Graduate Certificate of Communication
2027 Deakin University Handbook
| Year | 2027 course information |
|---|---|
| Award granted | Graduate Certificate of Communication |
| Deakin course code | A539 |
| Course credit points | 4 |
| 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 | The course map for students commencing from Trimester 1 2027 will be available soon 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
- Career opportunities
- Participation requirements
- Mandatory student checks
- Pathways
- Course learning outcomes
- Course rules
- Course structure
- Work experience
- Fees and charges
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.
Participation requirements
Reasonable adjustments to participation and other course requirements will be made for students with a disability. More information available at Disability support services.
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
Note – From 2026, Deakin commenced introducing Graduate Attributes (GAs), which define the distinctive characteristics of a Deakin graduate. You may notice some courses still refer to Graduate Learning Outcomes (GLOs) during this transition period.
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.
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 | Digital Practices and the Creative Arts |
| 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 |
ACG702 Design for the Physical World [No longer available for enrolment]
ACG703 Design Systems [No longer available for enrolment for this course]
ACG706 Design for the Digital World [No longer available for enrolment for this course]
ACG708 Design Strategies [No longer available for enrolment for this course]
ALJ716 Writing the News [No longer available for enrolment]
ALJ722 The Power and Perils of True Stories [No longer available for enrolment]
ALR700 Public Relations Campaigns [No longer available for enrolment]
ALR701 Writing for Brands [No longer available for enrolment]
ALR733 Advertising Theory and Practice [No longer available for enrolment]
ASM701 Sport Commentary [No longer available for enrolment]
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.
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.