Bachelor of Business in Public Relations

at University of Wollongong - Wollongong Campus Australia

In our increasingly connected and digital world, communicators with broad skills are in real demand.

The Bachelor of Communication and Media offers you a strong foundation in the national and international communication and media industry. With a focus on preparing you for global careers, the course places an emphasis on high-level skills in media production, communication research and independent project work.

This degree is designed for careers in digital and social media; visual communication design; journalism; screen media production; marketing; advertising; and public relations. You will be immersed in the study and practice of media and communication, and will gain flexible and transferable skills that will prepare you for the ever-changing world of global media culture.

What you will study
In addition to the core subjects in the Bachelor of Communication and Media, you must complete at least one major from the below list. There is also the opportunity to complete two majors which will increase your knowledge and employability in the media and communication industries.

• Digital and Social Media
• Screen Media Production
• Journalism
• Marketing Communication and Advertising
• Visual Communication Design

Public Relations (PR) is about managing information between organisations and stakeholders, individuals and the public, or a combination of these. The key is effective communication and the strategic way this information is planned and executed. Public Relations can create goodwill and a favourable public image that helps shape and maintain the reputation of an organisation, event or person.

This degree
You will undertake a foundation year that covers all core disciplines of business, giving you a solid understanding of issues facing organisations today. From your second year, you will begin your major in Public Relations. If you enjoy writing and communications then the PR major may be right for you with roles such as media relations executive, digital communication consultant, public relations manager, communications manager, events coordinator, social media manager or corporate communications specialist.

You will gain real experience, with real clients to develop the skills that are required in the PR workforce. During your degree you will execute a PR campaign with your peers for a not-for-profit organisation; past organisations include St John Ambulance NSW and In2Uni.

You will also undertake a final-year capstone subject that lets you apply everything you have learned in collaboration with students from other disciplines. Plus, you have the option of applying for an internship to gain valuable experience whilst receiving credit towards your degree.

What you will study
The degree covers a variety of subjects, including business communication, PR concepts, PR writing, advertising and creative strategies, digital marketing, corporate identity and branding, marketing communications, and creative PR campaigns. You will learn how to communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders using a range of media. You will also learn how to evaluate the cultural and organisational contexts, key trends and ethical issues influencing contemporary PR, and be able to critically evaluate the role of PR in society and organisations. Working with some of Australia's largest public relations companies, you will be able to see firsthand where your career could take you.

If you are doing, or have done particularly well in your Bachelor of Communication and Media degree, you should consider an Honours year. Your Bachelor of Communication and Media degree will have introduced you to a wide range of topics and problems, and an Honours project will enable you to explore these ideas in much greater depth. Honours research topics are various and negotiable. If you are really interested in a topic and want to find answers, you'll be encouraged and supported.

From a potential employer's perspective, your ability to achieve a complex goal, meet deadlines, investigate independently, use resources effectively and write coherently are highly valued attributes.

The Honours year has a number of functions at UOW; as an in-depth project at the end of undergraduate study, and as a bridge between undergraduate study and advanced research.  It may also afford you the opportunity to explore future career options. Studying Honours teaches you: training in research skills and in information systems (archives, the Library, databases and electronic research networks);  opportunity to practise articulating complex ideas orally and in writing; experience in working closely with a supervisor on a project and in preparing a major project to meet a deadline; and experience in devising, researching and writing up an individual topic of study in an extended argument or thesis.

Combining Journalism with Arts places a strong emphasis on applied learning, and offers a broad introduction to ways in which new media practices shape our everyday lives, both in the workplace and in our communities. It will equip you with critical and innovative thinking skills, effective communication and creative writing skills, all of which are required for high achievement in a range of journalism careers.

Journalism and reporting is an evolving industry that encompasses a multitude of media including print, television, radio, web, and social media to inform, engage and entertain. Studying a Bachelor of Journalism degree alongside a Bachelor of Arts degree will teach you to gather, assess, create and present news and information to a wide range of audiences and also write, edit and publish a broad variety of written materials. The Bachelor of Journalism - Bachelor of Arts also allows you to gain foundational knowledge in many traditional areas of study including history, literature, languages and philosophy and the disciplines of social sciences, cultural studies, sociology and politics.

The Bachelor of Journalism has a prescribed set of core subjects, as well as the opportunity to use electives to complete a major or two minors from a multi-disciplinary list. You will choose one major in the Bachelor of Arts degree: Archaeology and Ancient History, English Literatures, Environmental Humanities, French, History, Indigenous Studies, Japanese, Legal Studies, Mandarin (Non-Chinese Background Students), Mandarin (Character Background Students), Philosophy, Photography, Politics, International Relations, Sociology, Spanish, Creative Writing, or Writing and English Literatures. In addition, you will choose a minor or another major from the Faculty of the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities.

In today’s technology-driven world, people and organizations are generating, collecting, and storing more data than ever before. Organizations across various industries are seeking graduates with skills to utilize and interpret this data to inform business strategies and add value to their business.

The Master of Business Analytics is designed to prepare you with the essential skills to undertake real-world Business Analytics tasks on big data business problems. You will develop skills and knowledge in business analytics, including how to apply tools and technologies required to perform descriptive, predictive, and prescriptive analytics and how to apply these tools to a business landscape.

Psychologists help us to understand who we are and how we think, feel, act and change through scientific study of the human mind and its functions, and how they influence behaviour. Psychological research seeks to identify mechanisms that explain behaviour in various contexts. Clinical psychologists work directly with clients to help them improve their wellbeing and psychological health using evidence-based psychological treatments. Their clients include children, adults, couples, families and organisations, and they can work in a wide range of settings, from private practices to the hospital system.

This degree
The Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) is a four-year undergraduate Honours degree which provides comprehensive training in the scientific study of human behaviour and experience, the physiological, sensory and cognitive processes that underlie it, and how the profession applies this knowledge to practical problems.

The Bachelor of Psychology is a route to Postgraduate coursework or research degrees in Psychology. It is also a partial qualification for provisional registration as a Psychologist with the Psychology Board of Australia.

What you will study
This course is for the highly motivated. The Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) program contains a significant research thesis along with coursework. You will learn how the science and practice of psychology is influenced by social, historical, professional and cultural contexts, and knowledge of ethical behaviour. Continuation in the degree will be dependent upon achieving a cumulative average of at least 75% in the Psychology subjects approved for the degree.

Financial planning is the design of specific financial outcomes that meet a client's unique needs and objectives, given their financial resources and risk profile. Its broad approach is to fulfil clients' total needs, incorporating investment planning, taxation and social services planning, retirement planning, risk planning and estate planning. The areas of service provision are very wide including investment and asset portfolio construction and advice, superannuation, retirement and estate planning and associated services.

This degree
The Bachelor of Mathematics and Finance (Honours) teaches you the skills to apply sophisticated mathematical and statistical techniques to real-world problems. You are also encouraged to develop computing and communication skills, which are assets in the job market.

Bankers, investment managers, insurance companies and financial companies all rely on financial mathematics to survive and stay ahead of the competition. Maths and Finance graduates work in all areas of industry and government as risk managers, investment advisers, traders, financial analysts and more. They work in all aspects of the finance sector from traditional banking to futures trading.

There are opportunities for scholarships from corporate partners, plus summer scholarships and undergraduate research projects with academic staff, access to programs of the Australian Mathematical Sciences Institute (AMSI) and inter-university courses via our Access Grid Room.

What you will study
You will learn not only finance but accounting, management and marketing principles. You will investigate securities and the markets they operate in as well as theories of the market and the equilibrium prices of securities. You will learn how to assess investments, and the method for identifying the best financial product for a client, with particular attention to their risk profile. You will learn the codes of conduct governing the financial planning industry and relevant regulatory frameworks, advising techniques, and how to build and maintain clients' investment portfolios.

Subjects you will study include: investment analysis, advanced corporate finance, retirement and estate planning, taxation for financial planners, risk and insurance, and advanced financial planning. You will complete a Mathematics and Finance Honours Project.

The Graduate Certificate in Applied Finance is an introductory course designed to provide a general understanding of areas in Applied Finance such as financial statement analysis, managerial finance, statistics and corporate governance.

Upon successful completion of the Graduate Certificate in Applied Finance, you may enrol in a Master of Applied Finance and be eligible for credit for the four subjects completed within the Graduate Certificate. Progression with credit to other Masters programs, including the MBA, may also be possible.

We value the importance of prior learning and work experience in this course and understand that not all mature age working professionals have completed an undergraduate degree. If you fit this profile, still apply for the course, as we will assess your other relevant tertiary qualifications or substantial relevant professional or managerial experience.

The Honours program is an alternative option for students wishing to undertake research during the fourth year of either the Bachelor of Education - The Early Years pass degree or the Bachelor of Education - The Early Years (Dean's Scholar) degree. Entry to your honours year is based on application and merit.

Early Years education enriches learning in children from birth to five years by giving children the opportunity to maximise their potential and develop a foundation for lifelong learning. It focuses on the significance of early education to foster children’s health, development and wellbeing.

For the duration of this four-year degree Early Years students will engage in continuous professional mentoring through the Professional Partners in Practice (PPP) program. This will give you invaluable sector experience and professional connections that will enhance your employment pathways and opportunities.

Throughout the degree students spend up to 16 weeks teaching in Early Childhood Education and Care Centres and two weeks in the Community and Family sector, complementary to the mentoring experience within the Professional Partners in Practice program.

You will also have the opportunity to undertake exchange, study abroad and international cultural immersion programs.

Working closely with two supervisors, you will undertake a major project during the program, you will undertake special experiences for research work either in the field or that examine other aspects of education. The degree will culminate in the production of a thesis or other project work that disseminates your research findings and the results from your project and research inquiry.

What you will study
During this degree you will study:

• The development of young children and their connection to family, community, and culture
• Improving education and developmental outcomes for children
• Establishing relationships with children and families
• Cultural and social diversity
• Early intervention and transition to school
• Leadership and advocacy
• Creating physical and social learning environments
• Developing skills and experiences in research in educational settings.

The Master of Professional Accounting (MPA) is designed for students who want a career in the accounting profession. The learning experience and knowledge areas for this program are focused on the practice of accounting.

The course first introduces the fundamental principles of accounting, economics, and aspects of the economic system and then proceeds to the study of specific knowledge areas which are vital for accounting professionals. You will develop knowledge and skills to apply accounting principles in the preparation and interpretation of financial statements and, enable you to research current accounting issues. You will also have an understanding of the differences between accounting principles and taxation law and the tax implications of business activities.