Bachelor of Laws / Bachelor of Media and Communication

The Bachelor of Laws / Bachelor of Media and Communication combines studies in commercial law, emphasising intellectual property law, with the knowledge to specialise in the media, communications and multimedia industries.

Learn about trade marks, patents and designs, copyright, the prohibition of misleading or deceptive conduct and competition law.

Gain the skills to protect the rights of those who innovate or create.

Gain knowledge about how the media is evolving through an examination of issues such as ownership, control of the media and the impact of new media technologies on society.

Develop professional communication skills.

Complete law-related professional experience placements at organisations in Australia or overseas.

Become familiar with the practical aspects of legal practice through moot court scenarios and advocacy exercises.

Successful completion of the Bachelor of Laws / Bachelor of Media and Communication requires students to complete units of study to the value of 500 credit points. All units of study are valued at 12.5 credit points unless otherwise stated. View course rules and special requirements

Core studies for Bachelor of Laws

19 units (237.5 credit points)

*Outcome unit – completion demonstrates the attainment of course learning outcomes

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Core studies for Bachelor of Media and Communication

4 units (50 credit points)

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Major for Bachelor of Media and Communication

8 units (100 credit points)

Choose a major:

Choose a major Advertising Cinema and Screen Studies Creative Writing and Literature Digital Advertising Technology Games and Interactivity Journalism Media Industries Professional Writing and Editing Public Relations Social Media

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Placement for Bachelor of Laws

3 units (0 credit points)

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Other studies

9 units (112.5 credit points)

Choose from a combination of the following course components to complete 112.5 credit points of other study. Students may also select elective units (12.5 credit points each).

Advanced minor Minors Elective units Signature Series

Advanced minor (50 credit points)

Advanced minors are a structured set of 4 units or 50 credit points in a field of study which builds upon your first major. Advanced minors can only be taken in conjunction with specific majors - more information will be available soon.

Minors (50 credit points)

Minors are a structured set of 4 units or 50 credit points and may be chosen from any field of study.

Elective units

Any of the following units may be undertaken.

#Students must choose 5 specialised elective units to complete the course.

Signature Series

A Swinburne education prepares you for life. That’s why we’ve developed the Swinburne Signature Series. It’s a suite of study opportunities that embody Swinburne’s ethos – of confidence, clarity and adventure. These opportunities give our students something extra; whether that’s a new perspective on the world through a Study Tour unit, an expanded sense of possibilities through our Innovation Minor, or a deeper understanding and respect for culture through our Indigenous Minor. Like Swinburne University itself, our Signature Series will grow and adapt to reflect the evolving issues of the day.

• Full-time study: 100 credit points/eight standard units of study per year
• Part-time study: 50 credit points/four standard units of study per year
• One credit point is equivalent to one hour of study per week per semester (including contact hours and private study)
• See the course planner for an example degree structure

Upon successful completion of the Bachelor of Laws, graduates should be able to:

• describe and demonstrate the application of the fundamental areas of Australian law and the Australian legal system and of the principles and doctrines that underpin them
• describe and demonstrate the application of ethical and professional responsibility in the practice of the law and a commitment to the pursuit of justice
• analyse and evaluate the interdisciplinary contexts in which legal issues arise and the disciplines and policy considerations that influence the content and operation of the law
• describe and compare the international legal order and the law and legal systems of Australia’s major trading partners
• critically evaluate events or factual situations, identify the legal issues to which they give rise and develop and articulate appropriate and creative responses
• undertake and critically evaluate research from a variety of sources to make judgements to solve complex legal problems with intellectual independence
• demonstrate effective and persuasive communication capabilities with legal and non-legal audiences
• communicate proficiently in professional practice to a variety of audiences, function as an effective member or leader of a diverse team and critically reflect on individual performance and professional development.

Upon successful completion of the Bachelor of Media and Communication, graduates will be able to:

• demonstrate knowledge, conceptual understanding, technical skills and expertise in the broad field of media and communication
• formulate arguments that draw on and critique the differences between relevant theories and evidence as they pertain to the field of media and communication
• exercise initiative and judgement in planning, problem-solving and decision-making in professional practice and/or scholarship, individually and in collaboration with others
• demonstrate critical analysis, creativity and problem-solving in relation to a range of media and communication activities and processes
• recognise and reflect on social, cultural, legal and ethical issues relating to media and communication industries in local and international contexts
• apply a broad understanding of an audience through interpreting and communicating ideas, problems and arguments in a range of media and communication contexts and formats, using the English language
• reflect critically on their performance and/or scholarship and use this to improve their own creative and productive outcomes
• apply research methodology relevant to the field of media and communication.