Subjects overview
This program can be completed in 2 years (6 semesters)
Core Curriculum
Students must complete the following three (3) subjects plus the Beyond Bond Program.
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CORE11-011: Critical Thinking and Communication (10CP)
In this subject, students will be introduced to critical thinking and clear expression. They will evaluate arguments, identify assumptions, judge patterns of inference, and recognise and apply various methods of reasoning. Students will learn how to clarify and visually represent their thinking to make better decisions, evaluate and use evidence, and communicate more effectively in their writing and speaking. Using these skills, students will structure and write an academic essay and deliver an oral presentation.
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CORE11-012: Responsibility, Integrity and Civic Discourse (10CP)
Integrity, and the courage and capability to act on one’s sense of responsibility, are key components of a thriving life. Responsibility, Integrity and Civic Discourse fosters students’ lifelong commitment to responsible discourse and action in all spheres of human interaction, recognising the global aspect to contemporary citizenship. Students explore the complex relationship between character, responsible action, and creative critical thinking, learning how to reflect on and articulate their unique sense of global citizenship and responsibility. By accentuating the importance of justification and articulation of the reasons for our actions, students exercise their critical, communicative, and cooperative capabilities so that they can thrive with integrity in the multiple contexts of action they will face as private, civic, professional, and global citizens.
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CORE11-013: Collaboration for Global Change (10CP)
In today's work and study environments, individuals often encounter complex, open-ended problems that necessitate collaboration in both physical and virtual realms and across sectors and specialisations. In Collaboration for Global Change, students engage collaboratively to craft genuine solutions for global issues. In this context, students link their endeavours to specific sustainable development goals, thus positioning their actions as contributions to global citizenship. As they learn to defend their ideas and perspectives, students apply critical thinking, design thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills within a problem-based learning environment. This comprehensive approach equips them with the necessary skills and mindset to excel in future work, academic pursuits, and global initiatives.
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Beyond Bond Program
To keep up with the ever-changing work landscape, we aim to help our students future-proof their careers by developing broader employability skills that are actively sought out by employers. Unique to our University, Beyond Bond is a compulsory professional development program with a practical, activity-based approach that is integrated into all undergraduate degrees.
Required subjects
Students must complete the following fourty credit points (40CP) of subjects.
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COMN13-300: Capstone Project (10CP)
Ideas are the most valuable currency a communications or creative arts professional has. This subject is all about developing a sustained piece of creative practice or research, from idea to execution. It is an opportunity for you to attempt the kind of work you admire in industry, in the process creating a substantial communication portfolio piece that reflects the cumulative learning from your degree and mastery of your chosen discipline. You may work individually or in collaboration with a small team within the fields of advertising, communication, creative writing, journalism, media studies, social media, public relations, and film and television, or develop a hybrid project that falls within the spaces among these disciplines. You will first establish the scope, limitations and context of your work, situating it within its industry contexts/comparisons and identifying the market and audience for it. Classes will take the form of workshops, where you will have access to substantial peer and instructor feedback. The subject will also explore models of productivity and sustained creative practise, pitching, freelance and client work models, project management and the transformative power of communication, creative practice, and research.
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FITV11-110: Screenwriting Short Fiction (10CP)
This subject introduces students to the art and craft of modern professional screenwriting. Students will explore the fundamentals of constructing screenplays for various forms of film and screen narratives. They will examine key elements of script development; from developing ideas, and creating characters, through to completing short-film screenplays to professional standards, and using professional screenwriting software.
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JOUR11-110: Creative Writing: Plot and Genre (10CP)
Creative Writing: Plot and Genre introduces long-form storytelling techniques, which you can apply to screenwriting, prose (fiction and creative non-fiction) and hybrid multimedia formats. This subject defines narrative, plot and genre, reviewing storytelling techniques from Aristotle to Joseph Campbell’s ‘The Hero’s Journey’. It also includes the significant forms and conventions of commercial, literary and screen genres; character motivation and development; character and story arcs; sub-plots; world-building; and the effect of suspense, pace, tension and conflict on plot at a macro level. Using templates developed by craft writers like Joseph Campbell and Blake Snyder, you will learn to conceptualise, workshop and articulate your own narrative premise then plot story and character arcs and write a sample opening chapter/scene. You will submit all assessment in formats consistent with industry expectations.
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JOUR13-300: Creative Writing: Fiction and Non-Fiction (10CP)
In this subject, you will have the chance to harness your creativity and explore a range of approaches, styles and genres to help you find and tell compelling stories. You will also receive industry-insider guidance on making your work compelling and saleable. This subject covers the foundations of writing fiction and creative non-fiction, including theme, character, dialogue, plot/structure, voice, style, imagery and a range of literary devices. Tutorials take the form of a supportive writing workshop where students are encouraged to experiment with various approaches to help find, develop and refine their own voice. You will also learn how to critically evaluate the work of other professionals, have the chance to practice self-editing and workshopping with an editor (your tutor), and investigate ways to apply your narrative skills and techniques to other fields, which include entrepreneurial storytelling, health narratives, professional narratives, social media narratives and much in between.
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Writing Options
Students must choose twenty credit points (20CP) of subjects from the following options.
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AUST11-100: Australian Literature (10CP)
This subject invites you to delve into the rich tapestry of Australian cultural traditions and explore the social and historical developments in Australia and the rest of the world. By examining the connections between visual art, film, and literature, you will gain understanding of Australia, its people, and its vibrant cultural fabric. You will encounter a rich diversity of literature, from the nineteenth century bush poetry of A.B. “Banjo” Paterson, to the more mature and highly experimental works of Australia's great twentieth century writers.
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ENGL12-106: World Literature (10CP)
This subject focuses on the power of literature to grow empathy and to increase our understanding of different conceptions of human life. You will explore key texts which, although created in specific cultural and geographical locations for a local audience, have transcended those boundaries. These texts are being read in the global village, in multiple languages, in times different from their authorship. The investigation of these texts will give you an opportunity to understand the value of learning the myriad ways with which the human experience is depicted in literature. Furthermore, analysing how literary features, such as translation, impact our understanding of the world described in these stories, will enhance your capabilities as global citizens. The subject aims to develop a greater awareness of how studying world literature can create new, more responsible understandings of humanity.
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FITV12-210: Advanced Screenwriting (10CP)
In this advanced subject, students examine screenwriting and narrative strategies for various screen forms, including short and long-form drama for film, television and other screen projects. With a major focus on character and story development, students explore how to engage audiences at an emotional level.
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JOUR11-111: Creative Writing Project (10CP)
In this advanced writing workshop, you will work with an instructor to develop an extended or substantive piece of original creative work in a genre and format of your choosing. The nature of the project will be negotiated individually at the beginning of the semester through a written and oral proposal pitch and contract document. Throughout the semester, you will have access to peer and instructor feedback on your project and instruction in frameworks for creative practice, industry expectations and market influences. Class sessions will take the form of small workshops or supervisions, with an expectation of ongoing student participation in a supportive, creative community. While the facilitator will provide feedback and support, students will need to commit to making individual progress on their chosen project.
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JOUR13-318: Freelance Feature Writing and Blogging (10CP)
In the current media landscape, a reporter who has original ideas, a fresh voice, and sharp insights can quickly develop a brand, a following, and a portfolio of published work. This subject teaches you how to write in a variety of formats (from listicles to in-depth features, travel narratives, opinion, reviews, and columns), as well as how to pitch work to digital, print (newspaper, magazine, zine etc), and multimedia publications, and how to set up a blog or portfolio platform of your own. The style and content of the writing are entirely up to you. You will be encouraged to mine your interests, contacts, and natural writing style for inspiration and credibility and to find suitable publication outlets for your work. The work of previous students has been published by Buzzfeed, The Guardian, Huffington Post, Women’s Health, News Corp, and Frankie Magazine. Also, you will also consider the business of freelance writing, including personal branding, establishing contacts, freelance writing rates, and tax and business structures.
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Major
Students must complete one (1) of the following sixty credit point (60CP) majors.
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Advertising
Advertising is not only one of the most dynamic and fastest growing areas of the creative industries – it is also one of the most diverse and innovative. Once upon a time advertising was mainly about TV, print and radio. Nowadays it is also about social media, viral and experiential marketing, service design and product innovation, wearables and artificial intelligence … and whatever new media channels and technologies will become available in coming years. This major introduces you to the sophisticated and cross-disciplinary world of advertising by focusing on these creative dynamics and opportunities. It also puts a strong emphasis on the potential for advertising to work as a driver and catalyst of social innovation, enabling you to approach a broad range of communication, business and societal challenges with creative confidence and a solution mindset.
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Communication
Communication skills are in high demand in all fields and most professional roles including management. The Major in Communication will provide you with the skills to stand out as an exceptional communicator in any task. Our flexible Major provides you with the opportunity to explore many options in personalising your learning. Students undertaking this major will study foundational theory of human communication and then choose to develop deeper knowledge and skill in any of the following: foundations of media content creation; strategic speaking and writing; persuasion; workplace, gender, intercultural, and interpersonal communication; mass and popular media; and digital media and society. Students may also choose to undertake a capstone project in Communication.
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Corporate Storytelling
Corporate Storytelling explores how to create and share organisational stories to connect with audiences in a meaningful way. This major investigates how cohesive narratives can become an effective means of bringing an organisation’s brand identity and values to life, stimulating a connection and engagement with their wider public. Students will apply persuasive and strategic communication theories to find and develop compelling and ethical narratives across multiple platforms. Students will develop flexibility in applying strong written, oral, and visual storytelling skills to diverse situations, technologies, and audiences. This creativity is critical in diverse professional roles including public relations, journalism, advertising and social media.
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Digital Media
The Digital Media major equips learners with a holistic approach to critically reflect and analyse new innovations and solutions as they relate to emerging digital media design methods and the changing job market due to disruptive technological change. Students will accumulate a diverse and coherent body of knowledge focused on the understanding and application of digital design methods, standards and industry best practices to develop a collaborative problem-solving strategy. Using an integrated approach (combining theory with workplace practice), students will be enabled to skilfully communicate design solutions outcomes to complex problems; through effective oral, written and visual communication techniques.
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Film and Television
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Media Studies
The Media Studies major provides you with a foundation for studying the media by engaging you in theoretical and practical aspects of media representations, media channels, audiences, news production, digitalisation of media, the media industry, and global media trends. It also allows you to immerse yourself in the field through selective study in digital advertising, media and crime, screen style and storytelling, the video game industry, international relations, the future of media in journalism, or media strategies in public relations.
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Public Relations
The public relations major comprehensively prepares you for a career in strategic communications and public relations. You are introduced to public relations from a management perspective as a critical function in all industries across corporate, government and not-for-profit organisations. The major delivers a wide-ranging conceptual, theoretical, and practical framework demonstrating how public relations managers develop communication processes and manage relationships with organisational publics and stakeholders. You will evaluate the profession’s current structure and future directions, learn concepts of public relations management, discuss ethical practices, and learn public relations strategies and techniques. You will develop flexibility in applying strategic written, oral, visual, social media, issues management, and crisis communication skills in diverse situations, technologies, and audiences. You will apply this knowledge to engage with real clients, primarily from the not-for-profit sector, to creating and pitching authentic public relations campaigns.
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Social Media
Digital and social media literacy is critical for students seeking a career in marketing and communications industries. You will gain a sophisticated understanding of the role of digital and social media in everyday and corporate life in a local and global context. You will learn via a hands-on, practical approach underpinned with applied theoretical knowledge. The major provides you with the skills and experience in the development of innovative analytical solutions to real world communication challenges, in digital content analysis and creation and in creative entrepreneurship, all informed by industry best practice. You will use persuasive and strategic communication strategies, and advanced design skills, to develop compelling and ethical narratives and campaigns across multiple platforms. Crucially, you will learn how to stay up to date, and innovate, in this ever-changing field. These skills are critical in diverse professional roles including public relations, journalism, advertising, web design, social media, and marketing.
Humanities/Business Major
Students must complete one (1) of the following sixty credit point (60CP) majors.
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Advertising
Advertising is not only one of the most dynamic and fastest growing areas of the creative industries – it is also one of the most diverse and innovative. Once upon a time advertising was mainly about TV, print and radio. Nowadays it is also about social media, viral and experiential marketing, service design and product innovation, wearables and artificial intelligence … and whatever new media channels and technologies will become available in coming years. This major introduces you to the sophisticated and cross-disciplinary world of advertising by focusing on these creative dynamics and opportunities. It also puts a strong emphasis on the potential for advertising to work as a driver and catalyst of social innovation, enabling you to approach a broad range of communication, business and societal challenges with creative confidence and a solution mindset.
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Communication
Communication skills are in high demand in all fields and most professional roles including management. The Major in Communication will provide you with the skills to stand out as an exceptional communicator in any task. Our flexible Major provides you with the opportunity to explore many options in personalising your learning. Students undertaking this major will study foundational theory of human communication and then choose to develop deeper knowledge and skill in any of the following: foundations of media content creation; strategic speaking and writing; persuasion; workplace, gender, intercultural, and interpersonal communication; mass and popular media; and digital media and society. Students may also choose to undertake a capstone project in Communication.
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Criminology
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Cyber Security
The digital transformation of society offers rewards and risks. Cybersecurity is the knowledge and practice of securing the benefits while minimising the risks of networked computing devices and software for personal, group, organisational, governmental, economic, and international functions. This transdisciplinary major offers students a range of knowledge and practical approaches for managing cybersecurity in business, law, crime, international relations, and a wide range of social applications.
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Entrepreneurship and Innovation
This major will appeal to those enterprising individuals with an eye towards their own start-up business, or who are keen to work as an “intrepreneur” inside an organisation. Students will gain skills in ideation, creativity and innovation in planning a business and developing a viable business model. Through experiential learning and support from industry experts, students will graduate with contemporary and best practice knowledge, insights, and strategies with which to implement effective management practices and bring a business idea into fruition.
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Film and Television
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Global Studies (Sustainability)
Major in Global Studies (Sustainability) is a unique interdisciplinary major which equips you with a capacity to formulate solutions to the challenges of globalisation and the development of sustainable communities. The structure of the major follows world megatrends, reflected in the interconnectivity and interplay within diverse fields of study: climate change, sustainable development, global health and disease, international relations and transnational business. Major in Global Studies (Sustainability) develops an active global citizen with knowledge and skills enabling you to contribute to the development of sustainable societies of the future.
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International Relations
The major in International Relations provides a comprehensive understanding of the complex and rapidly changing world of international politics. The Major covers vital areas of study such as geopolitics, political economy, and the dynamics of peace and war. It equips students with the analytical tools necessary to understand and influence the world around them, preparing them for various careers in diplomacy, government, international organisations, non-profits, and the private sector.
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Marketing Communication
The field of marketing communications is in a state of constant change. By studying a Marketing Communications major, students will develop the practical skills, built on a foundation of theory, to meet the needs of this ever-evolving industry. Students will acquire transferable and adaptable knowledge in strategic communication, public relations, advertising and/or digital communication. Via case study analysis, campaign creation and hands-on skill development, students will gain industry knowledge and expertise in a small-class environment. Developing ethical and innovative communication campaigns and tactics for real-world clients enables students to apply their skills helping them gain confidence in, and practice with, their new abilities. The course also focuses on developing creativity, critical thinking and presentation skills. Graduates will gain flexible and dynamic skills set, transferable across many diverse and exciting career paths.
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Marketing
This major develops students’ knowledge, skills, and practical experience in designing and implementing market-driven, value-creation marketing strategies underpinned by a sound understanding of consumer and buyer behaviour. The focus is placed on how to conduct market research, analyse findings, and communicate these to management.
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Philosophy
This major involves the creative, critical task of constructing, clarifying and comparing ideas. You will examine predominant cultural ideas, both western and eastern. The major is orientated towards practical issues in the fields of politics, ethics, religion and art. Completion of the major will provide you with deep cultural knowledge: not just of forms of behaviour and styles or organisation, but the deeper, philosophical well-springs of world cultures.
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Psychology
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Public Relations
The public relations major comprehensively prepares you for a career in strategic communications and public relations. You are introduced to public relations from a management perspective as a critical function in all industries across corporate, government and not-for-profit organisations. The major delivers a wide-ranging conceptual, theoretical, and practical framework demonstrating how public relations managers develop communication processes and manage relationships with organisational publics and stakeholders. You will evaluate the profession’s current structure and future directions, learn concepts of public relations management, discuss ethical practices, and learn public relations strategies and techniques. You will develop flexibility in applying strategic written, oral, visual, social media, issues management, and crisis communication skills in diverse situations, technologies, and audiences. You will apply this knowledge to engage with real clients, primarily from the not-for-profit sector, to creating and pitching authentic public relations campaigns.
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Social Media
Digital and social media literacy is critical for students seeking a career in marketing and communications industries. You will gain a sophisticated understanding of the role of digital and social media in everyday and corporate life in a local and global context. You will learn via a hands-on, practical approach underpinned with applied theoretical knowledge. The major provides you with the skills and experience in the development of innovative analytical solutions to real world communication challenges, in digital content analysis and creation and in creative entrepreneurship, all informed by industry best practice. You will use persuasive and strategic communication strategies, and advanced design skills, to develop compelling and ethical narratives and campaigns across multiple platforms. Crucially, you will learn how to stay up to date, and innovate, in this ever-changing field. These skills are critical in diverse professional roles including public relations, journalism, advertising, web design, social media, and marketing.
General Electives
Students must choose thirty credit points (30CP) of general electives.
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University Undergraduate Electives
Students may choose from all Undergraduate subjects across the University that are available as general electives.
Major / Minors / Specialisations Finder
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Study plan
Take the guess work out of planning your study schedule. Your program's study plan has been carefully curated to provide a clear guide on the sequential subjects to be studied in each semester of your program. Your study plan is designed around connected subject themes to equip you with the fundamental knowledge required as you progress through your course.
Connect
Speak to a current Bond student
Connect
Speak to a current Bond student