Bachelor of Arts (Public Relations)

Overview

Description:
 Public Relations (PR) practitioners plan, develop, implement and evaluate information and communication strategies on behalf of an organization. Companies and other organizations engaged with the information demands of modern society employ trained, skilful people who can act as an interface between specialists and publics of various kinds. The public relations sector offers vibrant and interesting career choices for anyone with an interest in communication, public affairs and media.
 
Duration:
 3 years fulltime
 
Mode:
 On campus, full or part time *
 
Workload:
 Normal workload expectations are a minimum of 10 hours per week for every subject, including class contact hours, preparation and time spent on assessment tasks.
 
Type:
 Undergraduate
 
Credit points:
 72 credit points o
 
Mid-year entry:
 Yes
 
Prerequisite/s:
 English
 
Campus:
 Townsville
 
Faculty:
 Arts, Education and Social Sciences
 
QTAC code:
 311031Townsville
 

* Duration: Part-time study is available to domestic students only.

o Credit points: Represent the combined value of individual subjects in a degree. One subject usually constitutes three credit points.
 

Joint Degree Options

Joint degrees give students expertise in a complementary discipline in reduced time and can enhance career prospects. At JCU this degree can be combined with:

Bachelor of Business

Bachelor of Community Welfare

Bachelor of Education (Primary)

Bachelor of Education (Secondary)

Bachelor of Journalism

Bachelor of Laws

Bachelor of Science

Bachelor of Social Work

Structure

Disclaimer - The list of subjects below is correct for 2008, but may change for 2009. Prospective students should contact the University to confirm admission requirements and the availability of courses.

YEAR 1

CORE SUBJECT

CU1020:03 Introduction to Public Relations

PLUS

12 credit points of level 1 study as specified in requirement 3 of the Award Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts and a maximum of 9 credit points selected from the Master Schedule of Subjects and in accordance with the Award Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts.

YEAR 2 and YEAR 3

CORE SUBJECTS

BX2082:03 Marketing Communications

CU2021:03 / CU3021:03 Public Relations Campaigns

CU2022:03 / CU3022:03 Advanced Public Relations

JN3012:03 Print Editing

JN2021:03 Writing for Print

JN2300:03 Media Law

PLUS

6 credit points selected from the following cognate subjects:

BX3052:03 Cross-Cultural Management

BX3083:03 Strategic Marketing

BX3093:03 Conference and Events Management

CP2010:03 Multimedia Web Design

JN2022:03 / JN3022:03 Science Writing and Communication

JN2301:03 Broadcast Journalism

JN3300:03 Industry Internship

JN3304:03 Feature Writing

PLUS

Remaining credit points in accordance with the requirements for the Bachelor of Arts.

Honours

An Honours program is available for those students who demonstrate high academic performance. Honours consists of an extra year of study and the development of a personal research project and thesis. An Honours degree is usually essential for entry to research higher degrees. The Faculty also offers a wide range of postgraduate study opportunities.

Career Opportunities

Public Relations practitioners are involved in communicating with the public through the media and other publications and also ensuring that information is communicated within their own organisation. They are employed in a range of positions depending on their strengths and interests. Career paths exist in local, state and federal government agencies, not-for-profit organisations such as the Cancer Fund, Red Cross; lobby groups and environmental agencies; the corporate sector; and as media advisors for politicians and public figures. Career opportunities also exist in event management and marketing.

Practical Experience

Students will have the opportunity to complete an internship as part of their degree. This unpaid internship is completed at third year level and involves a placement in a public relations role for a negotiated period throughout the study period. It is counted as credit toward the degree. Students are also encouraged to gain as much practical experience throughout their degree.

Back to James Cook University

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