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 Paramedic -Trauma and Environmental Emergencies
LAW101 Legal and Ethical Practice in EMS (Emergency Medical Services)
LAW102 Maternal and Child Health
LAW103 Substance Misuse and Toxicology
LAW104 Clinical Leadership and Clinical Governance
Advanced courses (20)
14 required courses:
LAW201 Paramedic Clinical Practicum 4
LAW202 Paramedic Clinical Practicum 3
LAW203 Research Design: Methodology and Literature Review
LAW204 Coursework 1 AR401/AR402 School of Communication & Creative Industries
LAW205 Coursework 2 AR401/AR402 School of Communication & Creative Industries
LAW206 Coursework 3 AR401/AR402 School of Communication & Creative Industries
LAW301 Introduction to Indigenous Australia
LAW302 Foundations of Sustainability
LAW303 Creativity, Design and Communication Project
LAW304 Social Sciences and Humanities Project
LAW401 Cell Biology
LAW402 Biodiversity and Ecology
LAW403 Chemistry
LAW404 Science Research Methods
PLUS select 6 elective courses from:
LAW305 Discovering Science
LAW306 Statistics with Teeth: Understanding Ecological Data
LAW307 Advanced Research Methods and Statistics
LAW308 K'gari-Fraser Island Field Studies
LAW309 Special Field Studies Topic
LAW310 Analytical Sciences
LAW311 Special Research Project
LAW312 Workplace Learning I
LAW313 Education Research an Introduction
LAW314
LAW315
LAW316
LAW405 Legal Dispute Resolution
LAW406 Planning and Environment Law
LAW407 Wills, Estates and Elder Law
LAW408 Intellectual Property
LAW409
LAW410 Public International Law
LAW411
LAW412 International Human Rights Law
LAW413
LAW414 Legal Internship
LAW415 Sports Law
The following 2 elective courses are only available to students who have been accepted into honours in Law:
LAW440 Honours Research Methods, Design and Confirmation
LAW441 Law Honours Thesis
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 Introduction to Screen and Media Industries
CMN130 News and Reporting
CMN150 Digital Journalism
Advanced courses (12)
CMN213 Editing for Professionals
CMN214
CMN227
CMN228 Media Law and Ethics
CMN235
CMN237 Online Journalism
CMN240 Feature Writing
CMN249
CMN277 Video production and television journalism
CMN306
CMN307
CMN330 Newsroom
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.