakin offers many courses which can be studied by distance education overseas.However, international students living in Australia must, in each compulsory trimester (that is, Trimesters 1 and 2), enrol in at least one unit that is offered as an on-campus unit and can, in addition enrol in online or off-campus units. Best practice is to enrol in mostly on-campus units in each compulsory trimester.
In a non-compulsory trimester (Trimester 3), international students may study online and off-campus units only. Note that online and off-campus units can make up no more than 25% of a total study load.
Professional recognition
The Bachelor of Arts (Public Relations) is accredited by the Public Relations Institute of Australia (PRIA).
Fees and charges
Fee paying place - International (IFP)A Fee paying place is one for which the University does not receive any government funding. As such, students enrolled in these places are required to contribute the full cost of their course.
Fees for international students apply to persons living in Australia with Temporary Resident status, provided that there is no limitation on study and persons living abroad who are not Australian citizens and do not have Permanent Resident status in Australia.
Equivalent Full Time Student Load (EFTSL)
EFTSL is the standard annual full time load. Eight credit points is the standard full time load for one year of study.
* The 'indicative annual course fee' cited has been provided as a guide only. It has been calculated on the basis of a typical enrolment of a student undertaking the course in 2013, and reflects the cost involved in undertaking a full-time quota of units within the specified discipline.
The actual fees charged by Deakin University will depend upon the discipline from which each individual unit is chosen, and may vary from the indicative course fee cited, particularly if units are chosen from a number of disciplines. The cost of each unit offered in 2013 can be viewed from the Unit Search.
Please note that the fees per unit/credit point may increase annually due to rises in the cost of course delivery and service.
Deakin assumes no responsibility for persons relying on 'indicative course fees' to calculate the total future cost of their course.
Career opportunities
There are promising career opportunities for public relations professionals in commerce, government, community and education institutions, hospitals, health and welfare organisations, special interest groups, cultural organisations, consumer affairs and public relations consultancies. Other terms are often used in place of public relations or to describe a specialised aspect of public relations. They include public affairs, corporate affairs, community relations, customer relations, investor relations, employee relations, publicity, government relations, media relations, crisis management and issues management, all of which provide other employment opportunities.Course rules
To qualify for the award of Bachelor of Arts (Public Relations), a student must complete 24 credit points including:
- 16 credit points of compulsory core units;
- 8 credit points of electives;
- no more than 10 credit points at level 1;
- at least 14 credit points at level 2 or above
Course structure
Level 1
Trimester 1
| ALC101 | Contemporary Communication: Making Sense of Text, Image and Meaning ** |
| ALJ111 | Contemporary Journalism A |
| ALR103 | Introduction to Public Relations |
1 Elective
Trimester 2
| ALC102 | Contemporary Communication: Making Sense of New Media |
| ALJ112 | Contemporary Journalism B |
1 Elective
Trimester 1 or trimester 2 or trimester 3
| ALW117 | Writing for Professional Practice |
Level 2
Trimester 1 and Trimester 3
| ALR207 | Media Relations |
Trimester 1
| ALR276 | Ethical Communication and Citizenship |
2 Electives
Trimester 2
| ALR206 | Web Media Public Relations |
| ALR279 | Public Relations Practice and Event Management ( 2 credit points) |
1 Elective
Level 3
Trimester 1
| ALR383 | Government Relations and Issues Management * |
| ALR382 | Internship |
2 Electives - one of which could be:
| ALR311 | Public Relations Study Tour |
Trimester 2
| ALR300 | Public Relations Campaigns and Practice ( 2 credit points) |
| ALR310 | Marketing Communication |
1 Elective
* ALR383 is offered in the wholly online teaching mode only- there will be no face-to face teaching.
** ALC101 offered trimester 3 - off campus only.
Transition to University study
The faculty offers two units ASC160 Introduction to University Study and ALW117 Writing for Professional Practice which are specifically designed to ease the transition into university study. New students are encouraged to enrol in one or both of these units in their first year.
Entry requirements - general
General admission requirements for entry into undergraduate courses for international students at Deakin are summarised in the undergraduate admission requirements table (194kb).
Some courses may have additional entry requirements.
Students must also meet the undergraduate English language requirements.
Entry requirements - specific
IELTS / English language requirements
Please note that English language requirements exist for entry to this course and you will be required to meet the English language level requirement that is applicable in the year of your commencement of studies.
It is the students’ responsibility to ensure that she/he has the required IELTS score to register with any external accredited courses. (more details)
Pathways
This course has pathways from more than 20 Institutes of TAFE and universities in Melbourne and regional Victoria. Credit transfer and recognition is normally available from TAFE and university diplomas and advanced diplomas in arts, business, management, and humanities disciplines. Students with graded advanced diplomas from TAFE or equivalent will be eligible for up to 12 credit points of electives. Students with graded diplomas or equivalent from TAFE or equivalent will be eligible for up to 8 credit points of electives. There is also a pathway from Deakin University's Associate Degree of Arts, Business and Sciences to this course with up to 16 credit points depending on units taken.
On completion of this course you may choose to apply for an Honours degree or postgraduate study. These studies normally provide professional qualifications directed to a particular career. Students must have completed a major in the discipline or interdisciplinary area in which they wish to specialise in the honours course. Entry is based on a number of factors, including an average grade of Distinction or High Distinction in the Bachelor of Arts particularly in the discipline in which they want to study Honours and the availability of supervision. Further honours information.
Credit for prior learning - general
If you have completed previous studies which you believe may reduce the number of units you have to complete at Deakin, indicate in the appropriate section on your application that you wish to be considered for credit transfer. You will need to provide a certified copy of your previous course details so your credit can be determined. If you are eligible, your offer letter will then contain information about your credit transfer.
Your credit transfer is formally approved prior to your enrolment at Deakin during the Enrolment and Orientation Program. You must bring original documents relating to your previous study so that this approval can occur.
You can also refer to the Credit for Prior Learning (Credit Transfer) Search which outlines the credit that may be granted towards a Deakin University degree.
How to apply
- Applicant Portal: Use our online application system to submit and track your application now OR
- Apply through a Deakin International office: Fill out an application form and submit it to a Deakin International office OR
- Apply through a Deakin representative: Take your application form to your preferred agent for assistance.
Tracking your application
If you have already applied and wish to enquire about your application please refer to the relevant area through which you originally applied.
- If you applied through a Deakin representative please contact your representative.
- If you applied through a Deakin International office please contact deakin-int-admissions@deakin.edu.au
