Bachelor of Communication and Media (Journalism)
UndergraduateUSQ-CMJ-DEG2025
Course information for 2025 intake View information for 2024 course intake
Research, write, and report the news
Develop the skills of a professional journalist and get ready for work in the news media. You’ll learn about feature writing, digital storytelling, and more. Get to know media ethics and law. Become a credible and reliable reporter of news.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Credit available
- Yes
- Duration
- 3 years full time or part time equivalent
- Total subjects
- 24
- Available loans
- Australian Higher Education Loan Program (HELP)
- CSP available
- Yes
Bachelor of Communication and Media (Journalism)
About this degree
On successful completion of the program, students should be able to:
- Evidence professional knowledge and skills in one or more disciplines which will equip students to be competitive in the regional and global workforce.
- Use creative and critical thinking processes to evaluate multiple sources of evidence, explore new ideas and possibilities, formulate arguments, and apply reasoning and reflection to develop solutions to complex real-world problems.
- Engage independently and collaboratively in informed debates, discussion, and activities to extend and advance effective communication skills in a range of oral, written and digital modes.
- Act as responsible, ethical professionals and global citizens by applying awareness of social responsibility and professional integrity to interactions with other professionals and the wider community.
- Show evidence of skills and capabilities, as well as initiative and resourcefulness, necessary to make a valuable contribution to the professional workplace, and respond to changing industry needs.
- Recognise and apply cultural awareness and tolerance for diversity within team, community and workplace settings.
- We encourage practical learning that will prepare you for a diverse range of career options in this dynamic and exciting field. Learning from lecturers with years of industry experience as journalists, you will have the opportunity to interview people, report the news, write feature stories, create and edit news packages, and design and produce packages for radio, television, online, and print. Our strong industry partnerships will help you access news organisations for real opportunities to apply your knowledge. Third-year students undertake work placements as part of their studies.
Recommended study pattern
Year 1
HAC1000 The Skilful Communicator
JRN1010 Analysing News and Media
JRN1020 The Journalist's Toolkit
JRN1030 Reporting the News
HAC1001 The Professional Self: Building Career Identity
3 x Electives
Year 2
JRN2009 Feature Writing
JRN2100 Digital Storytelling in Journalism
JRN2200 News Design and Analytics
HAC2000 Digital Worlds: Human Futures
4 x Electives
Year 3
JRN3100 Media Law and Ethics
JRN3200 Investigative Journalism
HAC3001 The Emerging Professional
5 x Electives
Award requirements
Completion of 24 units as outlined in the Recommended Study Pattern section.Exit points
Associate Degree of Communication and Media, Diploma of Professional Photography, Diploma of Professional Communication, Diploma of Arts.
Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.
Indicative first year fee
$16,323
Indicative total fee $48,969
The amounts shown here are indicative for an Australian citizen studying full-time, which is typically 8 subjects per year.
Fees may vary depending on:
- the subjects you choose
- credit from previous work experience
- your eligibility for government funding loans or subsidies such as HECS-HELP or a Commonwealth supported place.
To learn more, go to Fees or contact a student advisor.
As Australia’s #1 university for graduate starting salary (Good Universities Guide, 2022), University of Southern Queensland is the right place to make real progress. Regardless of your education history, your age or your aspirations, at UniSQ you’ll be inspired by quality learning experiences matched with top resources and research. Having delivered distance and online learning for over 40+ years, UniSQ supports you to learn at your own pace—exactly how it suits you.
Learn more about USQ.
Explore USQ courses.
- QS Ranking 2024:
- 24
- Times Higher Education Ranking 2024:
- 24
How to apply
University of Southern Queensland manages enquiries and applications for this degree.
Complete your details and we'll make sure your enquiry is sent to University of Southern Queensland who will contact you to discuss this degree.
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Entry requirements
- ATAR - 63.00 or equivalent; proof of meeting the English Language Proficiency requirements is also required.
- Completed VET qualifications can be used to derive an ATAR score or Selection Rank which may be used to meet the Entry Requirements for the program. We encourage you to reach out to the UniSQ team to discuss your options further.
- Work and Life experience may be used to derive an ATAR score or Selection Rank which may be used to meet the Entry Requirements for the program. We encourage you to reach out to the UniSQ team to discuss your options further.
- Exemptions/credit will be assessed based on the UniSQ Credit and Exemption Procedure. Claims for credit for previous study should be submitted prior to or at the time of enrolment. Each claim will be assessed on individual merit in line with UniSQ policy.
Career opportunities
Career outlook
- Bloggers, Critics, Sports and Other Writers :
- Data unavailable
- Journalists and Other Writers:
- $75K to $93K
- Print Journalists:
- Data unavailable
- Radio Journalists:
- Data unavailable
- Television Journalists:
- Data unavailable