Graduate Certificate of Communication

2027 Deakin University Handbook

Year	2027 course information
Award granted	Graduate Certificate of Communication
Course credit points	4
Deakin course code	A539
Course version	4
Faculty	Faculty of Arts and Education
Course information	For students who commenced from 2018 onwards
Campus	Offered at Burwood (Melbourne), Online
Campus note	Trimester 3 unit offerings are limited
Duration	0.5 year full-time or part-time equivalent
Course map - enrolment planning tool	This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 1 2027 Course maps for commencement in previous years are available on the Course Maps webpage or please contact a Student Adviser in Student Central.
CRICOS code	083989G Burwood (Melbourne)
Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition	The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 8

Course sub-headings

Course overview

Boost your skillset and advance your career while learning about the rapidly expanding media and communication industry. Deakin’s Graduate Certificate of Communication helps you build the strategic communication and critical thinking skills needed to grow your career. Broaden your knowledge and your thinking to gain a competitive edge in a rapidly evolving job market.

Designed for professionals who want to step into postgraduate study, this course lets you tailor your learning to your goals in a flexible, supportive environment. Undertake study in areas like writing news, brand storytelling, public relations campaigns, design strategies, media law and more. The course can also provide a pathway into the Master of Communication, with recognition of prior learning available on completion. Look forward to enhancing your career prospects in a field where communication specialists are in high demand. Communication is consistently ranked among the top 10 most in-demand skills by employers.

Career opportunities

Now more than ever is a great time to be in the media and communications industry. From media agencies and newsrooms, to publications, community relations and government organisations, anywhere in the world – the career opportunities are vast.

Our Graduate Certificate of Communication can prepare you for roles such as:

public relations specialist
journalist
media adviser
communications consultant
technical writer
visual designer
social media manager

For more information go to DeakinTALENT.

Inclusive support for learning and participation

At Deakin, we're committed to ensuring an inclusive environment that supports all students to belong, thrive and succeed. We work closely with students, where needed, to identify potential barriers to participation and where possible, provide tailored support so students can engage with learning and assessment activities.

If you are neurodivergent, have a disability, health condition or mental health condition that may impact your study or participation in university life, you can contact our Disability Resource Centre (opens email client) team for a collaborative and confidential discussion.

Mandatory student checks

Any unit which contains work integrated learning, a community placement or interaction with the community may require a police check, Working with Children Check or other check.

Pathways

This course can be a pathway to:

Graduate Diploma of Communication (A639)
Master of Communication (A743)

Course learning outcomes

Course Learning Outcomes
Apply specialist skills and knowledge of communication methods and concepts in professional and scholarly contexts.
Use specialist cognitive and technical skills to communicate ideas, arguments, and solutions to problems in a variety of modes across a range of professional and scholarly contexts.
Make expert use of digital technologies to address a range of communication needs in professional contexts and for diverse audiences within and outside the communication industries.
Critically analyse and evaluate complex ideas in communication theory and communicate conclusions in the context of professional decision-making and scholarship.
Use specialised knowledge and skills in communication to identify, investigate, analyse and synthesise complex information in the context of generating creative solutions to industry and scholarly problems.
Employ autonomy, accountability and initiative when responding creatively to new situations in professional communication contexts.
Work and learn collaboratively in professional communication practice and in scholarly contexts, including exercising initiative and accountability as a team member.
Critically reflect on communication-related issues in both domestic and global contexts, as a scholar and in professional practice, taking into consideration cultural and socio-economic diversity, social and environmental responsibility and the application of the highest ethical standards.

Approved at Faculty Board November 2022

Course rules

To complete the Graduate Certificate of Communication you must pass 4 credit points. This includes:

DAI001 Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in your first study period
4 credit points of communication course elective units.

Students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements.

Note:

Students are strongly encouraged to look at specific concentrations and patterns of unit choice that develop their professional communication skills and should seek advice to create the best combination available to them to achieve their specific course objectives and learning outcomes.
Students using the Graduate Certificate as a pathway into the Master of Communication are strongly advised to complete ACX701 Communication Concepts as two of their 4 credit points.
Students using the Graduate Certificate to seek entry into a specialised diploma should take all four units from a single sub-field to enable credit for those units to be granted towards the diploma.

Course structure

Core units

Compulsory 0-credit point module

To be completed in the first trimester of study:

DAI001

Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin

Course electives

Select 4 credit points of course electives from:

ACC717

Law, Ethics and Communication Practice

ACF700

Writing with the Camera

ACF705

Documentary Production Practice

ACI700

Practice, Industry and Publics

ACX701

Communication Concepts

ALC702

Making Sense and Dollars in Communities Online

ALC708

Social Media Content Creation

ALR703

Digital Brand Storytelling

ALR704

Reputation Management: Crisis, Risk and Responsibility

ALR710

Advanced Brand Communication

ALR718

Communication for Social Change

ASM700

Sports Media in the Digital Age

Work experience

Elective units may provide the opportunity for Work Integrated Learning experiences.

Course duration

Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as failing of units or accessing or completing placements.

Fees and charges

Tuition fees will vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study, your study load and/or unit discipline.

Your tuition fees will increase annually at the start of each calendar year. All fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD) and do not include additional costs such as textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment, mandatory checks, travel, consumables and other costs.

For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current students website.

Estimate your fees

Further information

Contact Student Central for assistance in course planning, choosing the right units and explaining course rules and requirements. Student Central can also provide information for a wide range of services at Deakin. To help you understand the University vocabulary, please refer to our Enrolment codes and terminology page .

Contact Student Central