Bachelor of Journalism

UniSA Online’s Bachelor of Journalism combines essential journalistic knowledge with digital and technical skills, helping you become ready to take on the multi-platform delivery of contemporary news reporting.

With independent journalism becoming more prevalent, you’ll learn how to tell stories across multiple platforms and build an entrepreneurial mindset, so you’re ready to operate as a freelance journalist.

You’ll hone your critical thinking and analytical skills, learn about the role of news in everyday life, and build knowledge of emerging technologies and specialist areas including digital photography, travel writing, visual journalism and infographics.

Study Journalism On Demand with UniSA Online and take full control over your study. Access support seven days a week, plan your study to fit around your life, view learning resources 24/7, and log into the interactive online environment anywhere, any time and on any device.

In this degree you’ll gain fundamental journalistic skills and broad digital proficiency, so that you can tell the stories that matter. Learn to produce audio and visual stories, conduct research and interviews, and explore specialist areas including entrepreneurial journalism and data visualisation.

You’ll learn from academics with strong professional backgrounds and industry experience, and build an industry-ready portfolio of work as you study.

Recommended study pattern

The program structure is subject to change at any time. (Information correct as at October 2023)

Year 1

• Elective 1
• News Reporting (COMM 1074)
• Introduction to Broadcasting (COMM 1087)
• Journalism: Principles and Practices (COMM 1088)
• Emerging Media Contexts (COMM 1086)
• Writing for Digital Media (COMM 2088)
• Intercultural Communication (LANG 1064)
• Elective 2

Year 2

• Media Law and Ethics (COMM 2091)
• Radio and Audio Journalism (COMM 2106)
• Digital Photography (GRAP 1032)
• Elective 3
• Television and Video Journalism (COMM 3093)
• Social Media for Journalists (COMM 2107)
• Innovations in Visual Journalism (COMM 2104)
• Journalism Theory and Practice (COMM 2105)

Year 3

• Digital Documentary (COMM 3070)
• Feature Writing (COMM 3073)
• Travel Writing (COMM 3094)
• Elective 4
• Investigative and Long Form Journalism (COMM 3091)
• Elective 5
• Entrepreneurial Journalism (COMM 3090)
• Journalism Capstone (COMM 3092)

Award requirements

Students must complete 24 subjects , made up of 19 Core subjects and 5 electives subjects.

Choose your subjects

Majors

A sequence of four elective courses are available for students to undertake a minor in an area of their choosing.

Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.

Indicative total fee $45,282

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.

The University of South Australia (UniSA) is ranked as one of the best young universities in the world, and is the number one university in Australia for graduate employability. UniSA offers over 200 world-class degrees that are informed by industry and delivered with a highly practical approach to teaching and learning, and is a valuable partner with Open Universities Australia.

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QS World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:

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Successfully completed equivalent to a minimum of half a year of full-time study of a higher education program at a recognised higher education provider

Completed a secondary education qualification equivalent to SACE, such as an interstate year 12 international qualification with a competitive selection rank (ATAR)

Completed an award from a registered training organisation at Certificate IV level or above

• Passed a UniSA Online literacy and numeracy test and have relevant work experience;
• Completed a UniSA Foundation Studies program or equivalent; or
• Qualified for Special Entry

If you have previous work experience, or have studied before, you could fast-track your studies by reducing the time it takes to complete your degree.