Bachelor of Communication (Social and Political Sciences) / Bachelor of Laws

Course Details

This course is offered jointly by UTS: Law and UTS: Communication. It provides students with a range of professional and analytical skills grounded in sociology, social policy, politics, public history and international studies, for either legal or social science practice. It is designed for students who want to use their professional legal qualification together with social research, policy development and political advocacy. The program provides full-time study for students wishing to obtain a professional legal qualification that satisfies the requirements for admission as a lawyer together with specialisation in social, cultural and communication theory and practice. Studies in social and political sciences increase students' employment options in the diverse fields of social science, media and communication, as well as extending their knowledge of the broader context in which the legal system operates. The course aims to promote understanding of how communities and political systems work, along with positive and effective intervention skills. Career options include lawyer in business or media organisations, community or public sector, as an advocate, policy maker, political activist, political adviser or social or media researcher.

Qualification: Bachelor Degree (Pass)

Course structure: The course comprises 240 credit points. The study components for course completion are as follows. The law component is made up of 144 credit points. The communication component is made up of 96 credit points. The course is offered on a five-year, full-time basis. Students are required to attend approximately 17 hours of seminars and lectures a week, and may be required to attend evening classes for the law component.

This course replaces the Bachelor of Arts in Communication (Social Inquiry) Bachelor of Laws. To practise as a lawyer in NSW, students need to successfully complete an accredited legal academic qualification (e.g. Bachelor of Laws) and an accredited course of practical legal training (PLT), which UTS offers through its PLT program. Students enrolled in this course may complete their practical legal training by undertaking a postgraduate course in PLT, such as the Graduate Certificate in Professional Legal Practice. Visa requirement: To obtain a student visa to study in Australia, international students must enrol full time and on campus. Australian student visa regulations also require international students studying on student visas to complete the course within the standard full-time duration. Students can extend their courses only in exceptional circumstances.