Bachelor of Communication

UndergraduateGRF-COM-DEG2026

Course information for 2026 intake View information for 2025 course intake

Craft powerful narratives and drive change

Develop communication skills for the digital age. Explore media production and strategic messaging across print and emerging technologies. Build a strong network and a professional portfolio. Graduate career-ready to lead in journalism, PR and digital media.

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Study method: 100% online
Assessments: 100% online
Applications close: 15 Feb 2026,; 28 June 2026
Credit available: Yes
Duration: 3 years full time or part time equivalent
Total subjects: 24

Indicative first year fee: $16,600; Fee details
Available loans: Australian Higher Education Loan Program (HELP)
CSP available: Yes

Bachelor of Communication

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About this degree

Graduates of the Bachelor of Communication will have:
1. Knowledge and skills with critical judgement and reflection: Analyse, reflect and apply diverse theories and practical knowledge when making professional judgements, so as to communicate effectively across audiences and platforms
Graduates of the Bachelor of Communication will be able to demonstrate:
1. Strong collaboration skills: Collaborate meaningfully and professionally with peers, partners and diverse communities in different contexts, locally and globally
2. Creative enquiry and innovation: Develop adaptive skills and broad knowledge that will enable you to research critically, think creatively and devise appropriate solutions that respond to the changing dynamics of communication practice.
3. Social and environmental awareness: Produce media content and communication strategies that advance social and environmental justice, applying ethical and legal practices in a range of contexts.
4. Respectful knowledge of First Nations peoples: Apply knowledge about First Australian peoples in your professional practice and engage with First Nations peoples and communities respectfully and responsibly.
5. Self-awareness and robust professional identity: Cultivate robust ethical practice, through self-reflection, to independently manage your professional identity within a changing media and communication landscape.
A future-focussed degree for the next generation of communication professionals!
Through an interdisciplinary approach, you’ll develop high-level skills in digital media production, content creation, creative expression, advanced writing and digital communication, tailored for various platforms including emerging technologies.
Ethics and social responsibility are at the core of this degree. This is vital in shaping responsible media professionals who understand the impact of their work. With an emphasis on critical thinking and creativity, you’ll develop innovative problem-solving skills and be equipped for a thriving career in a range of industries from marketing and publishing to news, digital media and public relations.
Majors
Choose to major in one or more of the following fields:
- Strategic communication
- Journalism
- Creative writing
- Marketing
Take complementary courses in fields such as: politics, international relations, events, Indigenous studies, business, entrepreneurship and innovation, sport, history, literature and screen studies.
Highlights of the Bachelor of Communication degree include opportunities to:
- Tailor your degree by selecting majors and electives to build a unique skill set, preparing them to work across a range of professions, fields, and disciplines.
- Launch your career with strong industry networks and a professional portfolio, ready to drive innovation and lead change in the thriving communication and media industries.
- Be guided and mentored by staff who are recognised as leaders in their fields, including winners of national research and teaching awards.
- Access industry-standard online technologies for visual, audio and digital content creation addressing real-world situations.
Recommended study pattern
Upon being accepted into Griffith University, you may apply for credit for prior learning which may reduce the time it will take to complete your degree.
Students are recommended to follow this study pattern:
- Complete the level 1 subjects first
- Choose your major
- Choose your electives
- Complete a maximum of 10 subjects (100 credit points) of level 1 subjects and a minimum of 6 subjects (60 credit points) of level 3 subjects.
Award requirements
The degree will normally be of three year duration for full-time students. Part time students may take up to 8 years to accumulate subjects towards the degree. Upon being accepted into Griffith University, you may apply for credit for prior learning which may reduce the time it will take to complete your degree.
To be eligible for the award of the Bachelor of Communication, a student must complete 24 subjects as prescribed below:
- 10 core subjects
- 6 subjects from your chosen major
- 8 elective subjects
Students are required to complete at least 1 x 60 credit point major.
Other Award Requirements
- Complete no more than 10 subjects in the degree at first year level
- Complete at least 6 subjects in the degree at third year level
- Note: In accordance with the University's Credit Transfer Policy and notwithstanding the amount of credit which may be given towards the Bachelor of Communication, a student undertaking this program is required to complete a minimum of 8 second and third year subjects offered through Griffith University which are part of the Bachelor of Communication degree requirements and which have not been credited towards another award.
Choose your subjects
Majors
Bachelor of Communication students select one from these four Majors:
- Creative Writing
- Journalism
- Strategic Communication
- Marketing Communication
Students may choose 2 Majors.
Electives
You may select your electives from the list below, or any other undergraduate unit offered by Open Universities Australia, providing that any required prerequisites have been met.
Students who choose to complete 2 Majors will complete 20CP of electives instead of 80CP of electives.
Exit points
To be eligible to exit with the Advanced Diploma in Creative Writing OR Advanced Diploma in Strategic Communication OR Advanced Diploma in Journalism award, you must successfully complete 120 credit points as specified in these programs.
To be eligible to exit with the Diploma of Communication OR Diploma of Creative Writing OR Diploma of Strategic Communication OR Diploma of Journalism award, you must successfully complete 80 credit points as specified in these programs.
To be eligible to exit with the Undergraduate Certificate in Communication OR Undergraduate Certificate in Creative Writing OR Undergraduate Certificate in Strategic Communication ORUndergraduate Certificate in Journalism award, you must successfully complete 40 credit points as specified in these programs.
To exit, you should contact oua.programsupport@griffith.edu.au
Degrees are usually made up of core subjects and electives. Some degrees include a choice of majors, so you can focus your studies on a specialisation.
This list is a general overview. Download the full Degree Guide for more information.
Transition arrangements are changes that occur when courses are updated or phased out. This happens regularly as part of continuous improvement. It may affect you if you are currently enrolled in this course, or if you plan to use credit from previous study towards it.
2026 Changes
This program has undergone a major structure change in 2026.
PRE-2026 STRUCTURE
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS:
For the award of Bachelor of Communication (BComn), you must successfully complete 240 credit points comprising:
- 70 credit points for all Core Subjects, and
- 20 credit points from Foundation Subjects, and
- 120 credit points for 2 Majors from Majors, and
- 30 credit points from Elective Subjects
You must also ensure that:
- Selected courses must include at most 100 credit points at level 1.
- Selected courses must include at least 60 credit points at level 3 or higher.
- Selected courses must include at least 80 credit points at level 2 or higher.
PROGRAM STRUCTURE:
Complete 70 credit points for ALL of the following:
- COM151 Developing Research and Analytical Skills (last offered SS2/2025) OR GBS100 Foundation Studies (SS1,2)
- COM101 Academic Writing (last offered SS3/2025) OR LHS129 Foundations of Academic Writing (SS1)
- LHS156 Communication and Culture (last offered SS3/2025) OR LHS105 Communication Principles and Practices (SS1)
- CMM191 Image, Text and Culture (last offered SS2, 2025) OR LHS113 Digital Media: Portfolio Production (SS2) OR LTR110 Dangerous Pleasures: An Introduction to Literary Studies
- COM221 Issues in Contemporary Communication (last offered SS2, 2025) OR LHS225 Health, Science and Risk Communication (SS2)
- LHS341 Advanced Project (20CP) (see Note) (last offered SS3, 2025) OR LHS348 Communication for Social & Environmental Sustainability (SS2) AND LHS307 Journalism for Solutions & Social Justice (SS2) OR LHS375 Event & Entertainment Communication
Note: LHS341 Advanced Project is a double subject, and the capstone in the Bachelor of Communication. You should complete LHS341 in your final year of study.
Complete exactly 20 credit points of Foundation subjects from the following:
- COM121 Business Communication (last offered SS2, 2025) OR GBS212 Business Communication (Business Communication Major)
- CWR110 Creative Writing, Forms and Structures (last offered SS1, 2025) OR LHS103 Creative Writing:An Introduction (Creative Writing Major)
- LHS157 Research and Writing for Journalism (last offered SS1, 2025) OR LHS214 Beyond Hard News: Writing for Longer Formats (SS2) (Journalism Major)
- LHS155 Introduction to Communication and Journalism (last offered SS1, 2025) OR LHS109 Empowering the Professional Communicator (SS1) (Public Relations Major)
- CMM171 Introduction to Screen Analysis (last offered SS1, 2025) OR ART1001 Visions of Modernity: Art, Film and Visual Cultures (LaTrobe University SS1) (Screen and Media Studies Major)
Complete exactly 2 Majors from the following:
Business Communication
You must complete the Foundation subject COM121 - Business Communication OR GBS212 Business Communication prior to commencement of the subjects within the major.
Complete the following 40 credit points:
- CMM251 Public Writing and Professional Practice (SS1)
- COM211 Management Communication (last offered SS2, 2025) OR IBA201 Leading and Managing Organisations (SS1,2)
- CMM317 Crisis and Disaster Communication (SS2)
- COM311 Organisational Communication (last offered SS3, 2025) OR EHR205 Organisational Behaviour and Wellbeing (SS1,2)
Complete 20 credit points from the following:
- LHS321 Social Media for Global Communications (last offered SS1/2025) OR LHS120 Social Media for Global Communications (SS2)
- IBA306 Creating Ethical and Sustainable Business (SS2,3)
- IBA315 Managing Strategic Change (SS2)
Creative Writing
You must complete the Foundation subject CWR110 - Creative Writing, Forms and Structures(last offered SS1/2025) OR LHS103 An Introduction to Creative Writing: Forms and Techniques (SS1) prior to commencement of the subjects within the major.
Complete 60 credit points from the following:
- CWR210 Writing Poetry (last offered SS1/2025) OR LHS253 Writing Poetry (SS1)
- CWR211 Writing Crime and Contemporary Romance (last offered SS2/2025) OR LHS324 Popular Genres (SS1)
- CWR213 Writing for Children and Young Adults (last offered SS1/2025) OR LHS206 Writing Across Cultures (SS2)
- CWR312 Writing Gothic and Speculative Fiction (last offered SS2/2025) OR LHS276 Writing Short Fiction (SS1)
- CWR320 Publishing in the Marketplace (last offered SS2/2025) OR LHS307 Editing for Publication (SS1)
- CMM371 Documentary Scriptwriting (no longer offered) OR LHS351 Skills for the Investigative Reporter (SS2)
- CMM381 Drama Screenwriting (last offered SS1/2025) OR LHS311 Experimental Writing (SS1)
Selected subjects must include at least 20 credit points at level 3 or higher.
Journalism
You must complete the Foundation Course LHS157 - Research and Writing for Journalism (last offered SS2/2025) OR LHS214 Beyond Hard News: Writing for Longer Formats (SS2) prior to commencement of the subjects within the major.
Complete the following 60 credit points:
- CJR200 News Writing and Ethics (last offered SS1/2025) OR LHS205 Ethical Communication (SS1/2025)
- CMM251 Public Writing and Professional Practice (SS1)
- CMM261 Media Law (SS3)
- CJR220 News and Information Gathering (last offered SS2/2025) OR LHS275 The Emerging Journalist (SS1)
- CJR320 Broadcast Journalism (last offered SS2/2025) OR LHS256 Broadcast Journalism (SS2)
- CJR310 International Journalism (no longer offered) OR LHS321 Social Media for Global Communications (last offered SS1/2025) OR LHS352 Global Communication (SS2)
Public Relations
You must complete the Foundation Course LHS155 - Introduction to Communication and Journalism (last offered SS1/2025) OR LHS109 Empowering the Professional Communicator (SS1) prior to commencement of the subjects within the major.
Complete the following 60 credit points:
- CJR200 News Writing and Ethics (last offered SS1/2025) OR LHS205 Ethical Communication (SS1)
- LHS258 Media Innovation and Entrepreneurship (last offered SS2/2025) OR IBA200 Innovation, Creativity and Entrepreneurship (SS1,2,3)
- CMM261 Media Law (SS3)
- CMM220 Media Relations (SS2)
- CMM317 Crisis and Disaster Communication (SS2)
- CMM311 Media Audiences (last offered SS2/2025) OR LHS321 Social Media for Global Communications (last offered SS1/2025) OR LHS349 Communication Campaigns and Strategies (SS1)
Screen and Media Studies
You must complete the Foundation Course CMM171 - Introduction to Screen Analysis (last offered SS1/2025) OR ART1001 Visions of Modernity: Art, Film and Visual Cultures (LaTrobe University) prior to commencement of the subjects within the major.
Complete the following 60 credit points:
- CMM221 Television Studies (last offered SS1/2025) OR ENG1001 Adaptations from Novel to Netflix (LaTrobe University)
- CMM241 Great Directors (last offered SS2/2025) OR LHS241 Gothic Afterlives
- CMM281 Hollywood Cinema (SS3)
- CMM348 Screen Celebrity and Stardom (last offered SS1/2025) OR LHS340 The Critic: Arts and Culture (SS3)
- CMM311 Media Audiences (last offered SS2/2025) OR LHS349 Communication Campaigns and Strategies (SS1)
- LHS393 Eco-Cinema (last offered SS3/2025) OR ENG3WCE Writing, Culture and Ecology (LaTrobe University) OR AST3POP Asian Pop Culture (LaTrobe University)
Electives
Select exactly 30 credit points of electives. The following list of subjects is recommended.
- COM121 Business Communication (last offered SS2/2025) OR GBS212 Business Communication (SS2,3)
- COM141 Creative and Professional Writing (last offered SS3/2024) OR LHS340 The Critic: Arts and Culture
- CMM101 Cinema History (last offered SS2/2025)
- CWR110 Creative Writing, Forms and Structures (last offered SS1/2025) OR LHS103 An Introduction to Creative Writing: Forms and Techniques (SS1)
- CWR111 Writing the Short Story (last offered SS2/2025)
- CMM251 Public Writing and Professional Practice (SS1)
- CMM348 Screen Celebrity and Stardom (last offered SS1/2025) OR AST3POP Asian Pop Culture (LaTrobe University)
- LCS311 Australian Literature and History 1890 to 1929 (last offered SS2/2025) OR ENG2AUL Unsettling Australian Literatures (LaTrobe University)
- LCS321 Contemporary Australian Literature (last offered SS3/24) OR LHS267 Contemporary Australian Literature (SS3)
You may select your electives from the list above or any other undergraduate subject offered by Open Universities Australia, providing that any required prerequisites have been met.
For program advice contact Griffith OUA services at oua.programsupport@griffith.edu.au
Students who choose to complete the pre-2026 structure must complete their program no later than 31 December 2029 (or sooner depending on when they commenced their studies and the maximum time to complete their program).
A large number of courses have been given new codes. Students who have completed a course under the old code are not required to complete the new code. Recoding as follows:
- COM10 is now COM101 Academic Writing
- COM12 is now COM121 Business Communication
- COM14 is now COM141 Creative And Professional Writing
- COM15 is now COM151 Developing Research and Analytical Skills
- COM19 is now COM191 Image, Text and Culture
- COM21 is now COM211 Management Communication
- COM22 is now COM221 Issues in Contemporary Communication
- COM31 is now COM311 Organisational Communication
- CMM10 is now CMM101 Cinema History
- CMM17 is now CMM171 Introduction to Screen Analysis
- CMM26 is now CMM261 Media Law
- CMM28 is now CMM281 Hollywood Cinema
- CMM31 is now CMM311 Media Audiences
- CMM37 is now CMM371 Documentary Scriptwriting
- CMM38 is now CMM381 Drama Screenwriting
- LCS31 is now LCS311 Australian Literature and History 1890 to 1929
- LCS32 is now LCS321 Australian Literature and History 1930 to 1990
- LHS34 is now LHS341 Advanced Project
Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.
Indicative first year fee
$16,600
Indicative total fee $49,800
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.

Entry requirements

Students may be able to receive credit for previous studies conducted at other institutions. Please contact the Open Universities Australia Officer, Griffith (OUA) Services at Griffith University.
A prospective student who has previously completed or partially completed a degree, may be eligible for a CSP and may also be eligible for credit transfer. For more information, please visit the following website:
- Credit Transfer

Career opportunities

With an emphasis on critical thinking and creativity, you’ll develop innovative problem-solving skills and be equipped for a thriving career in a range of industries from marketing and publishing to news, digital media and public relations.

Australian job snapshots

Data sourced from Australian Jobs 2023.

Role	Earnings	Employment change
Advertising and Marketing Professionals	$75K to $93K	Up 21.3%
Journalists and Other Writers	$75K to $93K	Up 0.9%
Marketing specialists	N/A^	N/A^
Public Relations Professionals	$93K to $120K	Up 20.8%

^ There is no data available

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Bachelor of Communication

About this degree

What you'll learn

Description

Degree structure details

Recommended study pattern

Award requirements

Choose your subjects

Majors

Electives

Exit points

Subjects in this degree

Core Subjects

Major in Creative Writing

Major in Journalism

Major in Strategic Communication

Major in Marketing Communication

Electives

Registering in this degree

Transition arrangements

Fee details

About Griffith University

Entry requirements

Higher education via OUA

Secondary education

Recognition of previous work or study

Career opportunities

Australian job snapshots

Explore media & communication courses

Degree FAQs