Bachelor of Arts (Mass Communication)

Mass communication professionals are multi-talented experts who can communicate information across the media and corporate landscape to a large amount of people.

This wide-spanning and flexible degree will provide you with key technological skills and knowledge, as well as an understanding of the issues and debates that concern media, communication and information in the world today. 

In your first year, you will be introduced to the different areas that make up mass communication: journalism, screen production, web media, design, marketing, and public relations. In your second and third years you will choose two streams in which to specialise. The first stream can be chosen from the media stream. The second stream may also be taken from the media stream, or you can choose from the design and business stream.

Media stream

• Corporate screen production: Learn about screen production techniques, documentary workshop, history of screen language, screen writing, broadcast video production or corporate documentary.
• Journalism: Learn print and broadcast journalism theory and practice. Learn how to communicate effectively, produce news and current affairs material for print and electronic media and the legal and ethical rules that govern the profession.
• Web media: Learn how the internet and the web are significantly changing, and affecting communications and the media. Through elective studies, you can learn fundamental skills in web coding and design basics.

Design and business stream

• Digital design: Develop intermediate-level skills in multimedia design practice, animation and computer-based visualisation. You can expand these skills further in one or more areas of animation and motion graphics, 3D animation or internet design.
• Graphic communication: Learn to combine words and pictures in a highly organised and persuasive way to sell products and ideas.
• Marketing: This stream introduces you to the key skills and knowledge needed for successful marketing. You will gain an understanding of marketing principles, consumer behaviour, international and internet marketing.
• Photography: Develop an understanding of the concepts and skills in still photography for corporate communications.
• Public relations: Develop an understanding of the fundamentals of professional public relations practice: its principles, techniques, cases, financial and professional practice.

Your second and third year core units give you an insight into a range of media issues and communication contexts, teaching you the technical skills for your professional ambitions and also the flexibility and critical awareness that comes with a broader intellectual understanding of media and corporate communications.

You also have four electives which you can use to extend your studies or broaden your skills by selecting units from a complementary discipline. Alternatively, you can choose to undertake a professional internship

All the disciplines have a strong connection with professional practice and feature opportunities to apply your practical skills and understandings. Students from different areas of study are encouraged to work together as they progress through the program on projects that reflect the nature of the evolving media, mass communication and creative industries and how they interact with the corporate and business communities.

Please refer to the handbook for additional course overview information.

2019 intakes for Curtin Bentley (all streams)

• Semester 1 (Feb)
• Semester 2 (Jul)

2019 intakes for Curtin Dubai (Marketing and Web Media streams only)

• Trimester 1 (Jan)
• Trimester 2 (May)
• Semester 2A (Sep)

2019 intakes for Curtin Malaysia (Corporate Screen Production, Journalism, Marketing and Public Relations streams only)

• Semester 1 (Feb)
• Semester 2 (Jul)

2019 intakes for Curtin Singapore (Journalism and Marketing 2nd and 3rd year streams only)

• Trimester 1A (Jan)
• Trimester 2A (Jul)
• Trimester 3A (Nov)

2019 intakes for Curtin Mauritius (Corporate Screen Production, Journalism, Marketing and Web Media streams only)

• Semester 1 (Feb)
• Semester 2 (Jul)

What you'll learn

• explain critical theories relating to media-based communications in corporate applications and apply them to a range of roles and functions
• apply critical thinking and creative approaches to resolve issues and meet challenges in their own professional and creative practice
• access, evaluate and synthesise appropriate information in order to realise media-based communication objectives
• communicate ideas to a range of audiences by developing and applying media-based strategies
• utilise media production technologies and apply them to create effective media-based materials to meet required outcomes
• apply learning strategies to build on skills and understandings in order to adapt to continually changing industry and corporate needs
• recognise the significance of global media to business and be able to apply international standards and practices in their creative practice
• value the cultural and intercultural nature of corporate media and communications and represent this knowledge at a personal and professional level
• demonstrate professional behaviour and standards and work collaboratively to apply them in all aspects of media and business-related activities