Bachelor of Arts (Public Relations)
Course summary for local students
Student Information Centre
Tel 1300 334 733
enquire@deakin.edu.au
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 or part-time equivalent |
| Next available intake | March (Trimester 1), July (Trimester 2), November (Trimester 3) |
| Indicative annual fee 2013 | $6,780* - Commonwealth Supported Place (HECS) |
| Faculty contacts | Arts and Education Student Support and Enrolment Enquiries artsedstudentsupport@deakin.edu.au
artsedstudentsupport@deakin.edu.au
Course Director Mark Sheehan, +61 3 522 72424, mark.sheehan@deakin.edu.au
Contact the Course Director for matters relating specifically to the academic content of this course - all enrolment related queries must go to the Student Support Office. |
| Level | Undergraduate |
| VTAC Codes | 14191 - Burwood (Melbourne), Commonwealth Supported Place (HECS) 14571 - Waurn Ponds (Geelong) - off campus, Commonwealth Supported Place (HECS) 15791 - Waurn Ponds (Geelong), Commonwealth Supported Place (HECS) |
| CRICOS course code | 022247F |
| Deakin course code | A325 |
Course sub-headings
- Course overview
- 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.
Professional recognition
The Bachelor of Arts (Public Relations) is accredited by the Public Relations Institute of Australia (PRIA).
Fees and charges
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.
Commonwealth supported place (CSP)
A Commonwealth supported place is one for which the university receives some government funding. As such, students enrolled in these places are required to contribute only part of the cost of their course. To be eligible for a Commonwealth supported place you must be an Australian citizen, or a New Zealand citizen or holder of a permanent visa who will be residing in Australia for the duration of your unit/s 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
Deakin University offers admission to undergraduate courses through a number of Admission categories.In all categories of admission, selection is based primarily on academic merit as indicated by an applicant's previous academic record.
For more information on the Deakin Admissions Policy visit The Guide.
Entry requirements - specific
Applicants should have successfully completed VCE, or equivalent. Prerequisites are Units 3 and 4–a study score of at least 30 in English (ESL) or 25 in any other English.
The Faculty offers alternative entry options for mature age and other special categories of applicants. Information about these is available in the VTAC guide and on the Deakin University’s website at http://www.deakin.edu.au/future-students/applications-enrolments/index.php
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
The University aims to provide students with as much credit as possible for approved prior study or informal learning which exceeds the normal entrance requirements for the course and is within the constraints of the course regulations. Students are required to complete a minimum of one-third of the course at Deakin University, or four credit points, whichever is the greater. In the case of certificates, including graduate certificates, a minimum of two credit points within the course must be completed at Deakin.
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
Applications for on and off campus study for Trimester 1 must be made through the Victorian Tertiary Admission Centre (VTAC). For more information refer to VTAC (external site).
Applications for Trimester 2 and Trimester 3 must be made directly to the University through the Applicant Portal. For information on the application process and closing dates, see the Apply web page. Please note that closing dates may vary for individual courses.
