Bachelor of Arts (Internet Communications)

Overview

Career Outcomes

The Internet is now an essential part of the media and communications environment in society and is part of most people’s everyday lives. The BA (Internet Communications) will enable you, depending on the choices you make in the units you study, to work in a number of fields of employment: Internet communications, media and marketing; Internet content management; Internet policy and regulation; online research and analysis; virtual communities; website design and development; online media production; web publishing. Your studies will also lead to careers in more traditional media and information industries that are now moving online, as well as any corporate entity, public or private, that utilise online communications.

Special Requirements

In 2010, Curtin University of Technology introduced the BA (Internet Communications) in place of the BA (Internet Studies). All new students will be working towards completion of the new degree.

All pre2010 students are strongly encouraged to email the course coordinator (internetstudies@curtin.edu.au) for advice and study planning.

This table of equivalent units shows you how your current units translate into credit in the new degree structure:

Award Requirements

To qualify for the Bachelor of Arts (Internet Communications), students must complete 24 units of study, comprising of:

* a ten-unit major in Internet Communications;
* ten electives drawn from any other areas of study, and
* four general humanities units for breadth of education.

Note that only 4 of the 10 electives can be Level 1 units, unless special permission is given by the course coordinator.

Recognition of Prior Learning / Credit

You may be eligible for credit for prior learning, either because of formal qualifications or from experience. You need to apply for credit when you register for the degree (see below). You may also be granted limited credit for appropriate training and technical studies undertaken during your enrolment in the degree where those studies directly relate to Internet Communications. Normally students with an advanced diploma will receive between 8 and 12 units’ credit; a diploma provides between 4 and 8 units credit. Units already studied within Open Universities Australia or at university level can be used to satisfy the requirement for some of the elective or broad humanities units, depending on the units and their level and when those studies were undertaken. All decisions about recognition of prior learning are made on an individual basis according to Curtin University policies on recognition of prior learning. Since RPL claims can affect the choice of units to study, students are advised to contact the Course Coordinator directly for advice internetstudies@curtin.edu.au early in their studies.

Registering in this Course

If you wish to complete a degree course at Curtin you should register your intention after completing at least two units. To register your intention you need to complete a Registration of Intent to Complete a Degree at Curtin University form and submit it to Distance and Open Learning Services at Curtin.
Please contact opencurtin@curtin.edu.au to request the registration form or download it from http://elearn.curtin.edu.au/oua/study/registration_graduation.cfm
 

Recommended Study Pattern

For students doing one unit per study period, the recommended study pattern of the first four units of the degree, is:

• WEB101 – Web Communications (major unit)
• NET102 – Internet and Everyday Life (major unit)
• MED104 – Engaging Media (general humanities unit)
• NED11 - Internet Design Introduction (elective unit)

Students who are unsure of their skills in university learning can take SSK12 – Introduction to University Learning, which counts as a humanities unit. This unit should be taken before commencing WEB101 or, if you do that unit and discover you need more development of your skills, after WEB101 and before NET102.

Since MED104 is only taught in SP1 and SP3, students may take another general humanities unit first, and complete MED104 in the next study period.

For students doing two units per study period, the recommended study pattern of the first six units of the degree is:

• SSK12 – Introduction to University Learning  AND WEB101 – Web Communications
• NET102 – Internet and Everyday Life AND 1 general humanities unit
• MED104 – Engaging Media AND NED11 – Internet Design Introduction

Once students have completed these units, they should mix together study of second-level NET or WEB units, and electives, as well as any remaining Humanities units. Students need to complete second-level units in NET or WEB before studying the third-level units.

Sometimes, units are not available in the study period you are doing.

Note that the recommended study pattern for the BA (Internet Communications) depends significantly on whether or not students have any recognition of prior learning, and the choices they will make for electives and the selection of broad humanities units.

All students are strongly advised to contact the Course Coordinator directly for advice internetstudies@curtin.edu.au.

Course Structure

Majors

Electives