2019 Undergraduate Courses
  • Students are to follow the requirements of the Handbook for the year they commenced the course.

    However, the subject links below do not contain the subject information for the current year. You can view current subject information through the new Course Handbook.

Bachelor of Creative Arts – Bachelor of Communication and Media | 2019

Testamur Title of Degree:

Bachelor of Creative Arts – Bachelor of Communication and Media

Abbreviation:

BCA-BCM

UOW Course Code:

1795

CRICOS Code:

094802K

Total Credit Points:

216

Duration:

4.5 years full-time or part-time equivalent

Home Faculty:

Faculty of Law, Humanities and the Arts

Intake Session(s):

Autumn / Spring

Delivery Mode:

On Campus

Delivery Campus / UAC Code:

Wollongong / 751506

Overview 

The Bachelor of Creative Arts - Bachelor of Communication and Media has a strong focus on the creative industries, and encourages an understanding of how producers and consumers interact in a media saturated world. UOW connects hands-on studio production with critical reflection. This degree will equip you with a diverse set of skills including critical and creative thinking and effective communication and problem solving skills, all of which are required for high achievement in a range careers. 

The Bachelor of Communication and Media degree offers students a strong foundation in the global communication and media industries. This degree has a focus on preparing students for global careers in digital and social media, visual communication design, journalism, screen media production, marketing communication, advertising and PR. Students will encounter key ideas in the study and practice of media and communications, and gain flexible and transferable skills that will prepare them for informed engagement with the changing world of global media culture.

You will also become part of the creative industries, one of the fastest growing sectors in the world. In Australia, over 600,000 people create a living from working in film; television and radio; writing and editing; recording and performing; advertising and marketing; design and visual arts; and architecture. A Creative Arts degree equips you with a sound knowledge of contemporary arts, arts theory and history within Australia and how that fits within an international context, reflecting on social, cultural and ethical issues. 

Entry Requirements & Credit Arrangements

Information on academic and English language requirements, as well as eligibility for credit for prior learning, is available from the Course Finder.

Course Learning Outcomes 

The course learning outcomes in each of these degrees complement and consolidate outcomes in the partner degree. Please refer to the Course Handbook page of each individual degree for a comprehensive list of degree course learning outcomes. 

Course Structure

To qualify for the award of this degree, students must complete a minimum of 216 credit points comprised of the following:

  1. The core subjects prescribed for the Bachelor of Creative Arts (24 credit points);
  2. One of the majors listed for the Bachelor of Creative Arts (minimum 72 and maximum 96 credit points);
  3. The core subjects prescribed for the Bachelor of Communication and Media (48 credit points);
  4. One of the majors listed for the Bachelor of Communication and Media (48 credit points);
  5. If required, elective subjects to bring the total number of credit points completed to 216.

Notes:

  • No more than 90 credit points at 100-level.
  • Students must achieve a clear pass in the core 300 level subjects.

Majors and Minors

Students completing this degree will complete at least two majors. One chosen from the Bachelor of Creative Arts, and one from the Bachelor of Communication and Media. Follow the links to each Course Handbook page for information on the majors available in each degree.

NOTE: Students in this degree cannot take the 'Visual Arts and Design' major with the 'Visual Communication Design' major.

Students completing a 72 credit point major in their Bachelor of Creative Arts may wish to use elective subjects to complete a minor. Information regarding minors is available on the 2019 LHA General Schedule of Minors page.

Work Integrated Learning

Undertaking a work integrated learning experience during your university education is now a significant contributor to being competitive in securing employment in your field of choice when you graduate from UOW.

Bachelor of Creative Arts students may apply via their Course Coordinator to enrol into the Creative Arts Internship subject, CACS302. The Faculty offers a limited number of industry placements each year. These offer students hands-on experience in cultural organisations that have agreed to partner with the Faculty on this initiative. Typically students will spend a minimum of 60 hours in an organisation, working on an agreed project from their major study area, with exposure to a fully operational professional environment. These hours can be undertaken on a daily basis or as a single block as negotiated with the host organisation. Students are selected for this opportunity on the basis of both strong academic achievement and through application and interview.

In their third year students will undertake a major project in their chosen discipline continuing to build student experience, expertise and maturity, working with a range of methodologies and processes in a context that simulates professional working conditions.

Third year students may choose to take an additional history/theory subject, particularly if they are interested in Honours or teaching, however, they also have the option of enrolling in CACS301, the Professional Practice subject. In this subject, students will map professional and career pathways in the context of both individual artistic practice and the creative and cultural industries. It will develop an understanding of arts infrastructure, including government agencies, the commercial and the not-for-profit sector. Fundamental professional avenues of support such as legal advisory services and funding structures will be introduced as well as individual portfolios and curriculum vitae, project and funding submission development and making presentations. Students will undertake an individual research assignment into an aspect of the arts that fits with their career ambitions. The subject will be delivered in partnership with key arts and cultural organisations.

Honours

Honours is a fourth year of study that provides training in independent research. Students who complete the double degree with the required academic standard are encouraged to proceed to either the Bachelor of Creative Arts (Honours) or the Bachelor of Communication and Media (Honours). Please refer to the handbook pages for further information about these degrees and their entry requirements.

Other Information

Further information is available via email: lha-enquiries@uow.edu.au

Last reviewed: 8 February, 2019